NRC news: FY 2026 fees finalized, facility licensing reviews launched
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's launching of its environmental review of Holtec International's two SMR-300 reactors at the Palisades site in Michigan and its proposed changes to fuel cycle and materials licensing regulations may have grabbed the most attention recently, but the agency has also announced multiple other updates in recent weeks.
NRC OKs 2026 fees, caps: The NRC finalized a rule on its fees for fiscal year 2026, including amendments to establish fixed caps on service fees to implement sec. 5(a) of President Trump’s Executive Order 14300, ‘‘Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.’’
“The changes mean organizations seeking NRC approval for nuclear facilities or materials will know in advance the maximum fees they could face for licensing and related services, helping them better plan budgets and manage project costs," the June 16 announcement said. "The rule also lowers fees for prospective applicants, reducing financial hurdles for companies exploring entry into the nuclear sector."
Much like the proposed rule back in March, the final rule establishes the agency's proposed request for FY 2026 at $971.5 million, an increase of $27.4 million from FY 2025. It further establishes two hourly rates: a professional hourly rate of $337 and a reduced hourly rate for advanced nuclear reactor applicants and preapplicants of $154 for certain activities. According to the NRC, the new professional hourly rate is $19 higher than the previous year. The reduced hourly rate, meanwhile, is more than 50 percent less than the professional hourly rate.
The final rule will go into effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register on June 16.
Isotope facility review begins: The NRC has accepted Eden Radioisotopes's construction permit application for a facility in Lea County, N.M., which would produce molybdenum-99, lutetium-177, and other medical radioisotopes. Eden proposes using a 1.8-MWt reactor optimized for high-yield isotope production. The company submitted the application to the NRC on May 5, and it was accepted on June 15.
According to the agency, the application will receive a multilayered review that includes extensive safety analyses, site characteristics, seismology, meteorology, geology, and hydrology.
The NRC will publish a Federal Register notice to open a 30-day window for the public to request a hearing on the application and reminded the public that any future issuance to Eden of a construction permit does not guarantee an NRC operating license.
NPPD seeks 20 more years for Cooper: The NRC is preparing an environmental impact statement for its review of the Nebraska Public Power District's subsequent license renewal application for the Cooper nuclear power plant in Brownsville, Neb. The June 16 Federal Register notice kickstarted the 30-day window for the public to comment on any environmental issues they believe the NRC should consider in its review.
The Nebraska utility submitted the Cooper application on May 7, and the NRC accepted it on June 5. The application seeks to extend Cooper's 810-MWe reactor's operating license by another 20 years; Cooper's current operating license is set to expire on January 18, 2034. Cooper is Nebraska's only operating nuclear power plant, although the state this year has shown great interest in expanding nuclear power.
