Nuclear Safety

US NRC Seeks Comment on Draft Level 3 Probabilistic Risk Assessment Project Documentation (Volume 1 Summary Report)

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released a draft summary report from its full-scope Level 3 probabilistic risk assessment project for public comment, with feedback due by July 2026. The study will guide how advanced risk modelling informs future nuclear safety decisions, so operators and vendors should review the findings and consider commenting to shape emerging risk-informed regulatory expectations.

24 May 2026, 21:36federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Receives Subsequent License Renewal Application for Cooper Nuclear Station

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced receipt and public availability of Nebraska Public Power District’s subsequent license renewal application to operate Cooper Nuclear Station for 20 years beyond its current 2034 expiry. This initiates a new licensing review and future hearing process that will determine the plant’s long-term operating timeline and associated safety and environmental oversight for nuclear power generation in the region.

24 May 2026, 21:36federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Correction Makes Draft Staff Assessment for Proposed Indiana Section 274 Agreement Public

In May 2026, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission corrected its Federal Register notice on a proposed Section 274 agreement with Indiana by making the 10 April 2026 draft staff assessment publicly available, enabling full public review of the technical basis for the agreement. This transparency allows Indiana licensees and other stakeholders to scrutinise the NRC staff’s evaluation of the state’s readiness to assume regulation of certain radioactive materials and to submit informed comments by mid-June before any transfer of regulatory authority is approved.

23 May 2026, 09:14federalregister.govUnited States

Finland STUK Opens Consultation On Draft Nuclear Fuel Handling And Facility Preparedness Orders

Finland’s nuclear regulator STUK has opened consultations on two draft binding orders revising technical safety requirements for nuclear fuel handling and storage and emergency preparedness at nuclear facilities, with comments due by 2 July 2026. These measures form part of a wider overhaul of the Nuclear Energy Act framework and will shape future expectations for licensees’ responsibilities, risk-based safety design and associated environmental assessment obligations.

23 May 2026, 09:13lausuntopalvelu.fiFinland

EU Council Presidency Reviews Parliament Amendments to Ignalina Nuclear Decommissioning Assistance Programme (2028–2034)

The EU Council Presidency has outlined major concerns about European Parliament amendments to the proposed Ignalina Nuclear Decommissioning Assistance Programme for 2028–2034, flagging shifts on funding certainty, security scope, geological disposal financing and governance. The way these negotiations resolve will shape future EU co-financing levels, eligible activities and market access conditions for specialised nuclear decommissioning, security and waste-management services in Lithuania.

23 May 2026, 08:47data.consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionLithuania

Germany Bundestag AfD Inquiry On Asse II Radioactive Waste Retrieval Costs And Schedule

The AfD parliamentary group has tabled a detailed Bundestag inquiry on the Asse II radioactive waste retrieval project, pressing the federal government for an updated timetable, full cost breakdown and safety assessment after publicly acknowledged delays, cost uncertainties and concerns about water ingress and chemical co-contaminants. This heightens political scrutiny of Germany’s nuclear waste management, signalling potential pressure for stronger project governance, clearer risk communication and possible revisions to budgets and timelines for Asse II and similar long-term decommissioning projects.

22 May 2026, 16:50dserver.bundestag.deGermany

US NRC Issues EA, FONSI and NEPA Exemptions for Long Mott Generating Station Construction Permit

In May 2026, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued an environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and one-time NEPA exemptions for the construction-permit application for the Long Mott Generating Station Xe-100 small modular reactor project in Texas. This clears a critical environmental review hurdle and indicates potential for more streamlined NEPA treatment of some advanced nuclear projects, while leaving the construction permit and later operating licence decisions to follow in separate proceedings.

22 May 2026, 10:21federalregister.govUnited States

China MEE Accepts EIA for Lantian Uranium Mine Water Treatment Emergency Upgrade (18 May 2026)

On 19 May 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced it had accepted the environmental impact assessment for a water treatment emergency capacity upgrade at the Lantian Uranium Mine and opened a public consultation running until 1 June 2026. This advances permitting for a nuclear and radiation project, signalling continued investment in uranium‑sector safety infrastructure and giving nearby operators and stakeholders a tight window to review impacts and lodge comments or positions.

21 May 2026, 06:52mee.gov.cnChina

Finland Consults on Environmental Assessment Plan for Nuclear Facilities Decree

Finland has opened a June 2026 public consultation on the environmental assessment plan for a new Government Decree on Nuclear Facilities under its reformed Nuclear Energy Act. The decree will tighten radiation, discharge and emergency-preparedness requirements for nuclear installations, so operators and related supply chains should track the process and prepare for stricter safety and licensing conditions.

20 May 2026, 19:23lausuntopalvelu.fiFinland

US NRC Approves Indirect Transfer of El Paso Electric’s Interest in Palo Verde Nuclear Licenses

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved an indirect transfer of El Paso Electric’s non-operating interests in the Palo Verde nuclear plant licences and associated spent fuel storage installation, with the order effective for one year from 05 May 2026. This confirms there are no physical or operational changes at the facility but requires the licensee to secure all regulatory approvals, notify the NRC before closing, and manage transaction timing to avoid the approval lapsing.

