Reactor Licensing & Regulation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed changes to its transportation regulations in preparation for the development of microreactor technologies. The proposed rulemaking, announced on July 22, would make changes to Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71 – or 10 CFR Part 71 – and would update package approval requirements suitable for microreactors and new […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host several webinars during the week of Aug. 3 to Aug. 7 going over its recent proposed rulemaking that would make extensive changes to nuclear licensing processes.  NRC will have three webinars, via Microsoft Teams, to provide an overview of the rulemaking followed by a question-and-answer session. The discussions will […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit this week denied a challenge brought by Beyond Nuclear and the Sierra Club to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) process for reviewing reactor license renewals. “Petitioners argue that the commission did not adequately consider how aging components and climate change affect the risk of […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Marine Minerals Administration have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Wednesday to create a framework for potential nuclear reactors to be built on the ocean.  The possible reactors would be particularly deployed on the Outer Continental Shelf, which the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) defines as “all submerged lands […]

ROCKVILLE, Md. – With the completion of the Department of Energy’s reactor pilot program on July 4, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission turns its attention to creating a formulaic pathway for reactor designs authorized by other agencies. In April, NRC published a proposed rulemaking that would create an additional licensing pathway for reactors authorized by DOE […]

A Virginia-based environmental group claims Florida-based NextEra Energy’s merger plan with Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Energy is incomplete and seeks to challenge the acquisition. On Monday, Clean Virginia said in a press release the merger petition, as it is currently written, is incomplete and that the companies need to complete their application. It urged a Virginia […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit this week denied a challenge brought by Beyond Nuclear and the Sierra Club to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) process for reviewing reactor license renewals. “Petitioners argue that the commission did not adequately consider how aging components and climate change affect the risk of […]

A Virginia-based environmental group claims Florida-based NextEra Energy’s merger with Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Energy is incomplete and seeks to challenge the acquisition. On Monday, Clean Virginia said in a press release the merger petition, as it is currently written, is incomplete and that the companies need to complete their application. It urged a Virginia state […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit this week denied a challenge brought by Beyond Nuclear and the Sierra Club to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) process for reviewing reactor license renewals. “Petitioners argue that the commission did not adequately consider how aging components and climate change affect the risk of […]

ROCKVILLE, Md. – With the completion of the Department of Energy’s reactor pilot program on July 4, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission turns its attention to creating a formulaic pathway for reactor designs authorized by other agencies. In April, NRC published a proposed rulemaking that would create an additional licensing pathway for reactors authorized by DOE […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted Constellation Energy’s subsequent license renewal application for R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Ontario, N.Y. for review July 16.  The subsequent license renewal, which comes after an initial license renewal,  would extend Ginna’s operating license for another 20 years, from 60 years to 80. Ginna’s current operating license is set […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host a meeting July 21 at 9 a.m. in Rockville, Md. to discuss the licensing and regulatory needs for advanced reactors with several industry members. The public meeting will be held at the commission hearing room on the first floor of NRC’s headquarters in Rockville. Notably, Department of Energy Assistant […]

The Democratic Party’s support for nuclear power legislation could be in jeopardy if the Donald Trump administration attempts to fire another commissioner from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said this week. Pallone’s comments during the Tuesday House Energy and Commerce’s Energy subcommittee markup hearing on six nuclear bills came after the June […]

The Democratic Party’s support for nuclear power legislation could be in jeopardy if the Donald Trump administration attempts to fire another commissioner from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said Tuesday. Pallone’s comments during the House Energy and Commerce’s Energy subcommittee markup hearing on six nuclear bills came after the June 29 Supreme […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is planning a series of virtual public meetings this week on proposed rule changes following the Advance Act and a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump. On Monday July 13, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Time, NRC will hold a public hearing on its plan to update security requirements, according […]

Multiple environmental groups have publicly denounced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proposal to change radiation protection standards, saying the proposal would loosen protections at the risk of the public.    On July 1, NRC released the proposed new rulemaking that will do away with the “as low as reasonably achievable” – or ALARA radiation protection standard. […]

Multiple environmental groups have publicly denounced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proposal to change radiation protection standards, saying the proposal would loosen protections at the risk of the public.    On July 1, NRC released the proposed new rulemaking that will do away with the “as low as reasonably achievable” – or ALARA radiation protection standard. […]

Numerous changes are coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor licensing as the agency proposed an overhaul of regulatory modifications to update decades-old procedures, it said last week. But a nuclear watchdog group countered that the industry-friendly changes are chiefly politically driven,   NRC said in a July 1 press release that the changes will modernize […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a new rulemaking Tuesday that would limit how the agency intends to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards. Under the proposal, the agency is seeking to streamline Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 51 – or 10 CFR Part 51 regulations to “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burden, expand […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a new rulemaking Tuesday revising how the agency intends to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards. Under the proposed rule, the agency is seeking to streamline and change Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 51 – or 10 CFR Part 51 regulations to “alleviate unnecessary regulatory burden, […]

Numerous changes are coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor licensing as the agency proposed an overhaul of regulatory modifications to modernize its procedures, it said last week. NRC said in a July 1 press release that these changes will modernize reactor licensing, oversight and siting practices of nuclear power plants. These sweeping changes were […]

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s latest rulemaking on radiation safety protection has weakened the government’s “long-standing radiation protection standards for workers, the public and the environment.”  On July 1, NRC released the proposed new rulemaking that will do away with the “as low as reasonably achievable” – or ALARA […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued proposed rules late last week that would make several changes designed to ease management and disposal of greater-than-class-c (GTCC) radioactive waste.  NRC said in a June 25 press release the proposed rule “would modernize the NRC’s framework for land disposal of low-level radioactive waste by allowing disposal facilities to use […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued proposed rules late last week that would make several changes designed to ease management and disposal of greater-than-class-c (GTCC) radioactive waste.  NRC said in a June 25 press release the proposed rule “would modernize the NRC’s framework for land disposal of low-level radioactive waste by allowing disposal facilities to use […]

In a policy that has already encountered resistance, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is looking to replace the “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) principle with “clearer, more objective” rules for radiation protection, the agency said Wednesday. ALARA is the principle that everything reasonably possible should be done to lower radiation exposure. This principle is a […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued proposed rules late last week that would make several changes designed to ease management and disposal of greater-than-class-c (GTCC) radioactive waste.  NRC said in a June 25 press release the proposed rule “would modernize the NRC’s framework for land disposal of low-level radioactive waste by allowing disposal facilities to use […]

The fiscal 2027 House Energy and Water Appropriations bill text was released Wednesday and waits to be debated on the House floor. The bill text and any amendments submitted are available online. While the bill was scheduled to be debated on the House floor this week, debate and votes were postponed. Under the Department of […]

Montreal, Canada-based AtkinsRéalis submitted a notice of intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wednesday, starting the licensing process for the Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor in the United States. This submission initiates the formal pre-application engagement with NRC and is part of AtkinsRéalis’ strategy to expand into the U.S. market with large-scale reactor technology that […]

Now over six months into Ho Nieh’s tenure, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair said Wednesday the agency is becoming a regulator that enables and accelerates nuclear technology deployment through its new rulemakings and approaches. “One of the big changes that was driven by the executive orders was again that call for immediate action to focus […]

New changes are coming to nuclear fuel cycle and materials licensing, including an exclusive streamlined licensing pathway for nuclear fuel reprocessing, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on June 18. NRC said in a press release that the proposed rule where the changes will occur is intended to reduce regulatory barriers and expedite development of fuel […]