Unified Agenda
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: 2026 Regulatory Agenda
Every rulemaking the NRC has on its regulatory agenda in the 2026 Unified Agenda. Proposed rules, final rules, and long-term actions, each with the agency's own summary and its latest status.
Source: the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda, published by OIRA on July 3, 2026 (reginfo.gov). The NRC lists 48 active actions plus 28 completed this cycle. Refreshed as the agenda changes.
What changed since the Spring 2025 agenda
Between editions, the NRC added 30 new rules, changed the stage on 34, and dropped 14 from the agenda. The official agenda only shows you today’s snapshot. We keep the history, so you can see what actually moved.
- New this edition. Cost Expenditure Criteria for Research and Development Utilization Facilities [NRC-2020-0071] (entered the Completed stage)
- Moved. Adjustment of Civil Penalties for Inflation for Fiscal Year 2027 [NRC-2025-0020] (Long-Term to Final Rule)
- Moved. Administrative False Claims Act of 2023 [NRC-2025-0019] (Final Rule to Completed)
and 75 more changes this edition, including 14 rules that dropped off the agenda entirely.
Track the NRC agenda freeSignificant, priority, and finalized rules are shown in full below. Routine actions are condensed to a line, with full summaries for every rule on the dashboard.
Slated for a final rule. Several have already published in the Federal Register, which we mark on each; the rest are still pending.
Adjustment of Civil Penalties for Inflation for Fiscal Year 2026 [NRC-2023-0211]
The rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to revise the amount of the maximum civil monetary penalties the NRC can assess. These adjustments are mandated by Congress through the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. Specifically, this action would adjust the maximum civil monetary penalty the NRC can assess for violation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, as well as the maximum civil monetary penalty the NRC can assess for false claims or statements under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2026
Exceptions from Foreign Ownership, Control, or Domination [NRC-2024-0218]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to comply with Section 301 of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024, which has designated certain exceptions from the foreign ownership, control, or domination provision set forth in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. This rulemaking would affect applicants and licensees of commercial nuclear power reactor or non-power production or utilization facilities that are owned, controlled, or dominated by some foreign entities.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2026
Increased Flexibility in the Mandatory Hearing Process [NRC-2025-1502]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to remove the requirement to make specific findings under the National Environmental Policy Act in an uncontested proceeding; thereby, providing the Commission more flexibility with the conduct of uncontested hearings.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2026
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Cask: TN Americas LLC, NUHOMS® EOS Dry Spent Fuel Storage System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1042, Amendment No. 5 [NRC-2025-1369]
This action is to promulgate a direct final rule to amend the listing in 10 CFR 72.214, List of approved spent fuel storage casks to add Amendment No. 5 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1042 for NUHOMS EOS Dry Spent Fuel Storage System.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2026
Other actions in this stage
Rules open for, or headed toward, public comment.
On the agenda, but not expected to move within the next 12 months.
Cyber Security at Fuel Cycle Facilities [NRC-2015-0179]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to add cyber security requirements for certain nuclear fuel cycle facility applicants and licensees. The rule would require certain fuel cycle facilities to establish, implement, and maintain a cyber security program that is designed to protect public health and safety and the common defense and security. It would affect fuel cycle applicants or licensees that are or plan to be authorized to: (1) possess greater than a critical mass of special nuclear material and perform activities for which the NRC requires an integrated safety analysis or (2) engage in uranium hexafluoride conversion or deconversion.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2016
Other actions in this stage
Actions the agency reports as completed this cycle. The official agenda rule list files these separately from the active pipeline.
Increased Enrichment of Conventional and Accident Tolerant Fuel Designs for Light-Water Reactors [NRC-2020-0034]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations associated with uranium-235 enrichment limit. The rulemaking would increase flexibility and reduce exemption requests for the use of increased enrichment fuel greater than the current value of 5.0 weight percent U-235. This rulemaking would affect nuclear reactor licensees seeking to use fuel designs that make use of enrichments greater than the current limit (e.g., accident tolerant fuel). The NRC engaged nongovernmental organizations, licensees, nuclear power industry representatives, and other members of the public through a comment-gathering public meeting, which afforded stakeholders the opportunity to make presentations and provide feedback during the meeting.
