Small Modular Reactor Project In Idaho Achieves Major Milestone

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
February 13, 2022

Carbon Free Power Project, LLC (CFPP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, continues to advance the development and deployment of its first-of-a-kind small modular reactor nuclear plant at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

CFPP successfully and safely completed field investigation activities at the site in January 2022, a major milestone for the project.  

In August 2021, CFPP initiated field activities at the CFPP site at Idaho National Laboratory.

This phase of field work involved detailed geotechnical surface and subsurface investigations to further characterize the geologic properties underlying the site and support the analysis of potential volcanic and seismic hazards.

It also established a groundwater monitoring network to support protection of the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer and commissioned an on-site meteorological monitoring station to collect site-specific atmospheric data.  

Safety performance has been outstanding on the project through completion of the site investigation activities at the CFPP site, CFPP said.

In parallel with the completion of field work at the CFPP site, the project is also moving forward with the development of a combined license application in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Analysis of the data collected from the site investigation efforts, as well as a two-year monitoring campaign, will be presented in the application to address key safety and environmental considerations associated with the siting and licensing for the reactor.

The application will also provide additional project specific facility design information, which will support the NRC’s safety and environmental reviews as well as public consultations. 

Development of the combined license application is being managed by Fluor Corporation, under contract with CFPP, with support and technical expertise from NuScale Power.

The CFPP will deploy a NuScale power plant that is based on NuScale’s small modular reactor technology.  

In addition to addressing the suitability of the site and the environmental impacts assessment, the combined license application will also present information related to the applicant’s qualifications and the facility security and emergency plans.  

Completion of the combined license application and submittal to the NRC is scheduled for early 2024. Startup and commissioning of the CFPP is planned for 2029.