20 May 2026, 17:51federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Extends Hermes Test Reactor Construction Deadline to 30 April 2029

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has amended Kairos Power’s Hermes test reactor construction permit to extend the latest completion date from December 2026 to April 2029. The extension provides more time to meet construction and regulatory milestones, affecting schedule, financing, and planning for advanced nuclear deployment at the Oak Ridge site.

20 May 2026, 06:18federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Issues One-Time Exemption for TVA Browns Ferry ISFSI Vacuum Drying

In May 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted a one-time exemption allowing TVA’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant to use a vacuum drying system on a specific Holtec spent fuel canister despite exceeding a certificate heat-load limit, enabling completion of loading for independent spent fuel storage. The decision confirms that NRC can flexibly approve narrowly tailored deviations from cask technical specifications where strong analysis shows safety margins and dose limits are maintained, reducing operational risk without triggering broader licensing changes.

20 May 2026, 06:18federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Extends Construction Deadline for Kairos Hermes Test Reactor to April 2029

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the latest date for completing construction of Kairos Power’s Hermes test reactor in Oak Ridge from the end of 2026 to 30 April 2029 via an order issued in May 2026. This gives the project additional schedule flexibility while maintaining NRC oversight and a defined 60-day window for interested stakeholders to request a hearing on the justification for the extension.

19 May 2026, 21:18federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Proposes Modernizing Licensing Rules for Byproduct, Source, and Special Nuclear Material

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed wide-ranging amendments to its byproduct, source, and special nuclear material licensing regulations to modernize requirements and reduce administrative and anti-competitive burdens, with public comments due in early July 2026. If adopted, the rule would streamline licensing, reporting, reciprocity, and decommissioning financial assurance for users of sealed sources, gauges, industrial radiography, well logging, and certain medical isotopes while maintaining radiation protection, so affected operators should assess potential cost savings and operational impacts now.

19 May 2026, 21:18federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Seeks Comment on Proposed Section 274 Agreement With Indiana

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has opened public consultation on a proposed Section 274 Agreement with Indiana and a draft staff assessment concluding that the State’s radiation control programme is adequate and compatible with federal requirements. If finalised, the Agreement would transfer oversight of 213 NRC radioactive materials licences to Indiana’s regulators, so affected licensees should prepare for a future shift in licensing, inspection and enforcement while considering whether to submit comments by mid-June 2026.

18 May 2026, 13:21federalregister.govUnited States

Norwegian Government Accelerates Transfer of Kjeller Nuclear Facility to NND

Norway plans to transfer responsibility for the Kjeller nuclear facility from the Institute for Energy Technology to state-owned Norsk nukleær dekommisjonering, accelerating the move while keeping the earliest transfer date at 1 January 2027. This centralises nuclear decommissioning under NND and signals forthcoming changes to licences and oversight at Kjeller and KLDRA Himdalen, which operators and contractors should monitor for implications on safety requirements and contractual arrangements.

15 May 2026, 15:04dsa.noNorway

DSA Orders IFE to Conduct Safety Review of Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal — Deadline 31 December 2026

Norway’s nuclear safety regulator has ordered the Institute for Energy Technology to complete a comprehensive safety review of the KLDRA Himdalen radioactive waste storage and disposal facility by 31 December 2026 following prolonged suspension of waste deposition. This enforcement action will determine how the site can safely support national radioactive-waste management in future and clarifies responsibility as ownership moves from IFE to the state decommissioning body NND.

15 May 2026, 13:31dsa.noNorway

China MEE Publishes EIA Acceptance Notice for Fusion Materials and Tritium Fuel R&D Platform (Nuclear and Radiation)

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has opened a 10‑day public notice period after accepting the EIA report for a fusion materials and tritium fuel R&D platform in Hefei, Anhui, classified as a nuclear and radiation construction project. This marks an early procedural step rather than approval, but signals ongoing expansion and regulatory oversight of nuclear and radiation-related R&D infrastructure in China, relevant for nuclear operators and specialised supply chains.

15 May 2026, 13:26mee.gov.cnChina

Netherlands ANVS Opens Consultation On Draft Nuclear Energy Act Permit For Wagenborg Stevedoring B.V.

ANVS has opened a public consultation on a draft Nuclear Energy Act permit allowing Wagenborg Stevedoring to dismantle NORM-contaminated offshore platforms at its Eemshaven, Delfzijl and Farmsum sites until 24 June 2026. This development raises expectations around radiation protection and NORM waste handling for offshore decommissioning operations in Dutch ports, and affected operators should track the final permit conditions for future projects.

14 May 2026, 18:39zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

China MEE Approves Operating-Phase EIA for Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has approved the operating-phase environmental impact assessment for Units 3 and 4 of the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, setting radiological effluent limits and conditions for operation as of late April 2026. This decision confirms that new nuclear capacity in Hainan can proceed under defined environmental protection, waste management, and oversight requirements, informing long-term operational planning and regulatory engagement for nuclear operators and related suppliers.

9 May 2026, 07:05mee.gov.cnChina