NuScale Power LLC, an Oregon company located near Portland, has developed a technology that is intended to provide electricity from up to 12 reactor units that would be housed together in a single pool of water. NuScale is the only company that lßis currently pursuing this Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, using Department of Energy (DOE) taxpayer funding and support.
The DOE and the industry claim that this SMR Project will provide "Carbon Free Power." However, SMRs are still tied to the nuclear fuel chain, which is not "carbon fee." Fossil fuels are used to mine and mill uranium, convert yellow cake to uranium hexaflourid, enrich uranum to increase the concentration of U-235, fabricate the fuel, dispose of high and low level nuclear waste, and transportation. Any nuclear reactor must have an outside source of power during construction, operation. and reclamation. The nuclear waste will need to be transported to a site for final dispostion and perpetual care. Such a site has yet to be developed by the Department of Energy (DOE).
The Utah Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) has proposed a 12-unit NuScale SMR to be constructed on land at the Idaho National Lab, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
NRC Docket Number: PROJ0769
NRC Project Manager:
Gregory Cranston ~~ gregory.cranston@nrc.gov | 301-415-0546
• NuScale - Wikipedia
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Design Certification Process
NuScale must receive a Design Certification before any utility or other entity can construct a NuScal SMMR. NuScale has filed a Design Certification Application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC is conducting a review of the application.
On January 6 and January 12, 2017, NuScale) submitted a design certification application (DCA) for an SMR design to the NRC. The application was submitted pursuant to the requirements of 10 C.F.R. Part 52, “Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.” The NRC commenced its application acceptance and will inform NuScale of the results of the review by March 17, 2017. The application will not be docketed and made available for public review until the application is accepted.
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
The NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has a Subcommittee on the NuScale Reactor. The Subcommittee has met on August 16, 2016, and Februrary 7, 2017. ACRS meeting notices, agendas, and transcripts are available on the ACRS meeting webpage.
◊ NRC Information
• NRC Website: Enter NuScale in Search Box
• NRC Electronic Reading Room: Advanced Search for Docket No. PROJ0769
• SMRS
• NuScale Project
• NRC Requests for Additional Information and Responses (as of August 2016)
• NRC Pre-Application Review Process - Info re Access to NRC NuScale Documents
• Design-Specific Review Standard for NuScale SMR Design
• Design Certification Process
• Rulemaking Process
• New Plant Design Review Process
• Design Certification Regulations - 10 C.F.R. Part 52
◊ DOE Information
• SMR Technology Resources Center
• SMR Technologies: Reports and Presentations 1983 - 2010
Last Updated February 10, 2017