The U.S. nuclear industry’s safety record is exemplary and a model for the nuclear industry worldwide. For years, NRC regulation had served to support this global leadership. However, recent changes in technology, understanding of risks and margins, and improvements in licensee performance have created a landscape where new regulatory approaches are needed to maintain NRC effectiveness. These new approaches must achieve change beyond an incremental evolution to enable the modernization of the U.S. nuclear industry.

This report provides recommendations for key elements of the vision for a transformed NRC, along with an initial set of actions to achieve the needed change in a timely, effective and sustained manner. These recommendations build on the NRC’s Principles of Good Regulation – independence, openness, efficiency, clarity, and reliability – complementing them with additional attributes to position the NRC to be effective when facing current and future changing needs and priorities.