10 C.F.R. § 52.79
(a)
The application must contain a final safety analysis report that describes the facility, presents the design bases and the limits on its operation, and presents a safety analysis of the structures, systems, and components of the facility as a whole. The final safety analysis report shall include the following information, at a level of information sufficient to enable the Commission to reach a final conclusion on all safety matters that must be resolved by the Commission before issuance of a combined license:
(1)
(i)
The boundaries of the site;
(ii)
The proposed general location of each facility on the site;
(iii)
The seismic, meteorological, hydrologic, and geologic characteristics of the proposed site with appropriate consideration of the most severe of the natural phenomena that have been historically reported for the site and surrounding area and with sufficient margin for the limited accuracy, quantity, and time in which the historical data have been accumulated;
(iv)
The location and description of any nearby industrial, military, or transportation facilities and routes;
(v)
The existing and projected future population profile of the area surrounding the site;
(vi)
A description and safety assessment of the site on which the facility is to be located. The assessment must contain an analysis and evaluation of the major structures, systems, and components of the facility that bear significantly on the acceptability of the site under the radiological consequence evaluation factors identified in paragraphs
(a)(1)(vi)(A) and
(a)(1)(vi)(B) of this section. In performing this assessment, an applicant shall assume a fission product release 5 from the core into the containment assuming that the facility is operated at the ultimate power level contemplated. The applicant shall perform an evaluation and analysis of the postulated fission product release, using the expected demonstrable containment leak rate and any fission product cleanup systems intended to mitigate the consequences of the accidents, together with applicable site characteristics, including site meteorology, to evaluate the offsite radiological consequences. Site characteristics must comply with
part 100 of this chapter. The evaluation must determine that:
(A)
An individual located at any point on the boundary of the exclusion area for any 2-hour period following the onset of the postulated fission product release, would not receive a radiation dose in excess of 25 rem 6 total effective dose equivalent (TEDE).
(B)
An individual located at any point on the outer boundary of the low population zone, who is exposed to the radioactive cloud resulting from the postulated fission product release (during the entire period of its passage) would not receive a radiation dose in excess of 25 rem TEDE; and
(2)
A description and analysis of the structures, systems, and components of the facility with emphasis upon performance requirements, the bases, with technical justification therefor, upon which these requirements have been established, and the evaluations required to show that safety functions will be accomplished. It is expected that reactors will reflect through their design, construction, and operation an extremely low probability for accidents that could result in the release of significant quantities of radioactive fission products. The descriptions shall be sufficient to permit understanding of the system designs and their relationship to safety evaluations. Items such as the reactor core, reactor coolant system, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, containment system, other engineered safety features, auxiliary and emergency systems, power conversion systems, radioactive waste handling systems, and fuel handling systems shall be discussed insofar as they are pertinent. The following power reactor design characteristics and proposed operation will be taken into consideration by the Commission:
(i)
Intended use of the reactor including the proposed maximum power level and the nature and inventory of contained radioactive materials;
(ii)
The extent to which generally accepted engineering standards are applied to the design of the reactor;
(iii)
The extent to which the reactor incorporates unique, unusual or enhanced safety features having a significant bearing on the probability or consequences of accidental release of radioactive materials;
(iv)
The safety features that are to be engineered into the facility and those barriers that must be breached as a result of an accident before a release of radioactive material to the environment can occur. Special attention must be directed to plant design features intended to mitigate the radiological consequences of accidents. In performing this assessment, an applicant shall assume a fission product release 7 from the core into the containment assuming that the facility is operated at the ultimate power level contemplated;
(3)
The kinds and quantities of radioactive materials expected to be produced in the operation and the means for controlling and limiting radioactive effluents and radiation exposures within the limits set forth in
part 20 of this chapter;
(4)
The design of the facility including—
(i)
The principal design criteria for the facility. Appendix A to
part 50 of this chapter, “General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants,” establishes minimum requirements for the principal design criteria for water-cooled nuclear power plants similar in design and location to plants for which construction permits have previously been issued by the Commission and provides guidance to applicants in establishing principal design criteria for other types of nuclear power units;
(ii)
The design bases and the relation of the design bases to the principal design criteria;
(iii)
Information relative to materials of construction, arrangement, and dimensions, sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the design will conform to the design bases with adequate margin for safety.
