Under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the processing and utilization of source, byproduct, and special nuclear material. The NRC's regulatory mission is to ensure that civilian uses of nuclear materials and facilities are carried out with proper regard for the protection of public health and safety, the environment, and national security. The NRC regulates the operation of nuclear power plants and fuel cycle plants; the safeguarding of nuclear materials from theft and sabotage; the safe transportation of nuclear materials; the decommissioning and return to safe use of licensed facilities that are no longer in operation; and the medical, industrial, and research applications of nuclear material.
The NRC's regulatory priorities for the next fiscal year are to ensure that:
1. Nuclear power plants and other licensed facilities are operated safely and that licensees are adequately prepared to respond to accidents;
2. The basic principles and criteria that would allow decommissioned lands and structures to be released for unrestricted use and restricted use under appropriate conditions are codified; and
3. Evolutionary and advanced reactor designs may be reviewed and licensed effectively and efficiently.
The NRC is addressing its regulatory initiatives in a manner that is consistent with the President's regulatory philosophy. The NRC routinely conducts comprehensive regulatory analyses that examine the costs and benefits of contemplated regulations as part of its regulatory process. The NRC has been aggressive and innovative in expanding the scope of public and industry participation in its most significant rulemakings. For example, the NRC has conducted several public workshops and established an electronic bulletin board to facilitate participation in the rulemaking to establish radiological criteria for decommissioning. The NRC has also developed internal procedures and programs to ensure that only necessary requirements are imposed on its licensees and to review existing regulations to determine whether the requirements imposed are still necessary.