Status: Proposed rule published on November 6, 2023
Revision of Fee Schedules: Fee Recovery for FY 2026 [NRC-2023-0212]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations for fee schedules. Consistent with the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), the NRC conducts this rulemaking annually to recover, to the maximum extent practicable, approximately 100 percent of the NRC's total budget authority, less the budget authority for excluded activities. NEIMA requires that the FY 2026 fees to be collected, to the maximum extent practicable, by September 30, 2026. This rulemaking would affect the fee schedules for licensing, inspections, and annual fees charged to the NRC's applicants and licensees.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2026
Administrative False Claims Act of 2023 [NRC-2025-0019]
This action is to promulgate a final rule to amend the NRC regulations in 10 CFR Parts 12 and 13 to implement Section 5203, Administrative False Claims Act of 2023, of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2025
Approval of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Unconditioned Code Cases [NRC-2024-0163]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to incorporate by reference the latest revision to the regulatory guide that lists the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Cases that the NRC finds to be acceptable without conditions. This action increases consistency across the industry and makes use of current voluntary consensus standards (as required by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act), while continuing to provide adequate protection to the public. This rulemaking would affect nuclear power reactor licensees.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on January 27, 2026
Categorical Exclusions From Environmental Review [NRC-2018-0300]
This rulemaking would amend its regulations on categorical exclusions for licensing, regulatory, and administrative actions that individually or cumulatively do not have a significant effect on the human environment. The revisions would eliminate the preparation of environmental assessments for such NRC actions. The rule would not change any requirements for applicants or licensees. The NRC engaged with external stakeholders by publishing an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking and soliciting feedback through public meetings.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2026
Cost Expenditure Criteria for Research and Development Utilization Facilities [NRC-2020-0071]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations to be consistent with the amendments made to Section 104c of the of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA) by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, enacted on January 14, 2019,and the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024, enacted on July 9, 2024. This rulemaking would address the financial criteria used to determine whether a non-power utilization facility is licensed as a commercial facility under Section 103, "Commercial Licenses," of the AEA, or as a research and development facility under paragraph c of Section 104, "Medical Therapy and Research and Development. " This rulemaking would enhance the clarity of the regulations and reduce the burden on applicants for Class 104c licenses.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2026
Freedom of Information Act Implementing Regulations [NRC-2024-0044]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) implementing regulations, to improve the clarity of the existing requirements by using plain language, promote agency accountability, improve efficiency in responding to FOIA requests, update roles and responsibilities, and align the regulations with current Federal best practices for implementing FOIA. This rulemaking would address the Office of Government Information Services recommendation that the NRC update its FOIA regulations as well as provide the NRC the opportunity to incorporate the Department of Justice's model language for FOIA regulations, where appropriate.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2026
Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors [NRC-2020-0101]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations that govern the agency's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The rulemaking would codify the findings of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors (NR GEIS). The NR GEIS would use a technology-neutral regulatory framework and performance-based assumptions to determine generic environmental impacts for new nuclear reactors. The NR GEIS would streamline the NEPA reviews for new reactor applicants. The NRC engaged with stakeholders through public meetings, issuing draft versions of preliminary proposed rule language, and requesting public feedback.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2026
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Cask: TN Americas LLC, NUHOMS® EOS Dry Spent Fuel Storage System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1042, Amendment No. 4 [NRC-2025-0070]
This action is to promulgate a direct final rule to amend the listing in 10 CFR 72.214, List of approved spent fuel storage casks to add Amendment No. 4 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1042 for NUHOMS EOS Dry Spent Fuel Storage System.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2026
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NAC International, Inc., NAC-UMS Universal Storage System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1015, Amendment No. 10, and Revision to Amendment Nos. 5 through 9
This action is to promulgate a direct final rule to amend the listing in 10 CFR 72.214, List of approved spent fuel storage casks to add Amendment No. 10, and Revision to Amendment Nos. 5 through 9 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1015 for NAC International, Inc. [Docket ID: NRC-2025-0025]
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2026
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: NAC Multi-Purpose Canister (NAC-MPC) System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1025, Amendment No. 9 and Revision to Amendment Nos. 6, 7, and 8 [NRC-2024-0200]
This action is to promulgate a direct final rule to amend the listing in 10 CFR 72.214, List of approved spent fuel storage casks to add Amendment No. 9 and revise Amendment Nos. 6, 7, and 8 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1025 for NAC Multi-Purpose Canister (NAC-MPC) system.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2025
Revising the Duration of Design Certifications [NRC-2025-2018]
This rulemaking would amend the NRC's regulations that govern the duration of the design certifications in 10 CFR part 52 to replace the current 15-year duration for design certifications with a 40-year duration period. The 40-year duration would apply to design certifications currently in effect as well as future design certification applications, including renewals.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2025
Risk-Informed, Technology Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors [NRC-2019-0062]
This rulemaking would establish an optional technology-inclusive regulatory framework for use by applicants for new commercial advanced nuclear reactors. The regulatory requirements developed in this rulemaking would use methods of evaluation, including risk-informed and performance-based methods, that are flexible and practicable for application to a variety of advanced reactor technologies. The NRC engaged with the public by providing periodic release of preliminary proposed rule language, holding public meetings with stakeholders, and requesting public feedback.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2026
Streamlining Select Rules of Practice and Procedure [NRC-2025-1336]
Consistent with Executive Order 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC is conducting a review and wholesale revision of its regulations. This initiative aims to modernize and rescind duplicative regulations, in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 14, to enhance efficiency.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2025
The Sunset Rule [NRC-2025-0479]
This rulemaking would amend covered NRC regulations to insert conditional sunset dates under Executive Order 14270, Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy. The EO directs the NRC to issue a sunset rule to the extent consistent with applicable law and provides an exemption from the EO for regulatory permitting regimes authorized by statute.
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2026
The Sunset Rule: Aircraft Impact Assessment [NRC-2026-0166]
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering amending its regulations to insert a conditional sunset date to the NRC's requirements for aircraft impact assessments. This action is in response to Executive Order 14270, "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy." The NRC will consider in this action public input received on a previous rulemaking to sunset NRC regulations (90 FR 55699; December 3, 2025).
Status: Final rule published in the Federal Register on April 8, 2026
Other actions in this stage
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Create a free accountCompiled from the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda (reginfo.gov), cross-referenced against Federal Register publications. Regulation Roundup tracks all 76 NRC actions and refreshes as the agenda changes.