Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Video recording of RIC2026 Technical Session: W8- Building Smarter: Accelerating Advanced Reactor Construction
Note: the subtitles are 90% accurate.
The NRC is adapting its regulatory framework to align with advanced reactor technologies by refining what qualifies as "construction" and ensuring right sized, safety focused oversight that enables efficient, safe, and timely deployment. This session will highlight the NRC's efforts to enable more efficient construction, implementation of tailored oversight activities of advanced reactors, and insights from construction activities. It will focus on changes to the application of the definition of "construction," the Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program development progress, developer perspectives and experience with construction, and insights from developers on the factory fabrication process. It will provide the audience with an understanding of how recent regulatory initiatives expand opportunities for preconstruction activities, improve oversight efficiency, and support the safe deployment of next generation nuclear technologies.
SESSION CHAIR(S): Matthew J. Marzano, Commissioner, NRC - Opening Remarks
SPEAKER(S):
Jonathan Greives, Acting Director, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities, NRR/NRC, Enabling and Overseeing the Safe Construction of Advanced Reactors
George Wilson, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Terrapower, LLC , Building Smarter: Accelerating Advanced Reactor Construction
Beth Vary, Director, Advanced Reactor Licensing, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Role of Regulatory Hold Points in NPP Construction
Michelle Catts, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Licensing, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, BWRX-300: Helping Deliver Low-Carbon Electricity at Scale
SESSION COORDINATORS(S):
James O'Driscoll, Senior Project Manager, NRR/NRC tel: (301) 415-1325, e-mail: James.O'Driscoll@nrc.gov
Video recording of RIC2026 Technical Session: W8- Building Smarter: Accelerating Advanced Reactor Construction
Note: the subtitles are 90% accurate.
The NRC is adapting its regulatory framework to align with advanced reactor technologies by refining what qualifies as "construction" and ensuring right sized, safety focused oversight that enables efficient, safe, and timely deployment. This session will highlight the NRC's efforts to enable more efficient construction, implementation of tailored oversight activities of advanced reactors, and insights from construction activities. It will focus on changes to the application of the definition of "construction," the Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program development progress, developer perspectives and experience with construction, and insights from developers on the factory fabrication process. It will provide the audience with an understanding of how recent regulatory initiatives expand opportunities for preconstruction activities, improve oversight efficiency, and support the safe deployment of next generation nuclear technologies.
SESSION CHAIR(S): Matthew J. Marzano, Commissioner, NRC - Opening Remarks
SPEAKER(S):
Jonathan Greives, Acting Director, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities, NRR/NRC, Enabling and Overseeing the Safe Construction of Advanced Reactors
George Wilson, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Terrapower, LLC , Building Smarter: Accelerating Advanced Reactor Construction
Beth Vary, Director, Advanced Reactor Licensing, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Role of Regulatory Hold Points in NPP Construction
Michelle Catts, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Licensing, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, BWRX-300: Helping Deliver Low-Carbon Electricity at Scale
SESSION COORDINATORS(S):
James O'Driscoll, Senior Project Manager, NRR/NRC tel: (301) 415-1325, e-mail: James.O'Driscoll@nrc.gov
