The Socio-Technical Risk Analysis (SoTeRiA) Research Laboratory in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering (NPRE) at the Grainger College of Engineering has partnered with the University of Illinois College of Law to explore how major legal and technological shifts are shaping the future of advanced nuclear reactor regulation.
Recent developments—including the ADVANCE Act (2024) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright—have raised new questions about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) responsibilities, legal vulnerabilities, and the analytical methods used to evaluate reactor safety. Addressing these issues is essential as the United States works to deploy advanced nuclear technologies safely, efficiently, and with strong public confidence.
This cross-disciplinary collaboration brings together expertise in risk assessment, law, and nuclear engineering, led by Professor Zahra Mohaghegh (NPRE, SoTeRiA Laboratory) and Professor Arden Rowell (College of Law). Both researchers are also affiliates of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at Illinois.
The team recently published a feature article in American Nuclear Society (ANS) Nuclear Newswire titled “Nuclear Power’s New Rule Book: Managing Uncertainty in Efficiency, Safety, and Independence.”
The article addresses critical questions surrounding efficiency, safety, and regulatory independence, and provides forward-looking recommendations. Acting now can turn current legal and technological uncertainties into opportunities for a safer, more efficient, and resilient nuclear future. These actions will not only help the NRC navigate legal scrutiny but also reassure investors, policymakers, and the public—strengthening nuclear power’s role as a cornerstone of a clean energy future.
Co-authors
- George Joslin – Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant, SoTeRiA Research Laboratory
- Arden Rowell – Professor, College of Law; Beckman Institute Affiliate
- Ha Bui – Research Scientist, NPRE; Associate Director of Research & Outreach, SoTeRiA Research Laboratory
- Justin Valentino – Research Affiliate for Strategic Innovation, SoTeRiA Research Laboratory; Director, Organizational Informatics
- Ziwei Che – J.D. student, College of Law
- Seyed Reihani – Senior Research Scientist, NPRE; SoTeRiA Research Laboratory
- Zahra Mohaghegh – Professor and Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar, NPRE; Director of the SoTeRiA Research Laboratory; Beckman Institute Affiliate
This publication is part of an ongoing cross-disciplinary project previously highlighted by both NPRE and the College of Law: