ML25247A201

Public Meeting Pre-application Engagement Streamlining Meeting Summary

ML25247A201
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/04/2025
From:	Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
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Download: ML25247A201 (1)

Text

Public Meeting on Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU)

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting Summary September 4, 2025

Title:

Discuss Licensing Efficiencies Initiative: Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU).

Meeting Identifier: 20250992 Date of Meeting: August 21, 2025 Location: Webinar (via Microsoft Teams)

Type of Meeting: Comment-Gathering Meeting Purpose of Meeting:

The purpose of this virtual meeting was to present and gather feedback on the NRCs ongoing pre-application engagement streamlining initiative for Nuclear Materials Users (NMU). This initiative is driven by Section 505 of the ADVANCE Act and the NRC Materials Licensing Efficiencies and Processes (M-LEAP) effort. The NRC staff sought to engage with members of the public, NMU licensees and applicants, Agreement States, Tribal Nations, and other interested external stakeholders to receive and discuss feedback on the topic. The presentation also included status information on related M-LEAP efforts for the NMU business line.

Public Meeting Documents:

ML25231A109, August 6, 2025 - Notice of Public Meeting to Discuss Licensing Efficiencies Initiative: Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU).

ML25230A171, August 19, 2025-Public Meeting Presentation-Discuss Licensing Efficiencies Initiative: Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU).

Summary of Meeting Flow:

On August 21, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) staff from the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) held a public meeting to engage external parties and gather feedback on the NRCs ongoing pre-application engagement streamlining initiative for NMU.

The meeting was led by Booma Venkataraman, Branch Chief, Materials Safety and Licensing Branch, in the Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs (MSST), in NMSS. The meeting facilitator was NMSS staff, Lance Rakovan, who coordinated the logistical flow and the public comment feedback.

Tammy Bloomer, Acting Deputy Director, MSST, provided the opening remarks.

The meeting started at 10:00 AM and concluded at 11.22 AM Eastern US time.

There were 179 participants in the meeting (including NRC participants), as registered by the Microsoft Teams.

A list of meeting attendees is provided in the enclosure.

Public Meeting on Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU)

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Mr. Rakovan informed participants of the public meeting feedback form available on the NRC Public Meeting Schedule website.

Ms. Venkataraman provided the closing remarks, thanking everyone for their time and participation.

Summary of NRC Staff Presentation:

The NRC staff presented the background on NRCs licensing efficiencies, noting the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024, Section 505, as the driver for nuclear efficiencies. The staff noted that safety and security remain NRCs top priority.

The staff also noted that NMSS has Materials Licensing Efficiencies and Process (M-LEAP) team was tasked to develop near and long-term initiatives on licensing efficiencies, working with the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation with a coordinated approach.

The focus of the meeting was to gather feedback on the pre-application engagements streamlining initiative. Staff noted that pre-application engagements are voluntary, but could promote early two-way dialog for openness, clarify information, and help improve the quality of applications, and enable timely, predictable, and efficient licensing decisions. The staff expect to gather insights from stakeholders and develop tools and guidance for licensees and staff by November 2025.

Additionally, the staff presented status information on six related licensing efficiency initiatives, that included ongoing and future projects. The staff also provided additional information on the NRC Form 313-Modernized Online Licensing Portal and noted that it is expected to be rolled out in October 2025 for NMU licensees and applicants. The staff also noted that the use of this online tool is expected to be optional.

The NRC staff shared the following topics on NMU Pre-application Engagements under consideration and requested feedback from the audience in the meeting:

o Enhancing NRC public webpage instructions to better help licensee or applicant engagement for licensing. Examples:

Frequently asked questions Simplified guidance and quick references Short videos o Techniques for pre-application meetings to provide walk-throughs and information on licensing process. Examples:

Guidance on filling out NRC application checklists/forms needed for applications View/discuss licensee or applicant draft applications early Discuss acceptance criteria to enable completeness and sufficiency

Public Meeting on Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU)

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Discuss applicable fees o Include Best Practices from other NRC Business Lines and Agreement States experience.

Summary of Public Feedback:

Below is a summary of the feedback offered by the stakeholders for the NRC staff to consider in the development of this streamlining initiative for NMU.

Staff could enhance clarity in the licensing process information for applicants and licensees available on the public website, and include easy to understand guidance, examples, checklists, or short videos, mechanism to track applications, and best practices from other Agreement States (e.g., CA).

