The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in medicine, through licensing, inspection, and enforcement of its requirements. The agency was established in 1974 as a successor to the Atomic Energy Commission. The NRC is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland and has regional offices throughout the United States.