NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act
U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (1969) requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts of major actions, including nuclear projects via EIS or EA.
NEPA mandates Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for significant federal actions, often delaying nuclear licensing and construction. For nuclear plants, it involves scoping, public comment, and alternatives analysis under 40 CFR 1500-1508. Reforms via 2023 CEQ updates aim to streamline processes, but litigation remains common.
Why it matters now
NEPA reviews bottleneck SMR deployments and restarts in 2025-2026; exemptions or accelerations under ADVANCE Act and executive orders support data center PPAs and capacity additions.