The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a final rule on Monday revising rules of practice and procedure to streamline contested adjudications in licensing proceedings. The rule aims to complete hearings within 11 to 13.5 months, or faster for expedited proceedings.

The regulation establishes strict deadlines for the completion of hearings and requires evidentiary hearings to begin as soon as practicable upon admission of contentions. It tailors hearing schedules to correspond to the staff's review schedule to the maximum extent practicable, considering the complexity of the application.

Schedules for Focused Proceedings support the potential completion of two non-overlapping evidentiary hearings within 12 months, while Expedited Proceedings support the potential completion of an evidentiary hearing within 5 to 5.5 months.

The rule reduces discovery burden on all parties to focus on information of highest value and revises procedures to accelerate Commission review of appeals. It applies to contested adjudicatory proceedings noticed on or after the effective date, which is 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.