The Combined Construction and Operating License (Regulatory Guide 1.206, COL) replaced the previous Draft Regulatory Guide 1145 as the licensing process for new nuclear power plants in the United States.
"A combined license authorizes construction and conditional operation of a nuclear power plant.
The application must also describe the inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria (ITAAC) that are necessary to ensure that the plant has been properly constructed and will operate safely.
A COL may reference an Early Site Permit (ESP), a standard Design Certification (DC), both, or neither.
An ESP addresses the site that plant will be built on while a DC describes the reactor design.