Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: f01d709b-086b-4bc7-9dc5-ed791695faa4
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Use of Plant Parameter Envelope In Early Site Permit Applications for Nuclear Power Plants + HISTORY - HISTORY 06/2021 – DG-4029 , Proposed Revision 0
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2104/ML21049A181.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-05
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.27
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
t of the review of a specific nuclear plant design. Use of a PPE allows an ESP applicant to defer the decision of what design to build to the COL stage. The ESP application requires a determination by the NRC as to the suitability of a site for the construction and operation of one or more nuclear reactors. It is not an authorization to construct or operate the nuclear reactor referenced or described in the ESP application or, in the case of a PPE design, a reactor whose design characteristics fall within the design parameters postulated in the PPE. A PPE is a set of plant design parameter values that an ESP applicant expects will bound the design characteristics of a reactor or reactors that might be constructed at a given site. Therefore, the PPE serves as a surrogate for reactor design information that is not available or for a reactor design that is not final. As documented in J. Lyon’s letter to R. Simard (Ref. 6) on the resolution of ESP topic 6, the use of the PPE approach allows an ESP applicant to defer the decision on what reactor design to build to the COL stage. An applicant may use a PPE to support demonstration of compliance with 10 CFR 52.17, “Contents of applications; technical information.” The combination of site characteristics and PPE values will comprise the ESP bases that will be the focus for comparison in the event a COL application is submitted for the site. At the COL stage, the applicant would determine if the design-specific vendor information for the selected reactor design falls within the PPE values and, if not, would appropriately address the impacts in the COL application. Consideration of International Standards The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) works with member states and other partners to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. The IAEA develops Safety Requirements and Safety Guides for protecting people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. This system of