[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12505-12506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4733]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; Small Modular 
Nuclear Power Units

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of public interest.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Energy plans to undertake a 
study to determine the feasibility of and issues associated with the 
deployment of small modular nuclear reactors for preparation of a 
report to Congress by May 2001. This report is being prepared as 
directed by the Senate Committee on Appropriations (S.R. Report no. 
106-395, at 107(2000)) on the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-377). The Committee report 
specifically states the following:

    The committee is aware of recent improvements in reactor design 
that make feasible small modular reactors with attractive 
characteristics for remote communities that otherwise must rely on 
shipments of relatively expensive and sometimes environmentally 
undesirable fuels for their electric power. To be acceptable, such a 
reactor would have to be inherently safe, be relatively cost 
effective, have intrinsic design features which would deter sabotage 
or efforts to divert nuclear materials, have infrequent refuelings, 
and be largely factory constructed and deliverable to remote sites. 
The Committee recommendation provides $1,000,000 for the Department 
to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of and issues 
associated with the deployment of such small reactors and provide a 
report to Congress by May 2001.

    This notice hereby announces the Department's interest in receiving 
information from the nuclear technology community on small modular 
power unit concepts that should be considered in the study. Such 
concepts must generally meet the criteria previously mentioned and may 
be entirely, or almost entirely, factory fabricated for transport to 
remote communities such as islands and should be no larger than 50 
megawatts-electric (MWe).

DATES: Concept information must be submitted by 4:30 p.m., edt, March 
15, 2001, to be accepted for review and to permit timely consideration 
for inclusion within the report.

[[Page 12506]]


ADDRESSES: All concept information should be forwarded to Argonne 
National Laboratory by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or any 
commercial mail delivery service, or hand carried by the applicant to: 
Roald Wiegland, ``Small Modular Reactor Study,'' Argonne National 
Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Building 208, Argonne, Illinois 
60439-4842. Individuals who wish to submit concept information 
electronically should forward their information to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Chuck Wade, Nuclear Industry 
Analysis, NE-80, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, (301) 903-1031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy is interested in 
receiving information on small modular nuclear power unit concepts that 
should be considered in a study to determine the feasibility of this 
technology. Concepts that will be considered in this study must 
generally meet the following criteria: inherent safety, relative cost 
effectiveness, intrinsic design features which would deter sabotage or 
efforts to divert nuclear materials; and infrequent refueling. These 
design concepts may be entirely, or almost entirely, factory fabricated 
for transport to remote communities such as islands and should be no 
larger than 50 megawatts-electric (MWe). All information in response to 
this request should include detailed plans in the following areas:

Licensing Prospects

    Concept participants must identify any unique regulatory issues 
associated with siting and licensing small modular power units. The 
information on issues identified should include suggested modifications 
to existing Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements, potential 
licensing barriers to be resolved, basis for safety analysis 
requirements, the need for reactor containment, and methods for 
implementing risk-based analysis techniques. These regulatory 
initiatives should be limited to reactor concepts that are useful in 
remote areas.

Concept Technology

    Technical information should include an overall description of the 
concept and detailed information about major elements of the concept, 
including dimensions and capacity. Information on reactor fuel, fuel 
characteristics, fuel fabrication experience and irradiation history 
for the particular fuel type is desirable. Any novel features of the 
reactor concept, either for the reactor core or other components of the 
system, should be clearly identified, especially those related to 
safety and non-proliferation. Any relationship or similarity to other 
existing or planned reactors should also be stated. Features of the 
concept that would facilitate both factory fabrication and the ability 
to transport units to more remote areas should also be identified.

Economic Viability

    The elements of cost and performance parameters that are desired 
for this study are: capital; operation and maintenance; fuel; 
decommissioning costs; thermal power; thermal efficiency; projected 
capacity factor; construction time; and financial parameters. Since 
design concept may still be in a preliminary stage, the Department 
would like for concept designers to submit any available information 
regarding the projected cost and performance values.
    Each proposed design concept participant should address the issues 
mentioned above in as much detail as possible to enable fair and 
accurate statements regarding its prospects for future deployment. The 
Department recognizes that some of the information requested may not be 
readily available and will accept whatever information is available. 
Please note that proprietary information received in response to this 
notice will be kept confidential.
    The report resulting from this study will not make any 
recommendation regarding a particular concept technology, but only 
assess the practicality of deploying small modular nuclear power units 
in remote locations within the U.S.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 16, 2001.
John M. Stamos,
Acting Associate Director for Nuclear Industry Analysis, NE-80, Office 
of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 01-4733 Filed 2-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P