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This rule would provide a risk-informed, performance-based regulatory framework for nuclear power plants.  The rulemaking is primarily intended for advanced reactors, but could be used by small modular reactors or any other non-large light water reactors.  An ANPR was published in 2006, but the rulemaking effort has not advanced.

The Commission approved the staff's recommendation to defer rulemaking for risk informed and performance based reactor requirements for advanced reactors until after the development of the licensing strategy for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), or receipt of an application for a Pebble Bed Modular Reactor design certification or combined license.  The Commission directed the staff to provide a recommendation on initiating rulemaking 6 months after the development of the licensing strategy for the NGNP is finalized.  Subsequently, the NGNP project was terminated.  Because there is no near-term licensing test to use as a basis for determining how this rulemaking should proceed, the staff recommended and the Commission approved discontinuation of the rulemaking in (SRM/SECY-16-0021).