Virginia Law

Article 4. Specific Licenses

12VAC5-481-440. Filing application for specific licenses.

A. Applications for specific licenses shall be filed on a form prescribed by the agency.

B. The agency may at any time after the filing of the original application, and before the expiration of the license, require further statements in order to enable the agency to determine whether the application should be granted or denied or whether a license should be modified or revoked.

C. Each application shall be signed by the applicant or licensee or a person duly authorized to act for and on his behalf.

D. An application for a license may include a request for a license authorizing one or more activities.

E. Applications and documents submitted to the agency may be made available for public inspection in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The agency may withhold records in accordance with specific exemptions in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act or as otherwise specified by law.

F. An application for a specific license to use radioactive material in the form of a sealed source or in a device that contains the sealed source shall either:

1. Identify the source or device by manufacturer and model number as registered with the NRC under 10 CFR 32.210 or an Agreement state under equivalent regulations;

2. Contain the information in 10 CFR 32.210(c);

3. For sources or devices containing radioactive material manufactured prior to October 23, 2012, that are not registered with the NRC under 10 CFR 32.210 or with an Agreement state, and for which the applicant is unable to provide all categories of information specified in 10 CFR 32.210(c), the applicant shall provide:

a. All available information identified in 10 CFR 32.210(c) concerning the source, and, if applicable, the device; and

b. Sufficient additional information to demonstrate that there is reasonable assurance that the radiation safety properties of the source or device are adequate to protect health and minimize danger to life and property. Such information shall include a description of the source or device, a description of radiation safety features, the intended use and associated operating experience, and the results of a recent leak test;

4. For sealed sources and devices allowed to be distributed without registration of safety information in accordance with 10 CFR 32.210(g)(1), the applicant may supply only the manufacturer, model number, and radionuclide and quantity; or

5. If it is not feasible to identify each sealed source and device individually, the applicant may propose constraints on the number and type of sealed sources and devices to be used and the conditions under which they will be used in lieu of identifying each sealed source and device.

G. Each application to possess radioactive material in unsealed form, on a foil or plated source, or sealed in glass in excess of the quantities in 12VAC5-481-3740 shall contain one of the following:

1. An evaluation showing that the projected dose to a person offsite due to a release of radioactive material would not exceed 0.01 Sv (1 rem) total effective dose equivalent or 0.05 Sv (5 rem) to the thyroid; or

2. An emergency plan, reviewed and commented on by offsite response organizations expected to respond in the event of an accident that contains the following information:

a. Facility description. A brief description of the licensee or applicant's facility and surroundings.

b. Types of accidents. An identification of each type of radioactive materials accident for which actions by licensee staff or offsite response organizations will be needed to protect members of the public.

c. Classification of accidents. A method for classifying and declaring an accident as alert or site area emergency.

d. Detection of accidents. Identification of the means for detecting each type of alert or site area emergency in a timely manner.

e. Mitigation of consequences. A brief description of the means and equipment that are available for mitigating the consequences of each type of accident, including those provided to protect workers onsite, and a description of the program for maintaining the equipment.

f. Assessment of releases. A brief description of the methods and equipment available to assess releases of radioactive material.

g. Responsibilities. A brief description of the responsibilities of the licensee or applicant's personnel who will respond if an accident occurs, including identification of personnel responsible for promptly notifying offsite response organizations, including the agency.

h. Plan maintenance. A brief description of the positions assigned and methods to develop, maintain and update the plan.

i. A list of offsite response organizations, description of their responsibilities and anticipated actions, and copy of formal commitments, if any.

j. Notification and coordination. A brief description of the means to promptly notify the offsite response organizations and request offsite assistance including medical assistance for the treatment of contaminated injured onsite workers. The notification and coordination shall include alternate provisions in case key personnel, parts of the facility, or some equipment are unavailable. The licensee shall also commit to notify the agency immediately after notification of the appropriate offsite response organizations and not later than one hour after the licensee declares an emergency.

k. Information to be communicated. A brief description of the types of information on facility status, radioactive releases and recommended protective actions, if necessary, to be given to offsite response organizations and the agency. A licensee shall allow the offsite response organizations expected to respond in case of an accident 60 days to comment on the licensees emergency plan before submitting it to the agency. A licensee shall provide any comments received within the 60 days to the agency with the emergency plan.

l. Training. A brief description of the frequency, performance objectives and plan for training that the licensee or applicant will provide workers on how to respond to an emergency, including any special instructions and orientation tours that the licensee or applicant will offer to fire, police, medical and other emergency personnel. The training shall familiarize personnel with site-specific hazards and emergency procedures. The training shall also prepare site personnel for their responsibilities in the event of accident scenarios postulated as most probable for the specific site, including the use of drills, exercises and team training for such scenarios.

m. Drills and exercises. Provisions for conducting quarterly communications checks with offsite response organizations and biennial onsite exercises to test response to simulated emergencies. The licensee or applicant shall invite offsite response organizations to participate in biennial exercises. The exercises shall use accident scenarios postulated as the most probable for the specific site and the scenarios may not be known to most exercise participants. Critiques of exercises shall evaluate the appropriateness of the plan, emergency procedures, facilities, equipment, training of personnel and overall effectiveness of the response. Deficiencies found by the critiques shall be corrected.

n. Safe condition. A brief description of the means of restoring the facility and surroundings to a safe condition after an accident.

o. Hazardous chemicals. A certification that the applicant has met its responsibilities under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986, Title III, P.L. 99-499, if applicable to the applicant's activities at the proposed place of use of the radioactive material.

H. An application from a medical facility or educational institution to produce PET radioactive drugs for noncommercial transfer to licensees in its consortium authorized for medical use under Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter shall include:

1. A request for authorization for the production of PET radionuclides or evidence of an existing license issued under Part III (12VAC5-481-380 et seq.) of this chapter for a PET radionuclide production facility within its consortium from which it receives PET radionuclides.

2. Evidence that the applicant is qualified to produce radioactive drugs for medical use by meeting one of the criteria in 12VAC5-481-480 I.

3. Identification of individual(s) authorized to prepare the PET radioactive drugs if the applicant is a pharmacy, and documentation that each individual meets the requirements of an ANP as specified in 12VAC5-481-480 I 2.

4. Information identified in 12VAC5-481-480 I 1 c on the PET drugs to be noncommercially transferred to members of its consortium.

I. Manufacture, preparation, or transfer for commercial distribution of drugs containing radioactive material for medical use under Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.).

1. An application for a specific license to manufacture, prepare, or transfer for commercial distribution drugs containing radioactive material for use by persons authorized pursuant to Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) will be approved if:

a. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450;

b. The applicant submits evidence that the applicant is at least one of the following:

(1) Registered or licensed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a drug manufacturer;

(2) Registered or licensed with a state agency as a drug manufacturer;

(3) Licensed as a pharmacy by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy;

(4) Operating as a nuclear pharmacy within a federal medical institution; or

(5) A PET drug production facility registered with a state agency.

c. The applicant submits information on the radionuclide; the chemical and physical form; the maximum activity per vial, syringe, generator, or other container of the radioactive drug; and the shielding provided by the packaging to show it is appropriate for the safe handling and storage of the radioactive drugs by medical use licensees; and

d. The applicant satisfies the following labeling requirements:

(1) A label is affixed to each transport radiation shield, whether it is constructed of lead, glass, plastic, or other material, of a radioactive drug to be transferred for commercial distribution. The label shall include the radiation symbol as described in 12VAC5-481-850 and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" or "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL"; the name of the radioactive drug or its abbreviation; and the quantity of radioactivity at a specified date and time. For radioactive drugs with a half-life greater than 100 days, the time may be omitted.

(2) A label is affixed to each syringe, vial, or other container used to hold a radioactive drug to be transferred for commercial distribution. The label shall include the radiation symbol as described in 12VAC5-481-850 and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" or "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" and an identifier that ensures that the syringe, vial, or other container can be correlated with the information on the transport radiation shield label.

2. A licensee authorized to manufacture, prepare or transfer for commercial distribution radioactive drugs shall ensure that any individual preparing the drugs is one of the following:

a. An authorized nuclear pharmacist (ANP) as defined in 12VAC5-481-10;

b. An individual that meets the requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-1770 and 12VAC5-481-1790, and the licensee has received an approved license amendment identifying this individual as an ANP;

c. A pharmacist, as defined in 12VAC5-481-10, designated as an ANP if:

(1) The individual was a nuclear pharmacist preparing only radioactive drugs containing accelerator-produced radioactive material; and

(2) The individual practiced at a pharmacy at a government agency or federally recognized Indian Tribe before November 30, 2007, or at all other pharmacies before August 8, 2009, or an earlier date as noticed by the NRC; or

d. An individual under the supervision of an ANP as specified in 12VAC5-481-1710.

3. Shall provide to the agency no later than 30 days after the date that the licensee allows, under subdivision 2 a or c of this subsection, the individual to work as an ANP:

a. The individual's certification by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC with the written attestation signed by a preceptor as required by 12VAC5-481-1770;

b. An NRC or another Agreement state license;

c. NRC master materials licensee permit;

d. The permit issued by a licensee or NRC master materials permittee of broad scope or the authorization from a commercial nuclear pharmacy authorized to list its own authorized nuclear pharmacist; or

e. Documentation that only accelerator-produced radioactive materials were used in the practice of nuclear pharmacy at a government agency or federally recognized Indian Tribe before November 30, 2007, or at all other locations of use before August 8, 2009, or an earlier date as noticed by the NRC; and

f. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy's license.

4. A licensee shall possess and use instrumentation to measure the radioactivity of radioactive drugs. The licensee shall have procedures for use of the instrumentation. The licensee shall measure, by direct measurement or by combination of measurements and calculations, the amount of radioactivity in dosages of alpha, beta, or photon-emitting radioactive drugs prior to transfer for commercial distribution. In addition, the licensee shall:

a. Perform tests before initial use, periodically, and following repair, on each instrument for accuracy, linearity, and geometry dependence, as appropriate for the use of the instrument; and make adjustments when necessary; and

b. Check each instrument for constancy and proper operation at the beginning of each day of use.

5. Nothing in this subsection relieves the licensee from complying with applicable FDA, other federal, and state requirements governing radioactive drugs.

6. Each licensee preparing technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals from molybdenum-99/technetium-99m generators or rubidium-82 from strontium-82/ryubidium-82 generators shall test the generator eluates for molybdenum-99 breakthrough or strontium-82 and strontium-85 contamination in accordance with 12VAC5-481-1930. The licensee shall record the results of each test and retain each record for three years after the record is made. The licensee shall report the results of any test that exceeds the permissible concentration listed in 12VAC5-481-1930 A at the time of the generator elution in accordance with 12VAC5-481-2080 D.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 25, eff. January 14, 2022.

12VAC5-481-450. General requirements for the issuance of specific licenses.

A. A license application will be approved if the agency determines that:

1. The applicant is qualified by reason of training and experience to use the material in question for the purpose requested in accordance with these regulations in such a manner as to minimize danger to public health and safety or property;

2. The applicant's proposed equipment, facilities, and procedures are adequate to minimize danger to public health and safety or property;

3. The issuance of the license will not be inimical to the health and safety of the public;

4. The applicant has described in the application how facility design and procedures for operation will minimize, to the extent practicable, contamination of the facility and the environment, facilitate eventual decommissioning, and minimize, to the extent practicable, the generation of radioactive waste;

5. Licensees shall, to the extent practical, conduct operations to minimize the introduction of residual radioactivity into the site, including the subsurface, in accordance with this chapter; and

6.The applicant satisfies any applicable special requirements in 12VAC5-481-460, 12VAC5-481-470, 12VAC5-481-480, or Part V (12VAC5-481-1170 et seq.), Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.), Part XI (12VAC5-481-2330 et seq.), Part XII (12VAC5-481-2660 et seq.), Part XIV (12VAC5-481-3140 et seq.), or Part XVI (12VAC5-281-3460 et seq.) of this chapter.

B. Environmental report, commencement of construction. In the case of an application for a license to receive and possess radioactive material for commercial waste disposal by land burial, or for the conduct of any other activity that the agency determines will significantly affect the quality of the environment, the agency, before commencement of construction of the plant or facility in which the activity will be conducted, has concluded, after weighing the environmental, economic, technical and other benefits against environmental costs and considering available alternatives, that the action called for is the issuance of the proposed license, with any appropriate conditions to protect environmental values. Commencement of construction prior to such conclusion shall be grounds for denial of a license to receive and possess radioactive material in such plant or facility. As used in this subsection the term "commencement of construction" means any clearing of land, excavation, or other substantial action that would adversely affect the environment of a site. The term does not mean site exploration, necessary roads for site exploration, borings to determine foundation conditions, or other preconstruction monitoring or testing to establish background information related to the suitability of the site or the protection of environmental values.

C. Financial assurance and records for decommissioning.

1. A person applying for a specific license authorizing the possession and use of unsealed radioactive material shall submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection with the license application for any of the following types of materials:

a. Unsealed radioactive material with a half-life greater than 120 days and in quantities greater than 10⁵ times the applicable quantities listed in 12VAC5-481-3750.

b. Unsealed radioactive material involving a combination of isotopes with R divided by 10⁵ being greater than one, where R is defined as the sum of the ratios of the quantity of each isotope to the applicable value in 12VAC5-481-3750.

2. A person applying for a specific license authorizing the possession and use of radioactive material not covered by subdivision 1 of this subsection with a half-life greater than 120 days and in quantities specified in subdivision 5 of this subsection shall do either of the following:

a. Submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection.

b. Submit a written certification, signed by the chief financial officer or other individual designated by management to represent the licensee, that financial assurance has been provided in the amount prescribed in subdivision 5 of this subsection using one of the methods described in subdivision 6 of this subsection and a signed original of the financial instrument obtained to satisfy the requirements of subdivision 7 of this subsection. The written certification may state that the appropriate assurance will be obtained after the application has been approved and the license issued by the agency but before receipt of radioactive material by the applicant. If the applicant defers execution of the financial instrument until after the license has been issued, the applicant shall submit to the agency a signed original of the financial instrument obtained before receipt of licensed material.

3. The following are exempt from the requirements of this subsection:

a. A state, local or other government agency, except for a government agency licensed to handle or process radioactive waste.

b. A person authorized to possess only radioactive materials with a half-life of 65 days or less.

c. Other persons exempted by the agency based on a review of the license application.

4. Implementation.

a. A person who possesses a specific license authorizing the possession and use of radioactive material issued on or after the effective date as stated in 12VAC5-481-160 that is of a type described in subdivision 1 of this subsection, shall provide financial assurance for decommissioning under this section.

b. A person who possesses a specific license issued before the effective date as stated in 12VAC5-481-160 shall do one of the following:

(1) For a license authorizing the use of radioactive material meeting the criteria of subdivision 1 of this subsection, submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection and a certification of financial assurance for at least $1,125,000, under the criteria in subdivision 5 of this subsection, with any application for license renewal.

(2) For a license authorizing the use of radioactive material meeting the criteria of subdivision 2 of this subsection, submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection or a certification of financial assurance for decommissioning according to the criteria of subdivision 5 of this subsection with any application for license renewal.

c. The term of the financial assurance shall be from the issuance or renewal of the license until the agency terminates the license.

d. A licensee's financial assurance arrangements may be reviewed annually by the agency to recognize any increases or decreases resulting from inflation or deflation, changes in engineering plans, activities performed or any other condition affecting costs for decommissioning to ensure that sufficient funding is available to cover liability that remains until license termination.

5. Required amounts for financial assurance.

a. A licensee shall provide the following minimum amounts of financial assurance for decommissioning, unless otherwise specified by the agency:

(1) $1,125,000 if the quantity of material is greater than 10⁴ but less than or equal to 10⁵ times the applicable quantities of 12VAC5-481-3750 in unsealed form. For a combination of isotopes, R divided by 10⁴ is greater than one but R divided by 10⁵ is less than or equal to one.

(2) $225,000 if the quantity of material is greater than 10³ but less than or equal to 10⁴ times the applicable quantities of 12VAC5-481-3750 in unsealed form. For a combination of isotopes, R divided by 10³ is greater than one but R divided by 10⁴ is less than or equal to one.

(3) $113,000 if the quantity of material is greater than 10¹⁰ times the applicable quantities of 12VAC5-481-3750 in sealed sources or plated foils. For a combination of isotopes, R divided by 10¹⁰ is greater than one.

b. The agency may eliminate, reduce or raise the required amount of financial assurance under subdivision 5 a of this subsection for an individual applicant or licensee based on the cost estimate for decommissioning included in the decommissioning funding plan required under subdivision 6 a of this subsection.

6. Each decommissioning funding plan (DFP) shall be submitted for review and approval by the agency.

a. The DFP shall include a detailed cost estimate for decommissioning, in an amount reflecting:

(1) The cost of an independent contractor to perform all decommissioning activities;

(2) The cost of meeting the criteria for unrestricted use in 12VAC5-481-1161 B provided that if the applicant or licensee can demonstrate its ability to meet the provisions of 12VAC5-481-1161 C, the cost estimate may be based on meeting the criteria in 12VAC5-481-1161 C;

(3) The volume of onsite subsurface material containing residual radioactivity that will require remediation to meet the criteria for license termination; and

(4) An adequate contingency factor;

b. The DFP shall include identification of and justification for using the key assumptions contained in the decommissioning cost estimate (DCE);

c. The DFP shall include a description of the method of assuring funds for decommissioning from subdivision 7 of this subsection, including means for adjusting cost estimates and associated funding levels periodically over the life of the facility;

d. The DFP shall include a certification by the licensee that financial assurance for decommissioning has been provided in the amount of the cost estimate for decommissioning;

e. The DFP shall include a signed original of the financial instrument obtained to satisfy the requirements of subdivision 7 of this subsection (unless a previously submitted and accepted financial instrument continues to cover the cost estimate for decommissioning); and

f. The DFP shall (i) be submitted with license renewal and at intervals not to exceed three years and (ii) contain adjustments as necessary to account for changes in costs and the extent of contamination. If the amount of financial assurance will be adjusted downward, this cannot be done until the updated decommissioning funding plan is approved. The DFP shall update the information submitted with the original or prior approved plan and shall specifically consider the effect of the following events on decommissioning costs:

(1) Spills of radioactive material producing additional residual radioactivity in onsite subsurface material;

(2) Waste inventory increasing above the amount previously estimated;

(3) Waste disposal costs increasing above the amount previously estimated;

(4) Facility modifications;

(5) Changes in authorized possession limits;

(6) Actual remediation costs that exceed the previous cost estimate;

(7) Onsite disposal; and

(8) Use of a settling pond.

7. A licensee may use any of the following methods to provide financial assurance for decommissioning:

a. Prepayment. Prepayment is the deposit prior to operation into an account segregated from licensee assets and outside the licensee's administrative control of cash or liquid assets in an amount sufficient to pay decommissioning costs. Prepayment may be in the form of a trust, escrow account, government fund, certificate of deposit or deposit of government securities. Funds placed into a trust segregated from the licensee's assets and outside the licensee's administrative control, and in which the adequacy of the trust funds is to be assessed based on an assumed annual 1.0% real rate of return on investment.

b. Surety method, insurance or other guarantee. Payment of future decommissioning costs shall be guaranteed by a surety method, insurance or other guarantee. A surety method may be in the form of a surety bond, letter of credit or line of credit. Self insurance, or any method that essentially constitutes self-insurance, may not be used as a method of providing financial assurance. Any surety method or insurance used to provide financial assurance for decommissioning shall meet all of the following criteria:

(1) The surety method or insurance shall be open-ended or, if written for a specified term, renewed automatically unless 90 days or more prior to the renewal date, the issuer notifies the agency, the beneficiary and the licensee of its intention not to renew. The surety method or insurance shall also provide that the full face amount be paid to the beneficiary automatically prior to the expiration without proof of forfeiture if the licensee fails to provide a replacement acceptable to the agency within 30 days after receipt of notification of cancellation.

(2) The surety method or insurance shall be payable to a trust established for decommissioning costs. The agency shall approve the trustee and the trust.

(3) The surety method or insurance shall remain in effect until the agency terminates the license.

c. External sinking fund. An external sinking fund may be used in which deposits are made at least annually, coupled with a surety method or insurance, the value of which may decrease by the amount being accumulated in the sinking fund. An external sinking fund may be in the form of a trust, escrow account, government fund, certificate of deposit or deposit of government securities. The surety or insurance provisions shall meet the requirements of subdivision 7 b of this subsection.

d. Statement of intent. A state or local government licensee exempt under subdivision 3 of this subsection shall submit a written statement of intent containing a cost estimate for decommissioning or an amount based on subdivision 5 of this subsection. The cost estimate shall indicate that funds for decommissioning will be obtained when necessary.

8. A licensee shall keep the following records of information related to decommissioning of a facility in an identified location until the site is released for unrestricted use:

a. Records of spills or other unusual occurrences involving the spread of radioactive contamination in and around the facility, equipment or site. The records may be limited to instances where contamination remains after any cleanup procedures or when there is reasonable likelihood that radioactive contaminants may have spread to inaccessible areas or into porous materials such as concrete. The records shall include any known information on identification of involved nuclides, quantities, forms and concentrations.

b. As-built drawings and modifications of structures and equipment in restricted areas where radioactive materials are used or stored, and of locations of possible inaccessible contamination such as buried pipes that may contain radioactive contaminants. If required drawings are referenced, each relevant document does not need to be indexed individually. If drawings are not available, a licensee shall substitute appropriate records of available information concerning the areas and locations of inaccessible contamination.

Note: As-built architectural and engineering drawings need to reflect the final details of the structures and equipment as they were constructed.

c. Except for areas containing only sealed sources that have not leaked or where no contamination remains after a leak, or byproduct materials with half-lives of less than 65 days, a list containing all the following:

(1) All areas currently and formerly designated as restricted areas.

(2) All areas outside of restricted areas that require documentation under subdivision 8 (c) 1 of this subsection.

(3) All areas outside of restricted areas where current and previous wastes have been buried as documented under 12VAC5-481-1060.

(4) All areas outside of restricted areas that contain radioactive material such that, if the license expired, the licensee would be required to either decontaminate the area to meet the criteria for decommissioning in 12VAC5-481-510 or apply for approval for disposal under 12VAC5-481-920.

d. Records of the cost estimate performed for the decommissioning funding plan or the amount certified for decommissioning and records of the funding method used for assuring funds.

9. A licensee shall keep the records in subdivision 8 of this subsection until the site is decommissioned and approved by the agency for unrestricted use.

10. Prior to a licensed activity being transferred to another licensee under 12VAC5-481-500 B, the original licensee shall transfer all records under subdivision 8 of this subsection to the new licensee. The new licensee shall be responsible for maintaining the records until their license is terminated by the agency.

11. A person applying for a specific license authorizing the possession and use of more than 100 mCi of source material in a readily dispersible form shall submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection.

12. A person applying for a specific license authorizing the possession and use of quantities of source material greater than 10 mCi but less than or equal to 100 mCi in a readily dispersible form shall either:

a. Submit a decommissioning funding plan as described in subdivision 6 of this subsection; or

b. Submit a certification that financial assurance for decommissioning has been provided in the amount of $225,000 using one of the methods described in subdivision 7 of this subsection.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016.

12VAC5-481-451. Physical protection of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

A. Any licensee who possesses or uses an aggregated quantity of Category 1 or Category 2 radioactive material equal to or in excess of those in subdivision 1 of this subsection shall establish a physical protection program that meets all requirements detailed in this section.

1. Radionuclides of concern.

2. A licensee that possesses radioactive waste that contains Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material is exempt from the requirements of this section.

3. A licensee that possesses radioactive waste that contains discrete sources, ion-exchange resins, or activated material that weighs less than 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) is not exempt from the requirements of this section. The licensee shall implement the following requirements to secure the radioactive waste:

a. Use continuous physical barriers that allow access to the radioactive waste only through established access control points;

b. Use a locked door or gate with monitored alarm at the access control point;

c. Assess and respond to each actual or attempted unauthorized access to determine whether an actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion occurred; and

d. Immediately notify the local law-enforcement agency (LLEA) and request an armed response from the LLEA upon determination that there was an actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of the radioactive waste.

B. Background investigations and access authorization program.

1. Personnel access authorization requirements for Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

a. Each licensee that possesses an aggregated quantity of radioactive material that equals or exceeds the Category 2 threshold shall establish, implement, and maintain its access authorization program in accordance with the requirements in this subsection. An applicant for a new license and each licensee that would become newly subject to the requirements in this subsection upon an amendment request of its license shall implement the requirements of this subsection, as appropriate, before taking possession of an aggregated quantity of radioactive material that equals or exceeds the Category 2 threshold. Any licensee that has not previously implemented the increased control requirements of this section shall implement the provisions of this subsection before aggregating radioactive material to a quantity that equals or exceeds the Category 2 threshold.

b. The licensee's access authorization program shall ensure that the individuals specified in subdivision 1 c of this subsection are trustworthy and reliable.

c. Licensees shall subject the following individuals to an access authorization program:

(1) Any individual whose assigned duties require unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material; and

(2) Reviewing officials.

d. Licensees shall approve for unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material only those individuals whose assigned job duties require unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

e. Licensees need not subject the categories of individuals listed in subdivision 5 a of this subsection to the investigation elements of the access authorization program.

2. Access authorization program requirements.

a. Granting unescorted access authorization.

(1) Licensees shall implement the requirements of this subsection for granting initial or reinstated unescorted access authorization.

(2) Individuals who have been determined to be trustworthy and reliable shall also complete the security training required by subdivision C 2 c of this section before being allowed unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

b. Reviewing officials.

(1) Reviewing officials are the only individuals who may make trustworthiness and reliability determinations that allow individuals to have unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials possessed by the licensee.

(2) Each licensee shall name one or more individuals to be reviewing officials. After completing the background investigation on the reviewing official, the licensee shall provide under oath or affirmation a certification that the reviewing official is deemed trustworthy and reliable by the licensee. Provide oath or affirmation certifications to the agency via an appropriate means listed in 12VAC5-481-150. The fingerprints of the named reviewing official shall be taken by a law-enforcement agency, a federal or state agency that provides fingerprinting services to the public, or a commercial fingerprinting service authorized by a state to take fingerprints. The licensee shall recertify that the reviewing official is deemed trustworthy and reliable every 10 years in accordance with subdivision 3 c of this subsection.

(3) Reviewing officials shall be permitted to have unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

(4) Reviewing officials cannot approve other individuals to act as reviewing officials.

(5) A reviewing official does not need to undergo a new background investigation before being named by the licensee as the reviewing official if:

(a) The individual has undergone a background investigation that included fingerprinting and an FBI criminal history records check and has been determined to be trustworthy and reliable by the licensee; or

(b) The individual is subject to a category listed in subdivision 5 a of this subsection.

c. Informed consent.

(1) Licensees may not initiate a background investigation without the informed and signed consent of the subject individual. This consent shall include authorization to share personal information with other individuals or organizations as necessary to complete the background investigation. Before a final adverse determination, the licensee shall provide the individual with an opportunity to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information that is developed during the background investigation. Licensees do not need to obtain signed consent from those individuals who meet the requirements of subdivision 3 b of this subsection. A signed consent shall be obtained prior to any reinvestigation.

(2) The subject individual may withdraw his consent at any time. Licensees shall inform the individual that:

(a) If an individual withdraws his consent, the licensee may not initiate elements of the background investigation that were not in progress at the time the individual withdrew his consent; and

(b) The withdrawal of consent for the background investigation is sufficient cause of denial or termination of unescorted access authorization.

d. Any individual who is applying for unescorted access authorization shall disclose the personal history information that is required by the licensee's access authorization program for the reviewing official to make a determination of the individual's trustworthiness and reliability. Refusal to provide, or the falsification of, any personal history information required by this subsection is sufficient cause for denial or termination of unescorted access.

e. Determination basis.

(1) The reviewing official shall determine whether to permit, deny, unfavorably terminate, maintain, or administratively withdraw an individual's unescorted access authorization based on an evaluation of all the information collected to meet the requirements of this subsection.

(2) The reviewing official may not permit any individual to have unescorted access until the reviewing official has evaluated all the information collected to meet the requirements of this subsection and determined that the individual is trustworthy and reliable. The reviewing official may deny unescorted access to any individual based on information obtained at any time during the background investigation.

(3) The licensee shall document the basis for concluding whether or not there is reasonable assurance that an individual is trustworthy and reliable.

(4) The reviewing official may terminate or administratively withdraw an individual's unescorted access authorization based on information obtained after the background investigation has been completed and the individual granted unescorted access information.

(5) Licensees shall maintain a list of persons currently approved for unescorted access authorization. When a licensee determines that a person no longer requires unescorted access or meets the access authorization requirement, the licensee shall remove the person from the approved list as soon as possible, but no later than seven working days, and take prompt measures to ensure that the individual is unable to have unescorted access to the material.

f. Licensees shall develop, implement, and maintain written procedures for implementing the access authorization program. The procedures shall include the provisions for the notification of individuals who are denied unescorted access. The procedures shall include provisions for the review, at the request of the affected individual, of a denial or termination of unescorted access authorization. The procedures shall contain a provision to ensure that the individual is informed of the grounds for the denial or termination of unescorted access authorization and allow the individual an opportunity to provide additional relevant information.

g. Right to correct and complete information.

