NRC, DOE update MOU

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy have updated a 2019 memorandum of understanding to coordinate on the review of advanced nuclear reactors and advanced reactor fuel technologies.

The addendum-signed October 24 and posted on November 3-is in response to the four executive orders the Trump White House issued this past May to speed the development of advanced reactors.

The intent of the update is to coordinate technical expertise and knowledge sharing between the DOE and the NRC on advanced nuclear reactors and advanced fuel technologies. It is also intended to ensure that the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy authorized reactors, fuel lines, and other nuclear facilities are designed, constructed, and operate in a way that protects workers, the public, and the environment.

Agency responsibilities: The addendum supplements an existing MOU on nuclear energy innovation from 2019. In the addendum, DOE-NE will oversee the review and approval of documented safety analyses for DOE-authorized nuclear facilities and streamline and speed up future NRC licensing activities.

The DOE also will develop a review plan and be responsible for coordinating documented safety analyses and facilitating NRC observation of DOE reviews to create a plan for an expedited pathway for advanced nuclear reactor licensing. The DOE will also provide the NRC's technical staff with the opportunity to observe DOE authorization processes.

The NRC, meanwhile, is responsible for licensing new and/or advanced nuclear technology and will support the DOE on reviews and help provide technical expertise.

Joint and coordinated activities: The addendum listed areas where the DOE and NRC will coordinate on activities:

• The NRC will establish an expedited pathway for advanced reactor designs that have been authorized and tested by the DOE.
• The NRC will establish an expedited pathway to approve nuclear fuel line facilities that have been authorized and tested by DOE.
• The DOE and the NRC will share information as appropriate regarding the use of computers and software codes to calculate the behavior and performance of advanced nuclear reactors based on mathematical models of the physical behavior of advanced nuclear reactors.
• The DOE will maintain and develop the facilities necessary to enable the timely research, development, and application of civilian nuclear technologies; and the NRC will have access to those facilities as needed.

Implementation: The addendum will be implemented by DOE-NE and the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactors. Both agencies will have the right to enter as many implementing interagency agreements in addition to the addendum to the MOU that seek to solve project-specific issues.