Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 559a23f1-8bbf-427c-898a-b389648c996a
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Guidance for Changes During Construction for New Nuclear Power Plants Being Constructed Under a Combined License Referencing a Certified Design Under 10 CFR Part 52 + HISTORY - HISTORY 04/2020 – DG-1321 , Proposed Revision 0
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1934/ML19340B290.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.237
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Content:
an opt to submit a request to the NRC seeking a determination on whether the NRC objects to the licensee proceeding with construction changes, subject to strict conditions, before the agency completes its review of the associated license amendment and any associated exemption request from the certification information for a construction change. COL-ISG-025 indicates that changes to the facility that require a license amendment and any associated exemption from certification information would require an NRC determination of “No Objection” to the PAR before the construction of the plant change or modification. (The staff notes that a proposed change to inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria (ITAAC) that are part of Tier 1 requires an amendment pursuant to 10 CFR 52.98(f) and also requires an exemption under Section VIII.A and 10 CFR 52.63(b). The exemption must meet the standards set forth in 10 CFR 52.7.) However, a “No Objection” finding does not imply preapproval of the associated license amendment and (if applicable) exemption request. The PAR process allows for at- risk construction pending NRC review and approval of the required license amendment and any associated exemption from the certification information. On October 23, 2018, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) submitted a letter (Ref. 12) requesting that the NRC consider clarifying the requirements for the timing of changes during construction of a facility pursuant to a COL. While the NRC recognizes that additional flexibility during construction may also come at the cost of reduced regulatory stability, the NRC staff has determined that additional flexibility for changes during construction pursuant to a COL is justified. Accordingly, this draft RG DG-1321, Page 6 clarifies the timing of when a licensee may begin construction of facility SSCs pursuant to a COL in accordance with a change to or departure from the design of the facility as described in the FSAR, as updated, including