(1) Prior to any final adverse determination, licensees shall provide each individual subject to this subsection with the right to complete, correct, and explain information obtained as a result of the licensee's background investigation. Confirmation of receipt by the individual of this notification shall be maintained by the licensee for a period of one year from the date of the notification.

(2) If, after reviewing his criminal history record, an individual believes that it is incorrect or incomplete in any respect and wishes to change, correct, update, or explain anything in the record, the individual may initiate challenge procedures. These procedures include direct application by the individual challenging the record to the law-enforcement agency that contributed the questioned information or a direct challenge as to the accuracy or completeness of any entry on the criminal history record to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, ATTN: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306 as set forth in 28 CFR 16.30 through 28 CFR 16.34. In the latter case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will forward the challenge to the agency that submitted the data and will request that the agency verify or correct the challenged entry. Upon receipt of an official communication directly from the agency that contributed the original information, the FBI Identification Division will make any change necessary in accordance with the information supplied by that agency. Licensees shall provide at least 10 days for an individual to initiate action to challenge the results of an FBI criminal history records check after the record being made available for his review. The licensee may make a final adverse determination based upon the criminal history records only after receipt of the FBI's confirmation or correction of the record.

h. Records.

(1) The licensee shall retain documentation regarding the trustworthiness and reliability of individual employees for three years from the date the individual no longer requires unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

(2) The licensee shall retain a copy of the current access authorization program procedures as a record for three years after the procedure is no longer needed. If any portion of the procedure is superseded, the licensee shall retain the superseded material for three years after the record is superseded.

(3) The licensee shall retain the list of individuals approved for unescorted access authorization for three years after the list is superseded or replaced.

3. Background investigations.

a. Before allowing an individual unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material or to the devices containing the material, licensees shall complete a background investigation of the individual seeking unescorted access authorization. The scope of the investigation shall encompass at least the seven years preceding the date of the background investigation or since the individual's 18th birthday, whichever is shorter. The background investigation shall include at a minimum:

(1) Fingerprinting and an FBI identification and criminal history records check in accordance with subdivision 4 of this subsection;

(2) Verification of true identity of the individual who is applying for unescorted access authorization. A licensee shall review official identification documents (e.g., driver's license; passport; government identification; certificate of birth issued by the state, province, or country of birth) and compare the documents to personal information data provided by the individual to identify any discrepancy in the information. Licensees shall document the type, expiration, and identification number of the identification document or maintain a photocopy of identifying documents on file in accordance with subdivision 6 of this subsection. Licensees shall certify in writing that the identification was properly reviewed and shall maintain the certification and all related documents for review upon inspection;

(3) Verification of employment history, including military history. Licensees shall verify the individual's employment with each previous employer for the most recent seven years before the date of application;

(4) Verification that the individual participated in the education process during the claimed period;

(5) Completion of reference checks to determine the character and reputation of the individual who has applied for unescorted access authorization. Unless other references are not available, reference checks may not be conducted with any person who is known to be a close member of the individual's family, including the individual's spouse, parents, siblings, or children, or any individual who resides in the individual's permanent household. Reference checks under this subsection shall be limited to whether the individual has been and continues to be trustworthy and reliable;

(6) To the extent possible, obtain independent information to corroborate the information provided by the individual (e.g., seek references not supplied by the individual); and

(7) If a previous employer, educational institution, or any other entity with which the individual claims to have been engaged fails to provide the information or indicates an inability or unwillingness to provide information within a timeframe deemed appropriate by the licensee but at least after 10 business days of the request or if the licensee is unable to reach the entity, the licensee shall document the refusal, unwillingness, or inability in the record of investigation and attempt to obtain the information from an alternate source.

b. Individuals who have been determined to be trustworthy and reliable for unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material in accordance with fingerprint orders as effective on October 3, 2008, can continue to have unescorted access to Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material without further investigation. These individuals shall be subject to the reinvestigation requirement of subdivision 3 c of this subsection.

c. Licensees shall conduct a reinvestigation every 10 years for any individual with unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. The reinvestigation shall consist of fingerprinting and an FBI identification and criminal history records check in accordance with subdivision 4 of this subsection. The reinvestigations shall be completed within 10 years of the date on which these elements were last completed.

4. Requirements for criminal history records checks of individuals granted unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

a. General performance objective and requirements.

(1) Except for those individuals listed in subdivision 5 a of this subsection and those individuals grandfathered under subdivision 3 b of this subsection, each licensee subject to the provisions of this section shall fingerprint each individual who is to be permitted unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. The licensee shall submit all collected fingerprints to the NRC for transmission to the FBI. The licensee shall use the information received from the FBI as part of the required background investigation to determine whether to grant or deny further unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials for that individual.

(2) The licensee shall notify each affected individual that his fingerprints will be used to secure a review of his criminal history record and shall inform him of the procedures for revising the record or adding explanations to the record.

(3) Fingerprinting is not required if a licensee is reinstating an individual's unescorted access authorization to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material if:

(a) The individual returns to the same facility that granted unescorted access authorization within 365 days of the termination of his unescorted access authorization; and

(b) The previous access was terminated under favorable conditions.

(4) Fingerprints do not need to be taken if an individual who is an employee of a licensee, contractor, manufacturer, or supplier has been granted unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, access to safeguards information, or safeguards information-modified handling by another licensee based upon a background investigation conducted under this subsection, regulations or Fingerprint Orders from another agreement state, or 10 CFR Part 73. An existing criminal history records check file may be transferred to the licensee asked to grant unescorted access in accordance with the provisions of subdivision 6 c of this subsection.

(5) Licensees shall use the information obtained as part of a criminal history records check solely for the purpose of determining an individual's suitability for unescorted access authorization to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials, access to safeguards information, or safeguards information-modified handling.

b. Prohibitions.

(1) Licensees may not base a final determination to deny an individual unescorted access authorization to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material solely on the basis of information received from the FBI involving:

(a) An arrest more than one year old for which there is no information of the disposition of the case; or

(b) An arrest that resulted in dismissal of the charge or an acquittal.

(2) Licensees may not use information received from a criminal history records check obtained under this subsection in a manner that would infringe upon the rights of any individual under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, nor shall licensees use the information in any way that would discriminate among individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, or age.

c. Procedures for processing of fingerprint checks.

(1) For the purpose of complying with this subsection, licensees shall use an appropriate method listed in 10 CFR 37.7 to submit to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Director, Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy, 11545 Rockville Pike, ATTN: Criminal History Program/Mail Stop T-07D04M, Rockville, MD, 20852, one completed, legible standard fingerprint card (form FD-258, ORIMDNRCOOOZ), electronic fingerprint scan, or, where practicable, other fingerprint record for each individual requiring unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. Copies of these forms may be obtained by emailing MAILSVS.Resource@nrc.gov. Guidance on submitting electronic fingerprints can be found at https://www.nrc.gov/security/chp.html.

(2) Fees for processing of fingerprint cards are due upon application. Licensees shall submit payment with the application for the processing of fingerprints through corporate check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, or electronic payment, made payable to the "U.S. NRC." (For guidance on making electronic payments, contact the Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy by emailing crimhist.resource@nrc.gov.) Combined payment for multiple applications is acceptable. The NRC publishes the amount of the fingerprint check application fee on the NRC public website. To find the current fee amount, go to the Licensee Criminal History Records Checks & Firearms Background Check information page at https://www.nrc.gov/security/chp.html and see the link for How do I determine how much to pay for the request?.

(3) The NRC will forward to the submitting licensee all data received from the FBI as a result of the licensee's application for a criminal history records check.

5. Relief.

a. Fingerprinting, identification and criminal history records checks, and other elements of the background investigation required by this subsection are not required for the following individuals prior to granting unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material:

(1) An employee of the NRC or of the executive branch of the U.S. government who has undergone fingerprinting for a prior U.S. government criminal history records check;

(2) A member of Congress;

(3) An employee of a member of Congress or congressional committee who has undergone fingerprinting for a prior U.S. government criminal history records check;

(4) The governor of a state or his designated state employee representative;

(5) Federal, state, or local law-enforcement personnel;

(6) State radiation control program directors and state homeland security advisors or their designated employee representatives;

(7) State radiation program employees conducting security inspections on behalf of the NRC under an agreement executed under § 274i of the Atomic Energy Act (42 USC § 2021i);

(8) Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) engaged in activities associated with the U.S./IAEA Safeguards Agreement who have been certified by the NRC;

(9) Emergency response personnel who are responding to an emergency;

(10) Commercial vehicle drivers for road shipments of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material;

(11) Package handlers at transportation facilities such as freight terminals and railroad yards;

(12) Any individual who has an active federal security clearance and provides the appropriate documentation. Written confirmation from the agency or employer that granted the federal security clearance or reviewed the criminal history records check shall be provided to the licensee. The licensee shall retain this documentation for a period of three years from the date the individual no longer requires unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material; and

(13) Any individual employed by a service provider licensee for whom the service provider licensee has conducted the background investigation for the individual and approved the individual for unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. Written verification from the service provider shall be provided to the licensee. The licensee shall retain the documentation for a period of three years from the date the individual no longer requires unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

b. Fingerprinting and identification and criminal history records checks required by this subsection are not required for an individual who has had a favorably adjudicated U.S. Government criminal history records check within the last five years, under a comparable U.S. Government program involving fingerprinting and an FBI identification and criminal history records check, and the individual provides the appropriate documentation. Written confirmation from the agency or employer that reviewed the criminal history records check shall be provided to the licensee. The licensee shall retain this documentation for a period of three years from the date the individual no longer requires unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. These programs include:

(1) National Agency Check;

(2) Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) under 49 CFR Part 1572;

(3) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives background check and clearances under 27 CFR Part 555;

(4) Health and Human Services security risk assessments for possession and use of select agents and toxins under 42 CFR Part 73;

(5) Hazardous material security threat assessment for hazardous material endorsement to commercial driver's license under 49 CFR Part 1572; and

(6) Customs and Border Protection's Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Program.

6. Protection of information.

a. Each licensee that obtains background information on an individual under this subsection shall establish and maintain a system of files and written procedures for protection of the record and the personal information from unauthorized disclosure.

b. The licensee may not disclose the record or personal information collected and maintained to persons other than the subject individual, his representative, or to those who have a need to have access to the information in performing assigned duties in the process of granting or denying unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. No individual authorized to have access to the information may disseminate the information to any other individual who does not have a need to know.

c. The personal information obtained on an individual from a background investigation may be provided to another licensee:

(1) Upon the individual's written request to the licensee holding the data to disseminate the information contained in that individual's file; and

(2) The recipient licensee verifies information such as name, date of birth, social security number, gender, and other applicable physical characteristics.

d. The licensee shall make background investigation records obtained under this subsection available for examination by an authorized representative of the agency to determine compliance with the regulations and laws.

e. The licensee shall retain all fingerprint and criminal history records (including data indicating no record) received from the FBI, or a copy of these records if the individual's file has been transferred, on an individual for three years from the date the individual no longer requires unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

7. Access authorization program review.

a. Each licensee shall be responsible for the continuing effectiveness of the access authorization program. Each licensee shall ensure that access authorization programs are reviewed to confirm compliance with the requirements of this subsection and that comprehensive actions are taken to correct any noncompliance that is identified. The review program shall evaluate all program performance objectives and requirements. The review shall be performed at least annually.

b. The results of the reviews, along with all recommendations, shall be documented. Each review report shall identify conditions that are adverse to the proper performance of the access authorization program; the cause of the conditions and, when appropriate, recommend corrective actions; and corrective actions taken. The licensee shall review the findings and take additional corrective actions necessary to preclude repetition of the condition, including reassessment of the deficient areas where indicated.

c. Review records shall be maintained for three years.

C. Physical protection requirements during use.

1. Security program.

a. Each licensee that possesses an aggregated Category 1 or Category 2 quantity of radioactive material shall establish, implement, and maintain a security program in accordance with the requirements of this subsection. An applicant for a new license and each licensee that would become newly subject to the requirements of this subsection upon an amendment request for modification of its license shall implement the requirements of this subsection, as appropriate, before taking possession of an aggregated Category 1 or Category 2 quantity of radioactive material. Any licensee that has not previously implemented the requirements of this subsection shall provide written notification to the agency at least 90 days before aggregating radioactive material to a quantity that equals or exceeds the Category 2 threshold.

b. Each licensee shall establish, implement, and maintain a security program that is designed to monitor and, without delay, detect, assess, and respond to an actual or attempted unauthorized access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

c. Each licensee's security program shall include the program features, as appropriate, described in subdivisions 2 through 8 of this subsection.

2. General security program requirements.

a. Security plan.

(1) Each licensee identified in subdivision 1 a of this subsection shall develop a written security plan specific to its facilities and operations. The purpose of the security plan is to establish the licensee's overall security strategy to ensure the integrated and effective functioning of the security program required by this subsection. The security plan shall, at a minimum, (i) describe the measures and strategies used to implement the requirements of this subsection and (ii) identify the security resources, equipment, and technology used to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.

(2) The security plan shall be reviewed and approved by the individual with overall responsibility for the security program.

(3) A licensee shall revise its security plan as necessary to ensure the effective implementation of agency requirements. The licensee shall ensure that (i) the revision has been reviewed and approved by the individual with overall responsibility for the security program and (ii) the affected individuals are instructed on the revised plan before the changes are implemented.

(4) The licensee shall retain a copy of the current security plan as a record for three years after the security plan is no longer required. If any portion of the plan is superseded, the licensee shall retain the superseded material for three years after the record is superseded.

b. Implementing procedures.

(1) The licensee shall develop and maintain written procedures that document how the requirements of this subsection and the security plan will be met.

(2) The implementing procedures and revisions to these procedures shall be approved in writing by the individual with overall responsibility for the security program.

(3) The licensee shall retain a copy of the current procedure as a record for three years after the procedure is no longer needed. Superseded portions of the procedure shall be retained for three years after the record is superseded.

c. Training.

(1) Each licensee shall conduct training to ensure that those individuals implementing the security program possess and maintain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out their assigned duties and responsibilities effectively. The training shall include at a minimum, instruction on:

(a) The licensee's security program and procedures to secure Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, and the purpose and function of the security measures employed;

(b) The responsibility to report promptly to the licensee any condition that causes or may cause a violation of agency requirements;

(c) The responsibility of the licensee to report promptly to the local law-enforcement agency and the agency any actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material; and

(d) The appropriate response to security alarms.

