(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a standard design certification issued under this subpart is valid for 40 years from the effective date of the rule.
(b) A standard design certification continues to be valid beyond the date of expiration in any proceeding on an application for a COL or an OL under this part that references the standard design certification and is docketed either before the date of expiration of the certification, or, if a timely application for renewal of the certification has been filed, before the Commission has determined whether to renew the certification. A design certification also continues to be valid beyond the date of expiration in any hearing held under § 53.1452 before operation begins under a COL that references the design certification.
(c) An applicant for a CP, OL, COL, or ML under this part may, at its own risk, reference in its application a design for which a design certification application has been docketed but not granted.
authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 101, 103, 108, 122, 147, 161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234 (
42 U.S.C. 2014,
2131,
2132,
2133,
2134,
2135,
2138,
2152,
2167,
2169,
2201,
2231,
2232,
2233,
2234,
2235,
2236,
2237,
2239,
2273,
2282; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (
42 U.S.C. 5841,
5842,
5846,
5851; Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, sec. 306 (
42 U.S.C. 10226); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (
42 U.S.C. 4332);
44 U.S.C. 3504 note; Pub. L. 115-439, 132 Stat. 5571
source: 91 FR 15794, Mar. 30, 2026, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 10 CFR 53.1251