Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act

What it does

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to revise the NRC's regulations to streamline and modernize its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). These proposed revisions address Presidential directives in Executive Order (E.O.) 14300, "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," E.O. 14154, "Unleashing American Energy," Executive Order 14192, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation," Executive Order 14270, "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy;" recent amendments to NEPA; and relevant NEPA case law. In addition, these proposed revisions aim to reduce regulatory burden while complying with NEPA requirements. The proposed rule would narrow the scope of NEPA reviews to effects (or impacts) within the NRC's substantive statutory authority; revise definitions; update procedures for determining the level of NEPA review; establish new categorical exclusions; provide new flexibility for licensees, applicants, and petitioners for rulemaking to submit environmental information; and remove outdated requirements and consolidate content provisions to improve clarity and efficiency. Consistent with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA and E.O. 14300, the NRC consulted with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) during the development of this proposed rule. The NRC is issuing new draft guidance NUREG-2270, "Environmental Review Guidance for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Actions," for the implementation of the proposed requirements in this rulemaking. The NRC staff will carry out its NEPA responsibilities consistent with the proposed requirements in this rulemaking and the guidance in NUREG-2270.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

13 parts of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

10 CFR 2, 10 CFR 30, 10 CFR 40, 10 CFR 50, 10 CFR 51, 10 CFR 52, 10 CFR 53, 10 CFR 54, 10 CFR 61, 10 CFR 70, 10 CFR 72, 10 CFR 76, 10 CFR 110

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 3150-AL38 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

Comments must be submitted electronically using https:// www.regulations.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on August 21, 2026. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration of only comments received before this date.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket NRC-2025-0478 on Regulations.gov
• Title 10 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register