Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the United States

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses and regulates civilian use of nuclear
energy to protect public health and safety and the environment.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was established as an independent
regulatory agency under the provisions of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) and Executive Order 11834 of January 15, 1975. All
licensing and related regulatory functions formerly assigned to the Atomic Energy
Commission were transferred to the Commission.

The Commission’s major program components are the Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, the Office of New Reactors, the Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards, the Office of Federal and State Materials and
Environmental Management Programs, and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory
Research. Headquarters of?ces are located in suburban Maryland, and there
are four regional of?ces.

The Commission ensures that the civilian uses of nuclear materials and
facilities are conducted in a manner consistent with the public health and
safety, environmental quality, national security, and the antitrust laws. Most of
the Commission’s effort is focused on regulating the use of nuclear energy to
generate electric power.

Activities

NRC is primarily responsible for the following functions: licensing the
construction, operation, and closure of nuclear reactors and other nuclear
facilities, such as nuclear fuel cycle facilities, low-level radioactive waste disposal sites under NRC jurisdiction, the geologic repository for high-level
radioactive waste, and nonpower test and research reactors; licensing the
possession, use, processing, handling, and export of nuclear material;
licensing the operators of nuclear power and nonpower test and research
reactors; inspecting licensed facilities and activities; conducting the U.S.

Government research program on light-water reactor safety; developing
and implementing rules and regulations that govern licensed nuclear activities;
investigating nuclear incidents and allegations concerning any matter
regulated by NRC; maintaining the NRC Incident Response Program; collecting,
analyzing, and disseminating information about the operational safety of
commercial nuclear power reactors and certain nonreactor activities; developing
effective working relationships with the States regarding reactor operations
and the regulation of nuclear material; and assuring that adequate regulatory
programs are maintained by those States that exercise regulatory control over
certain nuclear materials in the State.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Introduction to Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), independent agency of the United States government, established to regulate civilian nuclear activities. The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 abolished the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and transferred its regulatory responsibilities to the NRC, with headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. All developmental activities were merged into a new Energy Research and Development Administration, which in 1977 became part of the Department of Energy. The NRC’s programs are designed to protect public health and safety, preserve environmental quality, protect nuclear materials from theft or diversion and nuclear facilities from sabotage, and assure conformity with U.S. antitrust laws. These programs include standards and regulations, safety reviews and licensing actions, technical studies, inspections and enforcement, and safety research.

A major responsibility of the NRC is regulating the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity in nuclear power reactor plants. This activity also involves regulation of most of the nuclear-fuel cycle, from the milling of uranium ores through their chemical conversion, fabrication into fuel elements, use in reactors, reprocessing, and transportation to final storage and disposal of the radioactive wastes. Outside the fuel cycle, the NRC regulates a wide variety of radioactive material uses in industry, commerce, agriculture, medicine, and education.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Nuclear Regulatory Commission

About U.S. Federal Departments

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy

(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S.) (State statute topic)

The purpose of Nuclear Regulatory Commission is to provide a broad appreciation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

Resources

Further Reading

• Information about Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law.