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Alex Polonsky, Timothy P. Matthews, Jane Accomando, Ryan K. Lighty

Up & Atom

KEY TRENDS IN LAW AND POLICY REGARDING
NUCLEAR ENERGY AND MATERIALS

Leadership at the NRC: Hanson Dismissed, Wright Nominated for Reappointment

By Jane Accomando , Arjun Prasad Ramadevanahalli , and Erin McClelland
// June 18, 2025
The NRC is undergoing a period of transition, including the unexpected departure of Commissioner Christopher Hanson.
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Topics: Energy, Energy and Project Development, NRC

US Supreme Court: Deference Owed to Agency Decisions on the Scope of NEPA Reviews

By Jane Accomando and Scott D. Clausen
// June 16, 2025
The US Supreme Court continues to reshape administrative law. In its recent decision, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, the Court unanimously (8-0) instructed federal courts to defer to administrative agencies on the depth and breadth of environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
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Topics: Energy, Energy and Project Development, Environmental, NRC

NRC Withdraws Environmental Justice Policy Statement

By Ryan K. Lighty and Scott D. Clausen
// May 20, 2025
The NRC recently withdrew its Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice (EJ) Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions (EJ Policy Statement). The NRC did so in response to Executive Order (EO) 14173, signed by President Donald Trump on January 21, 2025, which aims to eliminate considerations of race, ethnicity, and diversity from federal government operations. EO 14173 formally withdrew several previous EOs that addressed EJ issues over the past three decades.
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Topics: Environmental Justice, NRC

Licensing Microreactors: The Small Guy Might Be the Most Nimble

By Alex Polonsky , Ryan K. Lighty , and Lea M. Giotto
// April 22, 2025
Surging demand for generative artificial intelligence and data centers, among other drivers, in recent years has led to a revived interest in nuclear energy. While large nuclear power plants provide about 20% of our country’s electricity, progress is being made by the federal government and the private sector to bring small nuclear reactors, namely microreactors, to market.
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Topics: Advanced Reactors, Licensing, NRC, Nuclear Energy, SMR

National Energy Dominance Council Priorities Include Small Modular Reactors

By Kirstin E. Gibbs , Arjun Prasad Ramadevanahalli , Jane Accomando , and Erin McClelland
// March 03, 2025
President Donald Trump recently established the National Energy Dominance Council through an executive order aimed at increasing the United States’ energy production and achieving energy dominance. The executive order seeks to promote the use of US natural resources, including uranium, and the Council has been tasked with providing recommendations to the president within 100 days, including actions that can be taken to bring small modular nuclear reactors online.
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Topics: Department of Energy (DOE), Electric Generation, Energy, Government Relations, Natural Gas, SMR

NRC Office of Investigations FY 2024 Annual Report Shows Whistleblower Allegations on the Rise

By Jane Accomando , Scott D. Clausen , and Robert P. Goldfin
// February 26, 2025
The NRC’s Office of Investigations (OI) recently published its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024, summarizing its activities from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. According to the annual report, OI opened 82 new cases in FY 2024, the same number it opened in FY 2023. But OI increased its number of case closures in FY 2024 and closed 82 cases compared to 72 closures in FY 2023, a 14% increase. In total, OI conducted 129 investigations in FY 2024. Below, we analyze how OI investigations compare to the previous fiscal year and significant OI investigations highlighted in the Annual Report.
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Topics: Energy, Inspections and Enforcement, Investigations, NRC, Whistleblowers

Planning a Reactor Power Uprate? Time to Get in Line at the NRC

By Ryan K. Lighty and Scott D. Clausen
// February 20, 2025
The NRC recently issued Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2025-02, which asks reactor licensees to voluntarily provide information about their plans for power-uprate licensing submittals. The NRC will use this information to set future budgets and project resource needs to review these anticipated applications. The anticipated spate of power uprates stems primarily from significant increases in power demand projections propelled by data centers, electrification, and other economic drivers. Although responses are voluntary, applicants who provide advance notice will receive priority in the NRC review process.
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Topics: Licensing, NRC, Nuclear Energy, Plant Modifications, Tax Credits

United States and Thailand Sign 123 Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation

By Alex Polonsky and Scott D. Clausen
// February 20, 2025
The United States and Thailand signed an agreement on January 14, 2025, which outlines peaceful nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The agreement is authorized by Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 USC § 2153) (AEA), and is known as a “123 Agreement.” That same day, former President Biden transmitted that 123 Agreement and a Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement (NPAS) to Congress for their review. Congress has 90 days of being in session to either disapprove or passively allow the Agreement to take effect.
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Topics: International Nuclear Agreements, Nuclear, SMR

Federal Circuit Broadly Interprets Indemnity Provisions in the Price-Anderson Act

By Brad Fagg , Jane Accomando , and Scott D. Clausen
// February 14, 2025
A recent decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reinstated claims seeking indemnification under the Price-Anderson Act. In reversing a decision by the US Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit affirmed the broad scope of the Price-Anderson Act’s contractual indemnity provision. In particular, the Federal Circuit found that the Price-Anderson Act requires the government to indemnify more entities than just those that directly contracted with the government. Instead, the statutory language contemplates indemnity to “any other person who may be liable for public liability.”
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Topics: Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear, Risk Management

US Spent Fuel Storage Liability Increases While Other Countries Develop Geologic Repositories

By Jane Accomando , Brad Fagg , and Robert P. Goldfin
// December 24, 2024
The US Department of Energy’s failure to transport and store spent nuclear fuel (SNF) pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act has required the government to reimburse the industry for substantial storage costs, and future payments are expected to increase. The DOE expects that its SNF liability has increased approximately 10% within the past year. While there are no expectations for a spent fuel storage solution in the United States anytime soon, other countries are establishing nuclear waste repositories.
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Topics: Department of Energy (DOE), Electric Generation, Energy, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Spent Fuel
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