Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Agency

1. independent government agency charged with overseeing civilian use of nuclear energy. The NRC licenses persons and companies to build and operate nuclear reactors and other facilities and to own and use nuclear materials. It issues standards, rules, and regulations for the maintenance of such licenses and regularly inspects nuclear facilities to ensure compliance with public health and safety, environmental quality, national security, and antitrust laws. The NRC also investigates nuclear incidents and reports of violations, conducts public hearings on nuclear safety and other issues, and reviews power plant operational data to detect trends concerning safety issues.