The Nuclear Regulatory Commission unveiled a sweeping proposed rule on July 1 that agency officials describe as the most comprehensive modernization of reactor licensing in decades. Titled "Modernizing Reactor Licensing, Safety Oversight, and Siting Practices," the rule spans more than 550 pages and could save the NRC and the nuclear industry as much as $1.86 billion, according to the agency.
NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said the agency's regulations have not kept pace with new technologies and the nation's energy needs, adding that the proposal strips out rigid frameworks to accelerate deployment of new reactors and expand existing plant capacity.
Key provisions include extending reactor manufacturing licenses from a current maximum of 15 years to 40 years, lengthening operating license renewal terms from 20 years to 40 years, and adding flexibility to reactor siting criteria to accommodate a wider range of technologies beyond traditional large light-water reactors. The rule also creates a streamlined path for developers to begin non-safety-significant construction before a full permit is issued.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on July 16 and is open for public comment through August 31 under Docket ID NRC-2025-0975. It follows the NRC's separate Part 53 licensing framework finalized earlier this year, the first new reactor licensing rule in decades.
Source: American Nuclear Society / Nuclear Newswire - https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-10/article-8195/a-closer-look-at-the-nrcs-reactor-licensing-revamp/