Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Reactors with Comparable Risk Profiles

This rulemaking proposes amendments to the NRC’s regulations to establish a licensing pathway for factory-fabricated microreactors and other low-consequence reactors. The goal is to create a flexible regulatory framework with licensing options for manufacturers, allowing them to consolidate the activities of a microreactor applicant into a single license. This framework aims to facilitate the licensing and deployment of these nuclear technologies, which offer a high level of safety and security, by accommodating the diverse manufacturing, construction, and operational models that differ from traditional large light water reactors.