Support of International Cooperation and Nuclear Regulatory Assistance: The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's International Programs

Nuclear energy offers long-term economic and environmental benefits providing a reliable energy source with significant environmental. National governments in countries operating or planning to establish nuclear facilities have instituted regulatory regimes on the use of nuclear materials and facilities to insure a high level of operational safety. The national regulatory agencies fully recognize the potential risk involved in operating nuclear facilities and the additional risk that could extend beyond national boundaries. This unique feature of the risk in operating nuclear facilities require international cooperation among nation states regardless whether they actually operate any nuclear facility. International cooperation allows addressing safety problems going beyond national regulatory regimes and offers the potential for cooperation and promotion of common nuclear standards through international regulatory coordination.