Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 038ef757-4de1-42af-8663-ffdbf7789d63
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Standard Format and Content of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2523/ML25234A141.pdf
Revision Date: 2026-02
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.70
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
new reactor licensing. As such, RG 1.70 is no longer being exclusively used by applicants for licensing new reactors. RG 1.206, Revision 1, was developed to provide guidance to applicants who planned to use the 10 CFR Part 52 process to reference an early site permit, a design certification (DC), both, or neither, in a Combined License application. RG 1.206 was based on the existing guidance provided in RG 1.70. RG 1.206 provides additional guidance from where RG 1.70 left off. 1 The acronym for LWR is Light Water Reactor There has been increased focus on licensing new advanced and small modular reactors (SMR) (including microreactors), which feature lower safety risk levels, new technology, and novel processes, all of which are not completely addressed by existing regulations and guidance. The staff recognized gaps in RG 1.206, NUREG-0800, and RG 1.70, and in response developed Interim Staff Guidance DNRL-ISG-2022-01, “Safety Review of Light-Water Power Reactor Construction Permit Applications.” In the LWR space the staff has been engaged with significant pre-application activities. As far as SMR LWR applications, the staff reviewed and issued the NuScale SMR DC under Part 52, using RG 1.206, and NUREG 0800. The Clinch River SMR Construction Permit (CP) application is currently under review under Part 50, using a combination of RG 1.70, RG 1.206, NUREG 0800, and DNRL-ISG-2022-01. Ongoing rulemaking per SRM-SECY-23-0021, under Part 53 “Risk Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors,” offers a performance-based alternative regulatory framework for licensing future commercial nuclear plants, including non-LWRs and LWRs, SMRs, and microreactors. Ongoing rulemaking for microreactors associated with SRM-SECY-24-0008 and SECY- 25-0052 address regulatory and guidance gaps associated with microreactors, such as manufacturing and testing of multiple reactors in factories, transportation, fueling, spent fuel storage, and