Reactor Licensing & Regulation

Southern Nuclear is seeking a second license renewal that extends its operation at the Edwin Hatch Nuclear Power Plant in Baxley, Ga. for an additional 20 years. The Southern Co. subsidiary on May 15 applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to renew the two reactor licenses at the Hatch plant from 60 years to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the final environmental assessment for the Palisades nuclear plant finding no significant impacts. Holtec previously purchased the Covert Township, Mich. nuclear plant from Entergy to decommission it. However, the company has changed plans and has made an effort to restart the plant. In cooperation with the Department of Energy’s […]

Southern Nuclear is seeking a second license renewal that extends its operation at the Edwin Hatch Nuclear Power Plant in Baxley, Ga. for an additional 20 years. The Southern Co. subsidiary on May 15 applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to renew the two reactor licenses at the Hatch plant from 60 years to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the final environmental assessment for the Palisades nuclear plant finding no significant impacts. Holtec previously purchased the Covert Township, Mich. nuclear plant from Entergy to decommission it. However, the company has changed plans and has made an effort to restart the plant. In cooperation with the Department of Energy’s […]

President Donald Trump’s executive orders announced Friday May 23 are designed to spark a resurgence of nuclear plant construction in the United States, and the reaction to the news fell along predictable lines. A former chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) between 2009 and 2012, Gregory Jaczko, said the regulatory process is not why […]

The Bonneville Power Administration has approved Energy Northwest’s plans to increase the nuclear energy output at its Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Wash. by 186 megawatts by 2031. The extended power uprate project is estimated to cost $700 million and should increase the station’s electrical output by 162 megawatts. The project will involve nearly 30 […]

President Donald Trump’s administration on May 23 ordered an overhaul of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 18 months in order to speed approval of advanced nuclear energy projects.  In the executive action “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission”, Trump directed a major redesign of the independent regulatory agency’s structure and regulations.  NRC was […]

The Bonneville Power Administration has approved Energy Northwest’s plans to increase the nuclear energy output at its Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Wash. by 186 megawatts by 2031. The extended power uprate project is estimated to cost $700 million and should increase the station’s electrical output by 162 megawatts. The project will involve nearly 30 […]

President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday ordered an overhaul of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission within 18 months in order to speed approval of advanced nuclear energy projects.  In the May 23 executive action “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission”, Trump directed a major redesign of the independent regulatory agency’s structure and regulations.  NRC […]

President Donald Trump’s executive orders announced Friday May 23 are designed to spark a resurgence of nuclear plant construction in the United States, and the reaction to the news fell along predictable lines. A former chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) between 2009 and 2012, Gregory Jaczko, said the regulatory process is not why […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority has submitted a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor at its Clinch River nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Preliminary SMR site preparation could potentially start as early as 2026, TVA said in its Tuesday press release. “This is a […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recently discontinued its rulemaking work on spent fuel pools and is denying a petition for rulemaking. The discontinuation of the “Long-Term and Unattended Water Makeup Spent Fuel Pools” rulemaking activity was published in the Federal Register on May 7. The NRC said if it pursues similar rulemaking activities in the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recently discontinued its rulemaking work on spent fuel pools and is denying a petition for rulemaking. The discontinuation of the “Long-Term and Unattended Water Makeup Spent Fuel Pools” rulemaking activity was published in the Federal Register on May 7. The NRC said if it pursues similar rulemaking activities in the […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority has submitted a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor at its Clinch River nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Preliminary SMR site preparation could potentially start as early as 2026, TVA said in its Tuesday press release. “This is a […]

The Donald Trump administration is seeking a more direct role in speeding up new reactor development and, in the process, could curb the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission through executive orders, the New York Times and  NPR reported over the weekend.  Reportedly, there are four draft executive orders under consideration by the White House […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff this week outlined efforts underway to expedite its licensing for fuel facilities and spent fuel storage facilities at its commission meeting in Rockville, Maryland. Since April 2024, the NRC has completed 30 fuel licensing actions. The agency’s staff said Tuesday it currently has 20 fuel licensing actions and expects 63 […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair David Wright’s term with the agency is set to end on June 30. As of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the White House had not announced plans to renominate Wright. Wright was originally sworn in as a commissioner for the NRC on May 30, 2018. He was appointed by president Donald Trump […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair David Wright’s term with the agency is set to end on June 30. As of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the White House had not announced plans to renominate Wright. Wright was originally sworn in as a commissioner for the NRC on May 30, 2018. He was appointed by president Donald Trump […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff Tuesday outlined efforts underway to expedite its licensing for fuel facilities and spent fuel storage facilities at its commission meeting in Rockville, Maryland. Since April 2024, the NRC has completed 30 fuel licensing actions. The agency’s staff said it currently has 20 fuel licensing actions and expects 63 fuel licensing […]

The Donald Trump administration is seeking a more direct role in speeding up new reactor development and, in the process, could curb the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission through executive orders, the New York Times and  NPR reported over the weekend.  Reportedly, there are four draft executive orders under consideration by the White House […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed the Department of Energy’s license amendment application for the Fort St. Vrain independent spent fuel storage installation in Colorado. The NRC published the notice of docketing the amendment  Monday in the Federal Register. In September 2024, the DOE submitted an amendment that would modify particular license conditions and technical […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed the Department of Energy’s license amendment application for the Fort St. Vrain independent spent fuel storage installation in Colorado. The NRC published the notice of docketing the amendment  Monday in the Federal Register. In September 2024, the DOE submitted an amendment that would modify particular license conditions and technical […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral arguments May 15 on an amended petition by several organizations opposing the staff environmental assessment for restart of the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan.  Joint petitioners Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, Michigan Safe Energy Future, Three Mile Island Alert and Nuclear Energy Information […]

Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Don Moul said the organization has recently submitted an environmental report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as part of its construction permit application for a small modular reactor at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Moul was appointed TVA CEO April 9 replacing Jeff Lyash who retired.  Moul said […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral arguments May 15 on a petition by several organizations opposing the staff environmental assessment for restart of the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan.  Joint petitioners Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, Michigan Safe Energy Future, Three Mile Island Alert and Nuclear Energy Information Service […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to submit a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a small modular reactor at the Clinch River nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. by June 2025. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in an April 17 letter of notification of intent. TVA […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Christopher Hanson, commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Monday he does not know where the future of the agency stands under the current Donald Trump administration, the executive order threatening diluting power, and the current lawsuit against the agency. “I don’t know,” Hanson said with a laugh in answer to a […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to submit a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a small modular reactor at the Clinch River nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. by June 2025. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in an April 17 letter of notification of intent. TVA […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Christopher Hanson, commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Monday he does not know where the future of the agency stands under the current Donald Trump administration, the executive order threatening diluting power, and the current lawsuit against the agency. “I don’t know,” Hanson said with a laugh in answer to a […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Christopher Hanson, commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said Monday he does not know where the future of the agency stands under the current Donald Trump administration, the executive order threatening diluting power, and the current lawsuit against the agency. “I don’t know,” Hanson said with a laugh in answer to a […]