{"abstract":"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to revise the NRC's regulations to streamline and modernize its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). These proposed revisions address Presidential directives in Executive Order (E.O.) 14300, \"Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,\" E.O. 14154, \"Unleashing American Energy,\" Executive Order 14192, \"Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,\" Executive Order 14270, \"Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy;\" recent amendments to NEPA; and relevant NEPA case law. In addition, these proposed revisions aim to reduce regulatory burden while complying with NEPA requirements. The proposed rule would narrow the scope of NEPA reviews to effects (or impacts) within the NRC's substantive statutory authority; revise definitions; update procedures for determining the level of NEPA review; establish new categorical exclusions; provide new flexibility for licensees, applicants, and petitioners for rulemaking to submit environmental information; and remove outdated requirements and consolidate content provisions to improve clarity and efficiency. Consistent with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA and E.O. 14300, the NRC consulted with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) during the development of this proposed rule. The NRC is issuing new draft guidance NUREG-2270, \"Environmental Review Guidance for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Actions,\" for the implementation of the proposed requirements in this rulemaking. The NRC staff will carry out its NEPA responsibilities consistent with the proposed requirements in this rulemaking and the guidance in NUREG-2270.","action":"Proposed rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION","name":"Nuclear Regulatory Commission","id":383,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/nuclear-regulatory-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/383","parent_id":null,"slug":"nuclear-regulatory-commission"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/07/07/2026-13687.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"2","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"30","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"40","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"50","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"51","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"52","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"53","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"54","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"61","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"70","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"72","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"76","title":10},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"110","title":10}],"citation":"91 FR 42086","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2026-08-21","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments must be submitted electronically using https:// www.regulations.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on August 21, 2026. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration of only comments received before this date.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["NRC-2025-0478"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"8/20/26 Response to NRDC regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A133)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0974"},{"title":"8/20/26 Response to Massachusetts Attorney General regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A132)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0973"},{"title":"08/20/26 Response to IL Attorney General regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A131)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0972"},{"title":"8/20/26 NRC Response to CATF regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A130)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0971"},{"title":"07/14/2026 Tanya Ridgle, Chairperson, Conference of Radiation Control Program Director, Inc. Letter re: Request for 15-Day Extension to Comment Period Implementation of the National Environmental (ML26201A008)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0025"},{"title":"08/05/2026Email from Kimyata Savoy (NRC) to Tanya Ridgle, Chairperson, and Lisa Bruedigan, Executive Director (CRCPD) re: Request for Ext of the Comment Period for the Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (ML26218A109)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0024"},{"title":"Unofficial Redline Strikeout - Proposed Rule - Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (RIN 3150-AL38)(ML26218A280)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0023"},{"title":"NUREG-2270, DFC, \"Environmental Review Guidance for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licensing Actions\"","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0019"},{"title":"Draft Regulatory Analysis: Proposed Rule: Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (RIN 3150-AL38)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0018"}],"agency_name":"NRC","documents":[{"comment_count":1078,"comment_start_date":"2026-07-07","updated_at":"2026-09-12T01:56:41.367-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NRC-2025-0478-0001","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"NRC-2025-0478-0001","comment_end_date":"2026-08-22","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":9,"id":"NRC-2025-0478","title":"Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act [retitled from National Environmental Policy Act Requirements and from Streamlining Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act]"}],"document_number":"2026-13687","effective_on":null,"end_page":42133,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/07/07/2026-13687.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/07/2026-13687/implementation-of-the-national-environmental-policy-act","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-13687?publication_date=2026-07-07","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-07-07/2026-13687/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":48,"page_views":{"count":4954,"last_updated":"2026-09-20 20:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-07/pdf/2026-13687.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-13687.pdf?1783341914","publication_date":"2026-07-07","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/07/2026-13687.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"3150-AL38":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3150-AL38/streamlining-environmental-reviews-under-the-national-environmental-policy-act-nrc-2025-0478-","title":"Streamlining Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act [NRC-2025-0478]","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=3150-AL38&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["3150-AL38"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"8/20/26 Response to NRDC regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A133)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0974"},{"title":"8/20/26 Response to Massachusetts Attorney General regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A132)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0973"},{"title":"08/20/26 Response to IL Attorney General regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A131)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0972"},{"title":"8/20/26 NRC Response to CATF regarding extension request for NEPA Rule public comment period (ML26233A130)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0971"},{"title":"07/14/2026 Tanya Ridgle, Chairperson, Conference of Radiation Control Program Director, Inc. Letter re: Request for 15-Day Extension to Comment Period Implementation of the National Environmental (ML26201A008)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0025"},{"title":"08/05/2026Email from Kimyata Savoy (NRC) to Tanya Ridgle, Chairperson, and Lisa Bruedigan, Executive Director (CRCPD) re: Request for Ext of the Comment Period for the Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (ML26218A109)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0024"},{"title":"Unofficial Redline Strikeout - Proposed Rule - Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (RIN 3150-AL38)(ML26218A280)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0023"},{"title":"NUREG-2270, DFC, \"Environmental Review Guidance for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licensing Actions\"","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0019"},{"title":"Draft Regulatory Analysis: Proposed Rule: Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (RIN 3150-AL38)","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0018"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3150-AL38/streamlining-environmental-reviews-under-the-national-environmental-policy-act-nrc-2025-0478-","title":"Streamlining Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act [NRC-2025-0478]"},"comments_count":1078,"agency_id":"NRC","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=NRC-2025-0478","supporting_documents_count":9,"docket_id":"NRC-2025-0478","document_id":"NRC-2025-0478-0001","regulation_id_number":"3150-AL38","title":"Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act [retitled from National Environmental Policy Act Requirements and from Streamlining Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act]","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-09-13T08:55:03Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":42086,"subtype":null,"title":"Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act","toc_doc":"Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Antitrust","Classified information","Confidential business information","Education","Emergency medical services","Environmental impact statements","Environmental protection","Exports","Fees","Fire prevention","Freedom of information","Government contracts","Hazardous materials transportation","Hazardous waste","Imports","Indians","Intergovernmental relations","Nuclear energy","Nuclear materials","Nuclear power plants and reactors","Packaging and containers","Penalties","Radiation protection","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Scientific equipment","Security measures","Sex discrimination","Uranium","Waste treatment and disposal","Whistleblowing"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":91}