(Oil & Gas 360) – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission finalized a rule Thursday allowing commercial nuclear reactor developers to use technical data from federal demonstration projects in their licensing applications, a regulatory change intended to reduce duplicative reviews and support the development of advanced nuclear power technologies.
The October 22 decision permits applicants to incorporate relevant analyses, testing results, and engineering information from reactor demonstration programs authorized by the Department of Energy or Department of War.
The NRC will continue conducting independent safety reviews, and developers must demonstrate that their proposed commercial facilities satisfy applicable regulatory requirements.
The rule represents the first major reactor regulation finalized under Executive Order 14300, issued by President Donald Trump in May 2025 to accelerate nuclear licensing and modernize regulatory procedures.
The administration has directed the NRC to pursue an 18-month review timeline for new reactor designs, although individual project schedules will depend on application completeness, technical complexity, and regulatory findings.
Under the new fra...