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Plan Your Project

To help applicants prepare for NRC interactions, the following information outlining fees, schedules, and engagement opportunities is provided below. Included are links to project manager contacts, facility indexes, and lessons learned to support efficient planning and resource allocation.

  • Fees and Schedules
    Understand NRC licensing and inspection fees and review milestone schedules to plan your resources. This section provides transparency on cost recovery under 10 CFR Part 170 fees for service and Part 171 annual fees and outlines key timelines for licensing actions, helping applicants and stakeholders anticipate requirements and manage budgets.
    • License Fees – provides the regulations governing the assessment and collection of fees, and the forms used in processing payments from licensees
    • Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act Milestone Schedules – provides schedules for licensing actions requiring a safety evaluation
    • The Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act of 2019 (NEIMA) requires that the NRC recover, to the maximum extent practicable, approximately 100 percent of its annual budget less certain amounts excluded from the fee recovery requirement. Applicants are charged for every staff-hour spent working on submittals, performing inspections, and any other mission-related activity associated with the applicant or license holder. The initial high-level interactions with the NRC staff, including an introductory public meeting, will not be billed to the applicant. The initial discussions and public meeting shall not contain technical discussions or requests for NRC feedback because the NRC must charge an applicant fees once technical discussions of the design or project commence.
    • In the Fiscal Year 2026 final fee rule, the NRC established fixed caps on service fees for requested activities of the Commission that involve the issuance of a final safety evaluation, consistent with NEIMA and to implement Section 5(a) of EO 14300. The fixed fee cap requirements are in Section 170.33 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), and 10 CFR 170.3 contains applicable definitions. In August 2026, the NRC issued an Office Instruction, Establishment and Management of Fixed Fee Caps, which provides the staff with detailed processes for establishing, communicating, and managing fixed fee caps and includes potential examples of actions or inaction that may lead to applicant failure.
  • Engagement and Contacts
    Early and open communication with the NRC helps applicants understand the licensing process and plan effectively. We encourage new applicants to participate in pre-application activities and public meetings. These interactions allow NRC staff to learn about your project timeline and help us allocate resources efficiently.

    Engagement opportunities can include discussions on licensing approaches, issue resolution, and schedule expectations. By connecting with NRC staff and stakeholders, applicants can build a clear path forward and ensure transparency throughout the process.

  • Document Submission
    All official documents for your application must be sent through the NRC’s online portal called the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE). This system is secure and can handle sensitive or proprietary information. Do not email design-related or important documents directly to NRC staff, especially if they contain sensitive details.

    Classified information and Safeguards Information (SGI) cannot be submitted through EIE or by email. These types of information require special handling under NRC rules in 10 CFR Part 95 for classified information and 10 CFR 73.21 through 73.23 for SGI. If you need to submit classified or SGI material, you must use NRC–approved secure methods, such as approved secure electronic systems or authorized physical courier services. Before sending any classified or SGI documents, contact your NRC project manager. They will tell you which secure process to use so the information is transmitted correctly.

  • Facility Index
    This section provides an easy way to find information about fuel cycle facilities regulated by the NRC. The index includes both currently operating facilities and those under review for new licenses. It helps stakeholders, applicants, and the public quickly locate facility details and stay informed about the status of fuel cycle operations.

  • Precedent and Lessons Learned 
    NRC’s ADAMS database gives new applicants access to examples of past licensing decisions and lessons learned from previous fuel facility projects. These documents show how similar issues were handled, what approaches worked well, and what challenges to avoid. Reviewing this information can help you prepare a clearer application and make the review process go more smoothly.

    Example Resource:

    • Release of UF6 from a Ruptured Model 48Y Cylinder at Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Facility: Lessons-Learned Report (ML20199J191)
    • NRC Lessons Learned from Uranium Accumulation in Scrubber/Ventilation System at Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (WCFFF) (ML17166A348)

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, October 01, 2026