ML20011D570
| ML20011D570 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/01/1989 |
| From: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Mcclure J SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20011D571 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 8912280013 | |
| Download: ML20011D570 (2) | |
Text
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g*(y,t@hjo UNITED STATES
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMin, J
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December 1, 1989 CHAIRMAN l
The Honorable. lames A. McClure United States Senate l
Washington, D.C.
20510-6150
Dear Senator McClure:
I am responding to your letter of October 20, 1989, in which you urged that all advenced reactor designs submitted for design certification and ifcensing be evaluated fairly, based on safety and technical merit.
In the Commission's final rule on licensing reform (10 CFR Part 52, published on April 18, 1989), we ado a certification process (design certification by rulemaking)pted that-would allow the Commission to consider the broadest range of de-sign certification requests, including those submitted by foreign corporations, and to allow the Commission greater flexibility in establishing hearing procedures.
Our intent was to ensure that our certification process would be both equitable and efficient.
We also noted in the Statement of Considerations accompanying the rule that priority would be given to designs for which there is a D
l demorstrated interest in the United States (see enclosed Federal Register Notice dated April 10, 1989 - p. 15375).
This language q
was included to assist the Commission in prioritizing its review 1
of advanced designs.
Where a clear domestic preference exists for a particular design, the Nuclear Regulatory Ccmmission (NRC) will assign the hi@ cst pricM ty to Nvisw of that deaMt. in order to ensure early identification of the-regulatory requirements for the design and timely notice of the design's acceptability from-the regulatory standpoint.
Although there have been some indications that evolutionary light water reactor designs may be preferred in the'short term, there has been no domestic preference expressed;
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for any particular design.
In the' absence of such interest, we.
l are proceeding to review those designs that have been submitted I
for review as they have been received.
In all cases, these re-views have been and will continue to be conducted in a fair manner based on safety and technical considerations, subject only to the constraints imposed by current resource limitations and our obligations to meet our other regulatory responsibilities.
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8912280013 891201 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDC l
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-2 As you requested, I am also enclosing a listing of advanced designs that have been submitted to date or are anticipated by the NRC.
The list indicates the staff's estimated completion dates, i
If you need any further information, please contact me.
Sincerely, i
,(3L..
I Kenneth M. Carr
Enclosure:
j 1.
April 18, 1989 Federal Register Notice 2.
Status of Review of Advanced Reactor Designs Submitted to the NRC.
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