This report identifies some of the challenges that have been apparent in NEPA reviews of commercial nuclear energy projects. It makes several policy and operational recommendations that would support more efficient review for first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear demonstration projects while still protecting the environment.
This report provides guidance on how advanced reactor vendors can define interface requirements between portions of a plant design when using the “standard design approval” process to seek Nuclear Regulatory Commission review of a major portion of their design. This facilitates a modular and staged approach to licensing that can be useful for some advanced nuclear programs. This report builds on prior NIA work to identify the opportunity associated with the standard design approval process and to provide guidance on how to exercise it.
NASA's commercial development programs have helped nurture a U.S. commercial launch industry. This report evaluates the successes of NASA's COTS program to identify potential lessons for commercializing the advanced nuclear industry. It proposes that DOE establish a similar program to enable federal procurement to drive commercialization.
In April 2019, NIA's Executive Director, Dr. Ashley Finan, testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for its "Hearing on U.S. Nuclear Energy and S. 903, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act"
Multiple members of the US energy and national security establishment sent this letter to US Congress to discuss non-proliferation issues related to a 123 Agreement with Saudi Arabia