Reactor Licensing & Regulation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published a supplemental environmental impact statement on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s proposed reactor project adjacent to the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee. NRC, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seek public comment on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement, or supplemental EIS, on […]

Beyond Nuclear has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license that could allow Holtec International to develop a waste storage site in New Mexico, although Holtec says it no longer plans to do so. Beyond Nuclear has filed what is known as a writ of certiorari and asked the […]

Virginia regulators have approved Appalachian Power’s decision to spend money on site development and evaluation for a possible small modular reactor (SMR) deployment. The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Nov. 12 order approved the American Electric Power utility’s request to spend money on site development, which allows it to seek cost recovery at a later date, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold a hybrid public meeting at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 19 to discuss its reactor oversight process. The meeting will be held at its NRC One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. It can also be viewed via Microsoft Teams. According to the meeting’s description, […]

The future of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California is uncertain after a state agency denied a key approval necessary for its continued operation until 2030. At the California Coastal Commission Nov. 6 meeting, the agency denied Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) request for a coastal development permit as the agency said it needed […]

Beyond Nuclear has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license that could allow Holtec International to develop a waste storage site in New Mexico, although Holtec says it no longer plans to do so. Beyond Nuclear has filed what is known as a writ of certiorari and asked the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published a supplemental environmental impact statement on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s proposed reactor project adjacent to the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee. NRC, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seek public comment on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement, or supplemental EIS, on […]

The full Senate is expected to vote early next week on the nomination of Ho Nieh to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Senate will proceed to a roll call vote Tuesday Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the Senate Cloakroom’s Monday post on X. If confirmed, Nieh […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With sweeping changes coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, culture change might be the most crucial piece in NRC reform, panelists said Tuesday at the American Nuclear Society conference. President Donald Trump ordered an overhaul of NRC as part of his May 23 nuclear-related executive orders. The president called for streamlining nuclear […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published a supplemental environmental impact statement on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s proposed reactor project adjacent to the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee. NRC, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seek public comment on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement, or supplemental EIS, on […]

The future of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California is uncertain after a state agency denied a key approval necessary for its continued operation until 2030. At the California Coastal Commission Nov. 6 meeting, the agency denied Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) request for a coastal development permit as the agency said it needed […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With sweeping changes coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), culture change might be the most crucial piece in NRC reform, panelists said Tuesday at the American Nuclear Society conference. President Donald Trump ordered an overhaul of NRC as part of his May 23 nuclear-related executive orders. The president called for streamlining […]

The full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination of Ho Nieh to be a commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Nov. 18. The Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the Senate Cloakroom’s Monday post on X. If confirmed, Nieh […]

President Donald Trump this week nominated a former fed, Douglas Weaver, to serve as a commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. If confirmed, Weaver would take over the vacated position of former NRC commissioner Annie Caputo, who officially resigned in early August. The term will expire on June 30, 2026. Weaver’s nomination was sent to […]

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 13 – 6 Wednesday to favorably report out the nomination of Ho Nieh to become a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) voted along with all 10 Republicans on the committee for Nieh’s nomination. After […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public opinion on the draft environmental impact statement for TRISO-X’s special nuclear material license application for its proposed fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Public comments on the draft environmental review are due by Nov. 17, according to NRC’s Oct. 23 notice published in the Federal Register. TRISO-X, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public opinion on the draft environmental impact statement for TRISO-X’s special nuclear material license application for its proposed fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Public comments on the draft environmental review are due by Nov. 17, according to NRC’s Oct. 23 notice published in the Federal Register. TRISO-X, […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Deputy Director in Region IV Division of Operating Reactor Safety Nick Taylor has announced on his LinkedIn he will retire from the agency by Oct. 31. After his retirement, Taylor said he will begin a new job at Abilene, Texas-based nuclear startup Natura Resources, according to his Oct. 21 LinkedIn post.  […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed the environmental impact statement for TerraPower”s Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyo., the company said this week.  TerraPower said in its Wednesday press release that it is the first advanced commercial nuclear power plant to achieve this milestone. The company plans to convert an old coal-powered plant in Kemmerer, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized Urenco USA to produce low-enriched uranium plus, becoming the first commercial uranium enricher to do so, according to its Thursday press release. Initial production of low-enriched uranium plus is scheduled to start later this year and the first deliveries to fuel fabricator planned for 2026, Urenco USA said. NRC […]

In a joint agreement with Nano Nuclear, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the nuclear company will construct a manufacturing and research and development facility in Illinois.  Nano Nuclear plans to “make an investment of more than $12 million with the support from the Reimagining Energy and […]

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) told a Senate panel Wednesday if confirmed, he will work to ensure the agency is independent and prioritizes safety. In a statement to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Ho Nieh, a former NRC staffer of 23 years, said his desire to […]

The public has until Dec. 1 to request a hearing before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on a license amendment authorizing Tri-structural Isotope (TRISO) fuel fabrication at Framatome’s plant in Richland, Wash. Among other things, the Framatome Fuel Fabrication Facility in Richland produces uranium dioxide (UO2) powder, pellets, fuel rods and […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has scheduled a public meeting Oct. 15 to take comments on Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation’s proposal to release a tract of land at its plant site in Burlington, Kansas. Wolf Creek seeks approval to donate 4.46 acres of land under its NRC reactor license to a privately-owned cemetery, the […]

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) told a Senate panel Wednesday if confirmed, he will work to ensure the agency is independent and prioritizes safety. In a statement to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Ho Nieh, a former NRC staffer of 23 years, said his desire to […]

The public has until Dec. 1 to request a hearing before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on a license amendment authorizing Tri-structural Isotope (TRISO) fuel fabrication at Framatome’s plant in Richland, Wash. Among other things, the Framatome Fuel Fabrication Facility in Richland produces uranium dioxide (UO2) powder, pellets, fuel rods and […]

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a nomination hearing for Nuclear Regulatory Commission nominee Ho Nieh Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at the Senate Dirksen Office Building. Nieh, nominated in July by President Donald Trump to serve as a NRC commissioner, will testify alongside Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator for […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has postponed its Commission meeting that was scheduled on Tuesday Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Rockville, Md. due to the ongoing government shutdown. No makeup date has been scheduled, according to NRC’s website. The Organization of Agreement States and Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors were slated to […]

Here are events related to nuclear matters that Exchange Monitor staff are tracking: October 06 (Cancelled): Hearing: An NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral arguments on Long Mott’s construction permit application starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.  20: Conference: Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association 2025 conference starts at 8 a.m. at […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has appointed Andrea Kock to lead its Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), effective Monday, Sept. 29. Kock served as Region I administrator in King of Prussia, Penn. and most recently has been leading the NMSS as its acting head. She initially joined the NRC in 1996 as a […]