Types of Hearings

The NRC's regulations (see 10 CFR Part 2) provide the opportunity for numerous hearings that include the following types of proceedings:

• Commission-Ordered Proceedings. Hearings can be conducted for any nuclear-related matter that the NRC Commission directs (see also Subparts H and O of 10 CFR Part 2).

• Enforcement Proceedings. Hearings are available to individuals, employees, licensees, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors to contest penalties such as monetary fines, facility shutdown, or license revocation for infractions of NRC regulations (see also Subparts B, C, G, L, and N of 10 CFR Part 2).

• Reactor License Amendments. Affected parties may challenge proposed license amendments that seek to change the operating requirements, ownership, or the physical configuration of nuclear reactors or spent fuel pools. If public health and safety warrants, hearings will be required before the license amendment is authorized (see also Subparts A, C, K, L, and M to 10 CFR Part 2).

• Materials Licenses. Hearings may be conducted to contest NRC actions licensing the commercial use of nuclear materials. These licenses involve manufacturing, treatment, disposal, or storage of radioactive materials and their commercial use in fields such as nuclear medicine and radiography (see Subparts C and L to 10 CFR Part 2).

• Reactor Licensing. The Atomic Energy Act requires that a hearing be held on every application for a construction permit for a nuclear power reactor and an opportunity to request a hearing on an application for a license to operate such a reactor facility. In addition, the Atomic Energy Act requires a hearing be held on every application for a combined construction permit and operating license for a nuclear power reactor and an opportunity to request a hearing on a combined licensee's request for the NRC to authorize operation under a combined license. Affected individuals and organizations may raise health, safety and, in some instances, antitrust issues, in these hearings (see also Subparts C, D, E, F, G, and L to 10 CFR Part 2).