The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sunset its aircraft impact assessment rule for 2027, as NRC staff have addressed several of the public comments considered “significant and adverse” that prompted the agency this past winter to temporarily delay the sunsetting move.

The final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, addressed some of the more contentious concerns raised by the public. It sets a conditional sunset date of April 8, 2027, “unless the NRC determines that the cessation deadline should be extended to a date not more than 5 years in the future after offering the public an opportunity to provide input on the costs and benefits of this section and considering that input.”

Thursday was a busy news day for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with three significant announcements.

In the span of a few hours, the NRC released the news of Ho Nieh’s promotion to chair, the reversal of the plan to sunset its aircraft impact assessment provisions, and new guidance for interagency collaboration.