The NRC is an Independent Regulator
The NRC’s Principals of Good Regulation starts with independence. The NRC makes reactor licensing decisions without undue influence or knowledge. This means the NRC is not a consulting organization -- individual applicants must offer proposed design-specific methods or design changes to meet the NRC’s regulations. The NRC-approved methods by which an applicant can meet the regulations are published in regulatory guides, interim staff guidance, and (in limited cases) NUREGs. Applicants may ask whether a design component or design-specific method meets the regulations in various ways, such as utilizing public meetings and submitting white papers for review. The NRC’s response will be publicly available unless the underlying information is protected due to proprietary or other sensitive aspects governed by the regulations in 10 CFR 2.390.