NRC Mandates Hearings for All Reactor Licenses
Published Date: 6/8/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting June 8, 2026, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is rolling out a new rule that requires mandatory hearings for all reactor license applications. This means anyone applying to build or operate a nuclear reactor will have to go through a clear, official hearing process. The change aims to make licensing more transparent and could affect timelines and costs for applicants.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Two-Year Hearing Deadline for Some Licenses
Section 207 of the ADVANCE Act requires the NRC, for certain combined license (COL) applications, to complete any necessary public licensing hearings and related processes not later than two years after docketing the application. This statutory deadline applies to certain COLs and shapes how the NRC times and completes hearings.
Mandatory Hearings Now Required
Starting June 8, 2026, the NRC requires a mandatory public hearing for every reactor license application (construction permits, early site permits, and combined licenses). The NRC says this formal hearing process will apply to anyone applying to build or operate a nuclear reactor and may change timelines and costs for applicants while reducing the resource burden of the hearing on the applicant.
Early, Structured Public Hearings
The NRC will hold the mandatory hearing early in the review, about 30 days after an application is docketed, usually in-person or hybrid and near the proposed site. Hearings will be transcribed; staff and applicant presentations will typically total up to 60 minutes (applicant up to 30 minutes); a public comment period of up to three hours with speakers limited to five minutes each; and there will be a two-week post-hearing window for written comments, with meeting summaries posted to ADAMS and the NRC website.
Contested Hearing Rights Preserved
The revised mandatory hearing process does not change the public's ability to request a contested hearing on specific safety, security, or environmental issues. Members of the public still retain the right to seek a contested hearing even though the mandatory hearing format has been revised.
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Key Dates
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