Licensing application and supporting technical documents

The licensee is required to prepare an extensive set of documentation cov­ering all aspects of the plant’s life cycle. Some of these documents are mandated by national laws and regulations, while others are required by the regulatory body for licensing or in response to specific requests. The content and number of documents will vary considerably from country to country depending on the national legal and regulatory systems and prac­tices. However, the IAEA has developed recommendations on the docu­mentation requirements that provide some common guidance, while recognizing that other systems may also be effective (IAEA, 2002a). Whatever system is used, the IAEA Guide states that:

The system of regulations should provide advance information to the operator on the requirements for each major stage of authorization. This will assist the operator to make sound plans and decisions with respect to safety in the siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning or closure of a nuclear facility.

While it is not possible to cover the specific documentation requirements that apply to all countries, Table 20.2 contains a representative sample of the types of information that might be required at each stage.