ML21005A153
| ML21005A153 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/31/2020 |
| From: | Jeffery Lynch Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| Dickey K | |
| References | |
| NUREG/BR-0520 R2 | |
| Download: ML21005A153 (2) | |
Text
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory NRC Locations:
Commissions Mission The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was NRC Headquarters is located in Rockville, MD, and NRC established by Congress in 1974 as an independent regulatory agency. The NRC licenses and regulates the regional offices are in King of Prussia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Lisle, IL; and Arlington, TX. STATE PROGRAMS AT Nations civilian use of radioactive materials to protect public health and safety, promote the common defense For Additional NRC Information, See: THE U.S. NUCLEAR and security, and protect the environment.
The agencys public Web site:
REGULATORY The NRCs regulatory mission covers https://www.nrc.gov COMMISSION three main areas: State and Tribal Programs page:
http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/state-tribal.html ReactorsCommercial reactors for generating electric https://scp.nrc.gov/
power and research and test reactors used for research, esting, and training. Emergency Preparedness and Response page:
http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness.html MaterialsUses of nuclear materials in medical, ndustrial, and academic settings and facilities that NRC Tribal page:
produce nuclear fuel. https://tribal.nrc.gov/
WasteTransportation, storage, and disposal of State Communication Portal:
nuclear materials and waste and decommissioning of https://scp.nrc.gov nuclear facilities.
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION NUREG/BR-0520, Rev. 2 December 2020
The NRCs Interactions with States Agreement State Program State Liaison Officer Program The NRC is committed to working in collaboration Under the Agreement State Program, some States have In 1976, the NRC adopted a recommendation from with States. Through many State-focused policies and signed formal agreements with the NRC that allow the several State organizations, including the National programs, the NRC strives to do the following: State to assume regulatory authority over certain types Governors Association, that each Governor appoint of radioactive material. The program was established in a single person to act as a liaison to the NRC to help
- Keep States informed on topics of mutual interest. 1959, with the first agreement signed in 1962. Once a improve cooperation and two-way communication.
- Give States opportunities to participate in the State signs such an agreement, it is commonly referred NRCs regulatory processes. to as an Agreement State. Currently, there are 39 State liaison officers, with support from the NRC staff,
- Assist State activities when appropriate. Agreement States. perform activities such as the following:
- Maintain oversight when States assume regulatory authority from the NRC for specific radioactive The NRC provides support and assistance to Agreement
- keeping Governors informed of NRC updates materials and activities. States, beginning when a State expresses interest in
- coordinating with State and local agencies and signing an agreement and continuing after an agreement counterparts on NRC-related activities The NRC has dedicated staff members in its various is signed. Although Agreement States assume regulatory
- answering questions from and providing information offices who routinely interact with their State counterparts authority over some radioactive materials, the NRC to the NRC through meetings, conferences, and outreach activities. interacts with and supports Agreement States through
- providing communication and support to State, These activities include developing State-specific the following actions: local, and Federal emergency agencies during communications and participating in State organizations emergencies at NRC-regulated facilities and national groups. Through these interactions, the
- sponsoring and conducting technical training NRC staff keeps the agency and the States informed courses and workshops The State liaison officers have diverse backgrounds of relevant activities, views, and interests to support
- evaluating State regulatory changes to ensure and qualifications, and they generally work for State ongoing cooperation. compatibility with NRC requirements agencies that focus on protecting public health, safety,
- offering opportunities for early and substantive and the environment. Each regional office of the NRC involvement in NRC rulemaking and other has designated staff whose main responsibility is to Coordination on Emergency regulatory efforts communicate with the State liaison officers in that region.
Preparedness and Incident Response While the NRC discontinues its regulatory authority, the agency still maintains an oversight role by Advance Notification of Radioactive periodically reviewing Agreement State programs. Material Shipments The NRC and the Federal Emergency Management This is accomplished through the NRCs Integrated Agency (FEMA) cooperate on radiological emergency Materials Performance Evaluation Program, which was planning and preparedness at NRC-licensed facilities. The NRC and the Agreement States have regulations established in 1995. The goal of this review is to ensure A joint memorandum of understanding outlines the that require their licensees to provide advance that States programs adequately protect public health responsibilities of each agency. FEMA has the lead notification to the Governor (or the Governors and safety from radiological hazards and adhere to the responsibility for assessing State, local, and Tribal designated representative), as well as to the Tribal NRCs regulatory program. Under the Agreement State (offsite) emergency planning. FEMA reports the results of official of participating Tribes (or the Tribal officials Program, the NRC and its State regulatory partners its assessments to the NRC, and the NRC factors these designee), before shipping certain types of radioactive safely and securely regulate over 18,000 radioactive results into its decisionmaking. material within or across the boundary of the State or the material licenses.
Tribes reservation. Advance notification is required for The NRCs Incident Response Program regularly shipments of the following:
coordinates with States by participating in licensee emergency preparedness exercises and by periodically
- Irradiated reactor fuel inviting senior State officials to observe the NRC
- Large quantities of nuclear waste meeting emergency exercises at its Headquarters Operations certain criteria Center. In the unlikely event of an actual incident, the
- Specified quantities of other radioactive material NRC would frequently communicate with the State and support the actions of State, local, and Tribal authorities. The NRC maintains contact information for all State and Tribal representatives designated to receive the advance notification.
On the cover: photo at the top right of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant is courtesy of Exelon Nuclear.