(5)
An analysis and evaluation of the design and performance of structures, systems, and components with the objective of assessing the risk to public health and safety resulting from operation of the facility and including determination of the margins of safety during normal operations and transient conditions anticipated during the life of the facility, and the adequacy of structures, systems, and components provided for the prevention of accidents and the mitigation of the consequences of accidents. Analysis and evaluation of ECCS cooling performance and the need for high-point vents following postulated loss-of-coolant accidents shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of §§
50.46 and
50.46a of this chapter;
(6)
A description and analysis of the fire protection design features for the reactor necessary to comply with
10 CFR part 50, appendix A, GDC 3, and
§ 50.48 of this chapter;
(7)
A description of protection provided against pressurized thermal shock events, including projected values of the reference temperature for reactor vessel beltline materials as defined in §§
50.60 and
50.61(b)(1) and
(b)(2) of this chapter;
(8)
An analysis and description of the equipment and systems for combustible gas control as required by
§ 50.44 of this chapter;
(9)
The coping analyses, and any design features necessary to address station blackout, as described in
§ 50.63 of this chapter;
(10)
A description of the program, and its implementation, required by
§ 50.49(a) of this chapter for the environmental qualification of electric equipment important to safety and the list of electric equipment important to safety that is required by
10 CFR 50.49(d);
(11)
A description of the program(s), and their implementation, necessary to ensure that the systems and components meet the requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the ASME Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants in accordance with 50.55a of this chapter;
(12)
A description of the primary containment leakage rate testing program, and its implementation, necessary to ensure that the containment meets the requirements of appendix J to
10 CFR part 50;
(13)
A description of the reactor vessel material surveillance program required by appendix H to
10 CFR part 50 and its implementation;
(14)
A description of the operator training program, and its implementation, necessary to meet the requirements of
10 CFR part 55;
(15)
A description of the program, and its implementation, for monitoring the effectiveness of maintenance necessary to meet the requirements of
§ 50.65 of this chapter;
(16)
(i)
The information with respect to the design of equipment to maintain control over radioactive materials in gaseous and liquid effluents produced during normal reactor operations, as described in
§ 50.34a(d) of this chapter;
(ii)
A description of the process and effluent monitoring and sampling program required by appendix I to
10 CFR part 50 and its implementation.
(18)
If the applicant seeks to use risk-informed treatment of SSCs in accordance with
§ 50.69 of this chapter, the information required by
§ 50.69(b)(2) of this chapter;
(19)
Information necessary to demonstrate that the plant complies with the earthquake engineering criteria in
10 CFR part 50, appendix S;
(20)
Proposed technical resolutions of those Unresolved Safety Issues and medium- and high-priority generic safety issues which are identified in the version of NUREG-0933 current on the date up to 6 months before the docket date of the application and which are technically relevant to the design;
(21)
Emergency plans complying with the requirements of
§ 50.47 of this chapter, and appendix E to
part 50 of this chapter, or for a small modular reactor or a non-light-water reactor license applicant, emergency plans complying with either the requirements in
§ 50.160 of this chapter, or the requirements in appendix E to
part 50 of this chapter and
§ 50.47(b) of this chapter;
(22)
(i)
All emergency plan certifications that have been obtained from the State and local governmental agencies with emergency planning responsibilities must state that:
(A)
The proposed emergency plans are practicable;
(B)
These agencies are committed to participating in any further development of the plans, including any required field demonstrations; and
(C)
These agencies are committed to executing their responsibilities under the plans in the event of an emergency;
(ii)
If certifications cannot be obtained after sustained, good faith efforts by the applicant, then the application must contain information, including a utility plan, sufficient to show that the proposed plans provide reasonable assurance that adequate protective measures can and will be taken in the event of a radiological emergency at the site.
