(a) Immediately on the commission’s selection of the application that has the highest comparative merit in accordance with § 401.232, the commission shall begin a technical review of the selected application.
(b) The commission shall complete the technical review and prepare a draft license not later than the 15th month after the month in which the technical review begins.

(c) The commission shall give priority to the review of the selected application over all other radioactive materials and waste licensing and registration matters pending before the commission, except those the executive director of the commission determines necessary to avert or address a health and safety emergency.