backKing & Spalding advised Natura Resources on Abilene Christian University’s (ACU) Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab submission for the construction permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the building of a molten salt research reactor (MSSR). This application is the first for a new research reactor in more than 30 years and the first-ever for an advanced university research reactor.
ACU is leading the NEXT Research Alliance, which includes Georgia Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin, in a $30.5 million research agreement sponsored by Natura Resources to design and build a university-based advanced molten salt research reactor.
The press release related to this advancement can be found here.
King & Spalding has advised Natura Resources every step of the way in this process, including drafting the Sponsored Research Agreements with each of the four universities, managing all intellectual property related issues, construction (EPC), corporate agreements, and DOE funding and export controls.