Nuclear Information and Resource Service produced a briefing paper on the NRC licensing process:

Every atomic power reactor is licensed by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). By law, the licensing process is open to public participation. In reality, the process is deliberately designed to be difficult to understand and to discourage effective public involvement. Even so, a determined and knowledgeable public can affect nuclear licensing decisions. The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide a basic overview of the licensing process, as a first step toward helping grassroots groups, individuals, and state and local governments determine whether they want to participate in this process.

Download the report here.