원자력 발전: NRC의 추가 조치 필요 (NUCLEAR POWER: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors)
본 보고서는 원자로 허가를 담당하는 원자력규제위원회(NRC)가 추후 추가적으로 취해야 할 조치를 제시합니다.
GAO is making four recommendations, including that NRC establish benchmarks and measures to assess the effectiveness of its recruitment, relocation, and retention strategies and incentives to help NRC retain and hire the staff to license advanced reactors. NRC generally agreed with our recommendations.
Our nation’s demand for energy is expected to grow in the coming decades. To address this demand, Congress has supported the development of advanced nuclear reactors. NRC officials anticipate receiving a significant increase in the number of applications for advanced reactors in the next several years. However, because NRC’s regulations and licensing processes have been used to evaluate existing nuclear reactor technologies, NRC is in the process of making changes to license advanced reactors. GAO was asked to review NRC’s preparedness to review applications for advanced nuclear reactors. This report examines (1) NRC’s actions to modify its licensing process to include advanced reactors and (2) the extent to which modifications to NRC’s licensing process have prepared the agency to review advanced reactors. GAO reviewed statutes, NRC regulations and guidance; analyzed NRC documentation on the modifications to its licensing process; interviewed NRC officials; and interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 17 stakeholders.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has taken several actions to modify its licensing process to include advanced nuclear reactors—nuclear fission reactors that may offer significant improvements over the most recent generation of nuclear fission reactors and may involve first-of-a-kind designs. For example, NRC reorganized its offices responsible for licensing advanced reactors and established dedicated review teams to provide continuity of staff throughout the review of an advanced reactor license application. NRC also issued a regulatory roadmap to help advanced reactor developers navigate the agency’s licensing process. Furthermore, NRC has engaged with the nuclear industry to develop a technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based approach for assessing advanced reactor applications. NRC has also cooperated with the Department of Energy to share technical expertise and has incorporated feedback from several federal agencies and other stakeholders regarding modifications to its licensing process.