NRC expands license exemptions for small quantities of nuclear material
- Rule effective Dec 21 unless significant adverse comments filed
- DOE contractors get standing exemption for training activities
- NRC estimates $6.1 million in net savings over 5 years
Docket: NRC-2025-1568 · FR Doc: 2026-20336
What changed The rule replaces the current Schedule B table of exempt byproduct material quantities with a reference to appendix C to 10 CFR part 20.
WASHINGTON, Oct 5 — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Monday published a direct final rule that lets people use more types of nuclear material without a license, a step the agency said is deregulatory.
The rule replaces the current Schedule B list of byproduct material quantities exempt from licensing with a reference to appendix C to 10 CFR part 20. According to the rule, this adds radionuclides widely used in medical, academic and industrial settings that were not exempt before.
The rule keeps the current exempt quantity of 10 microcuries for cadmium-109, iridium-192 and zirconium-93, because appendix C lists lower values for those three. It also keeps a 0.1-microcurie limit for byproduct material other than alpha emitting byproduct material where appendix C lists a lower amount.
Under the rule, contractors of the Department of Energy (DOE) will no longer need to request individual exemptions for temporary training of law enforcement, emergency response or similar personnel, as long as the material stays below set quantity limits. The NRC said DOE contractors currently submit about 29 exemption requests a year.
The NRC estimated net savings of $6.1 million, undiscounted, over the 2027-2031 period. The savings would go to licensees, Agreement States, the NRC and DOE contractors.
The agency said the rulemaking is part of its response to Executive Order 14300, which President Donald J. Trump signed on May 23, 2025, and which directs the NRC to review and revise its regulations.
The rule takes effect on Dec 21, 2026, unless the NRC receives significant adverse comments by Nov 4, 2026. If it does, the agency will withdraw the rule and address the comments under a companion proposed rule.