The US Marine Minerals Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a regulatory framework for potential commercial nuclear energy projects on the country's outer continental shelf.
The agreement is set to strengthen coordination between the two agencies should developers seek to deploy advanced nuclear technologies offshore. No commercial offshore nuclear projects have been approved or are currently planned, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said.
The MoU outlines how the agencies will cooperate on licensing, oversight and environmental reviews, while clarifying their respective regulatory responsibilities and providing guidance to prospective developers.
"Submerged reactor systems have been safely deployed in naval applications for decades, demonstrating their potential as a reliable source of energy in demanding marine environments," said Matt Giacona, MMA acting director.
The agencies said the MoU seeks to ensure that any future offshore nuclear projects are developed safely and in an environmentally responsible manner by improving interagency communication, defining areas of jurisdiction and streamlining regulatory processes.
The accord comes as the Trump administration seeks to expand the role of advanced nuclear reactors across the US energy system through a series of executive orders aimed at accelerating reactor deployment, reforming nuclear testing and rebuilding the domestic nuclear industrial base.
No timeline was provided for potential licensing applications, and officials emphasized the memorandum does not authorize or approve any specific offshore nuclear project.