The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has certified the design for the first American-designed small modular nuclear reactor (SMR).
The NRC issued its final ruling in the Federal Register on Jan. 19 to certify the emissions-free small modular reactor by the Oregon-based NuScale Power, which will take effect on Feb. 21.
The final determination prevents the SMR from being legally challenged when a utility applies to build and operate a nuclear power plant in the United States, NRC spokesman Scott Burnell told CBS News last week.
NuScale’s power module is the first SMR design certified by the NRC and the seventh reactor design cleared for use. Previously approved designs were the traditionally large, light-water reactors….