What’s New? The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today approved staff recommendations for emergency planning for advanced reactors that embrace modernization. The NRC’s decision demonstrates a willingness to keep pace with industry innovation and align regulations with the inherent safety characteristics, the smaller reactor cores and the simplified designs of advanced reactors. This innovative generation of advanced reactors will provide enormous social benefits beyond the reliable generation of carbon-free electricity.

Fast Facts:

This is a major milestone. With today’s vote to adopt the staff’s recommendation to define more appropriately-sized emergency planning zone (EPZ) requirements for advanced nuclear technologies, the NRC demonstrates a commitment to modernizing regulations so they align with the smaller size and the inherent safety features of advanced nuclear technologies.

The NRC is changing the way it does business. In its decision, the NRC revised its process for establishing the size of the EPZ, now basing the radius on the potential consequences of the advanced reactor constructed. The decision to adjust the EPZ radius upholds the NRC’s longstanding principle that its rules should fit the risk.

The 10-mile zone in use for existing plants was established 40 years ago; since then, there has been additional research and enhanced understanding of the safety benefits of advanced reactor designs.

This is an important step by the NRC toward establishing a well-defined path to licensing and streamlined regulatory reviews that credit advanced designs for providing enhanced features.

What Doug True, Chief Nuclear Officer at NEI, has to say:

“By revising its process for establishing the size of the emergency planning zone based on the type of advanced reactor developed, the NRC is demonstrating its commitment to evolving regulations, so they align with the size and inherent safety features of advanced nuclear technologies.

“This innovative approach allows for emergency planning requirements to reflect the simplified designs and unique characteristics of advanced reactors, while protecting public health and safety. We encourage the NRC to continue demonstrating flexibility in regulating the next generation of nuclear reactors, which will be essential for achieving deep decarbonization.”

The Big Picture: The next generation of advanced reactors is setting a new standard for nuclear innovation, and this requires modernization of NRC’s licensing process. Supporters of advanced nuclear technologies such as ClearPath and Third Way agree that the NRC must tailor its regulations to appropriately address advanced designs. The next generation of advanced reactors will provide enormous social benefits in addition to reliably generating carbon-free electricity.

What to Look for Next: More advanced nuclear developers will begin to submit license applications for their designs and move these technologies from concept to deployment in the next decade. Momentum behind developing the next generation of nuclear plants will be charged by increased customer interest as utilities commit to 100 percent clean energy targets.

Available Expert: To speak with an NEI expert contact media@nei.org or 202.739.8000.