(2) In determining those individuals who shall be trained on the security program, the licensee shall consider each individual's assigned activities during authorized use and response to potential situations involving actual or attempted theft, diversion, or sabotage of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. The extent of the training shall be commensurate with the individual's potential involvement in the security of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

(3) Refresher training shall be provided at a frequency not to exceed 12 months and when significant changes have been made to the security program. This training shall include (i) review of the training requirements of this subsection and changes made to the security program since the last training; (ii) reports on all relevant security issues, problems, and lessons learned; (iii) relevant results of agency inspections; and (iv) relevant results of the licensee's program review and testing and maintenance.

(4) The licensee shall maintain records of the initial and refresher training for three years from the date of the training. The training records shall include dates of the training, topics covered, a list of licensee personnel in attendance, and related information.

d. Protection of information.

(1) Licensees authorized to possess Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material shall limit access to and prevent the unauthorized disclosure of their security plan, implementing procedures, and the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access.

(2) Efforts to limit access shall include the development, implementation, and maintenance of written policies and procedures for controlling access to and for proper handling and protection against unauthorized disclosure of the security plan, implementing procedures, and the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access.

(3) Before granting an individual access to the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access, licensees shall:

(a) Evaluate an individual's need to know the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access; and

(b) If the individual has not been authorized for unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, the licensee shall complete a background investigation to determine the individual's trustworthiness and reliability. A trustworthiness and reliability determination shall be conducted by the reviewing official and shall include the background investigation elements contained in subdivisions B 3 a (2) through (7) of this section.

(4) Licensees need not subject any individual to background investigation elements for protection of information if that individual is included in the categories of individuals listed in subdivisions B 5 a (1) through (12) of this section or is a security service provider employee, provided written verification that the employee has been determined to be trustworthy and reliable, by the required background investigation in subdivisions B 3 a (2) though (7) of this subsection, has been provided by the security service provider.

(5) The licensee shall document the basis for concluding that an individual is trustworthy and reliable and should be granted access to the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access.

(6) Licensees shall maintain a list of persons currently approved for access to the security plan implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access. When a licensee determines that a person no longer needs access to the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access or no longer meets the access authorization requirements for access to the information, the licensee shall remove the person from the approved list as soon as possible, but no later than seven working days after the determination, and take prompt measures to ensure that the individual is unable to obtain the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access.

(7) When not in use, the licensee shall store its security plan, implementing procedures, and the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access in a manner to prevent unauthorized access. Information stored in nonremovable electronic form shall be password protected.

(8) The licensee shall retain as a record a copy of the information protection procedures and the list of individuals approved for access to the security plan, implementing procedures, or the list of individuals who have been approved for unescorted access for three years after the document has been superseded.

3. Local law-enforcement agency (LLEA) coordination.

a. A licensee subject to this subsection shall coordinate, to the extent practicable, with an LLEA for responding to threats to the licensee's facility, including any necessary armed response. The information provided to the LLEA shall include:

(1) A description of the facilities and the Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials along with a description of the licensee's security measures that have been implemented to comply with this subsection; and

(2) A notification that the licensee will request a timely armed response by the LLEA to any actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of material.

b. The licensee shall notify the agency within three business days if:

(1) The LLEA has not responded to the request for coordination within 60 days of the coordination request; or

(2) The LLEA notifies the licensee that the LLEA does not plan to participate in coordination activities.

c. The license shall document its efforts to coordinate with the LLEA. The documentation shall be kept for three years.

d. The licensee shall coordinate with the LLEA at least every 12 months, or when changes to the facility design or operation adversely affect the potential vulnerability of the licensee's material to theft, sabotage, or diversion.

4. Security zones.

a. Licensees shall ensure that all aggregated Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material are used or stored within licensee-established security zones. Security zones may be permanent or temporary.

b. Temporary security zones shall be established as necessary to meet the licensee's transitory or intermittent business activities, such as periods of maintenance, source delivery, and source replacement.

c. Security zones shall, at a minimum, allow unescorted access only to approved individuals by:

(1) Isolation of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials by the use of continuous physical barriers that allow access to the security zone only through established access control points. A physical barrier is a natural or man-made structure or formation sufficient for the isolation of the Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material within a security zone;

(2) Direct control of the security zone by approved individuals at all times; or

(3) A combination of continuous physical barriers and direct control.

d. For Category 1 quantities of radioactive material during periods of maintenance, source receipt, preparation for shipment, installation, or source removal or exchange, the licensee shall, at a minimum, provide sufficient individuals approved for unescorted access to maintain continuous surveillance of sources in temporary security zones and in any security zone in which physical barriers or intrusion detection systems have been disabled to allow such activities.

e. Individuals not approved for unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material shall be escorted by an approved individual when in a security zone.

5. Monitoring, detection, and assessment.

a. Monitoring and detection.

(1) Licensees shall establish and maintain the capability to continuously monitor and detect without delay all unauthorized entries into its security zones. Licensees shall provide the means to maintain continuous monitoring and detection capability in the event of a loss of the primary power source, or provide for an alarm and response in the event of a loss of this capability to continuously monitor and detect unauthorized entries.

(2) Monitoring and detection shall be performed by:

(a) A monitored intrusion detection system that is linked to an onsite or offsite central monitoring facility;

(b) Electronic devices for intrusion detection alarms that will alert nearby facility personnel;

(c) A monitored video surveillance system;

(d) Direct visual surveillance by approved individuals located within the security zone; or

(e) Direct visual surveillance by a licensee designed individual located outside the security zone.

(3) A licensee subject to this subsection shall also have a means to detect unauthorized removal of the radioactive material from the security zone. This detection capability shall provide:

(a) For Category 1 quantities of radioactive material, immediate detection of any attempted unauthorized removal of the radioactive material from the security zone. Such immediate detection capability shall be provided by electronic sensors linked to an alarm, continuous monitored video surveillance, or direct visual surveillance; and

(b) For Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, weekly verification through physical checks, tamper indicating devices, use, or other means to ensure that the radioactive material is present.

b. Licensees shall immediately assess each actual or attempted unauthorized entry into the security zone to determine whether the unauthorized access was an actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion.

c. For personnel and automated or electronic systems supporting the licensee's monitoring, detection, and assessments system, licensees shall:

(1) Maintain continuous capability for personnel communication and electronic data transmission and processing among site security systems; and

(2) Provide an alternate communication capability for personnel, and an alternative data transmission and processing capability, in the event of a loss of the primary means of communication or data transmission and processing. Alternative communications and data transmissions systems may not be subject to the same failure modes as the primary systems.

d. Licensees shall immediately respond to any actual or attempted unauthorized access to the security zones, or actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material at licensee facilities or temporary job sites. For any unauthorized access involving an actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, the licensee's response shall include requesting, without delay, an armed response from the LLEA.

6. Maintenance and testing.

a. Each licensee subject to this subsection shall implement a maintenance and testing program to ensure that intrusion alarms, associated communication systems, and other physical components of the systems used to secure or detect unauthorized access to radioactive material are maintained in operable condition and are capable of performing their intended function when needed. The equipment relied on to meet the security requirements of this subsection shall be inspected and tested for operability and performance at the manufacturer's suggested frequency. If there is no frequency suggested by the manufacturer or the frequency specified is greater than three months, the testing shall be performed at least quarterly, not to exceed three months.

b. The licensee shall maintain records on the maintenance and testing activities for three years.

7. Requirements for mobile devices. Each licensee that possesses mobile devices containing Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material shall:

a. Have two independent physical controls that form tangible barriers to secure the material from unauthorized removal when the device is not under direct control and constant surveillance by the licensee; and

b. For devices in or on a vehicle or trailer, unless the health and safety requirements for a site prohibit the disabling of the vehicle, the licensee shall utilize a method to disable the vehicle or trailer when not under direct control and constant surveillance by the licensee. Licensees shall not rely on the removal of an ignition key to meet this requirement.

8. Security program review.

a. Each licensee shall be responsible for the continuing effectiveness of the security program. Each licensee shall ensure that the security program is reviewed to confirm compliance with the requirements of this subsection and that comprehensive actions are taken to correct any noncompliance that is identified. The review shall include the radioactive material security program content and implementation. The review shall be conducted at least annually, not to exceed 12 months.

b. The results of the review, along with all recommendations, shall be documented. Each review report shall identify conditions that are adverse to the proper performance of the security program, the cause of the condition, corrective actions taken, and, when appropriate, recommend corrective actions. The licensee shall review the findings and take any additional corrective actions necessary to preclude repetition of the condition, including reassessment of the deficient areas where indicated.

c. The licensee shall maintain the review documentation for three years.

9. Reporting of events.

a. The licensee shall immediately notify the LLEA after determining that an unauthorized entry resulted in an actual or attempted theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantity of radioactive material. As soon as possible after initiating a response, but not at the expense of causing delay or interfering with the LLEA response to the event, the licensee shall notify the agency by telephone at 804-864-8150 during normal business hours and 804-674-2400 after hours. In no case shall the notification to the agency be later than four hours after the discovery of any attempted or actual theft, sabotage, or diversion.

b. The licensee shall assess any suspicious activity related to possible theft, sabotage, or diversion of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material and notify the LLEA as appropriate. As soon as possible but not later than four hours after notifying the LLEA, the licensee shall notify the agency by telephone 804-864-8150 during normal business hours and 804-674-2400 after hours.

c. The initial telephonic notification shall be followed within a period of 30 days by a written report submitted to the agency. The report shall include sufficient information for agency analysis and evaluation, including identification of any necessary corrective actions to prevent future instances.

D. Physical protection in transit.

1. Additional requirements for transfer of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material. A licensee transferring a Category 1 or Category 2 quantity of radioactive material to a licensee of the agency, the NRC, or another agreement state shall meet the license verification provisions listed in this subdivision instead of those listed in 12VAC5-481-570.

a. Any licensee transferring Category 1 quantities of radioactive material to a licensee of the agency, the NRC, or another agreement state, prior to conducting such transfer, shall verify with the NRC's license verification system or the license issuing authority that the transferee's license authorizes the receipt of the type, form, and quantity of radioactive material to be transferred and that the licensee is authorized to receive radioactive material at the location requested for delivery. If the verification is conducted by contacting the license-issuing authority, the transferor shall document the verification. For transfers within the same organization, the licensee does not need to verify the transfer.

b. Any licensee transferring Category 2 quantities of radioactive material to a licensee of the agency, the NRC, or another agreement state, prior to conducting such transfer, shall verify with the NRC's license verification system or the license-issuing authority that the transferee's license authorizes the receipt of the type, form, and quantity of radioactive material to be transferred. If the verification is conducted by contacting the license-issuing authority, the transferor shall document the verification. For transfers within the same organization, the licensee does not need to verify the transfer.

c. In an emergency where the licensee cannot reach the license-issuing authority and the license verification system is nonfunctional, the licensee may accept a written certification by the transferee that it is authorized by license to receive the type, form, and quantity of radioactive material to be transferred. The certification shall include the license number, current revision number, issuing agency, expiration date, and for a Category 1 shipment, the authorized address. The licensee shall keep a copy of the certification. The certification shall be confirmed by use of the NRC's license verification system or by contacting the license-issuing authority by the end of the next business day.

d. The transferor shall keep a copy of the verification documentation as a record for three years.

2. Applicability of physical protection of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material during transit.

a. For shipments of category 1 quantities of radioactive material, each shipping licensee shall comply with the requirements for physical protection contained in subdivisions 3 a, 3 e, 4, 5 a (1), 5 b (1), 5 c, 6 a, 6 c, 6 e, 6 g, and 6 h of this subsection.

b. For shipments of Category 2 quantities of radioactive material, each shipping licensee shall comply with the requirements for physical protection contained in subdivisions 3 b through 3 e, 5 a (2), 5 a (3), 5 b (2), 5 c, 6 b, 6 d, 6 f, 6 g, and 6 h of this subsection.

c. The shipping licensee shall be responsible for meeting the requirements of this subsection unless the receiving licensee has agreed in writing to arrange for the in-transit physical protection required under this subsection.

3. Preplanning and coordination of shipment of Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

a. Each licensee that plans to transport, or deliver to a carrier for transport, licensed material that is a Category 1 quantity of radioactive material outside the confines of the licensee's facility or other place of use or storage shall:

(1) Preplan and coordinate shipment arrival and departure times with the receiving licensee;

(2) Preplan and coordinate shipment information with the governor or the governor's designee of any state through which the shipment will pass to discuss the state's intention to provide law-enforcement escorts and identify safe havens; and

(3) Document the preplanning and coordination activities.

b. Each licensee that plans to transport, or deliver to a carrier for transport, licensed material that is a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material outside the confines of the licensee's facility or other place of use or storage shall coordinate the shipment no-later-than arrival time and the expected shipment arrival with the receiving licensee. The licensee shall document the coordination activities.

c. Each licensee that receives a shipment of a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material shall confirm receipt of the shipment with the originator. If the shipment has not arrived by the no-later-than arrival time, the receiving licensee shall notify the originator.

d. Each licensee that transports or plans to transport a shipment of a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material and determines that the shipment will arrive after the no-later-than arrival time provided pursuant to subdivision 3 b of this subsection, shall promptly notify the receiving licensee of the new no-later-than arrival time.

e. The licensee shall retain a copy of the documentation for preplanning and coordination and any revision thereof as a record for three years.

4. As specified in subdivision 3 of this subsection, each licensee shall provide advance notification to the agency and the governor of a state, or the governor's designee, of the shipment of licensed material in a Category 1 quantity, through or across the boundary of the state, before the transport or delivery to a carrier for transport of the licensed material outside the confines of the licensee's facility or other place of use or storage.

a. Procedures for submitting advance notification:

(1) The notification shall be made to the agency and to the office of each appropriate governor or governor's designee. The contact information, including telephone and mailing addresses, of governors and governor's designees is available on the NRC website at https://scp.nrc.gov/special/designee.pdf. The notification to the agency shall be in accordance with 12VAC5-481-150.

(2) A notification delivered by mail shall be postmarked at least seven days before transport of the shipment commences at the shipping facility.

(3) A notification delivered by any means other than mail shall reach the agency at least four days before the transport of the shipment commences and shall reach the office of the governor or the governor's designee at least four days before transport of a shipment within or through the state.

b. Each advance notification of shipment of Category 1 quantities of radioactive material shall contain the following information, if available at the time of the notification:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the shipper, carrier, and receiver of the Category 1 radioactive material;

(2) The license numbers of the shipper and receiver;

(3) A description of the radioactive material contained in the shipment, including the radionuclides and quantity;

(4) The point of origin of the shipment and the estimated time and date that shipment will commence;

(5) The estimated time and date that the shipment is expected to enter each state along the route;

(6) The estimated time and date of arrival for the shipment at the destination; and

(7) A point of contact, with a telephone number, for current shipment information.

c. Revision notice.

(1) The licensee shall provide any information not previously available at the time of the initial notification, as soon as the information becomes available but not later than commencement of the shipment, to the agency and the governor of the state or the governor's designee.

(2) A licensee shall promptly notify the agency and governor of the state or the governor's designee of any changes to the information provided in accordance with this subdivision 4.

d. Each licensee who cancels a shipment for which advance notification has been sent shall send a cancellation notice to the agency and the governor of each state or to the governor's designee previously notified. The licensee shall send the cancellation notice before the shipment would have commenced or as soon thereafter as possible. The licensee shall state in the notice that it is a cancellation and identify the advance notification that is being canceled.

e. The licensee shall retain a copy of the advance notification and any revision and cancellation notices as a record for three years.

f. State officials, state employees, and other individuals, whether or not licensees of the agency, NRC, or another agreement state, who receive schedule information of the kind specified in subdivision 4 b of this subsection shall protect that information against unauthorized disclosure as specified in subdivision C 2 d of this section.

5. Requirements for physical protection of Category 1 and Category 2 quantities of radioactive material during shipment.

a. Shipments by road.

(1) Each licensee who transports or delivers to a carrier for transport in a single shipment a Category 1 quantity of radioactive material shall:

(a) Ensure that movement control centers are established that maintain position information from a remote location. These control centers shall monitor shipments 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have the ability to communicate immediately, in an emergency, with the appropriate law-enforcement agencies;

(b) Ensure that redundant communications are established that allow the transport to contact the escort vehicle, when an escort vehicle is used, and movement control center at all times. Redundant communications may not be subject to the same interference factors as the primary communication;

(c) Ensure that shipments are continuously and actively monitored by a telemetric position monitoring system or an alternative tracking system reporting to a movement control center. A movement control center shall provide positive confirmation of the location, status, and control over the shipment. The movement control center shall be prepared to promptly implement preplanned procedures in response to deviations from the authorized route or a notification of actual, attempted, or suspicious activities related to the theft, loss, or diversion of a shipment. These procedures will include the identification of and contact information for the appropriate LLEA along the shipment route;

(d) Provide an individual to accompany the driver for those highway shipments with a driving time period greater than the maximum number of allowable hours of service in a 24-hour duty day as established by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The accompanying individual may be another driver; and

(e) Develop written normal and contingency procedures to address (i) notifications to the communication center and law-enforcement agencies; (ii) communication protocols that shall include a strategy for the use of authentication codes and duress codes and provisions for refueling and other stops, detours, and locations where communication is expected to be temporarily lost; (iii) loss of communication; and (iv) responses to an actual or attempted theft or diversion of a shipment.

(f) Each licensee who makes arrangements for the shipment of Category 1 quantities of radioactive material shall ensure that drivers, accompanying personnel, and movement control center personnel have access to the normal and contingency procedures.

(2) Each licensee that transports Category 2 quantities of radioactive material shall maintain constant control and surveillance during transit and have the capability for immediate communication to summon appropriate response or assistance.

(3) Each licensee who delivers to a carrier for transport in a single shipment a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material shall:

(a) Use carriers that have established package tracking systems. An established package tracking system is a documented, proven, and reliable system routinely used to transport objects of value. In order for a package tracking system to maintain constant control and surveillance, the package tracking system shall allow the shipper or transporter to identify when and where the package was last and when it should arrive at the next point of control;

(b) Use carriers that maintain constant control and surveillance during transit and have the capability for immediate communication to summon appropriate response or assistance; and

(c) Use carriers that have established tracking systems that require an authorized signature prior to releasing the package for delivery or return.

b. Shipments by rail.

(1) Each licensee who transports, or delivers to a carrier for transport, in a single shipment a Category 1 quantity of radioactive material shall:

(a) Ensure that rail shipments are monitored by a telemetric position monitoring system or an alternative tracking system reporting to the licensee, third-party, or railroad communications center. The communications center shall provide positive confirmation of the location of the shipment and its status. The communications center shall implement preplanned procedures in response to deviations from the authorized route or to a notification of actual, attempted, or suspicious activities related to the theft or diversion of a shipment. These procedures will include the identification of and contact information for the appropriate LLEA along the shipment route; and

(b) Ensure that periodic reports to the communications center are made at preset intervals.

(2) Each licensee who transports, or delivers to a carrier for transport, in a single shipment a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material shall:

(a) Use carriers that have established package tracking systems. An established package tracking system is a documented, proven, and reliable system routinely used to transport objects of value. In order for a package tracking system to maintain constant control and surveillance, the package tracking system shall allow the shipper or transporter to identify when and where the package was last and when it should arrive at the next point of control;

(b) Use carriers that maintain constant control and surveillance during transit and have the capability for immediate communication to summon appropriate response or assistance; and

(c) Use carriers that have established tracking systems that require an authorized signature prior to releasing the package for delivery or return.

c. Each licensee who makes arrangements for the shipment of Category 1 quantities of radioactive material shall immediately conduct an investigation upon discovery that a Category 1 shipment is lost or missing. Each licensee who makes arrangements for the shipment of Category 2 quantities of radioactive material shall immediately conduct an investigation, in coordination with the receiving licensee, of any shipment that has not arrived by the designated no-later-than arrival time.

6. Reporting of events.

a. The shipping licensee shall notify the appropriate LLEA and the agency within one hour of its determination that a shipment of Category 1 quantities of radioactive material is lost or missing. The appropriate LLEA would be the law-enforcement agency in the area of the shipment's last confirmed location. During the investigation required by this subsection, the shipping licensee will provide agreed upon updates to the agency on the status of the investigation.

b. The shipping licensee shall notify the agency within four hours of its determination that a shipment of Category 2 quantities of radioactive material is lost or missing. If, after 24 hours of its determination that the shipment is lost or missing, the radioactive material has not been located and secure, the licensee shall immediately notify the agency.

c. The shipping licensee shall notify the designated LLEA along the shipment route as soon as possible upon discovery of any actual or attempted theft of diversion of a shipment or suspicious activities related to the theft or diversion of a shipment of a Category 1 quantity of radioactive material. As soon as possible after notifying the LLEA, the licensee shall notify the agency upon discovery of any actual or attempted theft or diversion of a shipment, or any suspicious activity related to the shipment, of Category 1 radioactive material.

d. The shipping licensee shall notify the agency as soon as possible upon discovery of any actual or attempted theft or diversion of a shipment, or any suspicious activity related to the shipment, of a Category 2 quantity of radioactive material.

e. The shipping licensee shall notify the agency and the LLEA as soon as possible upon recovery of any lost or missing Category 1 quantities of radioactive material.

f. The shipping licensee shall notify the agency as soon as possible upon recovery of any lost or missing Category 2 quantities of radioactive material.

g. The initial telephonic notification required by subdivisions 6 a through 6 d of this subsection shall be followed within a period of 30 days by a written report submitted to the agency. A written report is not required for notifications on suspicious activities required by subdivisions 6 c and 6 d of this subsection. The report shall include the following information:

(1) A description of the licensed material involved, including kind, quantity, and chemical and physical form;

(2) A description of the circumstances under which the loss or theft occurred;

(3) A statement of disposition, or probable disposition, of the licensed material involved;

(4) Actions that have been taken, or will be taken, to recover the material; and

(5) Procedures or measures that have been, or will be, adopted to ensure against a recurrence of the loss or theft of licensed material.

h. Subsequent to filing the written report, the licensee shall also report any additional substantive information on the loss or theft within 30 days after the licensee learns of such information.

E. Records.

1. Each record required by this section shall be legible throughout the retention period specified. The record may be the original or a reproduced copy or a microform, provided that the copy or microform is authenticated by authorized personnel and that the microform is capable of producing a clear copy throughout the required retention period. The record may also be stored in electronic media with the capability for producing legible, accurate, and complete records during the required retention period. Records such as letters, drawings, and specifications shall include all pertinent information such as stamps, initials, and signatures. The licensee shall maintain adequate safeguards against tampering with and loss of records.

2. Licensees shall maintain the records that are required by this section for the period specified. If a retention period is not otherwise specified, these records shall be retained until the agency terminates the facility's license. All records related to this section may be destroyed upon agency termination of the facility license.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 25, eff. October 3, 2008; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 21, eff. August 6, 2009; Volume 32, Issue 12, eff. March 9, 2016; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016; Volume 34, Issue 2, eff. October 18, 2017; Volume 37, Issue 25, eff. January 14, 2022; Volume 39, Issue 24, eff. August 16, 2023.

12VAC5-481-460. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

12VAC5-481-470. Special requirements for specific licenses of broad scope.

This section prescribes requirements for the issuance of specific licenses of broad scope for radioactive material and certain regulations governing holders of such licenses. (Authority to transfer possession or control by the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing byproduct material whose subsequent possession, use, transfer, and disposal by all other persons are exempted from regulatory requirements may be obtained only from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001.)

A. The different types of broad scope licenses are set forth below:

1. A "Type A specific license of broad scope" is a specific license authorizing receipt, acquisition, ownership, possession, use and transfer of any chemical or physical form of the radioactive material specified in the license, but not exceeding quantities specified in the license, for any authorized purpose. The quantities specified are usually in the multicurie range.

2. A "Type B specific license of broad scope" is a specific license authorizing receipt, acquisition, ownership, possession, use and transfer of any chemical or physical form of radioactive material specified in 12VAC5-481-3760, for any authorized purpose. The possession limit for a Type B license of broad scope, if only one radionuclide is possessed thereunder, is the quantity specified for that radionuclide in 12VAC5-481-3760, Column I. If two or more radionuclides are possessed thereunder, the possession limit for each is determined as follows: for each radionuclide, determine the ratio of the quantity possessed to the applicable quantity specified in 12VAC5-481-3760, Column I, for that radionuclide. The sum of the ratios for all radionuclides possessed under the license shall not exceed unity.

3. A "Type C specific license of broad scope" is a specific license authorizing receipt, acquisition, ownership, possession, use, and transfer of any chemical or physical form of radioactive material specified in 12VAC5-481-3760, for any authorized purpose. The possession limit for a Type C license of broad scope, if only one radionuclide is possessed thereunder, is the quantity specified for that radionuclide in 12VAC5-481-3760, Column II. If two or more radionuclides are possessed thereunder, the possession limit is determined for each as follows: for each radionuclide, determine the ratio of the quantity possessed to the applicable quantity specified in 12VAC5-481-3760, Column II, for that radionuclide. The sum of the ratios for all radionuclides possessed under the license shall not exceed unity.

B. An application for a Type A specific license of broad scope will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450;

2. The applicant has engaged in a reasonable number of activities involving the use of radioactive material; and

3. The applicant has established administrative controls and provisions relating to organization and management, procedures, recordkeeping, material control and accounting, and management review that are necessary to assure safe operations, including:

a. The establishment of a radiation safety committee composed of such persons as a radiation safety officer, a representative of management, and persons trained and experienced in the safe use of radioactive material;

b. The appointment of a radiation safety officer who is qualified by training and experience in radiation protection, and who is available for advice and assistance on radiation safety matters; and

c. The establishment of appropriate administrative procedures to assure:

(1) Control of procurement and use of radioactive material;

(2) Completion of safety evaluations of proposed uses of radioactive material that take into consideration such matters as the adequacy of facilities and equipment, training and experience of the user, and the operating or handling procedures; and

(3) Review, approval, and recording by the radiation safety committee of safety evaluations of proposed uses prepared in accordance with subdivision 3 c (2) of this subsection prior to use of the radioactive material.

C. An application for a Type B specific license of broad scope will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450; and

2. The applicant has established administrative controls and provisions relating to organization and management, procedures, recordkeeping, material control and accounting, and management review that are necessary to assure safe operations, including:

a. The appointment of a radiation safety officer who is qualified by training and experience in radiation protection, and who is available for advice and assistance on radiation safety matters, and

b. The establishment of appropriate administrative procedures to assure,

(1) Control of procurement and use of radioactive material,

(2) Completion of safety evaluations of proposed uses of radioactive material that take into consideration such matters as the adequacy of facilities and equipment, training and experience of the user, and the operating or handling procedures, and

(3) Review, approval, and recording by the radiation safety officer of safety evaluations of proposed uses prepared in accordance with subdivision 2 b (2) of this subsection prior to use of the radioactive material.

D. An application for a Type C specific license of broad scope will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450;

2. The applicant submits a statement that radioactive material will be used only by, or under the direct supervision of, individuals who have received:

a. A college degree at the bachelor level, or equivalent training and experience, in the physical or biological sciences or in engineering, and

b. At least 40 hours of training and experience in the safe handling of radioactive material, and in the characteristics of ionizing radiation, units of radiation dose and quantities, radiation detection instrumentation, and biological hazards of exposure to radiation appropriate to the type and forms of radioactive material to be used; and

3. The applicant has established administrative controls and provisions relating to procurement of radioactive material, procedures, recordkeeping, material control and accounting, and management review necessary to assure safe operations.

E. Specific licenses of broad scope are subject to the following conditions:

1. Unless specifically authorized, persons licensed pursuant to 12VAC5-481-470 shall not:

a. Conduct tracer studies in the environment involving direct release of radioactive material;

b. Receive, acquire, own, possess, use, or transfer devices containing 3.7 PBq (100,000 Ci) or more of radioactive material in sealed sources used for irradiation of materials;

c. Conduct activities for which a specific license issued by the agency under Part III (12VAC5-481-380 et seq.), Part V (12VAC5-481-1170 et seq.) or Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter is required; or

d. Add or cause the addition of radioactive material to any food, beverage, cosmetic, drug, or other product designed for ingestion or inhalation by, or application to, a human being.

2. Each Type A specific license of broad scope issued under this part shall be subject to the condition that radioactive material possessed under the license may only be used by, or under the direct supervision of, individuals approved by the licensee's radiation safety committee.

3. Each Type B specific license of broad scope issued under this part shall be subject to the condition that radioactive material possessed under the license may only be used by, or under the direct supervision of, individuals approved by the licensee's radiation safety officer.

4. Each Type C specific license of broad scope issued under this part shall be subject to the condition that radioactive material possessed under the license may only be used by, or under the direct supervision of, individuals who satisfy the requirements of subsection D of this section.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

12VAC5-481-480. Special requirements for a specific license to manufacture, assemble, repair, or distribute commodities, products, or devices that contain radioactive material.

A. Reserved.

B. Licensing the distribution of radioactive material in exempt quantities. (Authority to transfer possession or control by the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing radioactive material whose subsequent possession, use, transfer, and disposal by all other persons are exempted from regulatory requirements may be obtained only from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.)

