NRC proposes changes to reactor licensing, decommissioning rules

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Thursday proposed changes to its rules for reactor licensing, decommissioning and operational oversight, which the agency said would reduce regulatory burden while continuing to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety.

The NRC's draft regulatory analysis estimates net averted costs, or savings, to the industry and the NRC over the next 30 years. These range from $311 million using a 7% discount rate to $411 million using a 3% discount rate. For the industry alone, the estimate is $305 million and $398 million.

The agency said the proposed rule is one of its steps to follow section 5 of Executive Order 14300, which requires the NRC to review and wholesale revise its regulations and guidance documents.

Under the proposal, power reactor licensees would not have to file a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report if they submit a license termination plan within 2 years of permanently ceasing operations. The waiting period before major decommissioning activities may begin would be cut from 90 days to 30 days.

The proposal would also eliminate the requirement for the NRC to publish those reports in the Federal Register and solicit public comment on them. It would keep the required public meeting, which could be held in person, virtually or in a hybrid format.

The rule would end five nonemergency event reporting requirements at nuclear power plants. It would also remove the compliance backfit exception, drop the 15-year expiration for standard design approvals and eliminate renewal of operator licenses, which are currently renewed every 6 years.

The NRC would no longer be required to prepare an environmental impact statement for every early site permit.

Comments are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Nov 9, 2026. The NRC proposes that a final rule would take effect 30 days after it is published.