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This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to add new emergency preparedness requirements for small modular reactors and other new technologies such as non-light-water reactors and non-power production or utilization facilities.  The rule would adopt a scalable plume exposure pathway emergency planning zone approach that is performance-based, consequence-oriented, and technology-inclusive.  This rulemaking would affect applicants for new NRC licenses and reduce regulatory burden related to the exemption process. 

Statement of Need:

Current emergency preparedness (EP) regulations do not sufficiently reflect the advances in designs and more recent safety research, particularly with respect to small modular reactors (SMRs) and other new technologies (ONTs), such as non-light-water reactors (non-LWRs) and medical isotope facilities. 

Summary of the Legal Basis:

None.

Alternatives:

None.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

The proposed rule would be projected to result in a cost-justified change based on a net (i.e., accounting for both costs and benefits) averted cost to the industry that ranges from $4.72 million using a 7-percent discount rate to $7.56 million using a 3-percent discount rate. Relative to the regulatory baseline, the NRC would realize a net averted cost of $1.17 million using a 7-percent discount rate and $2.16 million using a 3-percent discount rate. The proposed rule alternative would result in net averted costs to the industry and the NRC ranging from $5.89 million using a 7-percent discount rate to $9.71 million using a 3-percent discount rate.

Risks:

None.