NRC cooperating with Coast Guard, Marine Minerals Administration

[Marlin]

NRC cooperating with Coast Guard, Marine Minerals Administration

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-27/article-8247/nrc-cooperating-with-coast-guard-marine-minerals-administration/

[Core Content]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently signed memorandums of understanding with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Marine Minerals Administration. These agreements establish frameworks for interagency coordination regarding the licensing, construction, and oversight of civilian nuclear projects, including floating power plants and nuclear-propelled vessels intended for operation on the Outer Continental Shelf.

These agreements modernize regulatory oversight by replacing outdated 1973 protocols and clarifying jurisdictional boundaries for emerging maritime nuclear technologies. By synchronizing inspection schedules and technical reviews, the agencies aim to reduce administrative duplication. This regulatory clarity provides a structured pathway for potential developers to navigate federal requirements for future offshore and maritime nuclear energy deployments.

Within the past month, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has signed memorandums of understanding to increase its cooperation with two U.S. maritime organizations. In late June, the NRC signed an MOU with the U.S. Coast Guard to strengthen coordination on civilian maritime nuclear projects, including floating nuclear power plants and civilian...

New agency, new agreement: The MOU between the NRC and the MMA—an agency that was formally established July 10 by combining the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement—is meant to "clarify jurisdiction regarding any nuclear energy projects that are authorized on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), in order to develop a streamlined process that would minimize the duplication of effort and aid the Participating Agencies in the successful...

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-07-27/article-8247/nrc-cooperating-with-coast-guard-marine-minerals-administration/