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Rule2026-20336

Exemptions From Materials Licensing

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Published

October 5, 2026

Effective

December 21, 2026

Issuing agencies

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Abstract

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending several regulations for byproduct, source, and special nuclear material by expanding how certain nuclear material can be safely used without a license. This action is responsive to the NRC's mission to enable safe, efficient, and reliable licensing and consistent with several Executive orders. These changes are deregulatory in nature, eliminating the need to obtain licenses for certain materials uses and quantities.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 191 (Monday, October 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 191 (Monday, October 5, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63133-63146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20336]

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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.

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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 191 / Monday, October 5, 2026 / Rules
and Regulations

[[Page 63133]]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Parts 20, 30, 40, and 70

[NRC-2025-1568]
RIN 3150-AL61

Exemptions From Materials Licensing

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending
several regulations for byproduct, source, and special nuclear material
by expanding how certain nuclear material can be safely used without a
license. This action is responsive to the NRC's mission to enable safe,
efficient, and reliable licensing and consistent with several Executive
orders. These changes are deregulatory in nature, eliminating the need
to obtain licenses for certain materials uses and quantities.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective December 21, 2026, unless
significant adverse comments are received by November 4, 2026. If this
direct final rule is withdrawn as a result of such comments, timely
notice of the withdrawal will be published in the Federal Register.
Comments received on this direct final rule will also be considered to
be comments on a companion proposed rule published in the Proposed
Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-1568 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may
obtain publicly available information related to this action by any of
the following methods:
<bullet> Federal Rulemaking Website: Electronically at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for Docket ID NRC-2025-1568. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Helen Chang; telephone: 301-415-3228;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d098b5bcb5befe93b8b1beb790bea2b3feb7bfa6">[email&#160;protected]</a>. For technical questions, contact the
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
<bullet> NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html">https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html</a>. To begin the search, select ``Begin ADAMS Public Search.''
For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room
(PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#732337215d2116001c06011016331d01105d141c05">[email&#160;protected]</a>. For the convenience of the reader,
instructions about obtaining materials referenced in this document are
provided in the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
<bullet> NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an
appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#da8a9e88f488bfa9b5afa8b9bf9ab4a8b9f4bdb5ac">[email&#160;protected]</a> or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Edwards, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-
7204, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4e0c1cacdd7c18ae1c0d3c5d6c0d7e4cad6c78ac3cbd2">[email&#160;protected]</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
B. Submitting Comments
II. Executive Order 14300: Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission
III. Rulemaking Procedure
IV. Background
V. Discussion
A. Expanding Exemptions for Byproduct Material
B. Expanding Exemptions for Department of Energy (DOE)
Contractors
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
VII. Regulatory Analysis
A. Need for the Rule
B. Analytical Framework
C. Estimated Costs and Savings of the Direct Final Rule
VIII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
IX. Plain Writing
X. National Environmental Policy Act
XI. Paperwork Reduction Act
XII. Executive Orders
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review (as
Amended by Executive Order 14215, Ensuring Accountability for All
Agencies)
B. Executive Order 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through
Deregulation
C. Executive Order 14267: Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory
Barriers
XIII. Congressional Review Act
XIV. Coordination With NRC Agreement States
XV. Compatibility of Agreement State Regulations
XVI. Voluntary Consensus Standards
XVII. Availability of Guidance
XVIII. Availability of Documents

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-1568 when contacting the NRC
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain
publicly available information related to this action by any of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket ID NRC-2025-1568.
<bullet> NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html">https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html</a>. To begin the search, select ``Begin ADAMS Public Search.''
For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room
(PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8b8acbae6baadbba7bdbaabad88a6baabe6afa7be">[email&#160;protected]</a>. For the convenience of the reader, instructions
about obtaining materials referenced in this document are provided in
the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
<bullet> NRC's PDR: The NRC Public Document Room (PDR), where you
may examine and order copies of publicly available documents, is open
by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d1819583ff83b4a2bea4a3b2b491bfa3b2ffb6bea7">[email&#160;protected]</a> or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737,
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.

B. Submitting Comments

Comments must be submitted electronically using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time on November
4, 2026. Please include Docket ID NRC-2025-1568 in your comment
submission.

[[Page 63134]]

The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> as well as enter the comment submissions
into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to
remove identifying or contact information.
If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to
remove such information before making the comment submissions available
to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

II. Executive Order 14300: Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission

On May 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order
(E.O.) 14300, ``Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.'' Section 5, ``Reforming and Modernizing the NRC's
Regulations,'' directs the NRC to undertake a review and wholesale
revision of its regulations and guidance documents as guided by the
policies set forth in section 2 of the E.O. This rulemaking is part of
the NRC's response to the direction in Section 5 of the E.O. because in
conducing the wholesale review of its regulation, the NRC reexamined
the regulations pertaining to the use of certain nuclear material
without a license.

III. Rulemaking Procedure

Because the NRC considers this action to be noncontroversial, the
NRC is using the ``direct final rule procedure'' for this rule. This
amendment is effective on December 21, 2026. However, if the NRC
receives significant adverse comments on this direct final rule by
November 4, 2026, then the NRC will publish a document that withdraws
this action and will address the comments received in a subsequent
final rule as a response to the companion proposed rule published in
the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.
Absent significant modifications to the proposed revisions requiring
republication, the NRC will not initiate a second comment period on
this action.
A significant adverse comment is a comment where the commenter
explains why the rule would be inappropriate, including challenges to
the rule's underlying premise or approach, or would be ineffective or
unacceptable without a change. A comment is adverse and significant if:
(1) The comment opposes the rule and provides a reason sufficient
to require a substantive response in a notice-and-comment process. For
example, a substantive response is required when:
(a) The comment causes the NRC to reevaluate (or reconsider) its
position or conduct additional analysis;
(b) The comment raises an issue serious enough to warrant a
substantive response to clarify or complete the record; or
(c) The comment raises a relevant issue that was not previously
addressed or considered by the NRC.
(2) The comment proposes a change or an addition to the rule, and
it is apparent that the rule would be ineffective or unacceptable
without incorporation of the change or addition.
(3) The comment causes the NRC to make a change (other than
editorial) to the rule.
For detailed instructions on filing comments, please see the
ADDRESSES section of this document.

IV. Background

This rulemaking (1) amends the regulations pertaining to quantities
of byproduct material that are exempt from licensing in title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 30, ``Rules of General
Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material,''
specifically Sec. 30.71 (``Schedule B''); and (2) expands the
exemptions from licensing for Department of Energy (DOE) contractors.
Exemptions for DOE contractors are in part 30, and also in 10 CFR part
40, ``Domestic Licensing of Source Material''; and 10 CFR part 70,
``Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material,'' specifically
Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11. The NRC has authority to issue
licenses to persons for the use of radioactive material under the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA). With respect to the
revision to Schedule B, the exempt quantities of byproduct material,
under section 81 of the AEA, the NRC also has authority to exempt
certain classes or quantities of byproduct material from the
requirements for a license. In considering its exemptions from
licensing, the NRC is directed by the AEA to make a finding that the
exemption of such classes or quantities of such material or such kinds
of uses or users will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common
defense and security and to the health and safety of the public.
Consistent with this direction, the NRC has defined limits for such
material by quantity (mass), radioactivity (activity), the material's
use, the person using the material, or a combination thereof.
The NRC has identified its regulations for exempt quantities in
Schedule B as an area for regulatory improvement. Exempt quantity
limits for exempt use in Schedule B were identical to other quantity
limits in the NRC's radiation protection regulations in 10 CFR part 20
until it was revised in 1991 (56 FR 23360; May 21, 1991). The NRC
published changes to 10 CFR part 20 to reflect the adoption of
recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection
(ICRP) Publication Nos. 26 and 30. At the time, the values in Schedule
B were not revised because conformity was not considered essential when
10 CFR part 20 was updated. In June 2001, the NRC conducted a technical
evaluation of its exemptions, published in NUREG-1717, ``Systematic
Radiological Assessment of Exemptions for Source and Byproduct
Materials.'' This evaluation concluded that providing a cross-reference
to appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 continues to ensure reasonable
assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety. Further
changes were made due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which added
additional byproduct material to the NRC's jurisdiction. Schedule B was
partially updated in a final rule, ``Requirements for Expanded
Definition of Byproduct Material; Final Rule'' (72 FR 55864; October 1,
2007) to include radionuclides that were commonly used at that time.
More recently, the NRC has received information that expanding the use
of byproduct material under exemption should be pursued, following a
comment letter from National Institutes of Health, dated December 15,
2020.
Next, based on licensing experience, the NRC also has identified
its regulations granting exemptions to DOE contractors as an area for
regulatory improvement. These regulations for byproduct, source, and
special nuclear material are addressed in Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and
70.11, respectively. Almost identical versions of these regulations
have been in place since the existence of the Atomic Energy Commission
(AEC), when the AEC reviewed its contractor activities for exemption
(see e.g., 16 FR 3251; April 13, 1951; 21 FR 213; January 11, 1956; 29
FR 14401; October 20, 1964). When the AEC was reorganized in 1975, the
NRC retained the responsibility to perform the review of the exemption
requests for DOE

