Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2 issued the following announcement on Aug. 16.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission today
signed an historic Memorandum of Cooperation for both agencies to increase regulatory effectiveness
through collaborative work on the technical reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor
technologies.
The memorandum represents a uniquely important step in both countries’ strong commitment to
a more effective, efficient, and timely analysis of next-generation technologies, and both agencies’
safety and security mission. The NRC and CNSC are building on the joint Memorandum of
Understanding signed in August 2017, accelerating efforts to realize innovation in the review of
advanced reactor and small modular reactor technology concepts.
“Today’s signing of this memorandum further shapes our commitment to open and
transformative thinking with our Canadian partners, enhancing our willingness to work together on
matters of advanced nuclear power safety developments while increasing regulatory effectiveness,” said
NRC Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki. “Advanced technologies are emerging at a rapid pace, demanding
that regulators keep in step with modernization initiatives and the technologies of the future.”
“Globally, interest and advances in small modular and advanced reactors are growing rapidly.
The CNSC and the U.S. NRC are working together as regulatory leaders to ensure the development and
deployment of these innovative technologies are done safely and efficiently,” said CNSC President and
Chief Executive Officer Rumina Velshi. “The signing of this memorandum further strengthens our
long-standing history of collaboration with our U.S. counterparts and ensures the effectiveness and
efficiency of our regulatory oversight for the future.”
The MOC is the first of its kind between the U.S. and Canadian regulators on matters involving
nuclear power development. Svinicki and Velshi announced in June that the two agencies would begin
exploring enhanced bilateral cooperation through joint regulatory reviews of developing nuclear
technologies, to include advanced reactors and small modular reactors.
According to the MOC, both the NRC and CNSC will work under the previously established
steering committee to immediately begin developing the infrastructure needed to share and evaluate
cooperative opportunities and best practices in the analysis of advanced reactor and small modular
reactor designs. The MOC underscores the readiness of the U.S. NRC and CNSC to increase
collaboration and facilitate joint technical reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor
designs to ensure safety and support each agency’s regulatory decisions.
Original source can be found here.
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