The NRC’s Office of Enforcement (OE) recently published its 2025 Enforcement Program Annual Report. During 2025, the NRC issued 71 escalated enforcement actions to licensees, nonlicensees, and individuals, which is a slight decrease from the 73 escalated enforcement actions in
Up & Atom
Up & Atom, published by Morgan Lewis, focuses on legal and regulatory developments in the nuclear energy sector. The blog covers topics such as Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policies, enforcement frameworks, and rulemaking processes. It also addresses government initiatives related to nuclear innovation, advanced reactor technologies, and the intersection of nuclear energy with emerging scientific fields like artificial intelligence. The blog highlights interagency cooperation and executive actions aimed at accelerating nuclear energy development and regulatory reform.
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Material Changes: NRC Proposes Overhaul of Byproduct Materials Regulations
By Morgan Lewis
As part of its wholesale regulatory review pursuant to Executive Order 14300 and direction in Executive Order 14267 to reduce regulatory barriers that may limit competition or create unnecessary barriers to new market entrants, the NRC has identified requirements within…
DOE Adds Thailand to Part 810 ‘Generally Authorized’ Destination List
By Morgan Lewis
The US Department of Energy (DOE) published a Secretarial Determination in the Federal Register on May 14, 2026 adding the Kingdom of Thailand to the list of Generally Authorized destinations in Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 810. In doing…
NRC Eases Foreign Ownership Restrictions, Opening US Nuclear Sector to Investment
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC is codifying a sea change to its regulations regarding foreign ownership, control, or domination (FOCD) of utilization or production facilities. On April 26, 2026, the NRC issued a direct final rule and a companion proposed rule to relax…
NRC Reorganization Aligns Staff to Changes in Commission’s Strategic Direction
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC has released an overview of its most significant agency reorganization since 1987. The effort is “designed to streamline decision-making, consolidate functions, and enhance alignment with national priorities for the safe and efficient deployment of innovative nuclear technologies.”
NRC Moves to (Again) Sunset Aircraft Impact Assessment Rule
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC recently reissued a final rule to insert a conditional sunset date into the aircraft impact assessment (AIA) requirements of 10 CFR § 50.150 in response to Executive Order 14270, Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy . The…
Continuing Its Reform Push, NRC Approves Significant Revisions to Reactor Oversight Process
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC recently approved the most substantial revisions to the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) since its April 1, 2000 implementation . In SRM-SECY-26-0014 , the Commission approved revisions to the ROP’s baseline inspection program and the inspection finding screening process…
NRC Continues Environmental Review Reform with Expanded Use of Categorical Exclusions
By Morgan Lewis
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently issued a final rule, effective April 29, 2026, amending its regulations governing categorical exclusions for certain actions. As defined by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a categorical exclusion is a category of actions…
NRC Proposes Regulatory Framework for Fusion
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC (or the Commission) issued a proposed rule on February 26, 2026 to regulate commercial fusion under its byproduct material framework rather than as a traditional nuclear power reactor. These regulations aim to provide regulatory certainty at a pivotal…
NRC Investigations Are on the Rise
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC’s Office of Investigations recently published its Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, summarizing its activities from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. In FY 2025, OI opened 90 cases, a 9% increase from FY 2024. But…