C. Licensing the manufacture or initial transfer of devices to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 B.

1. An application for a specific license to manufacture or initially transfer devices containing radioactive material, excluding special nuclear material, to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 B or equivalent regulations of the NRC, or another Agreement state will be approved if:

a. The applicant satisfies the general requirements of 12VAC5-481-450;

b. The applicant submits sufficient information relating to the design, manufacture, prototype testing, quality control, labels, proposed uses, installation, servicing, leak testing, operating and safety instructions, and potential hazards of the device to provide reasonable assurance that:

(1) The device can be safely operated by persons not having training in radiological protection;

(2) Under ordinary conditions of handling, storage, and use of the device, the radioactive material contained in the device will not be released or inadvertently removed from the device, and it is unlikely that any person will receive in any period of one calendar quarter a dose in excess of 10% of the limits specified in 12VAC5-481-640; and

(3) Under accident conditions such as fire and explosion associated with handling, storage, and use of the device, it is unlikely that any person would receive an external radiation dose or dose commitment in excess of the dose to the appropriate organ as specified in 12VAC5-481-3580, Column IV;

c. Each device bears a durable, legible, clearly visible label or labels approved by the agency, which contain in a clearly identified and separate statement:

(1) Instructions and precautions necessary to assure safe installation, operation, and servicing of the device; documents such as operating and service manuals may be identified in the label and used to provide this information;

(2) The requirement, or lack of requirement, for leak testing, or for testing any "on-off" mechanism and indicator, including the maximum time interval for such testing, and the identification of radioactive material by isotope, quantity of radioactivity, and date of determination of the quantity; and

(3) The information called for in one of the following statements, as appropriate, in the same or substantially similar form:

(a) The receipt, possession, use, and transfer of this device, Model __________, Serial No. __________, are subject to a general license or the equivalent and the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or a state with which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has entered into an agreement for the exercise of regulatory authority. This label shall be maintained on the device in a legible condition. Removal of this label is prohibited.

CAUTION—RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

____________________Name of manufacturer or initial transferor

(b) The receipt, possession, use, and transfer of this device, Model __________, Serial No. ___________, are subject to a general license or the equivalent, and the regulations of a licensing state. This label shall be maintained on the device in a legible condition. Removal of this label is prohibited. (The model, serial number, and name of the manufacturer or distributor may be omitted from this label provided the information is elsewhere specified in labeling affixed to the device.)

CAUTION—RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

____________________Name of manufacturer or initial transferor;

d. Each device having a separable source housing that provides the primary shielding for the source also bears, on the source housing, a durable label containing the device model number and serial number, the isotope and quantity, and the words, "Caution Radioactive Material," the radiation symbol described in 12VAC5-481-850, and the name of the manufacturer or initial distributor;

e. Each device meeting the criteria of 12VAC5-481-430 B 4 m bears a permanent (e.g., embossed, etched, stamped, or engraved) label affixed to the source housing if separate, or the device if the source housing is not separable, that includes the words, "Caution Radioactive Material," and, if practicable, the radiation symbol described in 12VAC5-481-850; and

f. The device has been registered in the Sealed Source and Device Registry.

2. In the event the applicant desires that the device be required to be tested at intervals longer than six months, either for proper operation of the "on-off" mechanism and indicator, if any, or for leakage of radioactive material or for both, the applicant shall include in the application sufficient information to demonstrate that such longer interval is justified by performance characteristics of the device or similar devices and by design features that have a significant bearing on the probability or consequences of leakage of radioactive material from the device or failure of the "on-off" mechanism and indicator. In determining the acceptable interval for the test for leakage of radioactive material, the agency will consider information that includes, but is not limited to:

a. Primary containment or source capsule;

b. Protection of primary containment;

c. Method of sealing containment;

d. Containment construction materials;

e. Form of contained radioactive material;

f. Maximum temperature withstood during prototype tests;

g. Maximum pressure withstood during prototype tests;

h. Maximum quantity of contained radioactive material;

i. Radiotoxicity of contained radioactive material; and

j. Operating experience with identical devices or similarly designed and constructed devices.

3. In the event the applicant desires that the general licensee under 12VAC5-481-430 B, or under equivalent regulations of the NRC, or another Agreement state, be authorized to install the device, collect the sample to be analyzed by a specific licensee for leakage of radioactive material, service the device, test the "on-off" mechanism and indicator, or remove the device from installation, the applicant shall include in the application written instructions to be followed by the general licensee, estimated calendar quarter doses associated with such activity or activities, and basis for such estimates. The submitted information shall demonstrate that performance of such activity or activities by an individual untrained in radiological protection, in addition to other handling, storage, and use of devices under the general license, is unlikely to cause that individual to receive a calendar quarter dose in excess of 10% of the limits specified in 12VAC5-481-640.

4. Each person licensed under this subsection to distribute devices to generally licensed persons shall:

a. Furnish a copy of the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-430 B to each person to whom he directly or through an intermediate person transfers radioactive material in a device for use pursuant to the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-430 B;

b. Furnish a copy of the general license contained in the NRC's, or another Agreement state's, regulation equivalent to 12VAC5-481-430 B, or alternatively, furnish a copy of the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-430 B to each person to whom he directly or through an intermediate person transfers radioactive material in a device for use pursuant to the general license of the NRC, or another Agreement state. If a copy of the general license in 12VAC5-481-430 B is furnished to such a person, it shall be accompanied by a note explaining that the use of the device is regulated by the NRC, or another Agreement state, under requirements substantially the same as those in 12VAC5-481-430 B;

c. Report to the agency all transfers of such devices to persons for use under the general license in 12VAC5-481-430 B. Such report shall identify each general licensee by name and address, an individual by name and/or position who may constitute a point of contact between the agency and the general licensee, the type and model number of device transferred, and the quantity and type of radioactive material contained in the device. If one or more intermediate persons will temporarily possess the device at the intended place of use prior to its possession by the user, the report shall include identification of each intermediate person by name, address, contact, and relationship to the intended user. If no transfers have been made to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 B during the reporting period, the report shall so indicate. The report shall cover each calendar quarter and shall be filed within 30 days thereafter;

d. Furnish reports to other agencies.

(1) Report to the NRC all transfers of such devices to persons for use under the NRC's general license in 10 CFR 31.5.

(2) Report to the responsible state agency all transfers of devices manufactured and distributed pursuant to this subsection for use under a general license in that state's regulations equivalent to 12VAC5-481-430 B.

(3) Such reports shall identify each general licensee by name and address, an individual by name and/or position who may constitute a point of contact between the agency and the general licensee, the type and model of the device transferred, and the quantity and type of radioactive material contained in the device. If one or more intermediate persons will temporarily possess the device at the intended place of use prior to its possession by the user, the report shall include identification of each intermediate person by name, address, contact, and relationship to the intended user. The report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter in which such a device is transferred to the generally licensed person.

(4) If no transfers have been made to NRC general licensees during the reporting period, this information shall be reported to the NRC.

(5) If no transfers have been made to general licensees within a particular state during the reporting period, this information shall be reported to the responsible state agency upon request of that agency; and

e. Keep records showing the name, address, and the point of contact for each general licensee to whom he directly or through an intermediate person transfers radioactive material in devices for use pursuant to the general license provided in 12VAC5-481-430 B, or equivalent regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state. The records shall show the date of each transfer, the radionuclide and the quantity of radioactivity in each device transferred, the identity of any intermediate person, and compliance with the report requirements of subdivision 4 of this subsection.

f. If a notification of bankruptcy has been made under 12VAC5-481-500 E or the license is to be terminated, each person licensed under this section shall provide, upon request, to the agency, the NRC and to any appropriate Agreement state, records of final disposition required under subdivision 4 e of this subsection.

g. The licensee shall maintain all information concerning transfers and receipts of devices that supports the reports required by this section. Records required by this section shall be maintained for a period of three years following the date of the recorded event.

D. Special requirements for the manufacture, initial transfer, assembly, or repair of luminous safety devices for use in aircraft. An application for a specific license to manufacture, assemble, or repair luminous safety devices containing tritium or promethium-147 for use in aircraft, for distribution to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 D will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450.

2. The applicant submits sufficient information regarding each device pertinent to evaluation of the potential radiation exposure, including:

a. Chemical and physical form and maximum quantity of tritium or promethium-147 in each device;

b. Details of construction and design;

c. Details of the method of binding or containing the tritium or promethium-147;

d. Procedures for and results of prototype testing to demonstrate that the tritium or promethium-147 will not be released to the environment under the most severe conditions likely to be encountered in normal use;

e. Quality assurance procedures to be followed that are sufficient to ensure compliance with subdivision 8 of this subsection; and

f. Any additional information, including experimental studies and tests, required by the NRC to facilitate a determination of the safety of the device.

3. Each device will contain no more than 10 curies of tritium or 300 millicuries of promethium-147. The levels of radiation from each device containing promethium-147 will not exceed 0.5 millirad per hour at 10 centimeters from any surface when measured through 50 milligrams per square centimeter of absorber.

4. The agency determines that:

a. The method of incorporation and binding of the tritium or promethium-147 in the device is such that the tritium or promethium-147 will not be released under the most severe conditions likely to be encountered in normal use and handling of the device;

b. The tritium or promethium-147 is incorporated or enclosed so as to preclude direct physical contact with it by any person;

c. The device is so designed that it cannot easily be disassembled; and

d. Prototypes of the device have been subjected to and have satisfactorily passed the tests required by subdivision 5 of this subsection.

5. The applicant shall subject at least five prototypes of the device to tests as follows:

a. The devices are subjected to tests that adequately take into account the individual, aggregate, and cumulative effects of environmental conditions expected in service that could adversely affect the effective containment of tritium or promethium-147, such as temperature, moisture, absolute pressure, water immersion, vibration, shock, and weathering.

b. The devices are inspected for evidence of physical damage and for loss of tritium or promethium-147 after each stage of testing using methods of inspection adequate for determining compliance with the criteria in subdivision 5 c of this subsection.

c. Device designs are rejected for which the following has been detected for any unit:

(1) A leak resulting in a loss of 0.1% or more of the original amount of tritium or promethium-147 from the device;

(2) Surface contamination of tritium or promethium-147 on the device of more than 2,200 disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeters of surface area; or

(3) Any other evidence of physical damage.

6. The device has been registered in the Sealed Source and Device Registry.

7. Labeling.

a. A person licensed to manufacture, assemble, or initially transfer devices containing tritium or promethium-147 for distribution to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 D, except as provided in subdivision 7 b of this subsection, shall affix to each device a label containing the radiation symbol prescribed by 12VAC5-481-850, such other information as may be required by the agency including disposal instructions when appropriate, and the following or a substantially similar statement that contains the information in the following statement:

The receipt, possession, use, and transfer of this device, Model* ___________, Serial No.*_______, containing ____________ (Identity and quantity of radioactive material) are subject to a general license or the equivalent and the regulations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or of a state with which the NRC has entered into an agreement for the exercise of regulatory authority. Do not remove this label.

CAUTION--RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

____________________________________________
(Name of manufacturer, assembler, or initial transferor.)*

*The model, serial number, and name of manufacturer, assembler, or initial transferor may be omitted from this label provided they are elsewhere specified in labeling affixed to the device.

b. If the agency determines that it is not feasible to affix a label to the device containing all the information called for in subdivision 7 a of this subsection, it may waive those requirements and require the following:

(1) A label is affixed to the device identifying:

(i) The manufacturer, assembler, or initial transferor; and

(ii) The type of radioactive material; and

(2) A leaflet bearing the following information be enclosed in or accompany the container in which the device is shipped:

(i) The name of the manufacturer, assembler, or initial transferor;

(ii) The type and quantity of radioactive material;

(iii) The model number;

(iv) A statement that the receipt, possession, use, and transfer of the device are subject to a general license or the equivalent and the regulations of the NRC or of an Agreement state; and

(v) Such other information as may be required by the agency, including disposal instructions when appropriate.

8. Quality assurance; prohibition of transfer.

a. Each person licensed under this subsection shall visually inspect each device and shall reject any that has an observable physical defect that could adversely affect containment of the tritium or promethium-147.

b. Each person licensed under this subsection shall:

(1) Maintain quality assurance systems in the manufacture of the luminous safety device in a manner sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the safety-related components of the distributed devices are capable of performing their intended functions; and

(2) Subject inspection lots to acceptance sampling procedures, by procedures specified in subdivision 8 c of this subsection and in the license issued under this subsection, to provide at least 95% confidence that the lot tolerance percent defective of 5.0% will not be exceeded.

c. The licensee shall subject each inspection lot to the following:

(1) Tests that adequately take into account the individual, aggregate, and cumulative effects of environmental conditions expected in service that could adversely affect the effective containment of tritium or promethium-147, such as absolute pressure and water immersion.

(2) Inspection for evidence of physical damage, containment failure, or for loss of tritium or promethium-147 after each stage of testing using methods of inspection adequate for applying the following criteria for defective:

(i) A leak resulting in a loss of 0.1% or more of the original amount of tritium or promethium-147 from the device;

(ii) Levels of radiation in excess of 0.5 millirad (5 microgray) per hour at 10 centimeters from any surface when measured through 50 milligrams per square centimeter of absorber if the device contains promethium-147; and

(iii) Any other criteria specified in the license issued under this subsection.

d. No person licensed under this subsection shall transfer to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 D or under an equivalent general license of the NRC or other Agreement state:

(1) Any luminous safety device tested and found defective under any condition of a license issued under subdivisions 1 through 6 or this subdivision 8 of this subsection, unless the defective luminous safety device has been repaired or reworked, retested, and determined by an independent inspector to meet the applicable acceptance criteria; or

(2) Any luminous safety device contained within any lot that has been sampled and rejected as a result of the procedures in subdivision 8 b (2) of this subsection, unless:

(i) A procedure for defining sub-lot size, independence, and additional testing procedures is contained in the license issued under this subsection; and

(ii) Each individual sub-lot is sampled, tested, and accepted in accordance with subdivisions 8 b (2) and d (2) (i) of this subsection and any other criteria that may be required as a condition of the license issued under this subsection.

9. Transfer reports.

a. Each person licensed under this subsection shall file an annual report with the agency, which shall state the total quantity of tritium or promethium-147 transferred to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 D. The report shall identify each general licensee by name, state the kinds and numbers of luminous devices transferred, and specify the quantity of tritium or promethium-147 in each kind of device. Each report shall cover the year ending June 30 and shall be filed within 30 days thereafter. If no transfers have been made to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 D during the reporting period, the report shall indicate so.

b. Each person licensed under this subsection shall report annually all transfers of devices to persons for use under a general license in the NRC or another Agreement state's regulations that are equivalent to 12VAC5-481-430 D to (i) the NRC at Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, ATTN: Document Control Desk/GLTS, by an appropriate method listed in 10 CFR 30.6(a) and (ii) the responsible Agreement state agency. The report shall state the total quantity of tritium or promethium-147 transferred, identify each general licensee by name, state the kinds and numbers of luminous devices transferred, and specify the quantity of tritium or promethium-147 in each kind of device. If no transfers have been made to the NRC or particular Agreement state during the reporting period, this information shall be reported to the NRC and responsible Agreement state agency.

