⚛️NRC Confirms New 40-Year Design Certification Rule for Nuclear Facilities
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of September 15, 2025, for the direct final rule published in the Federal Register on July 2, 2025. This direct final rule amended the NRC's regulations to revise the duration of design certifications (DCs). This action replaced the 15-year duration for DCs with a 40-year duration period, both for existing DCs currently in effect and generically for future DCs. This direct final rule did not change the date of issuance for existing DCs (i.e., the start date by which an existing DC may be referenced remains unchanged). This direct final rule also incorporated a minor editorial correction.
Learn More⚛️Insights from the ACRS Meeting on Nuclear Plant Safety and Compliance
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) will meet to discuss various safety and regulatory issues concerning nuclear facilities, including the Palisades Nuclear Plant and ongoing evaluations of alkali-silica reactions. The meetings aim to refine ACRS's strategic focus and ensure compliance with statutory obligations.
Learn More⚡Analysis of Palisades Nuclear Plant Operation Exemption
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a September 28, 2023, request from Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (HDI), on behalf of Holtec Palisades, LLC. The exemption supports the reauthorization of power operations at the Palisades Nuclear Plant (PNP), and allows for a one- time rescission of the docketed decommissioning certifications to remove the restriction that prohibits operation of the PNP reactor and emplacement and retention of fuel into the PNP reactor vessel. The NRC is also rescinding six exemptions that were previously granted based on PNP's decommissioning status.
Learn More⚠️NRC Considers Regulatory Changes for Nuclear Emergency Actions
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will consider in its rulemaking process issues raised in a petition for rulemaking (PRM), PRM-50-123, submitted by Thomas McKenna. The petitioner requested that the NRC amend its regulations to ensure protective actions in the event of a general emergency will likely do more good than harm.
Learn More⚛️Revised Guidance for Nuclear Subsequent License Renewal Issued
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing revised Subsequent License Renewal (SLR) Guidance Documents; which consists of NUREG-2191, "Generic Aging Lessons Learned for Subsequent License Renewal (GALL-SLR) Report, Final Report," Revision 1, Volumes 1 and 2; NUREG-2192, "Standard Review Plan for Review of Subsequent License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants (SRP-SLR), Final Report," Revision 1; and NUREG-2221, "Technical Bases for Changes in the Subsequent License Renewal Guidance Documents, NUREG-2191, Revision 1, and NUREG-2192, Revision 1 (Technical Bases Document)," Supplement 1. The GALL-SLR Report, Revision 1, and the SRP-SLR, Revision 1, provide revised guidance for nuclear power reactor licensees to the methods acceptable for the NRC staff to grant a subsequent license renewal in accordance with the license renewal regulations. The Technical Bases Document, Supplement 1, provides the associated technical bases of changes for the revisions.
Learn More⚛️NRC Considers Exemptions for Nuclear Decommissioning Funds
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of exemptions in response to the November 13, 2024, request from Entergy Operations, Inc. (the licensee) related to Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), Units 1 and 2, located in Pope County, Arkansas. The exemptions would allow the licensee to withdraw a small portion of the funds from the ANO, Units 1 and 2, nuclear decommissioning trust funds (DTFs) to facilitate the prompt disposal of certain retired major radioactive components (MRCs). The NRC staff is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemptions.
Learn More⚠️NRC Decision on Diablo Canyon's Seismic Safety and Compliance
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a director's decision with regard to a petition dated March 4, 2024, as supplemented on June 7, 2024, July 17, 2024, and October 31, 2024, filed by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Friends of the Earth, and Environmental Working Group (the petitioner), requesting that the NRC take action with regard to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (the licensee). The petitioner's requests and the director's decision are included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Learn More⚛️NRC Confirms Rule on Spent Fuel Storage Casks Compliance
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of May 13, 2025, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2025. This direct final rule amended the NAC International, Inc. Multi-Purpose Canister System listing within the "List of approved spent fuel storage casks" to include Amendment No. 9 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 6, 7, and 8 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1025.
Learn More⚛️NRC Withdraws Regulatory Guide on Decommissioning Plans
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.65, "Standard Format and Content of Decommissioning Plans for Materials Licensees." This RG is being withdrawn because it is not needed to endorse NUREG-1757, "Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance: Decommissioning Process for Materials Licensees," Volume 1, "Decommissioning Process for Materials Licensees." NUREG-1757 provides the most current guidance on decommissioning nuclear facilities to support license termination for applicants, licensees, and NRC staff reviewers.
Learn More⚛️NRC Notice on Tribal Participation in Advance Notification Program
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently submitted a request for renewal of an existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The information collection is entitled, "Tribal Participation in the Advance Notification Program."
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