(a) Common standards. In determining that a CP, OL, early site permit, COL, or ML under this part will be issued to an applicant, the Commission will be guided by the following considerations:

1. (1) Except for an early site permit or ML, the processes to be performed, the operating procedures, the facility and equipment, the use of the facility, and other technical specifications, or the proposals, in regard to any of the foregoing, collectively provide reasonable assurance that the applicant will comply with the regulations in this chapter, including the regulations in 10 CFR part 20, and that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered.
2. (2) The applicant for a CP, OL, COL, or ML is technically and financially qualified to engage in the proposed activities in accordance with the regulations in this chapter. However, no consideration of financial qualification is necessary for an electric utility applicant for an OL for a utilization facility of the type described in paragraph (d) of this section or for an applicant for an ML.
3. (3) The issuance of a CP, OL, early site permit, COL, or ML to the applicant will not, in the opinion of the Commission, be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
4. (4) Any applicable requirements of 10 CFR part 51 have been satisfied.

(c) Additional standards and provisions affecting licenses for commercial power. In addition to applying the standards set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(4) of this section apply in the case of a license for a facility for the generation of commercial power.

1. (1) The NRC will—

   1. (i) Give notice in writing of each application to the regulatory agency or State as may have jurisdiction over the rates and services incident to the proposed activity;
   2. (ii) Publish notice of the application in trade or news publications as it deems appropriate to give reasonable notice to municipalities, private utilities, public bodies, and cooperatives which might have a potential interest in the utilization or production facility; and
   3. (iii) Publish notice of the application once each week for four consecutive weeks in the Federal Register. No license will be issued by the NRC prior to the giving of these notices and until four weeks after the last notice is published in the Federal Register.
2. (2) If there are conflicting applications for a limited opportunity for such license, the Commission will give preferred consideration in the following order: first, to applications submitted by public or cooperative bodies for facilities to be located in high cost power areas in the United States; second, to applications submitted by others for facilities to be located in such areas; third, to applications submitted by public or cooperative bodies for facilities to be located in areas other than high cost power areas; and, fourth, to all other applicants.
3. (3) The licensee who transmits electric energy in interstate commerce, or sells it at wholesale in interstate commerce, must be subject to the regulatory provisions of the Federal Power Act.
4. (4) Nothing will preclude any government agency, now or hereafter authorized by law to engage in the production, marketing, or distribution of electric energy, if otherwise qualified, from obtaining a CP, OL, or COL under this part for a utilization facility for the primary purpose of producing electric energy for disposition for ultimate public consumption.