U.S. Marine Minerals Administration and NRC Sign MOU for Offshore Nuclear Projects

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the newly created Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) have executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to coordinate the licensing and permitting of civilian nuclear projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The agreement outlines early‑stage notification and joint review procedures, aiming to eliminate duplicate effort and provide regulatory clarity for potential submerged reactor systems, which could bolster U.S. energy security.

The MMA was established on July 10, 2026, when the Department of the Interior merged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement under a single agency. Acting MMA Director Matthew Giacona, who also leads BOEM, highlighted the new bureau’s role in overseeing offshore energy and mineral resource management, safety, and environmental enforcement. While no commercial offshore nuclear deployment is approved yet, the MOU signals a framework for future applications.