Facilitating Innovation through Novel Approaches to Licensing and Oversight of Medical Radioisotope Facilities

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Purpose:
Describe the NRC’s role in the establishment of a domestic supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which is primarily produced in a fragile supply chain dependent on ageing international reactors and foreign suppliers.

Objective:
Highlight the NRC’s success in performing efficient and timely reviews of novel technologies, maintaining communication with interested stakeholders, and supporting U.S. policy objectives.

Focus Areas:
NRC guidance development, novel regulatory approaches, licensing milestones, and accomplishments.

Take-aways:
The NRC’s licensing and oversight activities are supporting U.S. national security and nuclear nonproliferation policy objectives by contributing to the establishment of a domestically-available and reliable supply of Mo-99 without the use of highly-enriched uranium.