10 CFR Part 52, Licenses, Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants

The licensing processes in part 52 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), “Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants,” provide for issuance of early site permits (ESPs), standard design approvals (SDAs) and certifications, manufacturing licenses (MLs), and combined licenses (COLs) for commercial nuclear power reactors. The applicants submit updated reports, applications for renewals, exemption requests and maintain records of changes to the facility and records of detailed design related information. These licensing procedures are options to the two step licensing process in 10 CFR part 50, which provides for a construction permit (CP) and an operating license (OL). The part 52 licensing process places procedural requirements in part 52 and technical requirements in part 50. Part 52 can reduce the overall paperwork burden borne by applicants for CPs and OLs because part 52 only requires a single application and provides options for referencing standardized designs. The information in 10 CFR part 52 is needed by the agency to assess the adequacy and suitability of an applicant's site, plant design, construction, training and experience, plans and procedures for the protection of public health and safety. Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.206 , “Applications for Nuclear Power Plants” (ML18131A181) provides guidance for applicants for COLs for nuclear power plants. Section C.2.1 of RG 1.206 deals with pre-application activities for respondents who intend to submit applications for COLs for nuclear power plants. Pre-application activities encompass all the communications, correspondence, meetings, document submittals/reviews, and other interactions that occur between the NRC staff and a prospective applicant before the tendering of an application under 10 CFR part 52. Participation in pre-application activities is voluntary. Potential applicants who engage in preapplication activities benefit from an early NRC staff assessment of the completeness and level of detail of the information that the applicant proposes to submit and staff identification of potential deficiencies in the application. Pre-application activities are expected to increase the efficiency of the staff's review of those applications once they are submitted. Subpart B of 10 CFR part 52 establishes the process for obtaining design certifications.

The latest form for 10 CFR Part 52, Licenses, Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants expires 2027-05-31 and can be found here.