Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Small Modular Reactors and Other New Technologies

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is making available a regulatory basis document in support of a rulemaking that would develop new emergency preparedness (EP) requirements for small modular reactors (SMRs) and other new technologies (ONTs), such as non- light-water reactors and medical isotope production facilities. The regulatory basis concludes that there is sufficient justification to proceed with rulemaking to develop a clear set of rules and guidance for EP for SMRs and ONTs. The regulatory basis also concludes that the principle of using a dose-at-distance and consequence-oriented approach to determine the appropriate size of an emergency planning zone can be applied to SMRs and ONTs. The NRC is not seeking public comment on this document. There will be an opportunity for formal public comment on the proposed rule when it is published in the Federal Register.