{"score":51.797546,"highlights":null,"semanticSearch":{"rerankerScore":null,"captions":null},"document":{"IdT":"EE08D821-97DA-C4BD-8745-A08C55C00000","Id":"{EE08D821-97DA-C4BD-8745-A08C55C00000}","Name":"Ampera, Inc., Revised Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP), Version 1","AccessionNumber":"ML26253A058","Availability":"Publicly Available","AuthorName":["Hamer M"],"AuthorAffiliation":["AMPERA, Inc"],"AddresseeName":[],"AddresseeAffiliation":["NRC/NMSS","NRC/NRR","NRC/Document Control Desk"],"CaseReferenceNumber":["WP-26-09-001"],"Comment":"YG01EIE-Submittal","ContactPerson":null,"DocumentTitle":"Ampera, Inc., Revised Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP), Version 1","DocumentTitleEquals":"Ampera, Inc., Revised Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP), Version 1","DocumentTitleWord":"Ampera, Inc., Revised Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP), Version 1","DateAdded":"2026-09-18","DateAddedTimestamp":"2026-09-18 08:26","DocumentDate":"2026-09-10","DocumentType":["Letter","Report, Technical"],"DocumentReportNumber":[],"DocketNumber":["99902171"],"DistributionListCodes":"A001","DocumentsFiledInPackage":[],"LicenseNumber":[],"Keyword":["EIEAutoPop","ODS","dnd","utsPARS"],"PackageNumber":null,"PackagesFiledIn":[],"Url":"https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2625/ML26253A058.pdf","content":"\n   \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nSeptember 10, 2026                     WP-26-09-001 \n\nU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) \nDirector, Office of Advanced Reactors (OAR) \nDirector, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) \n \nAttention: Document Control Desk \nWashington, D.C. 20555-0001 \n \nDocket Name: AMPERA, Inc. \nDocket No.: 99902171 \n\nRE: Revised Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP), Version 1 \n\nEnclosed with this letter is Version 1 of AMPERA’s proposed REP. This version contains \nadditional information regarding AMPERA’s technology and a proposed schedule that \nsupports license application submittal by October 2027. \n\nAMPERA appreciates NRC’s engagement, thus far, and is looking forward to advancing the \nproposed REP. \n\nNeither this letter nor the enclosed REP contain regulatory commitments. \n\nSincerely, \n\n \n\nMichael Hamer \nDirector, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs \n \n\n354 Hiatt Dr. Ste. 100 \nPalm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 USA \n\nAAiPERA\nEnergy. Redefined.\n\n\n\n \n\n1 \n\nAMPERA, Inc. \nRegulatory Engagement Plan \n\nRevision 1 \n\nSeptember 2026 \n\n \n\nTable of Contents \n\n \n\n1. Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................... 2 \n\nPurpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 \n\nScope ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 \n\n2. Primary Applicant, Project Partners and Points of Contact ................................................................. 2 \n\nAMPERA .................................................................................................................................................... 2 \n\nADDiTECTM ................................................................................................................................................. 3 \n\nAdelphi Technology................................................................................................................................... 3 \n\n3. AMPERA Technology ............................................................................................................................ 3 \n\n4. Regulatory Interfaces ........................................................................................................................... 4 \n\n5. Governance and Meeting Cadence ...................................................................................................... 4 \n\n6. Licensing Path Determination .............................................................................................................. 5 \n\n7. Proposed Licensing Activity Progression .............................................................................................. 5 \n\nApril 2026 through September 2027: Pre-application engagement and application preparation .......... 5 \n\nOctober 2027 through December 2027: Application submittal and acceptance review ......................... 5 \n\nCalendar years 2028 and 2029: Detailed technical review ....................................................................... 5 \n\nLicense implementation ............................................................................................................................ 5 \n\n8. Application Submittal Strategy............................................................................................................. 6 \n\n9. Proposed Licensing Process Schedule .................................................................................................. 6 \n\n10. REP as a Living Document ....................................................................................................................... 9 \n\nRevision Log ................................................................................................................................................ 10 \n\n \n\n  \n\n\n\n \n\n2 \n\n1. Purpose and Scope \n\nPurpose \n\nThis Regulatory Engagement Plan (REP) establishes the framework for communication, pre-\n\napplication activities, technical alignment, review support, and post-license implementation \n\nbetween AMPERA, Inc. (AMPERA) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). It is intended \n\nto reduce regulatory uncertainty, support predictable scheduling, and define how AMPERA will \n\nmanage activities from early engagement through license review and implementation of approved \n\nlicenses.  \n\nBecause AMPERA anticipates submitting its application by October 2027, the plan addresses pre-\n\napplication interactions, acceptance review, detailed technical review, and post-license \n\nimplementation. \n\nScope \n\nThe current scope covers reactor licensing under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) \n\nPart 53 for a manufacturing facility, source material activities under 10 CFR Part 40, and special \n\nnuclear material activities under 10 CFR Part 70 for the fuel fabrication facility, with 10 CFR Part 71 \n\nconsidered later if transportation approvals are needed. With recent and anticipated changes in the \n\nregulatory space for advanced reactor technology, e.g., 10  CFR Part 57, the plan provides flexibility \n\nto adjust to an effective and efficient licensing path where issues can be resolved through pre-\n\napplication engagement and early formal review. \n\n2. Primary Applicant, Project Partners and Points of Contact \n\nAMPERA \n\nAMPERA is a 100% US-owned entity incorporated in the State of Delaware and headquartered in \n\nPalm Beach Gardens, Florida. Founded in 2025 by Chief Executive Officer, Brian Matthews, AMPERA \n\nis a next-generation energy company that is a vertically integrated manufacturer of conventional \n\nand advanced nuclear modular power generation systems. \n\nAMPERA is pioneering subcritical, thorium-fueled, modular microreactor systems that do not \n\nrequire refueling during their core lifetime. The rapidly deployable units are designed to deliver \n\nreliable, low-emission baseload power for energy infrastructures such as data centers, light to heavy \n\nindustry, maritime, microgrids and critical off-grid. \n\nAMPERA will be the sole license applicant, owner and operator of all licensed activities at the \n\nreactor manufacturing facility located in the State of Florida. \n\n\n\n \n\n3 \n\nThe key points of contact from AMPERA for regulatory engagement with the NRC are: \n\n \n\nADDiTECTM \n\nAMPERA has entered into a master services agreement with ADDiTECTM for the research and \n\ndevelopment of the technology to additive manufacture AMPERA’s reactor core and tri-structural \n\nisotropic (TRISO) fuel.  \n\nAdelphi Technology \n\nFounded by Dr. Melvin Piestrup in 1984, Adelphi Technology has established a long track record in \n\nneutron technology development and manufacturing, serving research, industry, and government \n\ncustomers with solutions ranging from compact laboratory systems to high-output neutron \n\ngenerators. As a Silicon Valley developer of advanced neutron source technologies, Adelphi \n\ncontinues to accelerate the development of next-generation neutron generators for advanced \n\nnuclear energy systems.   \n\nOn July 7, 2026, Adelphi Technology entered a strategic partnership with AMPERA, providing \n\nexclusive rights to Adelphi’s ultra-high-yield neutron-generation technology for advanced reactors. \n\nThis transaction aligns the companies as they advance next-generation neutron source capabilities \n\nand further strengthens AMPERA's portfolio of foundational technologies.  \n\nSince late 2025, the companies have collaborated to evaluate advanced neutron source generation \n\ntechnologies for potential use in AMPERA's subcritical reactor platform. The partnership formalizes \n\nthat work and provides a framework for continued technology development and commercialization. \n\n3. AMPERA Technology \n\nAMPERA is developing a factory-built, thorium-fueled, helium cooled, subcritical microreactor that \n\nutilizes a spherical, additively manufactured solid state silicon carbide (SiC) gyroid core.  The core is filled \n\nwith TRISO mixed oxide (MOX) or metal kernel fuel pellets, subjected to integrated external neutron \n\ngenerators. Within each TRISO containment shell, thorium-232 is bred into uranium-233 then burned to \n\nsupport long-duration operation with no refueling, with the TRISO coating providing “functional \n\ncontainment” for fission product gases and daughter products from fission and radioactive decay.  \n\nDr. April Smith \n\nLicensing Strategist \n\nProduct Licensing \n\n354 Hiatt Dr. Ste. 100 \n\nPalm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 USA \n\nTel: (804) 666-8171 \n\nE-mail: april.smith@amperaglobal.com \n\nMichael Hamer \n\nDirector, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs \n\nProduct Licensing \n\n354 Hiatt Dr. Ste. 100 \n\nPalm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 USA \n\nTel: (680) 322-1782 \n\nE-mail: michael.hamer@amperaglobal.com \n\n\n\n \n\n4 \n\nThe reactor is designed to remain subcritical (Keff < 1) over its lifetime, with the external neutron \n\ngenerators allowing variable neutron multiplication to drive chain reactions for modulated power \n\noutput as required.  The current Genisis reactor’s sealed-core, fast-reactor module produces \n\napproximately 30 megawatts-thermal (MWt) or 15 megawatts-electrical (MWe) via a secondary coolant \n\nloop utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) turbine technology.  \n\nThe reactor module will be fueled at the factory and shipped to authorized utilization facilities. Factory-\n\nbuilt power and command modules are intended for fleet deployment, either individually at distributed \n\nsites or grouped into multi-module plants to supply higher power levels, with deployed units remotely \n\nmonitored through a common command module.  \n\n4. Regulatory Interfaces \n\nThe principal regulatory interfaces are:  \n\n• The boundary between the reactor safety case and the materials safety case;  \n\n• Alignment of quality assurance, security, records, and material control and accounting;  \n\n• Consistency between reactor design assumptions and integrated safety analysis assumptions, \n\nand  \n\n• Treatment of environmental, emergency planning, and siting issues that affect more than one \n\napplication.  \n\nAMPERA will manage these issues explicitly so that the application and any later companion applications \n\n(if necessary) rely on a common set of assumptions. \n\n5. Governance and Meeting Cadence \n\nAMPERA will maintain an integrated licensing team consisting of experts in regulatory affairs, safety \n\nanalysis, quality assurance, material control and accounting, security, environmental, and program \n\noversight. This team will be responsible for the licensing schedule, submittal readiness, and response \n\nquality across Parts 40, 53, 70, and any other identified regulatory components. To support consistent \n\nand productive interactions with the NRC, AMPERA proposes the following meetings and activities: \n\n• Monthly project management meetings with NRC staff to review schedule, actions, resource \n\nassumptions, and emerging issues. \n\n• Technical meetings aligned to topical reports, application milestones, and significant review \n\nquestions, e.g., requests for additional information. \n\n• Executive alignment meetings, when needed, to address timing, policy, or cross-team \n\ncoordination. \n\n• Focused familiarization activities for NRC staff to understand the design, operating concept, and \n\nmaterials interfaces before and during review. These activities may include public and closed \n\nmeetings, site