[[Page 63135]]

contractors working in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the NRC.

V. Discussion

The NRC is amending its regulations in this rule to expand how
byproduct material can be safely used without a license and expand
exemptions from licensing for certain activities of DOE contractors.
As discussed in the ``Background'' section, these long-standing
exemptions both for exempt quantities of byproduct material in Schedule
B and the exemptions for DOE contractors have only been slightly
changed in the past decades. Since their promulgation, from time to
time the NRC has evaluated exempt material use to ensure that the
limits are still protective of health and safety. On its own
initiative, the NRC has also performed technical evaluations of
Schedule B, examining if higher quantity or activity limits would still
provide adequate protection of health and safety, common defense and
security, and the environment. A comprehensive technical evaluation was
published in ``Systematic Radiological Assessment of Exemptions for
Source and Byproduct Materials'' (NUREG-1717, June 2001), which
supports the quantity and activity limits established in revised
Schedule B. That evaluation demonstrated that the quantity and activity
limits in revised Schedule B present such low risk, even in
conservative misuse scenarios, that regulation would not meaningfully
improve safety. Further, the revised Schedule B more closely aligns the
NRC's labeling and licensing requirements by matching the quantities of
materials that are exempt from licensing under 10 CFR part 30 with
those that are exempt from labelling under 10 CFR part 20 with limited
exceptions.
With respect to the exemptions for DOE contractors, the NRC has
reviewed exemption requests it has received and approved from its
licensees and from the DOE in order to assess what limits would ensure
safe use of radioactive material exempt from the licensing process.
Overall, these amendments will provide greater regulatory
flexibility, thereby accomplishing the goals of E.O. 14300 while
ensuring safety. The following discussion elaborates on these points,
organized by subject area.

A. Expanding Exemptions for Byproduct Material

This rule amends the NRC's regulations in Schedule B to include all
the radionuclides that are widely used by researchers and in academic,
industrial, and medical settings. Without this update, individuals who
use and possess radionuclides not included in the existing Schedule B
list must continue to apply for a specific license where one is not
needed to ensure reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public
health and safety. Therefore, the NRC is replacing the current Schedule
B with a reference to appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 and a clarifying
footnote that the quantities listed are also used in 10 CFR part 30 to
define quantities exempt from licensing. The limits in Schedule B are
referred to elsewhere in regulations as ``exempt quantities''; however,
Schedule B limits are published in terms of activity, as are the values
in appendix C to part 20. The majority of the exempt quantity
thresholds specifically listed in the current Schedule B match values
contained in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20. This will expand
radionuclides that are currently not listed in Schedule B, will update
the quantities of existing radionuclides on the table based on the
latest safety data, and will ensure that persons currently exempt from
requiring a license continue to be exempt.
This change updates the activities of byproduct material for which
possession is exempt from the requirement for a specific license. This
rulemaking ensures exempt quantity thresholds are tied to risks
associated with the radionuclide as appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 is
developed based on NRC risk modules. The change saves resources for
individuals who use low-risk quantities of certain radionuclides
identified in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 as it removes the need to
get a specific license. It also saves resources for NRC and Agreement
States to review specific license applications and conduct inspections.
The quantities for three radionuclides specifically listed in Sec.
30.71 (cadmium-109, iridium-192, and zirconium-93) have lower values (1
[micro]Ci, 37 kilobecquerel) in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 than
currently contained in 10 CFR 30.71 (10 [micro]Ci). If the values for
these radionuclides are replaced by the values in appendix C to 10 CFR
part 20, the exempt quantity threshold for these radionuclides will
decrease. Additionally, the current exempt quantity of any byproduct
materials other than alpha emitting byproduct material not listed in
Sec. 30.71 is 0.1 [micro]Ci, which is equal to the smallest exempt
quantity listed. Since the smallest quantity in appendix C to 10 CFR
part 20 is 0.001 [micro]Ci and the quantity for any radionuclide other
than alpha emitting radionuclides not listed in appendix C to 10 CFR
part 20 is 0.01 [micro]Ci, radionuclides not listed in Sec. 30.71
could have their exempt quantity reduced if not listed in appendix C to
10 CFR part 20 or if they are listed in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20
with a quantity lower than 0.1 [micro]Ci. These situations could
require individuals to obtain a specific license when they are
currently exempt from that requirement. To avoid this the NRC is
including in the rule language exceptions retaining the current exempt
quantities for the three specified radionuclides and any byproduct
material other than alpha emitting byproduct material for which the
quantity in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 is lower than 0.1 [micro]Ci.
This rulemaking modernizes the exempt quantity thresholds by
effectively adding values for widely used radionuclides in medical,
academic, and industrial applications not previously exempted and
updating certain thresholds based on updated scientific and safety
information. This rulemaking also reduces the number of specific
licenses that nuclear materials users must apply for due to the exempt
quantities in the current Schedule B.

B. Expanding Exemptions for Department of Energy (DOE) Contractors

Since September 11, 2001, DOE contractors have routinely provided
training involving radioactive materials to law enforcement personnel
and first responders at the Federal, state, and local levels. Whenever
these training activities take place outside a Federal government-owned
or controlled site, the DOE contractor must obtain an exemption from
the NRC (and Agreement State, if applicable) to perform the activity.
This rule updates the NRC's regulations in Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and
70.11 so that DOE contractors will no longer need to request specific
exemptions individually. Instead, the rule would grant a standing
exemption for temporary training activities involving law enforcement
emergency response, and similar personnel, provided the radioactive
materials used fall below specified quantity limits. Once Agreement
States adopt the rule, these exemptions would apply within their
jurisdictions as well. The rule establishes explicit quantity
thresholds, confines the exemptions to temporary training activities,
and ensures the continued use of appropriate safety procedures. This
approach increases efficiency and reduces administrative workload for
NRC, Agreement States, and DOE contractors by eliminating repeated
reviews of training activities that have already demonstrated a
consistent safety record under DOE oversight.

[[Page 63136]]

These radioactive materials are used in accordance with DOE's
occupational radiation protection program in 10 CFR part 835, which is
similar to the NRC's radiation protection program in 10 CFR part 20 and
provides protection of public health and safety and security controls.
The DOE contractors typically conduct multiple training activities and
exercises each year, submitting multiple, nearly identical, exemption
requests. These training activities generally involve quantities of
radioactive material which do not require additional security controls
beyond 10 CFR part 20 requirements. In limited cases, the NRC has
approved exemptions involving quantities that fall under security
requirements under 10 CFR part 37, ``Physical Protection of Category 1
and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material.''
In assessing how to structure the new exemptions, the NRC staff
reviewed years of past case-by-case exemption approvals. Since 2001,
the NRC has consistently evaluated these exemption requests without
identifying any safety issues. The DOE already regulates similar
radioactive materials under its jurisdiction and typically only seeks
NRC and Agreement State exemptions when training occurs outside DOE
controlled sites. The DOE also maintains emergency response procedures
that address work performed in NRC or Agreement State jurisdictions and
includes processes for notification in the event of abnormal
conditions. Historically, the NRC has considered these procedures when
reviewing exemption requests.
Therefore, considering DOE's history of safe oversight of these
activities and the continued involvement of the NRC or Agreement States
in the event of an abnormal condition, the NRC staff believe there is a
low safety risk associated with providing the exemptions for certain
quantities of material that are typically used in these training
exercises. Additionally, the NRC staff do not believe additional
notification is required outside of existing notifications during
abnormal conditions.
When DOE training is conducted in Agreement States, the NRC has
performed the review and provided the Agreement State opportunity to
comment. The quantity limits now being codified reflect these past
approvals and were validated with DOE during this rule's development.
To ensure consistency across the National Materials Program, Agreement
States need to adopt compatible regulations so that DOE contractors
receive the same exemptions nationwide.
In addition to the changes made to the regulations for byproduct,
source, and special nuclear material exemptions, the NRC is making
administrative clarifications to Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11.
These revisions enumerate the DOE contractor exemptions more clearly,
replacing language that was previously ambiguous and could cause
confusion once the expanded exemptions take effect. These
administrative edits do not change any existing exemptions. They
improve clarity so the expanded rule can be implemented without
misinterpretation.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended at 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.,
requires that agencies consider the impact of their rulemakings on
small entities and, consistent with applicable statutes, consider
alternatives to minimize these impacts on the businesses,
organizations, and government jurisdictions to which they apply.
The NRC has established standards for determining which of its
licensees qualify as small entities pursuant to 10 CFR 2.810, ``NRC
size standards.'' These standards are based on the Small Business
Administration's most common receipt-based size standards and provide
for business concerns that are manufacturing entities, with the use of
a criteria of less than 500 employees.
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act requires
that the NRC prepare a written compliance guide to assist small
entities in complying with each rule for which a regulatory flexibility
analysis is prepared. Because this direct final rule is deregulatory
and does not impose new requirements on small entities, the NRC does
not expect to prepare a compliance guide under this Act.
This direct final rule reduces regulatory burden and results in
cost savings compared to maintaining the current requirements. Aligning
Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) with appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 will
increase the number of radionuclides eligible for exemption and will
raise quantity thresholds for certain radionuclides. These changes
allow small entities, such as universities, research institutions, and
small businesses, to use a broader range of radionuclides without a
specific license, provided the quantities remain below the quantity
limits.
This rule also updates Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11 to add
exemptions for DOE contractors conducting temporary training activities
with byproduct, source, and special nuclear material under specific,
previously approved quantities. Under the current regulations, DOE must
request case-by-case exemptions from the NRC and Agreement States for
these activities when performed in NRC and Agreement State
jurisdiction. These exemptions eliminate the need for repeated
exemption requests on a case-by-case basis, provided DOE contractors
meet the conditions specified in these sections. This change reduces
administrative burden for DOE, NRC, and Agreement States while
maintaining oversight and public protection.
Overall, this rule benefits small entities and DOE contractors by
streamlining licensing and exemption processes, saving time and costs,
and improving efficiency without compromising health and safety. The
Commission certifies that this deregulatory rule does not have a
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.

VII. Regulatory Analysis

This regulatory analysis is prepared in accordance with E.O. 12866,
``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and E.O. 14215, ``Ensuring
Accountability for All Agencies.'' E.O. 14215 requires all federal
agencies, including the NRC, to comply with E.O. 12866 and submit
significant actions for Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
(OIRA) review. The analysis assesses the costs and savings of the
alternatives considered by the NRC and concludes that the deregulatory
actions in this rule are expected to reduce regulatory burden and
generate cost savings for licensees, the NRC, the Agreement States, and
the DOE contractors when compared to the no-action baseline. The
regulatory analysis is detailed in the following paragraphs of this
document. Comments on the analysis may be submitted to the NRC as
indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this document.

A. Need for the Rule

The NRC was created by Congress in 1974 to ensure the safe use of
radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting
people and the environment. The NRC protects public health and safety
and advances the nation's common defense and security by enabling the
safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy
technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable
licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the
environment. From an economic perspective, common defense and national
security are public goods for

[[Page 63137]]

which the markets cannot maximize net benefits, and markets alone can
sometimes create unintended impacts to public health and safety.
Consistent with its statutory authority, NRC provides reasonable
assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety.
Section 5 of E.O. 14300 directs the NRC to undertake a review and
wholesale revision of its regulations and guidance documents as guided
by the policies set forth in section 2 of the E.O. This rulemaking is
part of the NRC's response to the direction in Section 5 of the E.O.
because in conducting the wholesale review of its regulation, the NRC
reexamined the regulations pertaining to the use of certain nuclear
material without a license and determined--based on past experience and
practice--such uses can be expanded. Rulemaking is the most effective
way to achieve this. Licensees may amend their current license for
additional radionuclides; however, such amendments impose a cost on
licensees and regulators without a proportionate benefit to public
health and safety. Expanding the use of certain nuclear material
without the need for a license also cannot be accomplished through
guidance, as such guidance would conflict with the existing regulatory
text. Therefore, amending the NRC's regulations is the most effective
way to make this deregulatory change for all intended exempt uses.

B. Analytical Framework

This analysis uses the current regulations under 10 CFR parts 30,
40, and 70 as the no-action baseline (Alternative 1), evaluates the
changes in this direct final rule as the regulatory alternative
(Alternative 2), and estimates the costs and savings associated with
implementing the rule.
Alternative 2 will revise 10 CFR parts 30, 40, and 70 to modernize
exempt quantity thresholds and add exemptions for DOE contractors
conducting temporary training activities under specified quantities of
radioactive material. Specifically, these amendments include aligning
Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) with appendix C to 10 CFR part 20, adding
radionuclides widely used in research, industry, and medicine, and
updating quantity thresholds based on current scientific and safety
information. These changes will allow a broader range of radionuclides
to be used without a specific license, provided the quantities remain
below the updated exempt limits.
The rule also will add exemptions for DOE contractors under
Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11 to eliminate repeated case-by-case
exemption requests for temporary training activities performed in NRC
and Agreement State jurisdiction. These training activities have
historically been completed safely under DOE oversight. Additionally,
the DOE has routinely requested similar quantities of byproduct,
source, and special nuclear material often resulting in nearly
repetitive reviews and approvals by the NRC and Agreement States. This
rule identifies maximum quantities of byproduct, source, and special
nuclear material that qualify for exemptions based on the robust past
history of approval and safe use. By removing unnecessary regulatory
burden, these changes will improve efficiency, predictability, and
flexibility while maintaining the NRC's mission of protecting public
health and safety.
The amendments include administrative updates, clarifications, and
streamlined requirements that improve consistency and support
regulatory efficiency. Overall, these changes address E.O. 14300,
Section 5, by reducing administrative burdens for the NRC, Agreement
States, licensees, and applicants while ensuring continued oversight
and safety.
To estimate the regulatory impact of this direct final rule, the
NRC used input from NRC staff, internal data sources, and information
provided by stakeholders. Where possible, the NRC provides quantitative
estimates based on available data; where data are not available, the
NRC relies on staff judgment to approximate the impact and level of
effort involved.
The analysis then monetizes the estimated time savings for NRC
staff, Agreement State staff, licensees, and DOE contractors resulting
from activities that will no longer be required under this rule. These
savings include (1) avoided license applications and amendments for
exempt quantities of radioactive material due to updates to Sec. 30.71
(Schedule B) and (2) avoided case-by-case exemption requests for DOE
contractors. Monetized savings are calculated by multiplying the
estimated labor hours avoided by (1) licensees for preparing and
submitting license applications and amendments, (2) DOE contractors for
preparing exemption requests, and (3) NRC and Agreement State staff for
reviewing these submissions, by the applicable wage rates.
For NRC staff, the NRC uses its internal labor rate of $158 per
hour.\1\ Wage rates for licensees and Agreement State staff are derived
from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) \2\ data and adjusted using
the NRC's standard 2.4 multiplier to account for fringe benefits and
overhead costs. Wage rates for DOE contractors are based on DOE-
provided data and reflect costs specific to DOE operations rather than
BLS blended averages.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ This NRC labor rate differs from those developed under the
agency's license fee recovery program (10 CFR part 170, ``Fees for
Facilities, Materials, Import and Export Licenses, and Other
Regulatory Services under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
Amended''). NRC labor rates for fee recovery purposes are
appropriately designed for full-cost recovery of the services
rendered and thus include nonincremental costs (e.g., overhead,
administrative, and logistical support costs). <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/regulatory-analysis">https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/regulatory-analysis</a>.
\2\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and
Wage Statistics, National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment
and Wage Statistics, May 2024.

