Securing our Radioactive Materials Act
Securing our Radioactive Materials Act would direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to act on steps identified by a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to reduce radiological security risks. The bill requires the NRC to (1) incorporate socioeconomic consequences into its decision-making when setting security measures for radioactive materials, and (2) immediately tighten controls around Category 3 radioactive materials by expanding licensing and tracking systems. Specifically, it orders that all Category 3 licenses be added to the NRC’s Web-Based Licensing System, that all Category 3 sources be tracked in the National Source Tracking System, and that vendors verify purchasers’ Category 3 licenses with the regulator. It also requires the NRC to revise relevant regulations within one year to implement these actions. In short, the bill aims to strengthen security around Category 3 radioactive materials and ensure that economic and social impacts are considered in regulatory decisions, with a concrete timeline for expanding data systems and verification processes.
Key Points
- 1Incorporates socioeconomic consequences into NRC decision-making for setting security measures on radioactive materials.
- 2Immediately requires adding all Category 3 licenses to the NRC’s Web-Based Licensing System (WBL).
- 3Immediately requires all Category 3 sources to be included and tracked in the National Source Tracking System (NSTS).
- 4Immediately requires vendors to verify the legitimacy of purchasers’ Category 3 licenses with the appropriate regulator.
- 5Within 1 year of enactment, the NRC must revise applicable guidelines, policies, and regulations to carry out these actions.