Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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 […]

A House Energy and Commerce Committee panel is set to consider six nuclear power-related bills Tuesday morning, according to the committee’s website. The Energy Subcommittee will convene at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time to markup bills on topics ranging from uranium enrichment to Nuclear Regulatory Commission pay to nuclear transparency at the Department of Energy. The […]

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 […]

Aleut Government Services has been awarded a $6.2-million contract by the Department of Energy Office of Science for administrative and business support services at the Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee. The award notice was posted online July 6. Aleut Government Services business address is listed as Colorado Springs, Colo., according to the notice. Aleut Government […]

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 […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the Bechtel-led joint venture that runs the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)’s Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., said Friday that Todd Ailes will become its new president and CEO effective July 1. Ailes will succeed Rich Tighe who is leaving CNS after about four years to become project […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

TerraPower has begun the generic design assessment review process in the United Kingdom and created a U.K.-based subsidiary this week.  The Bellevue, Wash.-based nuclear company submitted its generic design assessment application for its Natrium reactor in October 2025. The U.K. government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero accepted TerraPower’s application for review in February.  […]

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 […]

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 […]