Process of approving a new SMR follows NRC regulations (part 52 in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations) in the most part (other agencies can have an impact on the approval).

First step is information discussions with the NRC staff, those discussions help the applicant understand what they must do and what the process is. It is not required, but it a recommended step. The March 2024 guidance document includes:

* safety Analysis Report

Chapter 1 - General Plant Information, Site Description, and Overview of the Safety Analysis

Chapter 2 - Methodologies, Analyses, and Site Evaluations

Chapter 3 - Licensing Basis Events

Chapter 4 - Integrated Evaluations

Chapter 5 - Safety Functions, Design Criteria, and SSC Categorization

Chapter 6 - Safety-Related SSC Criteria and Capabilities

Chapter 7 - Non-Safety-Related with Special Treatment (NSRST) SSC Criteria and Capabilities

Chapter 8 - Plant Programs

Chapter 9 - Control of Routine Plant Radioactive Effluents, Plant Contamination, and Solid Waste

Chapter 10 - Control of Occupational Dose

Chapter 11 - Organization and Human-Systems Considerations

Chapter 12 - Post Construction Inspection, Testing, and Analysis Program.

* technical specifications

* technical requirements manual

* quality assurance (QA) plan

* fire protection program (design)

* probabilistic risk assessment

* emergency preparedness

* security plans

* cyber security plan

* special nuclear material (SNM) control and accountability

* fire protection program (operational)

* radiation protection program

* offsite dose calculation manual

* in service inspection (ISI) and in service testing (IST)

* environmental report and site redress plan

* financial qualification and insurance and liability

* fitness for duty

* inspections, tests, analysis and acceptance criteria (ITAAC)

* aircraft impact assessment

* performance demonstration requirements

* Nuclear Waste Policy Act

* operational programs

Many of these documents can take hundreds to thousands of research and engineering models. The process of completing the documents is a multi-year effort without out major backing and support. In the guiding document (DANU-ISG-2022-01) there are no timelines for the NRC to complete reviews, or requirements fully review documents for all issues.

SMR I - Announcement of Small Modular Reactor Series

SMR II - Major types of reactors

SMR III - Why is 300 megawatts the dividing line for SMR?