Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§16024 Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Title 42 › Chapter 149— NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS › Subchapter VI— NUCLEAR MATTERS › Part B— Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project › § 16024

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must license and regulate any reactor approved under this part, under section 5842. No later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary and the NRC Chair must jointly send the appropriate Senate and House committees a licensing plan for the prototype reactor. The plan must say how to change current light‑water rules for these designs, what analysis tools and other NRC research are needed, and the estimated budget. The Secretary must keep the NRC involved during the Project to avoid design choices that reduce safety or make safety parts hard to inspect or maintain, to help develop inspection and maintenance tools, and to create risk‑based criteria for future commercial versions of similar reactors.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §16024

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In accordance with section 5842 of this title, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall have licensing and regulatory authority for any reactor authorized under this part.

(b)Not later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary and the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives a licensing strategy for the prototype nuclear reactor, including—

(1)a description of ways in which current licensing requirements relating to light-water reactors need to be adapted for the types of prototype nuclear reactor being considered by the Project;

(2)a description of analytical tools that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will have to develop to independently verify designs and performance characteristics of components, equipment, systems, or structures associated with the prototype nuclear reactor;

(3)other research or development activities that may be required on the part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in order to review a license application for the prototype nuclear reactor; and

(4)an estimate of the budgetary requirements associated with the licensing strategy.

(c)The Secretary shall seek the active participation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission throughout the duration of the Project to—

(1)avoid design decisions that will compromise adequate safety margins in the design of the reactor or impair the accessibility of nuclear safety-related components of the prototype reactor for inspection and maintenance;

(2)develop tools to facilitate inspection and maintenance needed for safety purposes; and

(3)develop risk-based criteria for any future commercial development of a similar reactor architectures.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 16024

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60