The scope of the pre-application discussions could include early discussion of applicable exemptions to regulations, discussion about how rules apply, or alternative licensing processes, and information about novel applications, and Sealed Source and Device questions. NRC staff may include management in these pre-application engagements early, for unique scenarios, such as those with diverse staff opinions, and this may promote efficiencies in decision-making.

Stakeholders expressed interest in the Form 313 modernization, and NRC staff indicated that this is being developed, and there may be more information and opportunities for public engagements in the future.

Stakeholders made suggestions for the NMU Web Based Licensing portal to have integrated functions for the online licensing process.

A member of the Tribal Nation, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, requested NRC staff about the steps taken to include them in pre-application meetings as well as this M-LEAP initiative, per the Tribal Treaties. The NRC staff indicated that the NRC Tribal program staff will communicate with them and include them appropriately. The Tribal member also indicated they will send a message to the NRC with their request.

Stakeholders were generally appreciative of NRCs licensing initiative and the staffs engagement with the external stakeholders and members of the public.

Action Items/Next Steps:

The staff will consider the public meetings feedback in the development of guidance and tools for the NMUs pre-application engagement initiative.

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LIST OF ATTENDEES August 21, 2025, Public Meeting - Streamlining Pre-application Engagements for Nuclear Material Users (NMU)*

NRC EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS Booma Venkataraman Verderame, Kristina Lauren Lewis**

Edward Harvey Lisa N. DeCrease Halford, Robert C.

Lance Rakovan Turner, Patrick Perriello, Rachael Laura Cender Bose, Satya Jeffrey D. Castonguay Lymari Sepulveda Rodriguez Josie Piccone Wendy Barrows Tony Gonzalez Kim, Okjin James J Michael Reichard Dave Nestle Pellicciarini, David Ken Brenneman Dave Hurlburt Ryan Boyd Tammara Bloomer Matthew Robin Wolfe Kerry Kelly Latischa Hanson Still, Cami 14012681663 Candace Crout Eller, Joshua Lisa Bruedigan Andrew Hastings John S. Merrill Cushman, Matthew Randolph Ragland Hildebrant, Don Hector Rodriguez Jackie Cook Robyn Myers Hiba Ahmed Mauri Lemoncelli Thomas Whittenhall Jr David Lawrenz Alexus Willis Becki Harisis Regina Sheehan Jennifer Dalzell Amber L. Schmidt Meghan Cromie Kayla Gamin Martin Lopez Trujillo, ME Alliance (Unverified)

Mohanned Kawasmi Withrow, Dave Cory White Netra Patel Repking, Kenneth Christine S. Cooper Beth Shelton Matt Beery Miguel PR Asphalt Esther Bryan Beddick, David Lyzbette Lopez Jason VonEhr Michael J Center Daniel Kuhn Sara Forster Shannon Priester Graber, Brandon Kelli Trotter Jay Hoffert Jr Joy Jiang Michelle Hammond Eduardo Mojica Spann, Jerette Carla Roque-Cruz Alisha Stallard Tracy \ Kayla \ Mackenzie Farrah Gaskins Richard Schulte Howard, Shanetta Ben Raticheck Holly Woonton Geyer, Andrea Vanessa Cox Phillip Peterson Jeffrey Dycus Christopher Rapson Mike Kurth)

Kristi B. Popescu Alessandro Flores Saenz Alan Jackson Matos, David Blake Vaisley Joby Voetberg sue miller Brian Nepper Wegener-Gave, Kelly Pittas, Tanya Pam Noto Andrew Ellenberger Davis, Nneka Juan Ayala Morgan B. Stockman Eric Pratt Katherine Tapp Davies, Kirsten Walter Levich Monica Ford Momodou Dibba Munoz Campos, Jose Mary Casto Michael Wutkowski Sue (Unverified)

Dan Frumkin Gross, Lucas M Srinivasan Katerina Georgiev Scott Palmer Andrew Holcomb Amanda Leatherman Lydia B. Brownell Autumn Bailey Mikhail Pellegrino Matt Beery Zlatinka Dimitrova Geber, Kurt R Macatangay, Jose Claudia Hallam Herrera, Alma Wen, Carol Tina Shoemaker Borges Torres, Sharyl Matthew Greenwood Read, Steven Chris Johnson Monahan, Jill S.

Makalia Mynatt Matthew Hadden Carmen Teolis Leo Wardrobe Kate McGee Perlas, Lea)

Meng, Ran Lucia Upchurch)

Lyndsey Allison Russell Ron Parsons Linda Cook

• List does not contain attendees who participated via a phone line or who did not provide first and last names.

• • Member of Tribal Nation, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation.