Final rule · 2026-21801

NRC Reviews of Reactor Designs Previously Authorized by U.S. Department of Energy or Department of War

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to facilitate direct leveraging of prior U.S. Department of Energy or Department of War authorizations of demonstration reactors into the NRC's licensing reviews of commercial reactor facility applications that reference those designs. This rulemaking improves NRC licensing review efficiency, where applicable, by explicitly establishing by regulation an additional means for reactor applicants to demonstrate the safety functions of their reactor designs, thereby contributing to the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies.