The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent U.S. government agency. The NRC came into existence in 1975 under the provisions of the 1974 Energy Reorganization Act. The major concern of the NRC is the use of nuclear energy to generate electric power. It licenses the construction and operation of nuclear reactors and other nuclear facilities as well as the possession, use, processing, transport, handling, and disposal of nuclear materials. (The U.S. Department of Energy has authority over U.S. nuclear weapons plants).