Public Involvement in the Nuclear Regulatory Process (NUREG/BR-0215, Revision 2)

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• Publication Information
• Introduction

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Publication Information

Date Published: October 2004

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Introduction

Public involvement in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's activities is a cornerstone of strong, fair regulation of the nuclear industry. The NRC recognizes the public's interest in the proper regulation of nuclear activities and provides opportunities for citizens to make their opinions known. The NRC seeks to elicit public involvement early in the regulatory process so that safety concerns that may affect a community can be resolved in a timely and practical manner. This process is considered vital to assuring the public that the NRC is making sound, balanced decisions about nuclear safety.

This booklet briefly describes various ways you can learn about and participate in the NRC's regulatory process. Anyone may provide comments or voice concerns at critical junctures in the development of safety rules, including decisions about (1) where to locate and whether to license a nuclear facility, (2) ongoing issues about a facility's operation or termination, and (3) a facility's impact on the environment.

Notices of opportunities for involvement are published in the Federal Register, and sometimes on the Internet. The Federal Register is a daily publication announcing rules, policies, and other important actions of the Federal Government. Copies are available at many local libraries, at the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) in Rockville, Maryland, and on the internet. For major actions, the NRC issues press releases, which reach the public through local newspaper articles, mailings, and the Internet.