Clinch River construction permit recommendation follows safety evaluation

[Marlin]

Clinch River construction permit recommendation follows safety evaluation

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-01/article-8174/clinch-river-construction-permit-recommendation-follows-safety-evaluation/

[Core Content]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff recommended issuing a construction permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority to build a BWRX-300 reactor at the Clinch River site. The safety evaluation report confirms the application meets regulatory criteria, though the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards noted specific technical requirements for operational testing and system performance. The review process is currently ahead of schedule, with projected staff hours reduced from previous estimates.

Staff at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have recommended the agency issue a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority for its plans to construct a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) BWRX-300 reactor at the Clinch River site in Tennessee, according to the safety evaluation report published as part of the construction permit...

The recommendation to the commissioners is a boon for the project, which proposes constructing a 300-MWe boiling water reactor in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The June report—available in the NRC ADAMS library—presents the NRC staff's review of TVA's 2025 application and any additional information staff received through April of this year.

The findings: According to NRC staff, the application met five key criteria:

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-01/article-8174/clinch-river-construction-permit-recommendation-follows-safety-evaluation/