NuScale US460 standard design approval: NRC standard design approval review for NuScale Power, LLC — issued, 21.9 months from docketing to decision. Sourced dates and schedule.
Background: NRC reactor licensing process, explained · The ADVANCE Act, explained: what changed and where the NRC stands
Current state
| Type | Standard design approval |
| Outcome | Issued |
| Applicant | NuScale Power, LLC |
| Facility | NuScale US460 (6 x 77 MWe modules, 462 MWe) |
| Docket | 52-050 |
| Submitted | 2023-01-01 |
| Docketed (accepted for review) | 2023-07-31 |
| NRC planned schedule | 24 months |
| NRC target date | — |
| Final safety evaluation | 2025-05-22 |
| Decision | 2025-05-29 |
| Review time (docketed → decision) | 21.9 mo |
| Submitted → decision | 28.9 mo |
| NRC-reported review duration | 22 months |
| NRC-reported resources vs estimate | 8% under |
Review time is measured in average months from the date the NRC docketed the application to the decision. The NRC's own reported durations may measure to the final safety evaluation instead.
Notes
NRC target decision: 2025-07 (month only). Docketed pre-ADVANCE, decided post-ADVANCE. NRC page: 'Standard Design Approval (SDA) was issued in May of 2025 - two months ahead of schedule.' 22 executed months ~ docketing (2023-07-31) to FSER (2025-05-22). Submitted: Staged submittal: FR 2023-05457 'The SDA application was submitted in a number of transmittals between the period of November 23, 2022, and December 31, 2022.' and 'was available on January 1, 2023'. Docketed: Acceptance review took ~7 months (supplemental information requested).
Timeline
- 2023-01-01 — Application received: “By letter dated December 31, 2022 (electronically submitted on January 1, 2023), NuScale completed its staged SDA application submittal.” (source)
- 2023-07-31 — Accepted for review (docketed): “The NRC staff provided NuScale notice of the staff's determination that its application was acceptable for docketing by letter dated July 31, 2023” (source)
- 2025-05-22 — Final safety evaluation issued. (source)
- 2025-05-29 — Issued: “The SDA was issued on May 29, 2025.” (source)
The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. See the NNN Data License Terms for reuse of the event history.
NNN coverage
About NuScale US460 (VOYGR)
About NuScale Power
Related reviews
- NuScale US600 standard design approval Issued · —
- NuScale US600 small modular reactor design certification Issued · 71.3 mo
See all 75 reviews in the NRC Licensing Review Tracker →
Sources
- https://www.nrc.gov/facilities-safety/new-reactors/advanced-reactors/who-were-working-with/past-licensing-activities/nuscale-us460
- https://www.nrc.gov/facilities-safety/new-reactors/advanced-reactors/who-were-working-with/past-licensing-activities/nuscale-us460/application-documents
- https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-05457
- https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-16679
- https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-10123
- https://www.nrc.gov/regulations-legislation/effectiveness-efficiency-and-timeliness-initiatives-that-support-unleashing-american-energy/licensing-efficiencies