NRC: News Release - 2006-012 - NRC Publishes Certification Rule for Westinghouse’s AP1000 Advanced Reactor Design

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 06-012

January 31, 2006

NRC PUBLISHES CERTIFICATION RULE FOR
WESTINGHOUSE’S AP1000 ADVANCED REACTOR DESIGN
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued its final design certification rule for the AP1000 advanced reactor design, submitted by Westinghouse Electric Co. in March 2002. The certification, contained in the NRC’s amended regulations, is the fourth issued under the agency's new reactor licensing process for standard design certification. The rule’s publication follows the Office of Management and Budget’s approval of the rule’s information collection requirements.

Applicants for a combined license may reference a certified design. In deciding whether to issue a combined license, the Commission is to treat as resolved those issues settled in the certified design rule.

The NRC issued the proposed AP1000 design certification rule in April 2005, inviting the public to submit comments on the AP1000 design control document, the proposed rule and the environmental assessment. The rule certifying the AP1000 design will become effective Feb. 27. The NRC plans to issue a revised final design approval for the AP1000 to make it consistent with the design certification rule. Further information on the AP1000 review can be found on the NRC’s web site at this address: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/design-cert/ap1000.html.