Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (U.S.)

The nuclear regulatory commission (NRC) is the federal agency charged with the regulation of nuclear power and other uses of nuclear energy in the United States. Five commissioners lead the NRC, one of whom is the chair, appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate for fiveyear terms. Its regulatory activities address three aspects: materials, reactors, and waste.

Materials include nuclear fuel, as well as nuclear materials used in industry, medicine, and academic settings. Reactors include power reactors and experimental reactors at research and academic institutions. Waste involves the containment, transportation, and disposal of nuclear waste products—the last phase in the nuclear fuel cycle. High-level waste products are often highly radioactive, and therefore require careful handling. The NRC is at the forefront of efforts to ...