Reactor Licensing & Regulation

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 […]

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 […]

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 many changes will occur is intended to reduce regulatory barriers and expedite development of […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public input on the environmental review of Holtec’s two proposed small modular reactors (SMRs) at Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. Comments on the scope of Holtec’s Palisades SMR project’s environmental impact statement are due by July 15. The agency is looking for public comments to identify possible alternatives, environmental […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Friday it has renewed the license for the Hatch Nuclear Plant in Baxley, Ga.,in under 12 months.. The Edwin Hatch nuclear plant, owned by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power, received its second license renewal. According to NRC’s June 12 press release, Hatch Unit 1 is now licensed to run through […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public input on the environmental review of Holtec’s two proposed small modular reactors (SMRs) at Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. Comments on the scope of Holtec’s Palisades SMR project’s environmental impact statement are due by July 15. The agency is looking for public comments to identify possible alternatives, environmental […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has chosen Jody Martin to serve as the secretary of commission, effective in July, the agency said June 10. Martin, who currently serves as the deputy director of the NRC’s Office of International Programs, will succeed Carrie Safford, who is set to leave NRC this summer after being with the agency […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Friday it has renewed the license for the Hatch Nuclear Plant in Baxley, Ga.,in under 12 months.. The Edwin Hatch nuclear plant, owned by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power, received its second license renewal. According to NRC’s June 12 press release, Hatch Unit 1 is now licensed to run through […]

Florida-based nuclear startup AMPERA’s established an Australia-based subsidiary to streamline the use of thorium from Australia to fuel its “factory-built, scalable, supercritical nuclear energy system’, the company said Tuesday. According to AMPERA’s press release, these efforts build off the framework the U.S. government announced with Australia to secure supply for mining and processing critical, rare […]

The Department of Energy has approved Oklo Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis for its Aurora powerhouse project at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under DOE’s reactor pilot program. Oklo broke ground for its Aurora-INL reactor in September 2025. DOE’s goal under the pilot program is to have at least three test advanced reactors reaching criticality by […]

In less than a year, Doug Weaver has been sworn in as a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member twice, this time for a new five-year term. Weaver was confirmed alongside nearly 50 of President Donald Trump’s other nominees in the en bloc package, Senate Resolution 690, spearheaded by the Republicans. The nominees’ confirmation passed by a […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public input on a draft environmental assessment and draft finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for restarting the former Three Mile Island reactor. NRC published a notice in the Federal Register on Monday and requested that comments be submitted by July 8. NRC is evaluating the foreseeable environmental effects […]

Tennessee released  its own regulatory framework for nuclear fusion technologies this week, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) said. According to a June 1 press release, TDEC said that Tennessee will be the first state to move forward with a technology-neutral approach for fusion machines. On Tuesday, the state unveiled the regulatory process […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a new rulemaking Monday that would move its mandatory hearings in licensing reviews towards the beginning of the process rather than towards the end. According to NRC’s Tuesday press release, the rulemaking, triggered by Executive Order 14300 and the Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act — or the ADVANCE Act […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a new rulemaking Monday that would move its mandatory hearings in licensing reviews towards the beginning of the process rather than towards the end. According to NRC’s Tuesday press release, the rulemaking, triggered by Executive Order 14300 and the Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act — or the ADVANCE Act […]

The state of Tennessee plans to roll out its own regulatory framework for nuclear fusion technologies this week, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recently said. According to a June 1 press release, TDEC said that Tennessee will be the first state to move forward with a technology-neutral approach for fusion machines and […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public input on a draft environmental assessment and draft finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the former Three Mile Island reactor restart. NRC published a notice in the Federal Register on Monday and requested that comments be submitted by July 8. NRC is currently evaluating the foreseeable environmental […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host a hybrid observation meeting on June 15 to give the public an opportunity to see the agency is performing its regulatory function and to discuss regulatory issues. NRC said in its meeting memo that the meeting will be an all day meeting, starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and […]

In less than a year, Doug Weaver was officially sworn in as a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member for a new five-year term on June 5. Weaver was confirmed alongside nearly 50 of President Donald Trump’s other nominees in the en bloc package, Senate Resolution 690, spearheaded by the Republicans. The nominees’ confirmation passed by a […]

Curio submitted a letter of intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to start the pre-application work and the eventual submission of its operating license for the NuCycle used nuclear fuel recycling facility at a site yet to be determined.  According to Curio’s May 27 press release,  site selection is underway for the proposed fuel recycling […]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy subcommittee will host a hearing to examine several pieces of nuclear legislation on June 9 in Room 2123 in Rayburn House Office Building at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time. The subcommittee panel will look at three bills that have already been introduced during this Congressional session. It will examine […]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy subcommittee will host a hearing to examine several pieces of nuclear legislation on June 9 in Room 2123 in Rayburn House Office Building at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time. The subcommittee panel will look at three bills that have already been introduced during this Congressional session. It will examine […]

Curio submitted a letter of intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to start the pre-application work and the eventual submission of its operating license for the NuCycle used nuclear fuel recycling facility at a site yet to be determined.  According to Curio’s May 27 press release, the company plans to seek approval for the fuel […]

NANO Nuclear acquired a transportation and services company named Secured Transportation Services that specializes in delivering radioactive materials. NANO said in a Monday press release that this acquisition represents an important milestone for the company, helping it become a vertically integrated company addressing a challenge in the fuel cycle: the transportation of nuclear materials for […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted Orano USA’s Project IKE uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. for an accelerated review on May 21. NRC said in a press release it plans to complete its technical review of Orano’s construction permit application within 12 months. That evaluation will include a detailed safety and security analysis and […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted Orano USA’s Project IKE uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. for an accelerated review on May 21. NRC said in a press release it plans to complete its technical review of Orano’s construction permit application within 12 months. That evaluation will include a detailed safety and security analysis and […]

The wildfire-prone New Mexico county where the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory is located has entered “stage 1 fire restrictions,” according to a recent post from the Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities. “Fire Marshal Colorado Cordova of the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) has enacted fire restrictions to Stage 1, effective […]

The Nuclear Company has launched a next-generation nuclear security platform called NOS Security this week that would modernize protection of nuclear infrastructure, construction sites and operating facilities across the United States and allied nations.  NOS Security, developed over the past year, is an integrated cyber-security platform for the nuclear industry, The Nuclear Company said in […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Doug Weaver was reconfirmed by the Senate Monday to serve a full five-year term as a commissioner that will expire in June 2031. Weaver was confirmed alongside nearly 50 of President Donald Trump’s other nominees in the en bloc package, Senate Resolution 690, spearheaded by the Republicans. The nominees’ confirmation passed […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has found no significant impact in the environmental assessment of Dow and X-Energy’s construction permit application for their Texas small modular reactor (SMR) station.. NRC said on Monday the environmental assessment was completed ahead of schedule. It also determined an environmental assessment was sufficient for X-Energy’s Texas project than an […]