Learn About Fuel Facilities

On this page:

• Introduction
• Fuel Facility Information
• New Fuel Facility Information
• Important Initiatives Related to Fuel Facilities
• General References and Key Topics

Introduction

Welcome to the NRC’s pre-application resources for prospective applicants in the Fuel Facilities program. This page is intended to provide background on facility categories, reprocessing, and modernization initiatives.

Fuel Facility Information

The NRC licenses and oversees the various categories fuel facilities (Uranium Conversion, Uranium Enrichment, and Fuel Fabrication) and related activities. The NRC is also preparing for the licensing of spent fuel reprocessing facilities. For general information related to what we regulate as well as how we regulate it, please see Fuel Cycle Facilities. You can also find information on both operational fuel cycle facilities and detailed information regarding New Fuel Cycle Facility Licensing and Construction. See Producing Nuclear Fuel (NUREG/BR-0280) for a general overview of the fuel cycle.

Important Licensing Modernization Initiatives Related to Fuel Facilities

The NRC continues to evolve with the changing landscape of the Nation’s energy needs and through its authorities in implementing the President’s priorities, including Executive Order 14300, “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” and Congressional mandates, including in the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 (ADVANCE Act). The below webpages highlight recent and ongoing improvements that demonstrate the NRC’s focus on protecting public health and safety while efficiently regulating the civilian use of nuclear materials and enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society.  These modernization initiatives will improve regulatory efficiency, transparency, and early engagement for fuel cycle facility licensing while maintaining safety and security. The NRC will continue to engage its external stakeholders at various stages during implementation of these initiatives. For more information on these initiatives, visit the NRC webpage on improving Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Timeliness in support of unleashing American Energy.

• Executive Order 14300 titled "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)," is a directive aimed at facilitating the development and construction of new nuclear reactors and technologies in the United States.  The order is a mandate for comprehensive structural and regulatory overhaul aimed at accelerating nuclear deployment and requires the NRC to expand its focus from being solely a safety regulator to also being a "facilitator" of nuclear energy deployment.
• Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 (ADVANCE Act) requires the NRC to take a number of actions, particularly in the areas of licensing of new reactors and fuels, while maintaining the NRC’s core safety and security mission. The Act affects a wide range of NRC activities, including enhancing the regulatory framework for advanced reactors and fusion technology, and initiatives to support the NRC’s efficient, timely, and predictable reviews of license applications.
• Materials Licensing Efficiencies and Processes (M-LEAP): The NRC established the M-LEAP team to review existing licensing process, past lessons learned, and licensing decisions to identify if further enhancement is needed to streamline licensing reviews and to enable efficient, timely, and predictable regulatory decisions while continuing to meet the safety and security principles of our mission. M-LEAP aligns with NRC’s efforts on Section 505, "Nuclear Licensing Efficiency," of the ADVANCE Act of 2024.  There have been three Public Meetings on M-LEAP as follows:
  • March 24, 2025 (summary, slides)
  • April 10, 2025 (summary, slides)
  • May 14, 2025) (summary, slides)
• The NRC also conducted a comprehensive review of and implemented various improvements to NRC’s reactor and materials licensing processes to meet the requirements of Section 505 of the ADVANCE Act and consistent with the spirit of EO 14300.
  • In May 2025, the NMSS director issued a licensing efficiencies expectation memorandum to the NMSS staff to improve the efficiency, predictability, and timeliness of the materials licensing programs See Memo Entitled “Licensing Efficiency Expectations”. 
  • In August 2025, the NRC issued a memo, NRC Licensing Efficiency Initiatives Update, to provide the status of the NRC’s implementation of licensing efficiency efforts in response to ADVANCE Act Section 505.
  • To ensure transparency and track our progress in these areas the NRC will continue to provide updates.
• In support of these initiatives and modernization activities, a number of Rulemakings have been promulgated and will continue to be developed within the NRC’s regulatory framework.

General References and Key Topics

The following links provide overviews of generic topics that apply to all applicants. These links point to a broad list of requirements applicable to nuclear material licensees and activities beyond the licensing process for fuel facilities. These links provide high-level resources and key topics that help new applicants and stakeholders. It is important to be aware of and become familiar with these topics in the context of the licensing process. For more detailed information related to licensing process please see (insert link Understanding the Licensing Process).

• Communications
• Integrated Schedule for Regulatory Activities
• Integrated Safety Analysis
• International Safeguards
• New Fuels Infographic
• Protecting Sensitive Information
• Digital I&C