Categorical Exclusion Determination
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
November 30, 2016
Estimated Read Time min
The purpose of this revision is to refine and add scope to the proposed action. This environmental checklist covers TerraPower research in developing a new Generation IV nuclear power plant based on its Traveling Wave Reactor (TWR) concept. TWRs take advantage of a “breed-and-burn” process by which fissile material is bred in situ from natural or depleted uranium (DU) to sustain power operations for decades without enrichment or reprocessing. The breed-and- burn nuclear fuel cycle minimizes reliance on enriched uranium, and would allow TerraPower to deliver an economical and sustainable energy source without increasing proliferation concerns. The Prototype Traveling Wave Reactor plant (TWR-P) is currently in the design phase.