To build nuclear faster, energy dept. pitches bypassing environmental laws

DoE oks next-gen nuclear to skip full environmental reviews

: DoE trims NEPA paperwork for advanced reactors

To build nuclear faster, energy dept. pitches bypassing environmental laws

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wants to exempt advanced nuclear power facilities from one of the nation’s key environmental laws. With electricity demand surging, the exemption would speed up the permitting process, but it would also eliminate an avenue for opponents to resist projects they believe will cause harm. The DOE filed the regulatory change on Monday to establish a “categorical exclusion for authorization, siting, construction, op…

Trump slashing nuclear reactor safety and security rules

January 29, 2026, https://beyondnuclear.org/trump-slashing-reactor-safety-and-security-rule Department of Energy executes White House Executive Order  Radical changes to nuclear safety and security at new reactors withheld from public review In response to White House Executive Order 14301 issued on May 23, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is deregulating federal reactor safety /security standards and rules in order to expedite at least …

Next-gen nuclear reactors safe enough to skip full environmental reviews, says Trump admin

DoE trims NEPA paperwork for advanced reactors The Department of Energy says advanced nuclear reactor designs - many of which have so far existed mainly at the experimental, testing, or demonstration stage - generally pose limited environmental risk and can qualify for a streamlined environmental review for future projects. . . .