Table 1--Wage Rates Used in the Analysis
[2024 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fully
Hourly loaded
Standard occupational Position title Weighting mean NRC loaded hourly
classification (%) wage multipliers mean
wage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensees/Applicants Labor Rates (National Cross-industry, Private Ownership)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17-2081.......................... Environmental Engineers........ 33 $54.44 2.4 $43.55
19-5010.......................... Occupational Health and Safety 33 40.25 2.4 32.20
Specialists and Technicians.
23-1011.......................... Lawyers........................ 33 93.72 2.4 74.98
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 63138]]

Blended mean wage 150.73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreement States Wage Rates (State Government, including Schools and Hospitals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17-2081.......................... Environmental Engineers........ 33 48.66 2.4 38.93
19-5010.......................... Occupational Health and Safety 33 37.24 2.4 29.79
Specialists and Technicians.
23-1011.......................... Lawyers........................ 33 57.44 2.4 45.95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blended mean wage 114.67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC wage rate 158.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contractor Labor Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radiological Engineering....... 69 273.70 ............ 188.17
Principal Researcher........... 13 331.30 ............ 41.41
Supervisor/Manager............. 9 273.70 ............ 25.66
Administrative................. 9 154.95 ............ 14.53
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blended mean wage 269.77
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All costs and cost savings are expressed in 2024 dollars. The
analysis covers a 5-year period, which provides a reasonable basis for
projecting licensee activities. In accordance with Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Circular A-4 and the NRC's internal guidance document,
NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 5, the staff used net present value (NPV)
calculations to estimate the value of future cost savings in constant
2024 dollars, the most recent year for which complete annual data are
available. NPV analysis allows for the comparison of costs and benefits
that occur at different points in time by discounting them to a common
base year. Consistent with OMB guidance, the analysis applies real
discount rates of 3 percent and 7 percent. The 3-percent rate reflects
the social rate of time preference and approximates the real return on
long-term government debt. The 7-percent rate reflects the opportunity
cost of capital and approximates the average pretax real rate of return
on private-sector investments.
The resulting estimates and underlying calculations are presented
in the subsequent sections.

C. Estimated Costs and Savings of the Direct Final Rule

This section analyzes the estimated costs and savings associated
with revisions to Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) to align with appendix C to
10 CFR part 20, as well as exemptions for DOE contractors under
Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11. The analysis concludes with a
summary of implementation costs, anticipated cost savings, and net cost
savings.
1. Expanding Exemptions for Byproduct Material
As discussed in Section IV.A, ``Expanding Exemptions for Byproduct
Material'' of this document, this direct final rule will replace the
current Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) table with a reference to appendix C
to 10 CFR part 20, which includes a broader range of radionuclides. It
will also retain the current exempt quantities for cadmium-109,
iridium-192, and zirconium-93 because their thresholds in Sec. 30.71
(Schedule B) are already higher than those in appendix C to 10 CFR part
20. The rule will add a blanket provision stating that the exempt
quantity limit for any byproduct material other than alpha emitting
radionuclides is 0.1 microcuries. This change reduces the need for
specific licenses for very small quantities of certain radionuclides,
eliminating associated application, review, and compliance costs for
both applicants and regulators. Agreement States will be required to
adopt compatible regulations; however, the scope of changes is limited,
and the associated revisions are expected to be minimal. The estimated
savings apply only to reduced licensing requirements for possession of
exempt quantities and do not include any changes for manufacturers or
distributors, because distribution requirements under Sec. 32.18
remain unchanged.
By aligning Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) with appendix C to 10 CFR part
20, this rule will reduce the need for specific licenses for certain
radionuclides without compromising public health and safety. Based on
NRC experience, at least 10 specific license applications or amendment
requests are submitted to the NRC each year, and approximately 70
similar applications are submitted to Agreement States. Each licensee/
applicant spends about 40 hours per license on compliance activities.
NRC staff spend an average of 50 hours reviewing each application.
Agreement State staff spend 50 hours reviewing each application. As
shown in table 2, eliminating the specific licenses requirement for
certain radionuclides will reduce burden for licensees, the NRC, and
Agreement States. These activities represent approximately 7,200 hours
of effort and $962,682 in annual costs that will be eliminated under
this rule.

[[Page 63139]]

Table 2--Annual Cost Savings From Elimination of Exemption Requests
[NRC, agreement states and licensees]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reduction in
number of Burden hours Total burden Fully loaded Annual cost
Entity exemption per request hours reduced wage rate savings
requests
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensees/Applicants............ 80 40 3,200 $150.73 $482,330
NRC............................. 10 50 500 158.00 79,000
Agreement States................ 70 50 3,500 114.67 401,352
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... .............. .............. 7,200 .............. 962,682
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the 5-year analysis period (2027-2031), these changes are
projected to generate cumulative undiscounted savings of $4.8 million.
Using 2024 as the base year, the net present value of these savings is
estimated at $4.4 million using a 3 percent discount rate or $3.9
million using a 7 percent discount rate.

Table 3--Total 5-Year Cost Savings
[NRC, agreement states and licensees]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of
exemption Cost of Cost savings
Year requests with exemption due to this 3% NPV ($) 7% NPV ($)
existing requests with rule ($)
regulations this final rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undiscounted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................. 962,682 0 962,682 934,642 899,702
2............................. 962,682 0 962,682 907,420 840,843
3............................. 962,682 0 962,682 880,990 785,835
4............................. 962,682 0 962,682 855,330 734,425
5............................. 962,682 0 962,682 830,418 686,379
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................... 4,813,408 0 4,813,408 4,408,800 3,947,185
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The NRC and industry stakeholders may incur minimal implementation
costs associated with updating internal procedures. These costs are
expected to be minimal and have not been quantified.
2. Expanding Exemptions for DOE Contractors
As discussed in Section IV.B ``Expanding Exemptions for DOE
Contractors'' of this document, this direct final rule will revise the
exemption provisions under Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11 to add
exemption approvals for DOE contractors conducting temporary training
activities under specified quantities of radioactive material. Under
the current regulations, DOE contractors must request case-by-case
exemptions from the NRC when training occurs in NRC and Agreement State
jurisdiction. The NRC first reviews these requests to confirm that the
material poses a low risk to public health and safety. Agreement States
conduct confirmatory reviews of the exemption requests that fall within
their jurisdiction.
Preparing and reviewing exemption requests imposes a recurring
administrative burden. Each request requires DOE contractors to prepare
documentation describing the material involved, outline applicable
safety controls, and demonstrate that the training activity is
authorized and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. NRC
staff then review the exemption request, verify compliance, and
document their findings. The NRC then forwards its findings and the
exemption decision to the Agreement States for confirmatory review. As
shown in table 4, eliminating the exemption requirement will reduce
burden for DOE contractors, NRC, and Agreement States. DOE contractors
currently submit about 29 exemption requests annually, based on the 3-
year average. The NRC reviews all exemption requests, while Agreement
States review only those within their jurisdictions, which account for
approximately 90 percent of the total requests. These activities
represent approximately 1,390 hours of effort and $266,921 in annual
costs that will be eliminated under this rule.

