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Ethics: Questions & Morality of Human Actions, 3rd Edition

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

by Marguerite McKnight

Identification: Independent agency of the U.S. government that licenses and regulates the civilian uses of nuclear energy and materials

Date: Established on October 11, 1974

Type of ethics: Environmental ethics

Significance: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for protecting the environment from damage caused by nuclear materials

The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 established the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and abolished the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). One purpose of the act was “to enhance the goals of restoring, protecting, and enhancing environmental quality.” The act separated the licensing and regulation of civilian nuclear energy and materials from their development and promotion. These functions had been joined under the AEC. The act directed the NRC to identify possible nuclear-energy sites and to evaluate potential environmental impacts from their construction and operation. In 1977, the ERDA was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Energy.

The NRC regulates the processing, transport, handling, and disposal of nuclear materials and is responsible for protecting public health and safety and the environment. It licenses and oversees the construction and operation of nuclear reactors that generate electricity. Before licensing reactors, the NRC holds hearings to enable public participation in the process. It also inspects facilities for violations of safety standards and investigates nuclear accidents.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
McKnight, Marguerite. "Nuclear Regulatory Commission." Ethics: Questions & Morality of Human Actions, 3rd Edition, edited by George Lucas & John K. Roth, Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Ethics_0731.
APA 7th
McKnight, M. (2019). Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In G. Lucas & J. K. Roth (Eds.), Ethics: Questions & Morality of Human Actions, 3rd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
McKnight, Marguerite. "Nuclear Regulatory Commission." Edited by George Lucas & John K. Roth. Ethics: Questions & Morality of Human Actions, 3rd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2025. online.salempress.com.