E. Special requirements for license to manufacture or initially transfer calibration sources containing americium-241, plutonium or radium-226 for distribution to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 F. An application for a specific license to manufacture calibration and reference sources containing americium-241, plutonium or radium-226 to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 F will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirement of 12VAC5-481-450.

2. The applicant submits sufficient information regarding each type of calibration or reference source pertinent to evaluation of the potential radiation exposure, including:

a. Chemical and physical form and maximum quantity of americium 241 or radium-226 in the source;

b. Details of construction and design;

c. Details of the method of incorporation and binding of the americium-241 or radium-226 in the source;

d. Procedures for and results of prototype testing of sources, which are designed to contain more than 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226, to demonstrate that the americium-241 or radium-226 contained in each source will not be released or be removed from the source under normal conditions of use;

e. Details of quality control procedures to be followed in manufacture of the source;

f. Description of labeling to be affixed to the source or the storage container for the source; and

g. Any additional information, including experimental studies and tests, required by the NRC to facilitate a determination of the safety of the source.

3. Each source will contain no more than 5 microcuries of americium-241 or radium-226.

4. The agency determines, with respect to any type of source containing more than 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226, that:

a. The method of incorporation and binding of the americium-241 or radium-226 in the source is such that the americium-241 will not be released or be removed from the source under normal conditions of use and handling of the source; and

b. The source has been subjected to and has satisfactorily passed appropriate tests required by subdivision 5 of this subsection.

5. The applicant shall subject at least five prototypes of each source that is designed to contain more than 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226 to tests as follows:

a. The initial quantity of radioactive material deposited on each source is measured by direct counting of the source.

b. The sources are subjected to tests that adequately take into account the individual, aggregate, and cumulative effects of environmental conditions expected in service that could adversely affect the effective containment or binding of americium-241 or radium-226, such as physical handling, moisture, and water immersion.

c. The sources are inspected for evidence of physical damage and for loss of americium-241 or radium-226 after each stage of testing using methods of inspection adequate for determining compliance with the criteria in subdivision 5 d of this subsection.

d. Source designs are rejected for which the following has been detected for any unit (i) removal of more than 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226 from the source or (ii) any other evidence of physical damage.

6. Labeling of devices. Each person licensed under this subsection shall affix to each source or storage container for the source a label that shall contain sufficient information relative to safe use and storage of the source and shall include the following statement or a substantially similar statement which contains the information in the following statement:

"The receipt, possession, use, and transfer of this source, Model, Serial No., are subject to a general license and the regulations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or of a state with which the NRC has entered into an agreement for the exercise of regulatory authority. Do not remove this label.

CAUTION - RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL - THIS SOURCE CONTAINS AMERICIUM-241 (or RADIUM-226). DO NOT TOUCH RADIOACTIVE PORTION OF THIS SOURCE.

_________________________________
(Name of manufacturer or initial transferor)"

7. Leak testing of each source. Each person licensed under this subsection shall perform a dry wipe test upon each source containing more than 0.1 microcurie (3.7 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226 before transferring the source to a general licensee under 12VAC5-481-430 F or under equivalent regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state. This test shall be performed by wiping the entire radioactive surface of the source with a filter paper with the application of moderate finger pressure. The radioactivity on the filter paper shall be measured using methods capable of detecting 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226. If a source has been shown to be leaking or losing more than 0.005 microcurie (0.185 kilobecquerel) of americium-241 or radium-226 by the methods described in this section, the source shall be rejected and shall not be transferred to a general licensee under 12VAC5-481-430 F, or equivalent regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state.

F. Reserved.

G. Manufacture and distribution of radioactive material for certain in vitro clinical or laboratory testing under general license. An application for a specific license to manufacture or distribute radioactive material for use under the general license of 12VAC5-481-430 G will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450.

2. The radioactive material is to be prepared for distribution in prepackaged units of:

a. Carbon-14 in units not exceeding 370 kBq (10 μCi) each.

b. Cobalt-57 in units not exceeding 370 kBq (10 μCi) each.

c. Hydrogen-3 (tritium) in units not exceeding 1.85 MBq (50 μCi) each.

d. Iodine-125 in units not exceeding 370 kBq (10 μCi) each.

e. Mock iodine-125 in units not exceeding 1.85 kBq (0.05 μCi) of iodine-129 and 185 Bq (0.005 μCi) of americium-241 each.

f. Iodine-131 in units not exceeding 370 kBq (10 μCi) each.

g. Iron-59 in units not exceeding 740 kBq (20 μCi) each.

h. Selenium-75 in units not exceeding 370 kBq (10 μCi) each.

3. Each prepackaged unit bears a durable, clearly visible label:

a. Identifying the radioactive contents as to chemical form and radionuclide, and indicating that the amount of radioactivity does not exceed 370 kBq (10 μCi) of iodine-125, iodine-131, carbon-14, cobalt-57, or selenium-75; 1.85 MBq (50 μCi) of hydrogen-3 (tritium); 740 kBq (20 μCi) of iron-59; or mock iodine-125 in units not exceeding 1.85 kBq (0.05 μCi) of iodine-129 and 185 Bq (0.005 μCi) of americium-241 each; and

b. Displaying the radiation caution symbol described in 12VAC5-481-850 and the words, "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL," and "Not for Internal or External Use in Humans or Animals."

4. One of the following statements, as appropriate, or a substantially similar statement that contains the information called for in one of the following statements, appears on a label affixed to each prepackaged unit or appears in a leaflet or brochure that accompanies the package:

a. This radioactive material may be received, acquired, possessed, and used only by physicians, veterinarians, clinical laboratories or hospitals and only for in vitro clinical or laboratory tests not involving internal or external administration of the material, or the radiation therefrom, to human beings or animals. Its receipt, acquisition, possession, use, and transfer are subject to the regulations and a general license of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or of a state with which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has entered into an agreement for the exercise of regulatory authority.

____________________ Name of manufacturer

b. This radioactive material may be received, acquired, possessed, and used only by physicians, veterinarians, clinical laboratories or hospitals and only for in vitro clinical or laboratory tests not involving internal or external administration of the material, or the radiation therefrom, to human beings or animals. Its receipt, acquisition, possession, use, and transfer are subject to the regulations and a general license of a licensing state.

____________________ Name of manufacturer

5. The label affixed to the unit, or the leaflet or brochure which accompanies the package, contains adequate information as to the precautions to be observed in handling and storing such radioactive material. In the case of the Mock Iodine-125 reference or calibration source, the information accompanying the source shall also contain directions to the licensee regarding the waste disposal requirements set out in 12VAC5-481-910.

H. Licensing the manufacture and distribution of ice detection devices. An application for a specific license to manufacture and distribute ice detection devices to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 H will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements of 12VAC5-481-450;

2. The applicant submits sufficient information regarding each type of device pertinent to evaluation of the potential radiation exposure, including:

a. Chemical and physical form and maximum quantity of strontium-90 in the device;

b. Details of construction and design of the source of radiation and its shielding;

c. Radiation profile of a prototype device;

d. Procedures for and results of prototype testing of devices to demonstrate that the strontium-90 contained in each device will not be released or be removed from the device under the most severe conditions likely to be encountered in normal handling and use;

e. Details of quality control procedures to be followed in manufacture of the device;

f. Description of labeling to be affixed to the device;

g. Instructions for handling and installation of the device;

h. Any additional information, including experimental studies and tests, required by the agency to facilitate a determination of the safety of the device;

3. Each device will contain no more than 50 microcuries of strontium-90 in an insoluble form;

4. Each device will bear durable, legible labeling that includes the radiation caution symbol prescribed by 12VAC5-481-850, a statement that the device contains strontium-90 and the quantity thereof, instructions for disposal and statements that the device may be possessed pursuant to a general license, that the manufacturer or civil authorities should be notified if the device is found, that removal of the labeling is prohibited, and that disassembly and repair of the device may be performed only by a person holding a specific license to manufacture or service such devices;

5. The agency determines that:

a. The method of incorporation and binding of the strontium-90 in the device is such that the strontium-90 will not be released from the device under the most severe conditions that are likely to be encountered in normal use and handling of the device;

b. The strontium-90 is incorporated or enclosed so as to preclude direct physical contact by any individual with it and is shielded so that no individual will receive a radiation exposure to a major portion of his body in excess of 0.5 rem in a year under ordinary circumstances of use;

c. The device is so designed that it cannot be easily disassembled;

d. Prototypes of the device have been subjected to and have satisfactorily passed the tests required by subdivision 6 of this subsection;

e. Quality control procedures have been established to satisfy the requirements of subdivision 8 of this subsection;

6. The applicant shall subject at least five prototypes of the device to tests as follows:

a. The devices are subjected to tests that adequately take into account the individual, aggregate, and cumulative effects of environmental conditions expected in service that could adversely affect the effective containment of strontium-90, such as temperature, moisture, absolute pressure, water immersion, vibration, shock, and weathering.

b. The devices are inspected for evidence of physical damage and for loss of strontium-90 after each stage of testing, using methods of inspection adequate for determining compliance with the criteria in subdivision 6 c of this subsection.

c. Device designs are rejected for which the following has been detected for any unit:

(1) A leak resulting in a loss of 0.1% or more of the original amount of strontium-90 from the device;

(2) Surface contamination of strontium-90 on the device of more than 2,200 disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeters of surface area; or

(3) Any other evidence of physical damage;

7. The device has been registered in the Sealed Source and Device Registry; and

8. Quality assurance; prohibition of transfer.

a. Each person licensed under this subsection shall visually inspect each device and shall reject any that has an observable physical defect that could affect containment of the strontium-90.

b. Each person licensed under this subsection shall test each device for possible loss of strontium-90 or for contamination by wiping with filter paper an area of at least 100 square centimeters on the outside surface of the device, or by wiping the entire surface area if it is less than 100 square centimeters. The detection on the filter paper of more than 2,200 disintegrations per minute of radioactive material per 100 square centimeters of surface wiped shall be cause for rejection of the tested device.

c. Each person licensed under this subsection shall:

(1) Maintain quality assurance systems in the manufacture of the ice detection device containing strontium-90 in a manner sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the safety-related components of the distributed devices are capable of performing their intended functions; and

(2) Subject inspection lots to acceptance sampling procedures by procedures specified in subdivision 8 d of this subsection and in the license issued under this subsection, to provide at least 95% confidence that the lot tolerance percent defective of 5.0% will not be exceeded.

d. Each person licensed under this subsection shall subject each inspection lot to:

(1) Tests that adequately take into account the individual, aggregate, and cumulative effects of environmental conditions expected in service that could possibly affect the effective containment of strontium-90, such as absolute pressure and water immersion.

(2) Inspection for evidence of physical damage, containment failure, or for loss of strontium-90 after each stage of testing using methods of inspection adequate to determine compliance with the following criteria for defective (i) a leak resulting in a loss of 0.1% or more of the original amount of strontium-90 from the device and (ii) any other criteria specified in the license issued under this subsection.

e. No person licensed under this subsection shall transfer to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-430 H, or under an equivalent general license of the NRC or another Agreement state:

(1) Any ice detection device containing strontium-90 tested and found defective under the criteria specified in a license issued under this subsection unless the defective ice detection device has been repaired or reworked, retested, and determined by an independent inspector to meet the applicable acceptance criteria; or

(2) Any ice detection device containing strontium-90 contained within any lot that has been sampled and rejected as a result of the procedures in subdivision 8 c (2) of this subsection, unless:

(i) A procedure for defining sub-lot size, independence, and additional testing procedures is contained in the license issued under this subsection; and

(ii) Each individual sub-lot is sampled, tested, and accepted in accordance with subdivisions 8 c (2) and 8 e (2) (i) of this subsection and any other criteria as may be required as a condition of the license issued under this subsection.

I. Manufacture, preparation, or transfer for commercial distribution of drugs containing radioactive material for medical use under Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter.

1. An application for a specific license to manufacture, prepare, or transfer for commercial distribution drugs containing radioactive material for use by persons authorized pursuant to Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter will be approved if:

a. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450;

b. The applicant submits evidence that the applicant is at least one of the following:

(1) Registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the owner or operator of a drug establishment that engages in the manufacture, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug under 21 CFR 207.20(a);

(2) Registered or licensed with a state agency as a drug manufacturer;

(3) Licensed as a pharmacy by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy;

(4) Operating as a nuclear pharmacy within a federal medical institution; or

(5) A PET drug production facility registered with a state agency;

c. The applicant submits information on the radionuclide; the chemical and physical form; the maximum activity per vial, syringe, generator, or other container of the radioactive drug; and the shielding provided by the packaging to show it is appropriate for the safe handling and storage of the radioactive drugs by medical use licensees; and

d. The applicant commits to the following labeling requirements:

(1) A label is affixed to each transport radiation shield, whether it is constructed of lead, glass, plastic, or other material, of a radioactive drug to be transferred for commercial distribution. The label shall include the radiation symbol as described in 12VAC5-481-850 and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" or "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL"; the name of the radioactive drug or its abbreviation; and the quantity of radioactivity at a specified date and time. For radioactive drugs with a half-life greater than 100 days, the time may be omitted.

(2) A label is affixed to each syringe, vial, or other container used to hold a radioactive drug to be transferred for commercial distribution. The label shall include the radiation symbol as described in 12VAC5-481-850 and the words "CAUTION, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" or "DANGER, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" and an identifier that ensures that the syringe, vial, or other container can be correlated with the information on the transport radiation shield label.

2. A licensee authorized to manufacture, prepare or transfer for commercial distribution radioactive drugs shall ensure that any individual preparing the drugs is one of the following:

a. An authorized nuclear pharmacist (ANP) as defined in 12VAC5-481-10;

b. An individual who meets the requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-1770 and 12VAC5-481-1790, and the licensee has received an approved license amendment identifying this individual as an ANP;

c. A pharmacist, as defined in 12VAC5-481-10, designated as an ANP if:

(1) The individual was a nuclear pharmacist preparing only radioactive drugs containing accelerator-produced radioactive material; and

(2) The individual practiced at a pharmacy at a government agency or federally recognized Indian Tribe before November 30, 2007, or at all other pharmacies before August 8, 2009, or an earlier date as noticed by the NRC; or

d. An individual under the supervision of an ANP as specified in 12VAC5-481-1710.

3. Shall provide to the agency no later than 30 days after the date that the licensee allows, under subdivision 2 a or c of this subsection, the individual to work as an ANP:

a. The individual's certification by a specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC as specified in 12VAC5-481-1770;

b. An NRC or another Agreement state license;

c. NRC master materials licensee permit;

d. The permit issued by a licensee or NRC master materials permittee of broad scope or the authorization from a commercial nuclear pharmacy authorized to list its own authorized nuclear pharmacist; or

e. Documentation that only accelerator-produced radioactive materials were used in the practice of nuclear pharmacy at a government agency or federally recognized Indian Tribe before November 30, 2007, or at all other locations of use before August 8, 2009, or an earlier date as noticed by the NRC; and

f. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy's license.