Table 4--Annual Cost Savings From Elimination of Exemption Requests
[DOE contractors, NRC, agreement states and licensees]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reduction in
number of Burden hours Total burden Fully loaded Annual cost
Entity exemption per request hours reduced wage rate savings
requests
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE Contractors................. 29 16 464 $269.77 $125,172
NRC............................. 29 28 822 158.00 129,823
Agreement States................ 26 4 104 114.67 11,926
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 63140]]

Total....................... .............. .............. 1,390 .............. 266,921
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rule will eliminate the need for these case-by-case exemption
requests by adding exemptions for specified quantity limits, provided
the activity is a temporary training of law enforcement, emergency
response, or other similar personnel and appropriate procedures are in
place. This change will reduce administrative burden for DOE
contractors, NRC, and Agreement States while maintaining oversight and
public protection.
As shown in table 5, over the 5-year analysis period (2027-2031),
these changes are projected to generate cumulative undiscounted savings
of approximately $1.3 million. Using 2024 as the base year, the NPV of
these savings is estimated at $1.2 million using a 3 percent discount
rate or $1.1 million using a 7 percent discount rate. NRC and industry
stakeholders may incur minimal implementation costs associated with
eliminating the exemption process and updating internal procedures.
These costs are expected to be minimal and have not been quantified.

Table 5--Total 5-Year Cost Savings
[DOE contractors, NRC, agreement states and licensees]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of
exemption Cost of Cost savings
Year requests with exemption due to this 3% NPV ($) 7% NPV ($)
existing requests with rule ($)
regulations($) this final rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undiscounted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2027.......................... 266,921 0 266,921 259,147 249,459
2028.......................... 266,921 0 266,921 251,599 233,139
2029.......................... 266,921 0 266,921 244,271 217,887
2030.......................... 266,921 0 266,921 237,156 203,633
2031.......................... 266,921 0 266,921 230,249 190,311
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................... 1,334,606 0 1,334,606 1,222,421 1,094,430
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Summary of Costs, Cost Savings, and Net Cost Savings
Overall, this direct final rule is considered a deregulatory action
and is expected to reduce administrative burden by streamlining
exemption provisions, improving efficiency and predictability, and
increasing flexibility for the NRC, Agreement States, licensees, and
DOE contractors. These changes include aligning exempt quantity
thresholds in Sec. 30.71 (Schedule B) with appendix C to 10 CFR part
20 and adding exemption approvals for DOE contractors conducting
temporary training activities under specified quantities of radioactive
material under Sec. Sec. 30.12, 40.11, and 70.11.
Over the 5-year analysis period (2027-2031), the revisions are
estimated to generate net savings of $6.1 million (savings minus
costs), undiscounted. As shown in table 6, the NPV of these net savings
will be $5.6 million, discounted at 3 percent, or $5.0 million,
discounted at 7 percent. The projected annualized cost savings will be
$1.2 million, discounted at 3 percent, or $1.1 million, discounted at 7
percent. Although the rule will generate savings, NRC and industry
stakeholders may incur minimal implementation costs associated with
eliminating the exemption process and updating internal procedures.
These costs are expected to be minimal and have not been quantified.
Licensees account for the largest share of net savings, with about
2.4 million over 5 years, undiscounted, and 2.2 million discounted at 3
percent, or 2.0 million discounted at 7 percent. Agreement States will
realize about 2.1 million over 5 years, undiscounted, and 1.9 million
discounted at 3 percent, or 1.7 million discounted at 7 percent. NRC
savings are estimated at 1.0 million over 5 years, undiscounted, and
956,000 discounted at 3 percent, or 856,000 discounted at 7 percent.
DOE contractor savings are estimated at 626,000 over 5 years,
undiscounted, and 573,000 discounted at 3 percent, or 513,000
discounted at 7 percent.

Table 6--Total 5-Year Costs, Savings, and Net Savings
[NRC, agreement states, licensees, and DOE contractors] \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attribute Undiscounted 3% NPV 7% NPV
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensees' Savings from Rule.................................... $2,412,000 $2,209,000 $1,978,000
NRC Staff's Savings from Rule................................... 1,044,000 956,000 856,000
Agreement States' Savings from Rule............................. 2,066,000 1,893,000 1,695,000

[[Page 63141]]

DOE Contractors' Savings from Rule.............................. 626,000 573,000 513,000
-----------------------------------------------
Implementation Costs............................................ Minimal cost, not quantified
-----------------------------------------------
Total Net Savings........................................... 6,148,000 5,631,000 5,042,000
Annualized Savings.............................................. .............. 1,159,000 1,074,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition to the quantified analysis, this direct final rule
provides qualitative benefits by improving regulatory clarity and
predictability. Aligning exempt quantity thresholds in Sec. 30.71
(Schedule B) with appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 and codifying exemptions
for DOE contractors reduces ambiguity and minimizes the need for case-
by-case reviews. These changes streamline processes, support broader
use of radionuclides in research, industry, and medicine, and enhance
efficiency while maintaining safety. The exemptions for DOE contractors
further reduces administrative burden and improves coordination among
NRC, Agreement States, and DOE contractors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\3\ Values rounded to the nearest 1,000 dollars.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition to this analysis, OIRA requires agencies to report
results as a perpetual stream (perpetuity) once a rule is implemented.
The perpetual stream has annualized savings of about 1.1 million.

VIII. Backfitting and Issue Finality

This final rule amends the NRC's byproduct, source, and special
nuclear material regulations to expand how nuclear material can be
safely used without a license. The final rule does not meet the
definition of backfitting in Sec. 50.109, 70.76, 72.62, or 76.76, or
affect issue finality of an approval issued under 10 CFR part 52.
Therefore, the NRC has determined that this final rule does not
constitute a backfit or affect issue finality for any approvals issued
under 10 CFR part 52.

IX. Plain Writing

The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274) requires Federal
agencies to write documents in a clear, concise, and well-organized
manner. The NRC has written this document to be consistent with the
Plain Writing Act as well as the Presidential Memorandum, ``Plain
Language in Government Writing,'' published June 10, 1998 (63 FR
31885).

X. National Environmental Policy Act

A. Introduction

The NRC has prepared this environmental assessment (EA) of the
direct final rule amending byproduct, source, and special nuclear
material regulations to determine the significance of the environmental
effects of the agency action in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) and NRC's NEPA
implementing regulations in 10 CFR part 51, ``Environmental Protection
Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions.''
As explained in this EA, the NRC has determined that the agency action
to amend these regulations to expand which radionuclides are exempt
from the requirement for a specific license, update the quantity
thresholds for certain radionuclides exempt from a specific license,
and expand exemptions for certain DOE contractor activities would have
no significant effect on the quality of the human environment. The
direct final rule amends regulations in 10 CFR parts 30.12, 30.71,
40.11, and 70.11.

B. Rule Amendments Requiring Environmental Assessment

The NRC evaluated the direct final rule amendments for the
potential to affect the human environment and determined that the
agency action (rulemaking) does not have a significant environmental
effect. Environmental effects were determined to be the same for a
given facility regardless of the amendment. However, these amendments
also involve safety requirements that differ from those under the
existing regulatory framework. Therefore, the environmental effects
analysis focuses on whether changes in safety requirements would lead
to significantly different environmental effects than those experienced
under existing NRC regulations. As explained in Table B-1, these rule
amendments update NRC regulations, continue to provide reasonable
assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety, and
therefore, result in no new or different environmental effects. Table
B-1 presents the basis for why these rule amendments have no
significant environmental effects.

