NRC proposes eliminating ALARA rule

The U.S. United States — Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to eliminate the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) radiation safety principle, which has been a cornerstone of radiation protection for 50 years. The proposal would replace ALARA with a graded approach that requires more rigorous measures only when approaching dose limits. The NRC also proposes raising radionuclide emissions standards from 10 to 25 millirem per year. This move aligns with President Donald Trump's push to quadruple nuclear energy production and speed up reactor development. The Department of Energy has already stopped using ALARA. The NRC expects to finalize regulations in the coming months. Critics, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, warn the change could increase radiation exposure, while supporters argue it removes ambiguity and allows faster deployment of new reactors.