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Clinch River Nuclear Site Application

Image of Clinch River Nuclear Site for illustrative purpose only
Graphic provided by Tennessee Valley Authority

Who:   Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
What:   Application for a Construction Permit for a small modular reactor (BWRX-300)
When:   April 2025 to present (date of application submittal)                                                                                         
February 2022 to April 2025 (pre-application)
Website:   https://www.tva.com/energy/technology-innovation/advanced-nuclear-solutions
Dashboard:   TVA Clinch River Dashboard

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Project Overview

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently engaged in review activities for Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) construction permit application for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This comes after the NRC’s issuance of the site’s Early Site Permit (ESP) in 2019.

Additional information on pre-application activities can be obtained from ADAMS using a search by docket number 99902056.

Additional information regarding the ESP can be found at Clinch River Nuclear Site Early Site Permit webpage.

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Topical Reports

Submittal Date Title Reference Status
08/25/2022 Clinch River, Topical Report Quality Assurance Program Description for New Nuclear Program Rev 0

Rev 1

Rev 2

Safety Evaluation Issued

Verification Letter for -A Version of QAPD Topical Report

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Public Meeting Materials and Meeting Summaries

Meeting Date Title
01/14/2025 Meeting between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding TVA’s request for clarification and alignment on the acceptability of TVA's approach to mapping of geology and geologic features during excavation activities at the Clinch River Nuclear Site
12/05/2024 Meeting between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Tennessee Valley Authority regarding Tennessee Valley Authority’s request for clarification on the following question: “When the Spent Fuel Pool and Reactor Cavity pool water volumes are cojoined during refueling operation (Pool divider gate removed), is the Regulatory Guidance provided in Regulatory Guide 1.13 and Standard Review Plans 9.1.2 and 9.1.4 applicable to the contiguous volume of water?
10/18/2023 Pre-Submittal Meeting for CRN PSAR Chapter 7 NRC Annotated Outline Audit Comments on Use of NRC I&C Design Review Guide
09/13/2023 TVA Clinch River CRN-1 Reactor Building Excavation
10/03/2022 Pre-Application Topics for Discussion
08/22/2022 Pre-Application Standing Meeting with Tennessee Valley Authority on Matters Related to the Development of a Construction Permit Application for the Clinch River Nuclear Site
05/02/2023 TVA CRN Strategy on Structural and Seismic Analyses based on existing Subsurface Investigation

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Audits and Audit Reports

Title Status/Report
Pre-Application Readiness Assessment Activities and Audit Plan for the Clinch River Nuclear Site Draft Application Complete
Construction Permit Readiness Assessment for TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear Site (Preliminary Safety Analysis Report)

Safety Review Summary Report

Enclosure 1 to Summary Report
Construction Permit Readiness Assessment for TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear Site (Environmental Report)

Environmental Report Summary Report

Enclosure to Summary Report

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Exemption Requests

Title Status/Report
Request for Exemption from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR 2.101(a)(5) Granted
Request for Exemption from 10 CFR 50.10(c) to Allow Excavation at the Clinch River Nuclear Site Prior to Construction Permit Issuance Granted
Final Environmental Assessment for the Clinch River Nuclear Site Exemption Request Complete
Clinch River Exemption Request EA Issuance Letter Complete
Letter to Tennessee Valley Authority transmitting Exemption Allowing Early Excavation at the Clinch River Nuclear Site Complete
Letter to Tennessee Valley Authority - NRC Acceptance of Exemption Request on Early Excavation at the Clinch River Nuclear Site Complete
NRC's Response to TVA's Request for Regulatory Interpretation of the Applicability of 10 CFR 50.10(a)(1) to the Permanent Backfill underneath the Power Block Foundations Complete
Letter to Tennessee Valley Authority - Geologic and Geotechnical Audit Plan, Exemption for Early Excavation at the Clinch River Nuclear Site Complete

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Key Milestones

Milestones Completion Date
Actual - A
Target - T
Environmental Report Submitted (Part One) April 28, 2025 – A
Preliminary Safety Analysis Report Submitted (Part Two) May 20, 2025 – A
Environmental Report Acceptance Review Completion (Decision Letter Issued) June 12, 2025 – A
Preliminary Safety Analysis Report Acceptance Review Completion (Decision Letter Issued) July 11, 2025 – T; July 9, 2025 - A
Review Schedule Established/Schedule Letter Issued to Applicant TBD
Safety Review* TBD
Environmental Review* TBD
Hearing TBD
Construction Permit Decision TBD

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Contacts

Contacts for Clinch River Nuclear Site
Safety Project Manager (co-lead) Allen Fetter
Safety Project Manager (co-lead) Stacy Joseph
Safety Project Manager Ricky Vivanco
Safety Project Manager Jordan Glisan
Safety Project Manager India Banks
Environmental Project Manager Madelyn Nagel
Contact a Public Affairs Officer

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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, August 08, 2025

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, August 08, 2025