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NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
10/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2026 13:19
NRC Finalizes Rule to Streamline Licensing for Reactor Designs Tested by DOE or DOW
ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalized a rule allowing applicants to use relevant analyses, test data and other information from U.S. Department of Energy or U.S. Department of War reactor demonstration programs to support commercial reactor license applications. The rule is designed to make NRC reviews more efficient by allowing the agency to build on existing technical evidence while independently evaluating the safety of proposed commercial projects.
It's the first major change to NRC reactor regulations finalized under Executive Order 14300, which directs the agency to accelerate the licensing of safe nuclear technologies.
"This rule delivers the EO 14300 vision for an expedited path from DOE and DOW projects to NRC commercial licensing," Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. "High-quality applications showing how DOE and DOW results apply to NRC requirements will help us review them more efficiently."
The final rule amends 10 CFR Parts 50 and 53 to establish a framework for using information from DOE and DOW demonstration programs in commercial licensing applications. Applicants must still demonstrate compliance with NRC requirements and identify differences between a demonstration reactor and the proposed commercial project, including differences in design, site or hazards that could affect safety.
The NRC proposed the rule on April 2, 2026, and received 136 unique comment submissions. In response, the final rule clarifies that applicants remain responsible for meeting all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and provides examples of information that may be used to support an application.
The final rule will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register expected next week. A detailed response to public comments will be available through the NRC's website and the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at ML26282A996.
More information on navigating the reactor licensing process is on the NRC website.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission published this content on October 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 22, 2026 at 19:19 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]