The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a rule that would revise reactor licensing, decommissioning, and operational oversight regulations across nine parts of its rulebook, projecting $311 million to $411 million in net savings for industry and the agency over the next 30 years.
The proposal follows Executive Order 14300, "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," which President Trump signed on May 23, 2025, directing the NRC to review and revise its regulations and guidance documents. This rule addresses section 5 of that order and would change 10 CFR parts 20, 21, 50, 52, 53, 55, 70, 72, and 75.
The NRC's draft regulatory analysis puts industry's share of the savings at $305 million using a 7 percent discount rate or $398 million using a 3 percent discount rate. The agency's own share is smaller: $5.50 million at 7 percent or $13.9 million at 3 percent. Annualized, the combined savings run about $22.2 million a year at the 7 percent rate or $15.1 million a year at the 3 percent rate.
The NRC said the savings would come from clarifying rules, administrative changes, and simplifying processes such as notification requirements, while continuing to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety and common defense and security.
The agency is taking public comment on the proposal, identified under docket NRC-2025-1138, through regulations.gov until 11:59 p.m. eastern on November 9, 2026.
