The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a new licensing
pathway that accelerates safe, innovative reactor deployment and reinforces U.S. energy
leadership, marking the first new reactor licensing framework in decades. The rule, known as
Part 53, is designed to provide optionality and make licensing advanced nuclear reactors faster,
simpler, and more cost-effective while continuing to prioritize safety.
Part 53 introduces technology-inclusive safety standards, increased flexibility for reactor
design and operation based on risk analyses, graded security requirements, and innovative
features to accelerate reactor deployment. The improvements are expected to reduce unnecessary
duplication in reviews, allow developers to complete licensing in stages, establish clearer, more
predictable pathways to approval, and could significantly reduce the time and cost required to
bring new reactors online.
“This final rule is a major NRC action that provides a clear risk-informed, technology inclusive licensing framework to enable new nuclear to safely move faster from concept to
construction,” NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. “It is another example of how the NRC is
delivering on its mission by keeping safety at the forefront while aligning to the evolving nuclear
energy landscape.”
The Commission directed the staff to finalize the rule and supporting guidance, which
can be used for any type of reactor. Part 53 fills a long-standing gap: existing regulations in Part
50 were built around light-water reactor technology, while many new designs use different
approaches. Under Part 53, applicants will no longer need to seek exemptions from light water
reactor based requirements.
Part 53 is part of a broader national effort to modernize how the United States regulates
nuclear energy, supported by laws like the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act of
2019. The NRC completed Part 53 almost two years ahead of the deadline required by NEIMA.
The new framework sets the stage for several upcoming rules in the next few months under
Executive Order 14300, which will revolutionize reactor licensing.
This is the first new set of regulations to address initial reactor licensing since 1989,
when the NRC created Part 52, and the first major update to reactor licensing standards since
1956, when the Atomic Energy Commission issued Part 50.
Part 53 offers a comprehensive new approach to license advanced reactors, including
non-light-water reactors, across their life cycles. It provides designers and operators with more
flexibility in how they build and run their plants while continuing to ensure safety. The rule
builds on years of research and collaboration with the Department of Energy, industry, and the
public, including extensive public meetings and comments on the proposed rule published
Oct. 31, 2024.
Part 53 will take effect 30 days after it appears in the Federal Register in the coming
weeks. The NRC is also publishing nine guidance documents, with additional guidance to
follow.
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.
Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission