Alex Polonsky on Energy Policy

NRC Updates Guidance on Power Reactor Decommissioning Costs

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires nuclear power reactor licensees to maintain decommissioning cost estimates and to adjust those estimates periodically to account for inflation and other matters, pursuant to...more

3/9/2023 / Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) , Decommissioned Facilities , Energy Policy , Energy Sector , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Recordkeeping Requirements

DOE Confirms Changes to Generally Authorized Countries Under Part 810

The US Department of Energy (DOE) published on January 31 two secretarial determinations in the Federal Register that change the countries that are eligible for general authorizations under 10 CFR Part 810 (Part 810). The...more

2/7/2023 / Atomic Energy Act , Department of Energy (DOE) , Energy Policy , Energy Sector , Environmental Policies , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission

SUNSI You Later: NRC Moves Closer to 2022 CUI Implementation with Rulemaking Recommendation

On December 10, the NRC staff issued SECY-21-0105 seeking approval from the NRC commissioners to publish a notice of final rule that would officially replace the NRC's sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI)...more

12/31/2021 / Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) , Energy Policy , Energy Sector , Final Rules , Information Sharing , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Rulemaking Process

NRC Concludes No Major Congressional Changes Necessary to Price-Anderson Act

On December 17, the NRC published a report to Congress on the continuing need for and any potential modifications to the Price-Anderson Act (PAA). The NRC was required to submit the report, “Public Liability Insurance and...more

12/21/2021 / Energy Policy , Energy Sector , Liability Insurance , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants

Sunset on SUNSI: NRC Moves Closer to Implementing CUI Program

Several years ago, the US government embarked on a project to standardize federal agency programs—including the NRC’s—for managing unclassified-but-sensitive information. At the NRC, this government-wide Controlled...more

12/8/2021 / Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) , Energy Policy , Government Agencies , Information Sharing , NARA , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Policy Statement

NRC Concludes No Major Updates to Part 110 Needed to Accommodate Advanced Reactor Designs

An NRC working group released a report on July 23 after conducting a “fundamental” review of 10 CFR Part 110 (Part 110) and the NRC’s readiness to license exports of advanced reactors and their associated nuclear material....more

9/2/2021 / Electricity , Energy Policy , Energy Sector , Export Controls , Exports , Licensing Rules , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants

NRC Exploring Potential Role of Artificial Intelligence in Commercial Nuclear Power Operations

As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools become more widely adopted in various products and industries, the NRC has begun studying what roles these technologies can play in commercial nuclear power...more

4/27/2021 / Artificial Intelligence , Data Collection , Energy Policy , Innovative Technology , Machine Learning , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Infrastructure

NRC Seeks to Clear Up Confusion over Fusion Energy Regulatory Framework

The NRC held a public meeting on January 26 to discuss potential options for licensing fusion energy systems. This meeting is part of the NRC’s work to develop regulations to license and regulate advanced nuclear reactors as...more

1/29/2021 / Critical Infrastructure Sectors , Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Nuclear Power , Power Plants

Changes We Can Expect Now That Biden Has Designated Hanson as NRC Chairman

President Joe Biden has elevated Democratic Commissioner Christopher T. Hanson to serve as Chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Mr. Hanson succeeds former Republican Chairman Christine Svinicki—the...more

1/25/2021 / Administrative Appointments , Biden Administration , Energy Policy , Energy Reform , Infrastructure , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants

Reactors in Space – It’s Not Science ‘Fission’!

Is it science fiction to consider living on the moon or traveling to Mars in only a few months? Maybe not. The US government is promoting technologies to place nuclear reactors in space to power human existence on the moon...more

12/16/2020 / Department of Energy (DOE) , Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Infrastructure , Innovation , NASA , Nuclear Power , Outer Space , Power Plants

Action Required on NRC Rulemaking for Advanced Reactors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) wants your input on its advanced reactor rulemaking activities on a rolling basis, so it announced that it will periodically place “preliminary proposed rule language” on the federal...more

11/16/2020 / Energy Policy , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants , Regulatory Agenda , Rulemaking Process

DOE Announces ARDP Funding Recipients

The suspense is over. The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced Tuesday that it had awarded $80 million each to TerraPower and X-energy under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) for them to build two advanced...more

10/15/2020 / Critical Infrastructure Sectors , Department of Energy (DOE) , Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Federal Funding , Nuclear Power , Power Plants

NRC Commissioners Accelerate Schedule for New Part 53 for Advanced Reactors

The commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved almost all of the staff’s proposed approach for adding a new part to its regulations, 10 CFR Part 53, to govern licensing of advanced nuclear reactors. ...more

10/8/2020 / Critical Infrastructure Sectors , Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Nuclear Power , Power Plants , Regulatory Agenda

NRC Requests Information on Planned Advanced Reactor Submittals

The NRC staff published Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2020-02 on August 31 requesting potential advanced reactor applicants to provide information on their plans for engaging with the agency during fiscal years (FYs) 2023...more

9/10/2020 / Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Infrastructure , Nuclear Power , Power Plants , Regulatory Standards

NRC Updates Internal Guidance on Environmental Reviews

The NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) recently issued Revision 4 to Office Instruction LIC-203, “Procedural Guidance for Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Considering Environmental Issues.” ...more

7/16/2020 / Energy Policy , Environmental Policies , Environmental Review , Infrastructure , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants

Update: DOE Changes Key Dates for Advanced Reactor Demonstration Funding Opportunity

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced new key dates for companies considering applying for funding for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration (ARD) program. Morgan Lewis previously reported on the ARD Funding...more

5/21/2020 / Critical Infrastructure Sectors , Department of Energy (DOE) , Energy Policy , Energy Projects , Federal Funding , Nuclear Power , Power Plants

The Race Begins: DOE’s $230 Million Advanced Nuclear Reactor Program Is Out of the Blocks

The US Department of Energy (DOE) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration (ARD) program on May 14. ...more

5/19/2020 / Department of Energy (DOE) , Energy Policy , Funding , Nuclear Power , Power Plants

NRC to Conduct NEPA Scoping to Prepare GEIS for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

The NRC on April 30 published a notice of its intent to conduct scoping and gather information necessary to develop a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for small-scale advanced nuclear reactors (ANRs). ...more

5/5/2020 / Energy Policy , Environmental Impact Statements , Environmental Policies , Infrastructure , NEPA , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants

NRC to Develop Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

In SECY 20-0020, issued on February 28, the NRC Staff informed the Commission of its conclusion that developing a generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) for advanced nuclear reactors (ANRs) is viable....more

3/4/2020 / Energy Policy , Environmental Impact Report (EIR) , Environmental Review , Nuclear Power , Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Power Plants , Rulemaking Process

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