visits, and hearings. \n\n\n\n \n\n5 \n\n6. Licensing Path Determination \n\nThis plan assumes that AMPERA’s interactions with the NRC will guide the appropriate licensing path for \n\nreactor and materials licensing. The ultimate path will be informed by the applicability of current and \n\nnew legislation, regulations and guidance, the maturity of the reactor safety case, the eventual licensing \n\nbases for source and special nuclear material, the degree to which topical reports resolve major issues, \n\nand NRC review capacity. \n\nIn collaboration with the NRC, AMPERA will narrow the path options before the license application \n\nsubmittal and will confirm the application review sequence no later than 90 days after the application is \n\ndocketed. Until then, this plan assumes that some activities may proceed in parallel as long as the \n\nunderlying technical and programmatic assumptions remain aligned. \n\n7. Proposed Licensing Activity Progression \n\nApril 2026 through September 2027: Pre-application engagement and application \npreparation \n\nThis period will include focused NRC engagement to familiarize NRC staff on proposed methods, \n\nprogram descriptions, and application content. This period will also identify and close major \n\ntechnical and interface issues across 10 CFR Parts 40, 53, 70, and any other regulatory components \n\nthe NRC identifies. \n\nAMPERA expects this period to include a readiness assessment or comparable audit, closure of \n\nreadiness findings, and a final pre-submittal alignment meeting with the NRC. \n\nOctober 2027 through December 2027: Application submittal and acceptance review \n\nAMPERA will submit a combined license application by October 2027. Details for the combined \n\nlicense application will be provided in a forthcoming topical report to define and describe the \n\nlicensing approach for a combined Part 40, 70 and 53 (or proposed 57) license application, as the \n\napplicable licensed activities will be performed in the same facility.  \n\nThe application will be comprehensive and comply with the regulatory requirements for reactor and \n\nmaterial licensing. During the acceptance review, AMPERA will promptly respond to NRC requests \n\nfor supplemental information and maintain an in-person accessible electronic reading room or \n\nequivalent secure online accessible document set. \n\nCalendar years 2028 and 2029: Detailed technical review \n\nAfter the NRC accepts the application, AMPERA will support a detailed licensing review through \n\nresponses to requests for additional information, technical meetings, application updates, hearings, \n\naudits, and inspections.  \n\nLicense implementation \n\nAfter issuance of the relevant licenses, AMPERA will transition to implementation. That work will \n\ninclude execution of approved programs; completion of required inspections, tests, or startup \n\n\n\n \n\n6 \n\nactivities; support for license conditions; and commencement of licensed manufacturing, \n\nconstruction, possession, or operating activities, as authorized. \n\n8. Application Submittal Strategy \n\nPrior to license application submittal, AMPERA will leverage topical reports to establish regulatory \n\nconfidence in its methodologies, program descriptions, and other reusable technical positions. For \n\nplanning purposes, because AMPERA assumes the NRC can review more than one topical report at a \n\ntime and topical reports require 4 to 6 months for NRC review, it will treat topical reports as critical path \n\nto maintaining the schedule.  \n\nAMPERA will also submit white papers to introduce a new concept, obtain early directional feedback \n\nbefore committing to a more formal position, or frame a licensing path decision that is not suited for a \n\ntopical report. \n\nWith resolution and acceptance of the associated topical reports, AMPERA will submit a license \n\napplication leveraging NRC acceptance in accordance with the approved programmatic and technical \n\nareas. A proposed list of white papers, topical reports, and application documents is described in Section \n\n9. \n\n9. Proposed Licensing Process Schedule \n\nTable 1 presents the current milestone schedule for the full licensing process. AMPERA proposes this \n\nschedule based on pre-application activities and anticipated license submittal requirements.  \n\nTable 2 outlines a proposed schedule and the documents AMPERA expects to develop and submit in \n\nsupport of the milestones in Table 1. AMPERA and the NRC will use the target submittal quarters to \n\ncoordinate document readiness, review sequencing, technical engagement, and NRC resource planning \n\nto prepare for the anticipated October 2027 application submittal. AMPERA will update the table as \n\ndocument scope, technical maturity, dependencies, and NRC review priorities are refined. \n\nTable 1. Proposed Licensing Process Milestones \n\nPeriod Primary activity NRC engagement Principal output \n\nApr–May 2026 \nLaunch pre-application interactions \nand schedule monthly project \nmanagement meetings. \n\nKickoff and early \ncoordination. \n\nRevision 0 REP. \n\nMay–July 2026 \nGet NRC feedback and approval \non the REP. \n\nMeetings and \ncorrespondence on the \nREP \n\nRevision 1 REP. \n\nJuly 2026–May \n2027 \n\nSubmit priority topical reports and \nclose major pre-submittal issues. \n\nPre-submittal feedback \nand technical meetings \non methods and \nprogram descriptions. \n\nRevision to and approval \nof topical reports, closure \nof major pre-submittal \nissues, pre-submittal \nchecklist. \n\nMay–Sep 2027 \nFreeze application submittal scope \nand seek approval of pre-submittal \nchecklist. \n\nPre-submittal \nfeedback. \n\nApproved application \nscope and pre-submittal \nchecklist. \n\n\n\n \n\n7 \n\nSep 2027 \nConduct final pre-submittal \nmeeting. \n\nPre-submittal \nalignment meeting. \n\nFinal application package \nready for submittal. \n\nOct–Dec 2027 \nSubmit application and support \nacceptance review activities. \n\nAcceptance review \ninteractions. \n\nCompleted application. \n\n2028–2029 \n\nSupport detailed technical review, \naudits, inspections, requests for \nadditional information (RAIs), \nsupplements, and updates. \n\nOngoing technical \nreview and project \nmanagement \nmeetings. \n\nClosure of technical \nreview requirements and \napproval of application. \n\n2029 and beyond \n\nImplement issued licenses, support \ninspections and startup readiness, \nand begin licensed activities as \nauthorized. \n\nImplementation, \noversight and \namendment support, \nas needed. \n\nLicensed implementation. \n\n \n\nTable 2. Proposed Licensing Document Submittal Schedule \n\nLegend:  \nLTR – Licensing Topical Report   \nAPPL – Application   \nWP – White Paper \nTBD – To be determined through internal discussions and/or discussions with the NRC \n\n \n\nDocument title Type Description \nSubmittal \nquarter \n\n(calendar year) \n\nUpdated Regulatory Engagement Plan \n\n(Rev. 0 submitted February 2026) \nWP \n\nDescribes AMPERA’s proposed regulatory \n\nengagement and licensing approach; \n\nRevision 0 was submitted in February 2026. \n\nQ3 2026 \n\nTechnical Basis and Materials Selection \n\nEvidence Report for the Seven-Layer \n\nMultilayer Architecture of a Source-\nDriven Subcritical Microreactor \n\nWP \n\nProvides the technical basis and materials-\n\nselection evidence for the seven-layer \n\nmultilayer architecture of a source-driven \nsubcritical microreactor. \n\nQ4 2026 \n\nAdditive Manufacturing of Nuclear \n\nStructural Materials: Process Physics, \n\nPrintability, and Microstructural \n\nEvolution \n\nWP \n\nAddresses process physics, printability, and \n\nmicrostructural evolution for additively \n\nmanufactured nuclear structural materials. \n\nQ4 2026 \n\nPre-license construction facility buildings \n\nand components \nWP \n\nPresents the method for determining \n\nfacility buildings and components \n\nassociated with pre-license construction \n\nand the results of applying the \nmethodology. \n\nTBD \n\n\n\n \n\n8 \n\nDocument title Type Description \nSubmittal \nquarter \n\n(calendar year) \n\nCombined Licensing Approach and \nSchedule for Parts 53, 40 and Part 70 \n\nLTR \n\nSets out the licensing approach and \n\nschedule for a combined licensing package \nthat will address a Part 53 manufacturing \n\nlicense and Parts 40 and Part 70.  \n\nTBD \n\nSafeguards Information Protection \n\nProgram Description \n\nLTR Describes the program for identifying and \n\nprotecting safeguards information. \nTBD \n\nCybersecurity Program Description \n\nLTR Describes the program for addressing \n\ncybersecurity needs during manufacturing, \n\ndeployment, siting, and reactor return. \n\nTBD \n\nPhysical Security Program Description \n\nLTR Describes the program for providing \n\nphysical security to the manufacturing \nfacility, the reactor during transport, and \n\nthe reactor after deployment. \n\nTBD \n\nEmergency Preparedness Program \n\nDescription \n\nLTR Describes the program for emergency \n\npreparedness for manufacturing, \n\ntransportation, and deployed units, \n\nincluding notifications, protective actions, \n\nresponse coordination, drills, and \n\nprotection of workers and the public. \n\nTBD \n\nPre-license construction component \ndetermination method \n\nLTR \nPresents a method for determining pre-\nlicense construction components. \n\nTBD \n\nRadiological Source Term Analysis for \n\nMaximum Hypothetical Accident (MHA) \n\nanalysis \n\nLTR \nAnalyzes the radiological source term for \n\nthe MHA. \n\nTBD \n\nFleet Deployment Program Description LTR \n\nDescribes the fleet deployment program \n\nthat will govern multi-unit distribution to \n\none or more sites and provide reasonable \n\nassurance of compliance with all associated \n\nregulations. \n\nTBD \n\nPrincipal Design Criteria LTR \nIdentifies the principal design criteria based \nupon the regulatory guidance provided in \n\nRG 1.232. \n\nTBD \n\nFuel Qualification Methodology LTR \nDescribes the methodology for fuel \n\nqualification. \n\nTBD \n\n\n\n \n\n9 \n\nDocument title Type Description \nSubmittal \nquarter \n\n(calendar year) \n\nHigh Temperature Materials Qualification LTR \nAddresses qualification of high-\n\ntemperature materials. \n\nTBD \n\nSafety System Classification and Event \n\nScenario Identification Methodologies \nLTR \n\nDescribes methodologies for safety-system \nclassification and event-scenario \n\nidentification. \n\nTBD \n\nTechnical Specifications LTR \nProvides the proposed technical \n\nspecifications. \n\nTBD \n\nFee Waiver Request APPL \n\nA request to be exempt from application \n\nand review fees based on the first of a kind \n\nnature of the technology, being the first to \n\napply for a Part 53 reactor manufacturing \nlicense, and being a small business \n\nQ4 2026 \n\nEnvironmental Report APPL \n\nEnvironmental report as required based on \n\nthe generic environmental impact \n\nstatement requirements. \n\nQ2 2027 \n\nPart 53 Reactor Manufacturing License APPL \nApplication for a Part 53 reactor \n\nmanufacturing license. \nQ4 2027 \n\nPart 40 Source Material Possession \n\nLicense \nAPPL \n\nApplication for a Part 40 source material \n\npossession license. \n\nQ4 2027 \n\nPart 70 TRISO Mixed Oxide Fuel \n\nFabrication Facility License \nAPPL \n\nApplication for a Part 70 TRISO Mixed Oxide \n\nfuel fabrication facility license. \n\nQ4 2027 \n\nPart 71 Packaging and Transportation of \n\nRadioactive Material \nAPPL \n\nApplication to deploy manufactured \n\nmodules to and from approved sites. \n\nQ4 2027 \n\n10. REP as a Living Document \n\nThis REP is a living document. AMPERA will revise it as necessary such as confirmation on NRC resources \n\nto support the review, changes in the licensing path, scope, schedule, or interfaces that affect the \n\nbroader licensing strategy.  \n\n  \n\n\n\n \n\n10 \n\nRevision Log \n\nRevision # Revision \nDate \n\nChange Summary \n\n0 04-17-2026 Initial release \n\n1 09-10-2026 Includes a licensing document submittal table, brief description of the \norganization, partners, technology, and points of contact \n\n \n\n\n\tREP_V1_COV\n\tAMPERA_Regulatory_Engagement_Plan_V1\n\t1. Purpose and Scope\n\tPurpose\n\tScope\n\n\t2. Primary Applicant, Project Partners and Points of Contact\n\tAMPERA\n\tADDiTECTM\n\tAdelphi Technology\n\n\t3. AMPERA Technology\n\t4. Regulatory Interfaces\n\t5. Governance and Meeting Cadence\n\t6. Licensing Path Determination\n\t7. Proposed Licensing Activity Progression\n\tApril 2026 through September 2027: Pre-application engagement and application preparation\n\tOctober 2027 through December 2027: Application submittal and acceptance review\n\tCalendar years 2028 and 2029: Detailed technical review\n\tLicense implementation\n\n\t8. Application Submittal Strategy\n\t9. Proposed Licensing Process Schedule\n\t10. REP as a Living Document\n\tRevision Log\n\n\n\n\n","IsPackage":"No","IsLegacy":"No","MicroformAddresses":null,"PhysicalFileLocation":"ADAMS","EstimatedPageCount":"0","DocumentSize":"823192","AccessionNumberLower":"ml26253a058","ItemType":"doc"}}