In Situ Recovery Monitoring and Decommissioning Timeliness
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Comments close
- Oct 13, 2026
- Citation
- 91 FR 57728
- Docket
- NRC-2025-1204
Proposed rule and draft guidance; request for comment.
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing new rules to close gaps in its current uranium‑mill regulations. One part adds “risk‑informed” requirements that specifically protect groundwater at sites that use in‑situ recovery (ISR)—a process that extracts uranium directly from underground deposits without traditional milling. The other part revises de‑commissioning timelines, giving licensees more leeway to postpone the start of shutdown work when doing so does not jeopardize safety. Both changes aim to improve environmental protection and give operators flexibility while maintaining public health safeguards. The proposed rule applies to all NRC‑licensed facilities that conduct ISR uranium extraction and to any NRC‑licensed nuclear site that must eventually be de‑commissioned. This includes commercial uranium producers, mining companies, and other entities holding NRC licenses for uranium‑related activities. The rule was published on September 10 2026 in the Federal Register (91 FR 57728). The NRC is seeking public comment through October 13 2026. After the comment period, the agency will review the feedback, potentially revise the proposal, and then issue a final rule that will become effective on a date set in that final notice.
AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.
Official abstract
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to amend its regulations that govern the licensing of uranium mills and the disposition of tailings and waste that arise from the extraction and milling of uranium by issuing risk-informed requirements for groundwater protection at uranium in situ recovery (ISR) facilities. The NRC's current regulations are focused on conventional uranium milling and do not expressly address uranium extraction by the ISR process. Additionally, NRC proposes to amend its regulations that govern decommissioning timeliness for all licensees to provide additional flexibility for licensees to delay the initiation of decommissioning activities in situations where safety would not be impacted.
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