Industry-Led Licensing Modernization Project

On this page:

• Publication of Regulatory Guide 1.233
• Background
• Licensing Modernization Project Reports

Publication of Regulatory Guide 1.233

The NRC published Regulatory Guide 1.233, "Guidance for a Technology-Inclusive, Risk-Informed, and Performance-Based Methodology to Inform the Licensing Basis and Content of Applications for Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Non-Light Water Reactors," in the Federal Register on June 9, 2020.  This regulatory guide endorsed the methodology described in NEI 18-04, Revision 1, "Risk-Informed Performance-Based Guidance for Non‑Light Water Reactor Licensing Basis Development," as an acceptable approach for informing the licensing basis and determining the appropriate scope and level of detail for parts of applications for licenses, certifications, and approvals for non-LWRs.

Background

The NRC engaged with the Licensing Modernization Project (LMP) led by Southern Company, coordinated by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and cost-shared by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The interactions between the NRC staff and LMP resulted in the submittal of NEI 18-04, Revision 1, on August 26, 2019. The guidance focuses on identifying licensing basis events; classifying and establishing performance criteria for structures, systems, and components; and evaluating defense in depth for advanced reactor designs.

The staff issued SECY-19-0117, "Technology-Inclusive, Risk-Informed, and Performance-Based Methodology to Inform the Licensing Basis and Content of Applications for Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Non-Light-Water Reactors," on December 2, 2019. In this notation vote paper, the staff discussed potential policy issues associated with the LMP methodology and recommended that the Commission find that the use of the methodology described in NEI 18-04, Revision 1, is a reasonable approach for establishing key parts of the licensing basis for non-LWRs. The Commission's Staff Requirements Memorandum dated May 26, 2020, found that using the methodology is a reasonable approach to support the licensing of non-light water reactors.

Licensing Modernization Project Reports

The following reports are related to LMP including demonstration and pilot activities.