First American Nuclear (Fanco) has submitted a pre-licensing regulatory engagement plan to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its EAGL-1 small modular reactor (SMR) design, a statement said.

The Indiana-based company said the filing formally opens the company’s pre-application pathway with the NRC for EAGL-1, which is being developed as a liquid metal fast reactor cooled by a lead-bismuth alloy.

Fanco said the design is intended to be licensable under the NRC’s existing regulatory framework without the need for new rules, distinguishing it from other advanced reactor concepts.