Revising the Duration of Design Certifications

Document 2025-12396 is a Final Rule published by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Federal Register on July 2, 2025, with an effective date of September 15, 2025. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to revise the duration of design certifications (DCs). Specifically, this direct final rule replaces the 15-year duration for DCs with a 40-year duration period, both for existing DCs currently in effect and generically for future DCs, including renewals. This direct final rule does not change the date of issuance or renewal for existing DCs (i.e., the start date by which an existing DC may be referenced remains unchanged). This direct final rule also incorporates a minor editorial correction. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/02/2025-12396/revising-the-duration-of-design-certifications.

No. Document 2025-12396 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.