[[Page 63142]]

Table B-1--Basis for No Significant Environmental Effects Determination
for Rule Amendments Not Covered by a Categorical Exclusion
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis for no significant environmental
Rule amendments effects
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.71........................ The direct final rule amendment aligns
exempt quantity thresholds in 10 CFR
30.71 (Schedule B) with appendix C to 10
CFR part 20 to reduce the need for
specific licenses for certain
radionuclides without compromising
public health and safety.
The direct final rule amendment replaces
the 10 CFR 30.71 (Schedule B) table with
a reference to appendix C to 10 CFR part
20, except for cadmium-109, iridium-192,
and zirconium-93, for which current
exempt quantities are retained.
Retention of current quantities for
these radionuclides avoids creating a
requirement for a specific license where
one is not currently required. The
amendment also adds a provision stating
that the exempt quantity limit for any
byproduct material other than alpha
emitting radionuclides is 0.1
microcuries. This eliminates the need
for specific licenses for very small
quantities of certain radionuclides that
would not be harmful. Licensing
requirements for possession of exempt
quantities do not include any changes
for manufacturers or distributors.
Distribution requirements under 10 CFR
32.18 remain unchanged. The NRC has
reviewed updated scientific and safety
information, as discussed in the rule
preamble, and determined that higher
exempt quantity and activity limits for
certain radionuclides continue to
provide reasonable assurance of adequate
protection of public health and safety
and would not result in any physical
changes in the environment. Therefore,
the NRC has determined that the
rulemaking action results in no
significant environmental effects.
30.12; 40.11; 70.11.......... Based on licensing experience, NRC staff
identified byproduct, source, and
special nuclear material regulations
granting exemptions to DOE contractors
as an area for regulatory improvement.
This direct final rule updates Sec. Sec.
30.12, 40.11, and 70.11 to add
exemptions for DOE contractors
conducting temporary training activities
with byproduct, source, and special
nuclear material under specific,
previously approved quantities. Under
current regulations, DOE contractors
must request on a case-by-case basis
exemptions for these activities when
performed in NRC and Agreement State
jurisdictions. The amendments eliminate
the need for repeated exemption requests
on a case-by-case basis, provided DOE
contractors meet the conditions
specified in these sections. This change
reduces administrative burden for DOE,
NRC, and Agreement States by eliminating
repeated reviews of training activities
that have already demonstrated a
consistent safety record, while
maintaining oversight and public
protection.
In addition, radioactive materials are
used in accordance with DOE's
occupational radiation protection
program in 10 CFR part 835, which is
similar to the NRC's radiation
protection program in 10 CFR part 20,
providing continued public health and
safety protection and security controls.
The NRC reviewed years of past
approvals, as discussed in the rule
preamble, and determined that a standing
exemption for temporary training
activities involving law enforcement
emergency response and similar
personnel, provided the radioactive
materials used fall below the specified
quantity limits, has a low safety risk
and continues to provide reasonable
assurance of adequate protection of
public health and safety and would not
result in any physical changes in the
environment. Therefore, the NRC has
determined that the rulemaking action
will result in no significant
environmental effects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rule amendments listed in Table B-1 would modernize existing
NRC byproduct, source, and special nuclear material regulations to
expand which radionuclides are exempt from the requirement for a
specific license, update the quantity thresholds for certain
radionuclides exempt from a specific license, and expand exemptions for
certain temporary DOE contractor training activities while ensuring
these regulations continue to be safe, effective, and efficient and
continue to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of
public health and safety and the environment. As noted in Table B-1,
the amendments consist of administrative and procedural changes for
license exemptions and do not authorize any site-specific action on the
part of the NRC or licensee and would have no significantly different
environmental effects than those from the current regulatory framework.

C. Environmental Impacts of the Agency Action

Implementation of the direct final rule would result in no physical
changes to the environment, and, therefore, the NRC has determined that
this agency action does not have a significant effect on the quality of
the human environment. The rule amendments are administrative in
application, maintain ample margins of safety for public exposure, and
would provide an equivalent level of safety and security as current NRC
regulations.
Since no physical changes would occur in the human environment, the
agency action (direct final rule) would not affect any threatened or
endangered species or historic properties. Accordingly, the NRC finds
that implementing the direct final rule would have no significant
environmental impact.

D. Environmental Impacts of the Alternative to the Agency Action

Under the no-action alternative (i.e., the status quo), NRC
regulations would remain unchanged. As explained in section B, the
direct final rule does not have a significant effect on the quality of
the human environment. Therefore, the no action alternative and the
agency action (direct final rule) would have the same environmental
effect, although there would be costs attributable to reviewing the
environmental effects of exemption requests under the no action
alternative. Licensees would continue to comply with existing NRC
regulations or request regulatory relief (exemption) from the
regulations. The NRC would continue to evaluate the environmental
effects of exemption requests. The averted costs (benefits) of the
rulemaking would not occur. The Regulatory Analysis for the direct
final rule in Section VII provides information about the costs and
benefits of the no action alternative and the agency action (direct
final rule).

E. Finding of No Significant Impact

The NRC has prepared this EA to determine the environmental effects
of the agency action (direct final rule). As explained in the EA, the
NRC has determined the direct final rule does not change radiation
protection and emergency preparedness requirements or overall risk,
continues to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of
public health and safety, and results in no new or different
environmental effects. Therefore, the

[[Page 63143]]

NRC concludes that these regulatory changes do not have a significant
effect on the quality of the human environment. Based on this
conclusion, the NRC has determined there is no need to prepare an
environmental impact statement. Accordingly, the NRC finds the agency
action to amend its regulations to expand which radionuclides are
exempt from needing a specific license, update the quantity thresholds
for certain radionuclides exempt from a specific license, and to expand
exemptions for certain DOE contractor activities has no significant
environmental impact.

F. References

<bullet> 10 CFR Part 30. Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I,
Title 10, Energy, Part 30, ``Rules of General Applicability to
Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material.''
<bullet> 10 CFR Part 40. Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I,
Title 10, Energy, Part 40, ``Domestic Licensing of Source
Material.''
<bullet> 10 CFR Part 70. Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I,
Title 10, Energy, Part 70, ``Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear
Material.''
<bullet> Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Pub. L. 93-205,
87 Stat. 884 (1973).
<bullet> National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Pub.
L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852 (1969).
<bullet> National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.
Pub. L. 89-665, 80 Stat. 915 (1966).

XI. Paperwork Reduction Act

This direct final rule does not contain any new or amended
collections of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Existing collections of information were
approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval numbers 3150-
0017, 3150-0020, and 3150-0009.

Public Protection Notification

The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the document requesting
or requiring the collection displays a currently valid OMB control
number.

XII. Executive Orders

The following are Executive orders (E.O.) that are related to this
direct final rule:

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review (as Amended by
Executive Order 14215, Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies)

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has
determined that this direct final rule is a significant regulatory
action under section 3(f) of E.O. 12866, though not economically
significant under section 3(f)(1). Accordingly, the NRC submitted this
direct final rule to OIRA for review. The NRC is required to conduct an
economic analysis in accordance with section 6(a)(3)(B) of E.O. 12866.
More can be found in Section VII of this document, ``Regulatory
Analysis.''

B. Executive Order 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation

This action is determined to be a deregulatory action as defined by
E.O. 14192. Details on the estimated costs of this direct final rule
can be found in Section VII of this document, ``Regulatory Analysis.''

C. Executive Order 14267: Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers

E.O. 14267 requires the NRC to identify anti-competitive
regulations for rescission or modification. The NRC identified Sec.
30.71 because of section 3(a)(iv) of the Executive order. The
modification of the regulation supports the objectives of E.O. 14267 by
removing regulatory requirements that could create or facilitate
licensure or accreditation requirements that unduly limit competition.

