NRC Issues New Risk-Informed Change Guide
Published Date: 6/11/2026
Notice
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission just released a new guide to help nuclear plants safely evaluate changes using the latest technology and risk info. This guide affects plant operators who want to update their safety reports and make smarter, tech-friendly decisions without delays. It’s effective starting June 11, 2026, and aims to save time and money by streamlining how changes get reviewed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
NEI 22-05 Endorsed as 50.59 Alternative
Subject to the clarifications in Section C of the guide, RG 1.261 endorses the methodology in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 22-05, Revision 0 (issued January 2024), as an acceptable alternative to using the criteria in 10 CFR 50.59, "Changes, tests, and experiments," for changes to a facility described in final safety analysis reports.
PRA-Based Licensing Basis May Limit 50.59
The guide states that plants licensed using NEI 18-04, Revision 1, and NEI 21-07, Revision 1, will have a licensing basis derived from a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to a greater extent than plants licensed under 10 CFR part 50 or part 52. Consequently, the criteria in 10 CFR 50.59 may not readily apply to those plants, and special circumstances may warrant departure from some regulations; the licensee is responsible for preparing exemption requests and proposed license conditions to support using this alternative.
NRC Issues RG 1.261 Guidance
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued Regulatory Guide 1.261, available June 11, 2026, that describes an NRC-acceptable approach for a technology-inclusive risk-informed change evaluation for changes to facilities described in final safety analysis reports. The guide is published as RG 1.261 and is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML26051A063.
Guide Voluntary; Backfit Protections Apply
The NRC states licensees generally are not required to comply with RG 1.261. If the NRC proposes to use the guide in a way that would constitute backfitting (as defined in 10 CFR 50.109) or forward fitting or affect issue finality, the NRC will apply the policy in Management Directive 8.4 to justify the action, and licensees may inform the NRC if they believe the guide is being used inconsistently with its Implementation section.
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