License applications are formally submitted to the RB. The RB first verifies that the information provided in the application is sufficient for conducting a proper safety review; if this is not the case, the applicant is requested to submit the information required. Once the RB is satisfied, the application is formally accepted and a schedule for the evaluation process is estab­lished. The way in which the evaluation is conducted is country dependent but there should always be a person managing the process and a large group of specialists for the various fields of experience required. The end point of the evaluation is the completion of an SER.

The RB may not be sufficiently knowledgeable in certain specific areas; in such cases, help can be obtained from various sources. For new entrants, the most relevant source would in most cases be the RB in the country of origin of the NPP design, though an experienced group of international senior regulators could also help establish a knowledge base in a new regu­latory system. The IAEA can provide a variety of services, including advice to the assessment manager. Technical help and advice can also be requested from Technical Support Organizations (TSOs), as is very common in the European practice, available in the country’s own institutions, such as nuclear research organizations, universities and academies. Contracts with national and international private institutions could also support the evalu­ation process. This help does not take away from the RB the responsibility of preparing the SER which results from such analysis.

The SER is a substantial document, generally developed by following well-established procedures. The main aim is to verify compliance with the regulatory requirements applicable to the license under consideration. During this process, generally large lists of clarifying questions or require­ments for further information are addressed to the applicant. A prompt and precise response to the RB enquiries speeds up the evaluation process. The SER ends with a final evaluation and with a complete set of limits and conditions to be followed when performing the activities envisioned in the requested license. It may also include a reference to the requirements for the next license.