Nuclear Regulatory Commission facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Agency overview
Formed	January 19, 1975; 50 years ago (1975-01-19)
Preceding agency	Atomic Energy Commission
Headquarters	North Bethesda, Maryland
Employees	2,868 (2021)
Annual budget	$879 million (2021)
Agency executive	David A. Wright, Chairman

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a special agency of the United States government. Its main job is to keep people safe and healthy when it comes to nuclear energy. The NRC also protects the environment.

This agency started on January 19, 1975. It took over some of the work from an older agency called the United States Atomic Energy Commission. The NRC makes sure that nuclear power plants are safe. It also manages how radioactive materials are used and stored. This includes things like nuclear waste.

History of the NRC

The NRC commission meets in 2021 to discuss important topics.

Before 1975, the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) handled everything about nuclear materials. But people felt the AEC was too close to the nuclear industry. They thought it wasn't strict enough.

So, the AEC was closed down. The NRC was created as a new, independent agency. Its job was to oversee nuclear energy and nuclear safety and security. It also looked after how nuclear materials were used in medicine.

In 1975, the AEC's other duties went to a new group. This group was called the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). ERDA was in charge of developing nuclear weapons. Later, in 1977, ERDA became part of the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

After a big nuclear accident in Japan in 2011 (the Fukushima nuclear disaster), the NRC made new safety rules. These rules are called "Diverse and Flexible Coping Strategies" (FLEX). They make sure nuclear power plants can handle extreme events. This includes things like earthquakes or floods. All nuclear power plants in the U.S. now use these FLEX strategies.

The NRC has also published a booklet. It's called A Short History of Nuclear Regulation 1946–2009. This booklet explains important events in the NRC's history.

What the NRC Does and Its Leaders

The NRC works to keep the public safe and secure. It makes sure that civilian nuclear energy and radioactive materials are used safely. This is done through careful rules and checks.

The NRC's work covers three main areas:

• Reactors – This includes large nuclear power plants that make electricity. It also covers smaller reactors used for research and training.
• Materials – This involves how nuclear materials are used in hospitals, factories, and schools. It also covers places that make nuclear fuel.
• Waste – This deals with moving, storing, and getting rid of nuclear materials and waste. It also includes taking nuclear facilities out of service.

The NRC is led by five leaders called commissioners. The president of the United States chooses these commissioners. The United States Senate must approve them. They serve for five years. One commissioner is chosen by the president to be the chairman. The chairman is the main leader of the NRC.

The current chairman is David A. Wright. He became chairman on January 20, 2025.

Current Commissioners

Here are the current commissioners:

Past Chairmen

Here is a list of people who have served as chairman of the NRC:

Name (chair)	Photo	Term of office		Appointed by
Bill Anders		January 19, 1975	April 20, 1976	Gerald Ford
Marcus A. Rowden		January 19, 1975	January 15, 1977	Gerald Ford
Joseph M. Hendrie		March 3, 1977	December 7, 1979	Jimmy Carter
John F. Ahearne		December 7, 1979	March 2, 1981	Jimmy Carter
Nunzio J. Palladino		July 1, 1981	June 30, 1986	Ronald Reagan
Lando W. Zech Jr.		July 1, 1986	June 3, 1989	Ronald Reagan
Kenneth Monroe Carr		July 1, 1989	June 30, 1991	George H.W Bush
Ivan Selin		July 1, 1991	June 30, 1995	George H.W Bush
Shirley Ann Jackson		July 1, 1995	June 30, 1999	Bill Clinton
Greta Joy Dicus		July 1, 1999	October 29, 1999	Bill Clinton
Richard Meserve		October 29, 1999	March 31, 2003	Bill Clinton
Nils J. Diaz		April 1, 2003	June 30, 2006	George W. Bush
Dale E. Klein		July 1, 2006	May 13, 2009	George W. Bush
Gregory Jaczko		May 13, 2009	July 9, 2012	Barack Obama
Allison Macfarlane		July 9, 2012	December 31, 2014	Barack Obama
Stephen G. Burns		January 1, 2015	January 23, 2017	Barack Obama
Kristine Svinicki		January 23, 2017	January 20, 2021	Donald Trump
Christopher T. Hanson		January 20, 2021	January 20, 2025	Joe Biden
David A. Wright		January 20, 2025	Present	Donald Trump

Past Commissioners

Here is a list of people who have served as commissioners of the NRC:

