Implications of reduced source term for US NRC regulation and for existing and new reactor design

In light of newer technical information about reduced source terms after postulated severe reactor core-degraded accidents, there are substantial implications for the way the US NRC regulates large power reactors, and also substantial implications for design and operation of the reactors themselves. The NRC regulatory approach to emergency planning should undergo basic revisions. NRC should also reconsider its safety goal concept, reevaluating whether using core melt frequency is the best way to capture the safety goal concept. Reduced source terms should also affect reactor design and operation importantly for many systems that are discussed in this paper.