# 2025-10324: NRC Considers Updating the Technical Rulebook for Nuclear Plant Safety 2025-10324, Revised Industry Codes and Standards for Production and Utilization Facilities, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Nuclear Regulatory Commission published 2025-06-06, effective N/A (petition for rulemaking docketed March 6, 2025; public comments requested by August 5, 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-29). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10324 - As of: 2026-10-29 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-10324 - Title: Revised Industry Codes and Standards for Production and Utilization Facilities - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Citation: 90 FR 24083 - Published: 2025-06-06 - Effective: N/A (petition for rulemaking docketed March 6, 2025; public comments requested by August 5, 2025) - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-10-29 ## In one line NRC Considers Updating the Technical Rulebook for Nuclear Plant Safety ## Summary The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing a request to update rules for nuclear plant safety codes and standards. This affects nuclear facility operators by potentially changing some technical requirements and removing outdated conditions. The NRC wants your thoughts by August 5, 2025, before deciding on any final rule changes that could impact how plants operate and maintain safety. ## Abstract The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a petition for rulemaking (PRM) from Thomas Basso on behalf of the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated January 22, 2025, requesting that the NRC revise its regulations to remove specific conditions, clarify a specific requirement, and incorporate requested code cases to the next revisions of regulatory guides 1.84 and 1.147, which will be incorporated by reference into the agency's rulemaking on industry standards. The petition was docketed by the NRC on March 6, 2025, and has been assigned Docket No. PRM-50-127. The NRC is examining the issues raised in PRM-50-127 to determine whether they should be considered in rulemaking. The NRC is requesting public comment on this petition at this time. ## Effects PRIA read - Remove old IEEE safety standards requirement: benefit, medium. The petitioner asks the NRC to delete 10 CFR 50.55a(h), removing the requirement to meet several IEEE safety-system standards (IEEE Std 279-1968, 279-1971, and 603-1991). The petitioner says these standards are dated and overly prescriptive for current technologies and that removing them would redu… - Remove mechanical joint pressure-testing condition: benefit, medium. The petitioner asks the NRC to delete section XI Condition 10 CFR 50.55a(b)(2)(xxvi), which requires pressure testing of Class 1, 2, and 3 mechanical joints. The petitioner states that post-testing maintenance already demonstrates leak tightness and that removing this requirement would provide an e… - Allow alternatives for definitions without exemptions: benefit, low. The petitioner requests revising the applicability of 10 CFR 50.55a(y) and (z) so alternative definitions can be approved through the relief request process instead of requiring separate exemptions. The petitioner says this change would avoid administrative burden and speed reviews by letting alter… - Permit construction before owner is established (Code Case N-883): benefit, medium. The petitioner proposes including ASME Code Case N-883 (Rev. 0) to allow fabrication to begin prior to establishment of an owner, as may be needed for factory-built advanced reactors. The petitioner states this permits earlier fabrication, supports shorter plant construction durations, and is consi… - Allow audit due-date extensions in exigent conditions (N-915): benefit, low. The petitioner requests inclusion of ASME Code Case N-915 to permit extension of internal and supplier audit due dates during exigent conditions. The petitioner notes audit extensions were used during the COVID-19 pandemic without documented safety consequences and says this flexibility supports su… - Permit remote verification and witnessing (N-916): benefit, medium. The petitioner seeks inclusion of ASME Code Case N-916 to allow remote verification and witnessing of certain activities (Section III), citing successful use of remote methods during the COVID-19 pandemic with no documented safety consequences. The petitioner says the technology now exists to suppo… - Accept non-destructive exam instead of weld repair (N-818): benefit, medium. The petitioner proposes including ASME Code Case N-818 to allow the use of non-destructive examination (NDE) and fracture mechanics to accept full penetration butt welds instead of performing weld repairs. The petitioner argues this approach is technically sound, based on light-water reactor experi… - Allow flexible timing for preservice inspection (N-907): benefit, medium. The petitioner requests including ASME Code Case N-907 to permit performing preservice inspection (PSI) during construction at different times. The petitioner states there is no safety concern with PSI timing and that allowing flexibility offers significant schedule efficiencies and potential cost… - Use ultrasonic exam instead of radiography for welds (N-659): benefit, medium. The petitioner asks the NRC to accept ASME Code Case N-659 to allow ultrasonic examination (UT) in lieu of radiography for weld examination during construction. The petitioner states UT has a long history in commercial codes, is safe and practical, and would produce significant schedule efficiencie… ## Related documents - [2026-19568](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19568): Regulatory Enhancements for Reactor Licensing, Decommissioning, and Operational Oversight, 2026-09-24 - [2026-14341](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14341): Modernizing Reactor Licensing, Safety Oversight, and Siting Practices, 2026-07-16 - [2026-13687](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13687): Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act, 2026-07-07 - [2026-12067](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12067): Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year 2026, 2026-06-16 - [2026-08550](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08550): Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Reactors With Comparable Risk Profiles, 2026-05-01 - [2026-08015](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08015): Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors, 2026-04-24 ## Sources - [2025-10324 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/06/2025-10324/revised-industry-codes-and-standards-for-production-and-utilization-facilities) - [2025-10324 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-06-06/pdf/2025-10324.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-10261, Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10261) - [Next: 2025-10332, Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Engines](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10332) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10324 (as of 2026-10-29).