Nuclear regulator moves to scrap half-century ALARA radiation rule

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced a proposal to revoke the longstanding ALARA requirement, a move driven by President Trump’s agenda to revive nuclear energy for AI-driven data centers. Under the new draft, the commission would keep the current statutory limits of five rem per year for workers and 0.1 rem for the public, but would permit a “planned occupational dose limit extension” allowing up to 10 rem in a single year if five-year exposure stays below 25 rem.

Radiation specialists like Emily Caffrey say the removal eliminates vague language, while Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists cautions it may erode protections that keep doses low. The proposal also retains the Linear No-Threshold risk model and cites the need for flexible designs of smaller reactors. A comment period ends on August 31, and the rule could become active early in the next year.