Portrait	Commissioner	Took office	Left office
	Marcus A. Rowden	January 19, 1975	April 20, 1977
	Edward A. Mason	January 19, 1975	January 15, 1977
	Victor Gilinsky	January 19, 1975	June 30, 1984
	Richard T. Kennedy	January 19, 1975	June 30, 1980
	Joseph Hendrie	August 9, 1977	June 30, 1981
	Peter A. Bradford	August 15, 1977	March 12, 1982
	John F. Ahearne	July 31, 1978	June 30, 1983
	Nunzio J. Palladiono	July 1, 1981	June 30, 1986
	Thomas M. Roberts	August 3, 1981	June 30, 1990
	James K. Asselstine	May 17, 1982	June 30, 1987
	Frederick M. Bernthal	August 4, 1983	June 30, 1988
	Lando W. Zech Jr.	July 3, 1984	June 30, 1989
	Kenneth Monroe Carr	August 14, 1986	June 30, 1991
	Kenneth C. Rogers	August 7, 1987	June 30, 1997
	James R. Curtiss	October 20, 1988	June 30, 1993
	Forrest J. Remick	December 1, 1989	June 30, 1994
	Ivan Selin	July 1, 1991	June 30, 1995
	E. Gail de Planque	December 16, 1991	June 30, 1995
	Shirley Ann Jackson	May 2, 1995	June 30, 1999
	Greta J. Dicus	February 15, 1996	June 30, 2003
	Nils J. Diaz	August 23, 1996	June 30, 2006
	Edward McGaffigan Jr.	August 28, 1996	September 2, 2007
	Jeffrey S. Merrifield	October 23, 1998	June 30, 2007
	Richard Meserve	October 29, 1999	March 31, 2003
	Gregory Jaczko	January 21, 2005	July 9, 2012
	Peter B. Lyons	January 25, 2005	June 30, 2009
	Dale E. Klein	July 1, 2006	March 29, 2010
	Kristine Svinicki	March 28, 2008	January 20, 2021
	George Apostolakis	March 29, 2010	June 30, 2014
	William D. Magwood IV	March 29, 2010	August 31, 2014
	William C. Ostendorff	March 29, 2010	June 30, 2016
	Allison Macfarlane	July 9, 2012	December 31, 2014
	Jeff Baran	October 14, 2014	June 30, 2023
	Stephen G. Burns	November 4, 2014	April 30, 2019
	Annie Caputo	May 29, 2018	June 30, 2021
	David A. Wright	May 30, 2018	June 30, 2025
	Christopher T. Hanson	June 8, 2020	June 13, 2025
	Annie Caputo	August 9, 2022	August 1, 2025
	Bradley Crowell	August 26, 2022	Present
	Matthew Marzano	January 8, 2025	Present
	David A. Wright	August 1, 2025	Present

How the NRC is Organized

NRC Organizational Chart in February 2019

The three buildings that make up the NRC's main campus in North Bethesda, Maryland.

The NRC has two main parts. One part is the group of five commissioners. The other part is made up of many offices that handle daily operations.

The NRC's main offices are in North Bethesda, Maryland. The agency also has four regional offices across the United States.

NRC Regions

Map of the NRC regions across the United States.

The NRC divides the United States into four main areas, called regions:

• Region I is in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It covers the northeastern states.
• Region II is in Atlanta, Georgia. It covers most of the southeastern states.
• Region III is in Lisle, Illinois. It covers the Midwest.
• Region IV is in Arlington, Texas. It covers the western and south central states.

In these regions, the NRC watches over U.S. nuclear reactors. This includes 94 power-producing reactors and 31 research reactors. The NRC has different ways to oversee them. For example, each power plant has inspectors who work there every day. Special inspection teams also visit sites regularly.

Agreement States

Some states have special agreements with the NRC. These "Agreement States" can license and inspect certain nuclear materials themselves. If someone wants to use these materials in an Agreement State, they work with that state's officials. They do not work directly with the NRC.

Keeping Records

The NRC has a library with many documents. In 1984, it started an online system called ADAMS. This system stores public reports, letters, and other technical documents. It helps people find information about the NRC's work.

Training and Safety Checks

Commission headquarters

The NRC checks on training programs for nuclear plant workers. It also observes meetings of a group called the National Nuclear Accrediting Board. This board helps set standards for training in the nuclear industry.

After the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, the nuclear industry created a group called the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). INPO helps set high standards for training and safety. The NRC works with INPO and monitors its activities. This helps make sure that nuclear plant workers are well-trained.

The NRC also has rules about how nuclear power plant operators get their licenses. Companies can now prepare and grade some of their own operator exams. The NRC still approves and oversees these exams. Since 2000, many meetings between the NRC and nuclear companies have been open to the public.

New Nuclear Units

Between 2007 and 2009, many companies wanted to build new nuclear power reactors in the U.S. However, building new nuclear plants became less popular. This was because natural gas became cheaper and more available. Many plans for new reactors were stopped or cancelled.

Some older nuclear reactors have also closed down. For example, Vermont Yankee closed in 2014. Indian Point Energy Center closed in 2021.

However, the NRC has approved extending the licenses for some existing plants. For example, Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station units 3 and 4 had their licenses extended. This means they can operate for up to 80 years in total. More extensions like this are expected for other reactors. This helps meet energy needs without building many new plants.

See also

In Spanish: Comisión Reguladora Nuclear de Estados Unidos para niños