(24)
If the application is for a nuclear power reactor design which differs significantly from light-water reactor designs that were licensed before 1997 or use simplified, inherent, passive, or other innovative means to accomplish their safety functions, the application must describe how the design meets the requirements in
§ 50.43(e) of this chapter;
(25)
A description of the quality assurance program, applied to the design, and to be applied to the fabrication, construction, and testing, of the structures, systems, and components of the facility. Appendix B to
10 CFR part 50 sets forth the requirements for quality assurance programs for nuclear power plants. The description of the quality assurance program for a nuclear power plant must include a discussion of how the applicable requirements of appendix B to
10 CFR part 50 have been and will be satisfied, including a discussion of how the quality assurance program will be implemented;
(26)
The applicant's organizational structure, allocations or responsibilities and authorities, and personnel qualifications requirements for operation;
(27)
Managerial and administrative controls to be used to assure safe operation. Appendix B to
10 CFR part 50 sets forth the requirements for these controls for nuclear power plants. The information on the controls to be used for a nuclear power plant shall include a discussion of how the applicable requirements of appendix B to
10 CFR part 50 will be satisfied;
(28)
Plans for preoperational testing and initial operations;
(29)
(i)
Plans for conduct of normal operations, including maintenance, surveillance, and periodic testing of structures, systems, and components;
(30)
Proposed technical specifications prepared in accordance with the requirements of §§
50.36 and
50.36a of this chapter;
(31)
For nuclear power plants to be operated on multi-unit sites, an evaluation of the potential hazards to the structures, systems, and components important to safety of operating units resulting from construction activities, as well as a description of the managerial and administrative controls to be used to provide assurance that the limiting conditions for operation are not exceeded as a result of construction activities at the multi-unit sites;
(32)
The technical qualifications of the applicant to engage in the proposed activities in accordance with the regulations in this chapter;
(33)
A description of the training program required by
§ 50.120 of this chapter and its implementation;
(34)
A description and plans for implementation of an operator requalification program. The operator requalification program must as a minimum, meet the requirements for those programs contained in
§ 55.59 of this chapter;
(35)
(i)
A physical security plan, describing how the applicant will meet the requirements of
10 CFR part 73 (and
10 CFR part 11, if applicable, including the identification and description of jobs as required by
§ 11.11(a) of this chapter, at the proposed facility). The plan must list tests, inspections, audits, and other means to be used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR parts
11 and
73, if applicable;
(ii)
A description of the implementation of the physical security plan;
(36)
(i)
A safeguards contingency plan in accordance with the criteria set forth in appendix C to
10 CFR part 73. The safeguards contingency plan shall include plans for dealing with threats, thefts, and radiological sabotage, as defined in
part 73 of this chapter, relating to the special nuclear material and nuclear facilities licensed under this chapter and in the applicant's possession and control. Each application for this type of license shall include the information contained in the applicant's safeguards contingency plan. 8 (Implementing procedures required for this plan need not be submitted for approval.)
(ii)
A training and qualification plan in accordance with the criteria set forth in appendix B to
10 CFR part 73.
(iii)
A cyber security plan in accordance with the criteria set forth in
§ 73.54 of this chapter;
(iv)
A description of the implementation of the safeguards contingency plan, training and qualification plan, and cyber security plan; and
(v)
Each applicant who prepares a physical security plan, a safeguards contingency plan, a training and qualification plan, or a cyber security plan, shall protect the plans and other related Safeguards Information against unauthorized disclosure in accordance with the requirements of
§ 73.21 of this chapter.
(37)
The information necessary to demonstrate how operating experience insights have been incorporated into the plant design;
(38)
For light-water reactor designs, a description and analysis of design features for the prevention and mitigation of severe accidents, e.g., challenges to containment integrity caused by core-concrete interaction, steam explosion, high-pressure core melt ejection, hydrogen combustion, and containment bypass;
(39)
A description of the radiation protection program required by
§ 20.1101 of this chapter and its implementation.
(40)
A description of the fire protection program required by
§ 50.48 of this chapter and its implementation.
(41)
For applications for light-water-cooled nuclear power plant combined licenses, an evaluation of the facility against the Standard Review Plan (SRP) revision in effect 6 months before the docket date of the application. The evaluation required by this section shall include an identification and description of all differences in design features, analytical techniques, and procedural measures proposed for a facility and those corresponding features, techniques, and measures given in the SRP acceptance criteria. Where a difference exists, the evaluation shall discuss how the proposed alternative provides an acceptable method of complying with the Commission's regulations, or portions thereof, that underlie the corresponding SRP acceptance criteria. The SRP is not a substitute for the regulations, and compliance is not a requirement;
(42)
Information demonstrating how the applicant will comply with requirements for reduction of risk from anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) events in
§ 50.62 of this chapter;
(43)
Information demonstrating how the applicant will comply with requirements for criticality accidents in
§ 50.68 of this chapter;
(44)
A description of the fitness-for-duty program required by 10 CFR part 26 and its implementation.
(46)
A description of the plant-specific probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and its results.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[72 FR 49517, Aug. 28, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 63571, Oct. 24, 2008; 74 FR 13970, Mar. 27, 2009; 74 FR 28147, June 12, 2009; 76 FR 72600, Nov. 23, 2011; 78 FR 34249, June 7, 2013; 84 FR 63568, Nov. 18, 2019; 88 FR 80078, Nov. 16, 2023]
Authority
Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 103, 104, 147, 149, 161, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 189, 223, 234 (42 U.S.C. 2133, 2134, 2167, 2169, 2201, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2235, 2236, 2239, 2273, 2282); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.
Source
Source: 72 FR 49517, Aug. 28, 2007, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[72 FR 49517, Aug. 28, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 63571, Oct. 24, 2008; 74 FR 13970, Mar. 27, 2009; 74 FR 28147, June 12, 2009; 76 FR 72600, Nov. 23, 2011; 78 FR 34249, June 7, 2013; 84 FR 63568, Nov. 18, 2019; 88 FR 80078, Nov. 16, 2023]