Legal and Regulatory Issues Raised by Future Power Plant Design and Siting Considerations

It is proposed that the regulations governing currently existing, as well as anticipated improved and evolutionary reactor designs (such as Gen III and Gen III+), may be inadequate to appropriately regulate newer and fundamentally different designs (such as Gen IV, Pebble Bed, FBR, as well as small long-lifetime units (Toshiba/CRIEPI). Recent interest has been raised in underground nuclear parks, medium to small semi-portable reactors to provide the energy for advanced oil recovery programs (from oil shale and tar sands) and other uses. This paper will identify an overall framework for proposed future licensing procedures not in conflict with existing statutes and regulations. The goal is to demonstrate that the extension of current laws and regulations into such contemplated areas will do much to reduce costs, simplify procedures, and enhance operational safety and security in the areas of proliferation, containment, and waste utilization and/or disposal.