XIII. Congressional Review Act

This final rule is a rule as defined in the Congressional Review
Act (5 U.S.C. 801-808). However, the Office of Management and Budget
has found that it does not meet the criteria at 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

XIV. Coordination With NRC Agreement States

On September 3, 2025, the NRC held a government-to-government
meeting with the Agreement States regarding E.O. 14300, ``Ordering the
Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.'' In this meeting, the NRC
presented its goals and objectives for future rulemakings, including
this rule, to be done in response to the E.O. At the time of the
meeting, the rule text was not available. Additionally, throughout the
development of the rule, the NRC interacted with Agreement State
representatives to hear their perspectives on the rule where early rule
language was shared. On February 5, 2026, the NRC met with certain
Agreement State representatives to discuss the rule text and to resolve
the compatibility of Agreement State regulations.

XV. Compatibility of Agreement State Regulations

On the basis of the ``Agreement State Program Policy Statement''
approved by the Commission on October 2, 2017, and published in the
Federal Register (82 FR 48535; October 18, 2017), NRC program elements
can be placed into six categories (A, B, C, D, NRC, or health and
safety (H&S)) to form the basis for evaluating and classifying the
program elements. Under the Policy Statement, a program element means
any component or function of a radiation control regulatory program,
including regulations and other legally binding requirements imposed on
regulated persons, which contributes to implementation of that program.
This rule only modifies regulations that are of Compatibility Category
B.
Compatibility Category B pertains to a limited number of program
elements that cross jurisdictional boundaries and should be addressed
to ensure uniformity of regulation on a nationwide basis. For
Compatibility Category B, the Agreement State program element shall be
essentially identical to that of NRC.
The rule is a matter of compatibility between the NRC and the
Agreement States, thereby providing consistency among Agreement State
and NRC requirements. The compatibility (A, B, C, D, and NRC) and
adequacy (H&S) categories are designated in the following table:

Adequacy and Compatibility Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adequacy or compatibility
Section Change Subject ---------------------------------
Existing New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.12........................... Amend.............. Byproduct material B B
exempt persons under
DOE contract.
30.71........................... Amend.............. Byproduct material B B
exempt limits.

[[Page 63144]]

40.11........................... Amend.............. Source material exempt B B
persons under DOE
contract.
70.11........................... Amend.............. Special Nuclear B B
Material exempt
persons under DOE
contract.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

XVI. Voluntary Consensus Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995,
Public Law 104-113, requires that Federal agencies use technical
standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies unless the use of such a standard is inconsistent with
applicable law or otherwise impractical. In this direct final rule, the
NRC will revise regulations exempting users from regulatory
requirements. This action does not constitute the establishment of a
standard that contains generally applicable requirements.

XVII. Availability of Guidance

The NRC will not be issuing guidance for this rulemaking. The NRC
and Agreement States do not license exempt users of byproduct, source,
and special nuclear material. This rule only amends regulations for
such exemptions; therefore there is no applicable guidance for this
rulemaking.

XVIII. Availability of Documents

The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as
indicated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADAMS accession No./web
Document link/Federal Register
citation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirements for Expanded Definition of 72 FR 55864.
Byproduct Material, Final Rule, October 1,
2007.
Standards for Protection Against Radiation, 56 FR 23360.
Final Rule, May 21, 1991.
NUREG-1717, ``Systematic Radiological ML011980433 (package).
Assessment of Exemptions for Source and
Byproduct Materials,'' June 2001.
Letter from Catherine A. Ribaudo, National ML20353A268 (package).
Institutes of Health, December 15, 2020.
Licensing Requirements, Exemptions for 29 FR 14401.
Certain AEC Contractors, Final Rule,
October 20, 1964.
Licensing of Byproduct Material, Final 21 FR 213.
Rule; January 11, 1956.
Radioisotope Distribution, Final Rule, 16 FR 3251.
April 13, 1951.
Agreement State Program Policy Statement, 82 FR 48535.
October 18, 2017.
Presidential Memorandum, ``Plain Language 63 FR 31885.
in Government Writing,'' June 10, 1998.
NRC Regulatory Analysis, Public Website.... <a href="https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/regulatory-analysis">https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/regulatory-analysis</a>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Orders
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 58 FR 51735.
Planning and Review,'' October 4, 1993.
Executive Order 14192, ``Unleashing 90 FR 9065.
Prosperity Through Deregulation,''
February 6, 2025.
Executive Order 14215, ``Ensuring 90 FR 10447.
Accountability for All Agencies,''
February 24, 2025.
Executive Order 14300, ``Ordering the 90 FR 22587.
Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission,'' May 29, 2025.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The NRC may post materials related to this document, including
public comments, on the Federal rulemaking website at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket ID NRC-2025-1568. In addition, the
Federal rulemaking website allows members of the public to receive
alerts when changes or additions occur in a docket folder. To
subscribe: (1) navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2025-1568); (2) click
the ``Subscribe'' button; and (3) enter an email address and click on
the ``Subscribe'' button.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 20

Byproduct material, Criminal penalties, Fusion, Hazardous waste,
Licensed material, Nuclear energy, Nuclear materials, Nuclear power
plants and reactors, Occupational safety and health, Packaging and
containers, Penalties, Radiation protection, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Source material, Special nuclear material,
Waste treatment and disposal.

10 CFR Part 30

Byproduct material, Criminal penalties, Government contracts,
Intergovernmental relations, Isotopes, Nuclear energy, Nuclear
materials, Penalties, Radiation protection, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Whistleblowing.

10 CFR Part 40

Criminal penalties, Exports, Government contracts, Hazardous
materials transportation, Hazardous waste, Nuclear energy, Nuclear
materials, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Source
material, Uranium, Whistleblowing.

10 CFR Part 70

Classified information, Criminal penalties, Emergency medical
services, Hazardous materials transportation, Material control and
accounting, Nuclear energy, Nuclear materials, Packaging and
containers, Penalties, Radiation protection, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment, Security measures,
Special nuclear material, Whistleblowing.

For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974,

[[Page 63145]]

as amended; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553, the NRC adopts the following
amendments to 10 CFR parts 20, 30, 40, and 70:

PART 20--STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION

0
1. The authority citation for part 20 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 53, 63, 65, 81,
103, 104, 161, 170H, 182, 186, 223, 234, 274, 1701 (42 U.S.C. 2014,
2073, 2093, 2095, 2111, 2133, 2134, 2201, 2210h, 2232, 2236, 2273,
2282, 2021, 2297f); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201,
202 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842); Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy
Amendments Act of 1985, sec. 2 (42 U.S.C. 2021b); 44 U.S.C. 3504
note.

0
2. Amend appendix C to part 20 by adding footnote 2 to the heading and
the corresponding footnote entry at the end of the appendix to read as
follows:

Appendix C to Part 20--Quantities\1\ \2\ of Licensed Material Requiring
Labeling
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radionuclide.............................. Quantity ([micro]Ci).

* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The quantities listed above were derived by taking 1/10th of the
most restrictive ALI listed in table 1, columns 1 and 2, of appendix B
to Sec. Sec. 20.1001-20.2401 of this part, rounding to the nearest
factor of 10, and arbitrarily constraining the values listed between
0.001 and 1,000 [micro]Ci. Values of 100 [micro]Ci have been assigned
for radionuclides having a radioactive half-life in excess of 10\9\
years (except rhenium, 1000 [micro]Ci) to take into account their low
specific activity.
\2\ The quantities listed in this table are also used in 10 CFR part 30
to define quantities exempt from licensing.

* * * * *

PART 30--RULES OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY TO DOMESTIC LICENSING OF
BYPRODUCT MATERIAL

0
3. The authority citation for part 30 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 81, 161, 181,
182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 223, 234, 274 (42 U.S.C. 2014, 2111, 2201,
2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2237, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C.
5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.

0
4. Revise Sec. 30.12 to read as follows:

Sec. 30.12 Persons using byproduct material under certain Department
of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission contracts.

