ML25183A025

Standing Committee on Fusion Machine Oversight Charter

ML25183A025
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/30/2025
From:	Shelton B, Dafna Silberfeld NRC/NMSS/DMSST
To:
White D
References
Download: ML25183A025 (4)

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1 The National Materials Program Standing Committee for Fusion Machine Oversight PURPOSE The Standing Committee for Fusion Machine Oversight (Committee) has been established to serve as a resource for collaboration and to enhance the development of an effective and efficient regulatory framework for the oversight of fusion machines across the National Materials Program (NMP). The Committee will serve as a resource for all NMP programs to include the technical evaluations of licensing applications, standard design reviews, training, and other technical and regulatory issues associated with the licensing and oversight of fusion machines.

The Committee will provide a forum where the technical or regulatory expertise from NRC and Agreement State staff can be used to discuss and make recommendations needed to address technical or regulatory issues regarding fusion machine oversight.

BACKGROUND The NMP needs to be strategically positioned to regulate fusion technologies and provide necessary regulatory certainty to the fusion industry, potential applicants, other stakeholders, and the public. In March 2025, the NRC staff released Vision and Strategy: Regulating Fusion Machines Across the National Materials Program (ML25069A706). To regulate the emerging commercial fusion industry, the vision and strategy document uses an approach with three focus areas: regulatory optimization, technical readiness, and partnership and coordination. The establishment of an NRC/Agreement State standing committee was part of the vision and strategy for regulating fusion machines in the NMP.

Specific outcomes are needed and tied to each of the focus areas in the vision and strategy document. These outcomes depend on the stage of maturity of the designs and associated regulatory needs. The Committee will help meet the objective of preparing NRC and Agreement State staff for efficient and effective oversight of fusion machines and develop public trust in the regulatory framework.

Consistency across the NMP is also important. The NRC will be exploring ways to provide consistent, predictable decision-making for fusion designs across the various NMP jurisdictions to share design approvals of fusion machines designs for commercial distribution. This becomes especially important during the broader adoption as the NMP fusion regulatory program matures.

The Committee will serve a key role in establishing a consistent approach across the NMP on technical and regulatory fusion issues.

MEMBERSHIP The standing committee consists of staff from across the NMP including representatives from the Agreement States and NRC programs with experience with fusion machines. Terms of membership will be developed during this first meeting. Continued maintenance of the Committee membership will be the role of the Co-chairs of the Committee.

2 Initial members will be selected by the NRC and Organization of Agreement States (OAS) Board based on availability, technical expertise, and peer recognition.

The Committee will operate as an NRC/Agreement State steering committee as described in Management Directive 5.3, Agreement State Participation in Working Groups. The standing committee will be made up of at least six members and will be co-chaired by an NRC staff member and an Agreement State representative from the OAS.

The following positions will serve on the standing committee:

1. NRC Co-Chair (Senior Technical staff, Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs)

2. Agreement State Co-Chair (Individual with experience in fusion machine oversight)

3. Minimum of two NRC designated technical staff

4. Minimum of three OAS designated technical staff The Co-Chairs will schedule meetings, determine the agenda, and provide support for documenting meetings and decisions made by the standing committee.

The Co-Chairs will provide information from the Committee meetings to the NMP, as necessary, on the Monthly NMP calls. This will mostly include only those items that will be of interest to all the participants. (e.g., good practices, emerging issues, training updates, special announcements).

The Agreement State Co-Chair would serve at the discretion of the OAS Board but should be prepared to serve for a period of 3 years. The Agreement State and NRC technical representatives would have set term limits (i.e., 3 - 5 years), which would end at different times.

ROLE AND SCOPE This standing committee will support the NRCs continued coordination with its Agreement State partners to develop a fusion machine regulatory framework that includes regulations, licensing guidance, inspection guidance, implementation strategies, and training. This coordination may also include participation in working groups, discussion in government-to-government meetings, formal comment on draft documents, and providing advice on fusion machine initiatives. By supporting the development of the regulatory infrastructure as outlined in the vision and strategy document, the Committee will help NMP staff in number of ways including reviewing fusion machine applications, establishing processes to directly support technical reviews through information sharing, knowledge management, and reviewing technical assistance requests. The Committee will enhance and promote effectiveness and efficiency across the NMP. Specifically, the Committee will support and advise the NMP by:

1. Providing technical assistance and advice to the NMP on fusion machines licensing and inspection issues.

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2. Discuss licensing/inspection experiences and lessons learned from fusion machine oversight.

3. Providing recommendations on specific NMP regulatory issues for fusion machines including lessons learned.

4. Develop and track indicators for industry readiness to inform the development and implementation of additional guidance or regulations.

5. Providing input to guidance for the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) review process on fusion machines.

6. Providing input to NMP on qualification and refresher training of fusion machine licensing reviewers, inspectors, and standard device designs reviewers.

7. Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the fusion machine regulatory framework to address gaps or conflicts including the technical readiness of fusion technology development and regulatory effectiveness.

8. Periodically review Vision and Strategy: Regulating Fusion Machines Across the National Materials Program and recommend any changes as appropriate.

9. Keep the OAS Board, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) and the NRC informed the Committees activities and progress, as necessary. (NMP metrics).

LEVEL OF EFFORT EXPECTED OF PARTICIPANTS The Committee will meet at least quarterly or more frequently as needed. Additional time to complete Committee activities may be required by Committee members in accordance with Committees scope outlined in this charter. The total level of effort for both the NRC and Agreement State participants is not expected to exceed 40 hours4.62963e-4 days <br />0.0111 hours <br />6.613757e-5 weeks <br />1.522e-5 months <br /> annually per committee member.

MEETINGS Meetings will be scheduled by the Co-Chairs and announced to the NMP community. Meetings will normally be closed to the public due to discussions on pre-decisional information not normally publicly disclosed. Attendance at most meetings is open to any Agreement State or NRC staff member actively working on fusion machine regulatory development, has oversight of a fusion machine licensee, or engaging a fusion machine applicant.

At least one of the Co-Chairs must be present during any meetings of the Committee and a minimum of three of the Committee members must be present for a quorum.

Meetings will be held remotely using appropriate technology available to all members.

Administrative support will be provided by NRCs Division of Materials, Security, State and Tribal Programs.

4 Approved:

Dafna Silberfeld, Acting Director Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Liaison Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Beth Shelton, Chair Organization of Agreement States Beth Shelton Digitally signed by Beth Shelton Date: 2025.06.30 15:14:38

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