Nuclear Regulatory Commission

By Ho K. Nieh, Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission  Nuclear energy is entering a new era. Across the United States and around the world, countries are looking to nuclear power to provide reliable electricity, strengthen energy security, and support economic growth. Advanced reactors and other innovative technologies are creating opportunities that would have been difficult […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing an application from NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy that would indirectly transfer four Dominion-operated nuclear plant licenses to a NextEra subsidiary as part of the companies’ proposed merger. The public may request for a hearing about the indirect transfer of the licenses by Sept. 16. Comments about the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding an uncontested hearing on Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. Central Time in Port Lavaca, Texas on X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR) project in Seadrift, Texas. The uncontested hearing, or mandatory hearing, will give public members an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about X-energy’s construction permit application, according […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding an uncontested hearing on Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. Central Time in Port Lavaca, Texas for X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR) project in Seadrift, Texas. The uncontested hearing, or mandatory hearing, will give public members an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about X-energy’s construction permit application, according […]

Two environmental organizations filed appeals to two U.S. Courts of Appeals in pursuit of continuing its challenge to Holtec International’s Palisade Nuclear Generating Station restart in Michigan. The coalition of environmental organizations Don’t Waste Michigan and Michigan Safe Energy Future filed its first appeal to the Sixth Circuit U.S.  Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio […]

A group of elected officials in California are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and leaders of the state legislature to get behind a license extension for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in San Luis Obispo County. “As elected officials throughout California, we represent our constituents’ interests, and what we have been hearing loud and clear […]

Here are events related to nuclear matters that Exchange Monitor staff are tracking:  August: 10: NRC Webinar: On NRC proposed changes to radiation protection rules, start at 1 p.m. E.T.  12: Meeting: The Hanford Advisory Board holds a hybrid meeting starting at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, originating from 2420 Stevens Center Place, Conference Room 153, […]

A joint venture between Navarro Research & Engineering and Los Alamos Technical Associates (LATA) has been awarded a subcontract for waste management at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The contract, awarded by Y-12’s Bechtel-led prime Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) could be worth up to $160 million […]

X-energy’s subsidiary TRISO-X acquired an additional 70 acres adjacent to its nuclear fuel campus in Oak Ridge, Tenn. this week. X-energy said Tuesday in a press release that this acquisition brings the total campus size to 180 acres. This purchase of land comes a few weeks after the Tennessee state government awarded X-energy $11 million […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is hosting a webinar Aug. 10 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss a recent rulemaking that touches on changes to its radiation protection standards. The webinar will be held via Microsoft Teams and will have a question and answer session within it, according to NRC’s July 28 […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Monday issued a draft environmental assessment (EA) finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for NextEra Energy’s Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa. With the issuance of the draft environmental documents, NRC is also seeking public input, according to the Federal Register notice. The comment period closes on Sept. 2. According to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a draft environmental assessment (EA) finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for NextEra Energy’s Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa Monday. With the issuance of the draft environmental documents, NRC is also seeking public input on the regulatory matters, according to the Federal Register notice. The comment period closes […]

The federal government has concluded certain tank farm waste in the 200 West Area of the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., can be treated as low-level radioactive waste. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management said in a Friday press release that a Waste Incidental to Reprocessing (WIR) determination has been made for treated waste […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is hosting a webinar Aug. 10 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss a recent rulemaking that touches on changes to its radiation protection standards. The webinar will be held via Microsoft Teams and will have a question and answer session within it, according to NRC’s July 28 […]

The Donald Trump White House has drafted a memo to Congress, pushing for legislation to remove Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the sole site for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The 1987 amendments of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act established Yucca Mountain as the sole repository for high-level waste. However, plans for Yucca were […]

NextEra has acquired the remaining 30% minority stake in its Duane Arnold Energy Center as the sole Iowa nuclear power plant prepares to come back online by 2029, the utility said July 24. According to NextEra’s second quarter 2026 financial results press release, the utility bought the remaining minority stake from two companies, Central Iowa […]

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 modify Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71 – or 10 CFR Part 71 – and update package approval requirements suitable for microreactors and new fuel types. “America’s […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved Holtec International’s license termination plan for the decommissioning of Oyster Creek Generating Station in New Jersey, the company said Thursday. Holtec said in a press release this regulatory approval opens the door for it to move forward with plans to build four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Oyster Creek […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

While there is a “remote” chance the full House of Representatives could vote on the fiscal 2027 Energy & Water Appropriations bill next week, it is more likely that the measure won’t be taken up until September, a key House Appropriator said Wednesday. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn) who chairs the House Appropriations Energy & Water […]