Licensees who request exemptions to regulations must demonstrate that the exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security, and is otherwise in the public interest. These regulations state that NRC may grant an exemption, either acting on its own initiative or on an application from an interested person.
Exemptions always require an amendment request.
Until NRC has granted an exemption in writing, NRC expects strict compliance with all applicable regulations and license conditions. An exemption will be included in the license as a license condition. Exemptions are not intended to revise regulations, are not intended for large classes of licenses, and are generally limited to unique situations. As an example, exemptions to certain regulations are necessary when teletherapy-type units are converted from human use to use for irradiation of materials or objects.