ML25114A195
| ML25114A195 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/28/2025 |
| From: | David Wright NRC/Chairman |
| To: | Capito S, Fleischmann C, Griffith M, Guthrie B, Kelly M, Latta B, Lummis C US HR, Comm on Appropriations, US HR, Comm on Energy & Commerce, US HR, Subcomm on Energy, US HR, Subcomm on Energy & Water Development, US HR, Subcomm on Environment, US SEN, Comm on Appropriations, US SEN, Comm on Environment & Public Works, US SEN, Subcomm on Clean Air, Climate Change & Nuclear Safety, US SEN, Subcomm on Energy & Water Development |
| References | |
| CORR-25-0041 | |
| Download: ML25114A195 (1) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Capito:
May 28, 2025 On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am submitting the "Semiannual Status Report on the Licensing Activities and Regulatory Duties of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission". The enclosed report covers NRC activities from October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, and includes a list of rulemaking activities, their priority and schedule, and actions taken to adhere to the backfit rule, as directed in House Report 118-126 accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
During this reporting period, the NRC completed work associated with several major regulatory milestones and prepared for significant new license applications.
On October 31, 2024, the NRC staff published a proposed rule, "Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors" (89 FR 86918), for public comment. The public comment period closed on February 28, 2025.
On November 21, 2024, the NRC issued two construction permits to Kairos Power LLC for the Hermes 2 test reactor facility.
The NRC staff issued four subsequent renewed licenses. Monticello Unit 1 was issued in December 2024, and Oconee Units 1, 2, and 3 were issued in March 2025.
On March 31, 2025, Long Mott Energy, LCC, submitted a construction permit application for the Long Mott Generating Station, which consists of a four-unit, X-Energy Xe-100 nuclear power facility.
Other Noteworthy Activities in the Past 6 Months The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2024, which was enacted in July, offers the NRC additional tools and flexibilities to improve how the agency accomplishes its mission while preserving the NRC's role as an ir:,dependent safety and security regulator. As of the end of March 2025, the NRC has completed 8 of the 36 tasked actions and deliverables required by the Act. Notable ADVANCE Act actions completed to date include 1) updating the NRC's mission statement; 2) signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy on advanced nuclear fuels;
- 3) implementing new hiring and pay authorities authorized by the Act; 4) issuing a report to Congress on advanced methods of manufacturing and construction for nuclear projects; and
- 5) issuing a report to Congress on modernization of nuclear reactor environmental reviews. The NRC continually updates its ADVANCE Act implementation public website (https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws/advance-act.html), which now includes a status dashboard, a "Contact Us" form, and information on ADVANCE Act-related public meetings to inform and engage external stakeholders.
From October 2024 through March 2025, the NRC held 335 public meetings to address a wide range of topics. Also, during this time, the NRC received 466 new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and closed 649 pending FOIA requests.
In March 2025, the NRC held its 37th Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) in a hybrid format. The RIC is the agency's most notable public meeting, bringing together over 3,000 participants from more than 40 different countries and international organizations, representing interested stakeholders from other government agencies, industry, international organizations, and the public. This year's RIC included remarks by the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Lastly, during this reporting period, the NRC staff conducted 80 security inspections across the current fleet of commercial nuclear power plants and Category I fuel cycle facilities.
As detailed in the enclosed report, this included a total of 12 full-scope force-on-force inspections involving simulated attacks on the selected facilities to test the effectiveness of the licensees' physical security programs.
Please feel free to contact me or have your staff contact Eugene Dacus, Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301-415-1776 if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
'~-~
Enclosures:
As stated cc: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Identical letter sent to:
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 cc: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse The Honorable Cynthia Lummis Chairman, Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 cc: Senator Mark Kelly The Honorable Brett Guthrie Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 cc: Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.
The Honorable Bob Latta Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy Committee on Energy and Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 cc: Representative Kathy Castor The Honorable Morgan Griffith Chairman, Subcommittee on Environment Committee on Energy and Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 cc: Representative Paul Tonko The Honorable Chuck Fleischmann Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 cc: Representative Marcy Kaptur The Honorable John Kennedy Chair, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 cc: Senator Patty Murray