# 2025-20841: Nuclear Plant Gets Permission for Tired Workers to Stay Longer 2025-20841, Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Exemption, is a Federal Register notice from Nuclear Regulatory Commission published 2025-11-25, effective 2025-11-03 (as of 2026-06-08). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20841 - As of: 2026-06-08 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-20841 - Title: Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Exemption - Type: Notice - Agencies: Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Citation: 90 FR 53393 - Published: 2025-11-25 - Effective: 2025-11-03 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-08 ## In one line Nuclear Plant Gets Permission for Tired Workers to Stay Longer ## Summary Palisades Energy, LLC got a special okay from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to relax work hour rules at the Palisades Nuclear Plant for 60 days starting November 3, 2025. This one-time break helps the plant manage its staff better without extra costs or delays. Workers and the plant’s operations will feel the change during this short, focused period. ## Abstract The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to a request dated August 12, 2025, as supplemented by letter dated October 15, 2025, from Palisades Energy, LLC for the Palisades Nuclear Plant. The exemption authorizes the one- time use of the less restrictive work hour limitations described in the NRC's regulations for a 60-day period starting on November 3, 2025. ## Effects PRIA read - 60‑Day Work‑Hour Exemption for Plant Staff: cost, medium. The NRC granted Palisades Energy a one-time exemption allowing certain plant workers (those identified in 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1) through (a)(5)) to use the less restrictive outage work-hour rules in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) and (d)(5) instead of the normal non-outage limits in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(3) and (d)(7)… - Minimum Days Off Must Still Be Provided: benefit, low. Even with the exemption, Palisades must follow outage minimum days‑off (MDO) rules: individuals under 10 CFR 26.4(a)(1)–(a)(3) must have at least 3 days off in each successive 15‑day period; those under 10 CFR 26.4(a)(4) must have at least 1 day off in any 7‑day period; and those under 10 CFR 26.4(… - Pre‑Exemption 50‑Hour Reset Commitment: benefit, low. Palisades committed that individuals performing duties under 10 CFR 26.4(a)(2) (Chemistry/Health Physics) and 26.4(a)(4) (Maintenance) will work no more than 50 hours per week averaged over a 2‑week period between October 20, 2025 and November 2, 2025 to provide an adequate rest/reset before the ex… - Exemption Helps Avoid Restart Delays and Energy Shortfalls: benefit, medium. The NRC staff considered that denying the exemption could delay restarting the Palisades Nuclear Plant and could delay the amount of energy available to the surrounding area. Granting the exemption supports the licensee's plan to use the initial outage (August 25, 2025–October 23, 2025) plus the 60… - Exemption Ends Early If Unit Connects to Grid: benefit, low. The exemption will end at the earlier of the approved 60‑day period starting November 3, 2025 or the time when the Palisades unit is connected to the electrical grid if that occurs before the end of the 60 days. ## 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 - [2025-20841 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/25/2025-20841/palisades-energy-llc-palisades-nuclear-plant-exemption) - [2025-20841 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-25/pdf/2025-20841.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-20840, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20840) - [Next: 2025-20842, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20842) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20841 (as of 2026-06-08).