(a) Except to the extent that Department facilities or activities
of the types subject to licensing pursuant to section 202 of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974 are involved, any prime contractor of the
Department is exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in
sections 81 and 82 of the Act and from the regulations in this part to
the extent that such contractor, under his prime contract with the
Department manufactures, produces, transfers, receives, acquires, owns,
possesses, or uses byproduct material for:
(1) The performance of work for the Department at a United States
Government-owned or controlled site, including the transportation of
byproduct material to or from such site and the performance of contract
services during temporary interruptions of such transportation;
(2) Research in, or development, manufacture, storage, testing or
transportation of, atomic weapons or components thereof; or
(3) The use or operation of nuclear reactors or other nuclear
devices in a United States Government-owned vehicle or vessel.
(b)(1) In addition to the foregoing exemptions and subject to the
requirement for licensing of Department facilities and activities
pursuant to section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, any
prime contractor or subcontractor of the Department or the Commission
is exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in sections 81
and 82 of the Act and from the regulations in this part to the extent
that such prime contractor or subcontractor manufacturers, produces,
transfers, receives, acquires, owns, possesses, or uses byproduct
material under his prime contract or subcontract when:
(i) The Commission determines that the exemption of the prime
contractor or subcontractor is authorized by law; and
(ii) Under the terms of the contract or subcontract, there is
adequate assurance that the work thereunder can be accomplished without
undue risk to the public health and safety.
(2) A Department or Commission prime contractor or subcontractor
does not need to obtain the Commission approval described in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section where:
(i) The prime contractor or subcontractor is performing temporary
activities involving the training of law enforcement, emergency
response, or other similar personnel;
(ii) The contract specifies the applicable leak testing, operating,
emergency, and security procedures consistent with any 10 CFR part 37
requirements that the contractor or subcontractor is to follow during
the temporary activities; and
(iii) The byproduct material is less than the following quantities:
(A) Category 2 sealed sources listed in table 1 of appendix A to 10
CFR part 37, excluding Ir-192.
(B) Sealed sources containing Ir-192: 150 Ci.
(C) Sealed sources not listed in table 1 of appendix A to 10 CFR
part 37: 20 millicuries per source and 100 millicuries aggregate.
(D) Unsealed sources: with a half-life less than or equal to 8
hours: 50 millicuries.
(E) Unsealed sources with a half-life less than or equal to 2
weeks: 5 millicuries.

0
5. Revise Sec. 30.71 to read as follows:

Sec. 30.71 Schedule B.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, appendix C
to part 20 of this chapter will be used as Schedule B for byproduct
materials.
(b) The following specified quantities of byproduct material will
be used in place of those in appendix C to part 20 of this chapter:
(1) Cadmium-109: 10 microcuries;
(2) Iridium-192: 10 microcuries;
(3) Zirconium-93: 10 microcuries; and
(4) Any byproduct material other than alpha emitting byproduct
material for which the quantity in appendix C to part 20 of this
chapter is less than this amount: 0.1 microcuries.

PART 40--DOMESTIC LICENSING OF SOURCE MATERIAL

0
6. The authority citation for part 40 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 62, 63, 64, 65, 69,
81, 83, 84, 122, 161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 193, 223, 234,
274, 275 (42 U.S.C. 2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2113, 2114,
2152, 2201, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2237, 2243, 2273, 2282,
2021, 2022); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206,
211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); Uranium Mill Tailings
Radiation Control Act of 1978, sec. 104 (42 U.S.C. 7914); 44 U.S.C.
3504 note.

0
7. Revise Sec. 40.11 to read as follows:

Sec. 40.11 Persons using source material under certain Department of
Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission contracts.

(a) Except to the extent that Department facilities or activities
of the types subject to licensing pursuant to section 202 of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974 or the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation
Control Act of 1978 are involved, any prime contractor of the
Department is exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in
sections 62, 63, and 64 of the Act and from the regulations in this
part to the extent that such

[[Page 63146]]

contractor, under his prime contract with the Department, receives,
possesses, uses, transfers or delivers source material for:
(1) The performance of work for the Department at a United States
Government-owned or controlled site, including the transportation of
source material to or from such site and the performance of contract
services during temporary interruptions of such transportation;
(2) Research in, or development, manufacture, storage, testing or
transportation of, atomic weapons or components thereof; or
(3) The use or operation of nuclear reactors or other nuclear
devices in a United States Government-owned vehicle or vessel.
(b)(1) In addition to the foregoing exemptions, and subject to the
requirement for licensing of Department facilities and activities
pursuant to section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 or the
Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, any prime
contractor or subcontractor of the Department or the Commission is
exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in sections 62,
63, and 64 of the Act and from the regulations in this part to the
extent that such prime contractor or subcontractor receives, possesses,
uses, transfers or delivers source material under his prime contract or
subcontract when:
(i) The Commission determines that the exemption of the prime
contractor or subcontractor is authorized by law; and
(ii) Under the terms of the contract or subcontract, there is
adequate assurance that the work thereunder can be accomplished without
undue risk to the public health and safety.
(2) A Department or Commission prime contractor or subcontractor
does not need to obtain the Commission approval described in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section where:
(i) The prime contractor or subcontractor is performing temporary
activities involving the training of law enforcement, emergency
response, or other similar personnel;
(ii) The contract specifies the applicable leak testing, operating,
emergency, and security procedures that the contractor or subcontractor
is to follow during the temporary activities; and
(iii) The source material does not exceed the following aggregate
quantities:
(A) Sealed sources: 100 millicuries.
(B) Unsealed sources: 10 millicuries.

PART 70--DOMESTIC LICENSING OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL

0
8. The authority citation for part 70 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 51, 53, 57(d), 108,
122, 161, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 193, 223, 234, 274, 1701 (42
U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077(d), 2138, 2152, 2201, 2232, 2233, 2234,
2236, 2237, 2243, 2273, 2282, 2021, 2297f); Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846,
5851); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 135, 141 (42 U.S.C.
10155, 10161); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.

0
9. Revise Sec. 70.11 to read as follows:

Sec. 70.11 Persons using special nuclear material under certain
Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission contracts.

(a) Except to the extent that Department facilities or activities
of the types subject to licensing pursuant to section 202 of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974 are involved, any prime contractor of the
Department is exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in
section 53 of the Act and from the regulations in this part to the
extent that such contractor, under his prime contract with the
Department receives title to, owns, acquires, delivers, receives,
possesses, uses, or transfers special nuclear material for:
(1) The performance of work for the Department at a United States
Government-owned or controlled site, including the transportation of
special nuclear material to or from such site and the performance of
contract services during temporary interruptions of such
transportation;
(2) Research in, or development, manufacture, storage, testing or
transportation of, atomic weapons or components thereof; or
(3) The use or operation of nuclear reactors or other nuclear
devices in a United States Government-owned vehicle or vessel.
(b)(1) In addition to the foregoing exemptions, and subject to the
requirement for licensing of Department facilities and activities
pursuant to section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, any
prime contractor or subcontractor of the Department or the Commission
is exempt from the requirements for a license set forth in section 53
of the Act and from the regulations in this part to the extent that
such prime contractor or subcontractor receives title to, owns,
acquires, delivers, receives, possesses, uses, or transfers special
nuclear material under his prime contract or subcontract when:
(i) The Commission determines that the exemption of the prime
contractor or subcontractor is authorized by law; and
(ii) Under the terms of the contract or subcontract there is
adequate assurance that the work thereunder can be accomplished without
undue risk to the public health and safety.
(2) A Department or Commission prime contractor or subcontractor
does not need to obtain the Commission approval described in paragraph
(b)(1) of this section where:
(i) The prime contractor or subcontractor is performing temporary
activities involving the training of law enforcement, emergency
response, or other similar personnel;
(ii) The contract specifies the applicable leak testing, operating,
emergency, and security procedures that the contractor or subcontractor
is to follow during the temporary activities; and
(iii) The special nuclear material consists exclusively of sealed
sources in an aggregate quantity that does not exceed one one-millionth
of special nuclear material of low strategic significance.

Dated: October 1, 2026.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jody Martin,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2026-20336 Filed 10-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

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