varusword75 wrote:
They also know Obama could streamline the process.
Got me there. Fu
ck. I thought I had somethin---
Oh... wait!
NRC.gov wrote:
PURPOSE:
To inform the Commission of staff actions that are being implemented in order to streamline the design certification rule (DCR) rulemaking process for new reactor designs. This paper does not address new commitments.
BACKGROUND:
Recently the nuclear industry has shown significant interest in licensing new reactors. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has docketed one combined license (COL) application incorporating by reference the U.S. Advanced Boiling-Water Reactor, a previously certified design (Appendix A, “Design Certification Rule for the U.S. Advanced Boiling-Water Reactor,†to 10 CFR Part 52). Currently, 10 COL applications docketed by the NRC incorporate by reference designs that have been recently submitted to the NRC for certification, such as the U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor, the U.S. Advanced Pressurized-Water Reactor, and the Economic Simplified Boiling-Water Reactor. In addition, six COL applications reference an amendment to the Advanced Passive 1000 (AP1000) design (Appendix D, “Design Certification Rule for the AP1000,†to 10 CFR Part 52). As a result, the staff is reviewing COL applications in parallel with the NRC review of the design certification (DC) applications being referenced.
The referenced DCR must be completed (i.e., the final rule published in the Federal Register) before the NRC can make a decision on the COL application referencing that DC. The DC schedule consists of: (1) the design review and issuance of a final safety evaluation report documenting the NRC’s safety conclusions related to the design; and (2) a rulemaking approved by the Commission that codifies that DC in the agency’s regulations. The review schedules for certain DCs and their reference COLs are projected to be nearly parallel, with the DCR being completed just before the completion of the COL hearing process and subsequent licensing decision. If the DCR is not issued by the time that the NRC is ready to make a decision on the COL application, the COL decision may, under certain circumstances, have to await the issuance of the final DCR. Based on this background the staff concluded that a rulemaking schedule shorter than the typical 24-month NRC rulemaking schedule would be of value for DCR rulemakings.
Streamlining the process for approving the AP1000 reactor? But I'm sure no one uses
those silly thing!
Charlotte Business Journal wrote:
Vogtle, being built by Southern Co.’s Georgia Power Co., is the lead AP1000 project in the United States. Initial work has been done on the site, and the state has already approved the plant.
Damn, that Obama sure does hate nuclear power!