The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday authorized staff to issue beefed-up safety requirements for U.S. nuclear power plants, the first new rules issued in response to the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko praised the decision to issue three post-Fukushima orders, but warned that the commission most continue working to implement the entirety of the safety reforms put forward by a federal task force last year. The orders represent the “highest-priority” recommendations of the task force, according to the commission.

“The Commission has taken a significant step forward on our post-Fukushima efforts,” Jaczko said in a statement.

“These Orders reflect a tremendous effort on the part of the NRC staff to produce this comprehensive package in an expedited manner. As always, I continue to be thoroughly impressed by the staff’s dedication. Of course, there’s still a great deal of work ahead of us.”

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