NRC ready for reactor reviews


Electrical Commissioning In Industrial Power Systems

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 12 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$599
Coupon Price:
$499
Reserve Your Seat Today

NRC New Reactor Licensing faces COL applications tied to uncertified designs, prioritizing design certification, rigorous regulatory review, and flexible timelines, while Yucca Mountain repository evaluation proceeds under DOE budget constraints.

 

The Latest Developments

NRC process for reviewing COL applications, certifying reactor designs, and setting timelines for new nuclear plants.

  • 18 COL applications filed; 13 active, 5 suspended
  • Priority: complete reactor design certification reviews
  • Some COLs reference uncertified designs, slowing reviews

 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has adequate staff and resources to review license applications for new power reactors, but such reviews can be done more quickly and efficiently when the reactor design has already been certified by the agency, NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko said.

 

Speaking at a Platts Energy Podium event in Washington, Jaczko said NRC staff has received 18 applications for combined construction permit-operating licenses, or COLs, for new reactors, even as nuclear waste storage remains a top NRC issue for the agency.

The "most important focus and priority" for the new reactor licensing process is to complete NRC's certification review for designs referenced in those COL applications and the safety checks system that supports them, Jaczko said.

In some instances, COL applications refer to designs that are not yet certified, which is not what NRC envisioned when the license process for new reactors was developed, Jaczko explained. He attributed the discrepancy to "a variety of technical issues" and situations where vendors have not responded promptly to NRC staff questions. Requiring COL applications to reference a design that has already been certified, as has been urged by some members of Congress, is "a good suggestion," he said.

Jaczko was "reluctant to predict" when the first new U.S. reactor might come online, as toxic waste concerns continue to weigh on the sector, saying the time needed to complete COL reviews likely will vary. But he assured that agency staff is "flexible" and able to adapt to these circumstances.

NRC will continue to review a 2008 application by the U.S. Department of Energy, amid calls for a Yucca Mountain expansion from some quarters, to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada despite the Obama administration's decision this year to look for other options for disposal, according to Jaczko. He said the review will be commensurate with the resources provided for that assessment by Congress in the fiscal 2010 budget which is pending on Capitol Hill.

In the next year or so, NRC will gain "greater clarity on how to move forward" with this review, despite mixed messages on the Yucca project from lawmakers, the chairman noted.

 

Related News

Related News

Electricity prices rise more than double EU average in first half of 2021

Estonia energy prices 2021 show sharp electricity hikes versus the EU average, mixed natural gas…
View more

Electricity Grids Can Handle Electric Vehicles Easily - They Just Need Proper Management

EV Grid Capacity Management shows how smart charging, load balancing, and off-peak pricing align with…
View more

Duke Energy Florida's smart-thinking grid improves response, power restoration for customers during Hurricane Ian

Self-healing grid technology automatically reroutes power to reduce outages, speed restoration, and boost reliability during…
View more

N.S. joins Western Climate Initiative for tech support for emissions plan

Nova Scotia Cap-and-Trade Program joins Western Climate Initiative to leverage emissions trading IT systems, track…
View more

Electricity users in Newfoundland have started paying for Muskrat Falls

Muskrat Falls rate mitigation offsets Newfoundland Power's rate stabilization decrease as NL Hydro begins cost…
View more

More than Two-thirds of Americans Indicate Willingness to Give or Donate Part of their Income in Support of the Fight Against Climate Change

U.S. Climate Change Donation Survey reveals Americans' willingness to fund sustainability via government incentives, electrification,…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Download the 2026 Electrical Training Catalog

Explore 50+ live, expert-led electrical training courses –

  • Interactive
  • Flexible
  • CEU-cerified