Since the U.S. adoption of commercial nuclear power, large-scale commercial reactors — typically boiling or pressurized water designs — have been licensed under the provisions of 10 C.F.R. Part 50 (Part 50) and later 10 C.F.R. Part 52 (Part 52). Under these licensing approaches, license applicants submit construction and operating license permits in a multiyear process largely tailored to address the risks and controls necessary to operate bespoke, large-scale nuclear power plants at a specific site.

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