4. A licensee shall possess and use instrumentation to measure the radioactivity of radioactive drugs. The licensee shall have procedures for use of the instrumentation. The licensee shall measure, by direct measurement or by combination of measurements and calculations, the amount of radioactivity in dosages of alpha, beta, or photon-emitting radioactive drugs prior to transfer for commercial distribution. In addition, the licensee shall:

a. Perform tests before initial use, periodically, and following repair, on each instrument for accuracy, linearity, and geometry dependence, as appropriate for the use of the instrument; and make adjustments when necessary; and

b. Check each instrument for constancy and proper operation at the beginning of each day of use.

5. A licensee shall satisfy the labeling requirements in subsection I 1 d of this section.

6. Nothing in this subsection relieves the licensee from complying with applicable FDA, other federal, and state requirements governing radioactive drugs.

7. Each licensee preparing technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals from molybdenum-99/technetium-99m generators or rubidium-82 from strontium-82/ryubidium-82 generators shall test the generator eluates for molybdenum-99 breakthrough or strontium-82 and strontium-85 contamination in accordance with 12VAC5-481-1930. The licensee shall record the results of each test and retain each record for three years after the record is made.

J. Manufacture and distribution of sources or devices containing radioactive material for medical use. An application for a specific license to manufacture and distribute sources and devices containing radioactive material to persons licensed pursuant to Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter for the medical use of radioactive material or use as a calibration, transmission or reference source will be approved if:

1. The applicant satisfies the general requirements in 12VAC5-481-450;

2. The applicant submits sufficient information regarding each type of source or device pertinent to an evaluation of its radiation safety, including:

a. The radioactive material contained, its chemical and physical form, and amount;

b. Details of design and construction of the source or device;

c. Procedures for, and results of, prototype tests to demonstrate that the source or device will maintain its integrity under stresses likely to be encountered in normal use and accidents;

d. For devices containing radioactive material, the radiation profile of a prototype device;

e. Details of quality control procedures to assure that production sources and devices meet the standards of the design and prototype tests;

f. Procedures and standards for calibrating sources and devices;

g. Legend and methods for labeling sources and devices as to their radioactive content; and

h. Instructions for handling and storing the source or device from the radiation safety standpoint; these instructions are to be included on a durable label attached to the source or device or attached to a permanent storage container for the source or device provided, that instructions that are too lengthy for such label may be summarized on the label and printed in detail on a brochure that is referenced on the label;

3. The label affixed to the source or device, or to the permanent storage container for the source or device, contains information on the radionuclide, quantity, and date of assay, and a statement that the source or device is licensed by the agency for distribution to persons licensed pursuant to Part VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.) of this chapter for the medical use of radioactive material or under equivalent licenses of the NRC, or another Agreement state, provided that such labeling for sources that do not require long-term storage may be on a leaflet or brochure that accompanies the source;

4. In the event the applicant desires that the source or device be required to be tested for leakage of radioactive material at intervals longer than six months, the applicant shall include sufficient information to demonstrate that such longer interval is justified by performance characteristics of the source or device or similar sources or devices and by design features that have a significant bearing on the probability or consequences of leakage of radioactive material from the source;

5. In determining the acceptable interval for test of leakage of radioactive material, the agency will consider information that includes, but is not limited to:

a. Primary containment or source capsule;

b. Protection of primary containment;

c. Method of sealing containment;

d. Containment construction materials;

e. Form of contained radioactive material;

f. Maximum temperature withstood during prototype tests;

g. Maximum pressure withstood during prototype tests;

h. Maximum quantity of contained radioactive material;

i. Radiotoxicity of contained radioactive material; and

j. Operating experience with identical sources or devices or similarly designed and constructed sources or devices; and

6. The device has been registered in the Sealed Source and Device Registry.

K. Requirements for license to manufacture and distribute industrial products containing depleted uranium for mass-volume applications.

1. An application for a specific license to manufacture industrial products and devices containing depleted uranium for use pursuant to 12VAC5-481-420 C or equivalent regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state will be approved if:

a. The applicant satisfies the general requirements specified in 12VAC5-481-450;

b. The applicant submits sufficient information relating to the design, manufacture, prototype testing, quality control procedures, labeling or marking, proposed uses, and potential hazards of the industrial product or device to provide reasonable assurance that possession, use, or transfer of the depleted uranium in the product or device is not likely to cause any individual to receive in any period of one calendar quarter a radiation dose in excess of 10% of the limits specified in 12VAC5-481-640; and

c. The applicant submits sufficient information regarding the industrial product or device and the presence of depleted uranium for a mass-volume application in the product or device to provide reasonable assurance that unique benefits will accrue to the public because of the usefulness of the product or device.

2. In the case of an industrial product or device whose unique benefits are questionable, the agency will approve an application for a specific license under this subsection only if the product or device is found to combine a high degree of utility and low probability of uncontrolled disposal and dispersal of significant quantities of depleted uranium into the environment.

3. The agency may deny any application for a specific license under this subsection if the end use or uses of the industrial product or device cannot be reasonably foreseen.

4. Each person licensed pursuant to subdivision 1 of this subsection shall:

a. Maintain the level of quality control required by the license in the manufacture of the industrial product or device, and in the installation of the depleted uranium into the product or device;

b. Label or mark each unit to:

(1) Identify the manufacturer or initial transferor of the product or device and the number of the license under which the product or device was manufactured or initially transferred, the fact that the product or device contains depleted uranium, and the quantity of depleted uranium in each product or device; and

(2) State that the receipt, possession, use, and transfer of the product or device are subject to a general license or the equivalent and the regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state;

c. Assure that the depleted uranium before being installed in each product or device has been impressed with the following legend clearly legible through any plating or other covering: "Depleted Uranium";

d. Do the following:

(1) Furnish a copy of the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-420 C and a copy of agency form "Certificate - Use of Depleted Uranium under a General License" to each person to whom depleted uranium in a product or device for use pursuant to the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-420 C is transferred; or

(2) Furnish a copy of the general license contained in the NRC's or another Agreement state's regulation equivalent to 12VAC5-481-420 B and a copy of the NRC's or another Agreement state's certificate, or alternatively, furnish a copy of the general license contained in 12VAC5-481-420 C and a copy of agency form "Certificate - Use of Depleted Uranium under a General License" to each person to whom depleted uranium in a product or device for use pursuant to the general license of the NRC or another Agreement state is transferred, with a note explaining that use of the product or device is regulated by the NRC or another Agreement state under requirements substantially the same as those in 12VAC5-481-420 C;

e. Report to the agency all transfers of industrial products or devices to persons for use under the general license in 12VAC5-481-420 C. Such report shall identify each general licensee by name and address, an individual by name and/or position who may constitute a point of contact between the agency and the general licensee, the type and model number of device transferred, and the quantity of depleted uranium contained in the product or device. The report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter in which such a product or device is transferred to the generally licensed person. If no transfers have been made to persons generally licensed under 12VAC5-481-420 C during the reporting period, the report shall so indicate;

f. Do the following:

(1) Report to the NRC all transfers of industrial products or devices to persons for use under the NRC general license in 10 CFR 40.25;

(2) For devices transferred to another Agreement state, report to the responsible state agency all transfers of devices manufactured and distributed pursuant to this subsection for use under a general license in that state's regulations equivalent to 12VAC5-481-420 C;

(3) Such report shall identify each general licensee by name and address, an individual by name and/or position who may constitute a point of contact between the agency and the general licensee, the type and model number of the device transferred, and the quantity of depleted uranium contained in the product or device. The report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter in which such product or device is transferred to the generally licensed person;

(4) If no transfers have been made to NRC licensees during the reporting period, this information shall be reported to the NRC; and

(5) If no transfers have been made to general licensees within another Agreement state during the reporting period, this information shall be reported to the responsible state agency upon the request of that agency; and keep records showing the name, address, and point of contact for each general licensee to whom he transfers depleted uranium in industrial products or devices for use pursuant to the general license provided in 12VAC5-481-420 C or equivalent regulations of the NRC or another Agreement state. The records shall be maintained for a period of two years and shall show the date of each transfer, the quantity of depleted uranium in each product or device transferred, and compliance with the report requirements of this section.

L. Serialization of nationally tracked sources. Each licensee who manufactures a nationally tracked source shall assign a unique serial number to each nationally tracked source. Serial numbers shall be composed only of alpha-numeric characters.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016; Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. February 22, 2017; Volume 37, Issue 25, eff. January 14, 2022.

12VAC5-481-490. Issuance of specific licenses.

A. Upon a determination that an application meets the requirements of the Act and the regulations of the agency, the agency will issue a specific license authorizing the proposed activity in such form and containing such conditions and limitations as it deems appropriate or necessary.

B. The agency may incorporate in any license at the time of issuance, or thereafter by appropriate rule, regulation, or order, such additional requirements and conditions with respect to the licensee's receipt, possession, use, and transfer of radioactive material subject to this part as it deems appropriate or necessary in order to:

1. Minimize danger to public health and safety or property;

2. Require such reports and the keeping of such records, and to provide for such inspections of activities under the license as may be appropriate or necessary; and

3. Prevent loss or theft of material subject to this part.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006.

12VAC5-481-500. Specific terms and conditions of licenses.

A. Each license issued pursuant to this part shall be subject to all the provisions of the Act, now or hereafter in effect, and to all rules, regulations, and orders of the agency.

B. No license issued or granted under this part and no right to possess or utilize radioactive material granted by any license issued pursuant to this part shall be transferred, assigned, or in any manner disposed of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, through transfer of control of any license to any person unless the agency shall, after securing full information find that the transfer is in accordance with the provisions of the Act, now or hereafter in effect, and to all valid rules, regulations, and orders of the agency, and shall give its consent in writing.

A request for license transfer shall include (i) the identity, technical, and financial qualifications of the proposed transferee and (ii) financial assurance for decommissioning information required under 12VAC5-481-450 C.

C. Each person licensed by the agency pursuant to this part shall confine use and possession of the material licensed to the locations and purposes authorized in the license.

D. Each licensee shall notify the agency in writing when the licensee decides to permanently discontinue all activities involving materials authorized under the license.

E. Each licensee shall notify the agency in writing immediately following the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition for bankruptcy under any Chapter of Title 11 (Bankruptcy) of the United States Code by or against:

1. The licensee;

2. An entity (as that term is defined in 11 USC § 101(15)) controlling the licensee or listing the license or licensee as property of the estate; or

3. An affiliate (as that term is defined in 11 USC § 101(2)) of the licensee.

F. The notification specified in subsection E of this section shall indicate the bankruptcy court in which the petition for bankruptcy was filed and the date of the filing of the petition.

G. PET Distribution.

1. Authorization under 12VAC5-481-440 H to produce PET radioactive drugs for noncommercial transfer to medical use licensees in its consortium does not relieve the licensee from complying with applicable FDA, other state or local requirements governing radioactive drugs.

2. Each licensee authorized under 12VAC5-481-440 H to produce PET radioactive drugs for noncommercial transfer to medical use licensees in its consortium shall:

a. Satisfy the labeling requirements in 12VAC5-481-480 I 1 d for each PET radioactive drug transport radiation shield and each syringe, vial, or other container used to hold a PET radioactive drug intended for noncommercial distribution to members of its consortium.

b. Possess and use instrumentation to measure the radioactivity of the PET radioactive drugs intended for noncommercial distribution to members of its consortium and meet the procedural, radioactivity measurement, instrument test, instrument check, and instrument adjustment requirements in 12VAC5-481-480 I 3.

3. A licensee that is a pharmacy authorized under 12VAC5-481-440 H to produce PET radioactive drugs for noncommercial transfer to medical use licensees in its consortium shall require that any individual that prepares PET radioactive drugs shall be:

a. An ANP that meets the requirements in 12VAC5-481-480 I 2; or

b. An individual under the supervision of an ANP as specified in 12VAC5-481-1710.

4. A pharmacy, authorized under 12VAC5-481-440 H to produce PET radioactive drugs for noncommercial transfer to medical use licensees in its consortium that allows an individual to work as an ANP, shall meet the requirements of 12VAC5-481-480 I 2.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. August 25, 2016.

12VAC5-481-510. Expiration and termination of licenses and decommissioning of sites and separate building or outdoor areas.

A. Except as provided in 12VAC5-481-520, a specific license shall expire at the end of the specified day in the month and year stated in the license. If an application for license renewal has been filed at least 30 days prior to the expiration date stated in the existing license and the agency denies the renewal application, the license shall expire on the date as stated in the determination of denial. If an application for license renewal is filed less than 30 days from the expiration date stated in the existing license, the agency may deny the renewal application and the license shall expire on the expiration date stated in the license.

B. A specific license revoked by the agency expires at the end of the day on the date of the agency's final determination, or on the expiration date stated in the determination, or as otherwise provided by an agency order.

C. A specific license remains valid, with respect to possession of radioactive material, until the agency notifies the licensee in writing that the license is terminated. While the license is valid, the licensee shall do all of the following:

1. Limit actions involving radioactive material to those related to decommissioning and other activities related to preparation for release for unrestricted use.

2. Continue to control entry to restricted areas until they are suitable for release for unrestricted use and the agency notifies the licensee in writing that the license is terminated.

D. A licensee shall do all of the following:

1. Notify the agency within 60 days of any of the following:

a. Expiration of the license pursuant to subsections A or B of this section.

b. The licensee's deciding to permanently cease principal activities at the entire site or in any separate building or outdoor area that contains residual radioactivity such that the building or outdoor area is unsuitable for release in accordance with agency requirements.

c. The absence of conduct of any principal activities under the license for a period of 24 months.

d. The absence of conduct of any principal activities for a period of 24 months in any separate building or outdoor area that contains residual radioactivity such that the building or outdoor area is unsuitable for release in accordance with agency requirements.

2. If any separate building or outdoor area contains residual radioactivity so that the building or outdoor area is unsuitable for release, do one of the following:

a. Begin decommissioning its site, separate building or outdoor area if a decommissioning plan has been previously approved by the agency.

b. Submit a decommissioning plan within 12 months if required by subsection F of this section and begin decommissioning upon approval of that plan.

E. Concurrent with the notification required by subsection D of this section, the licensee shall maintain in effect all decommissioning financial assurances established by the licensee pursuant to 12VAC5-481-450 C in conjunction with a license issuance or renewal or as required by this section. The amount of the financial assurance shall be increased, or may be decreased, as appropriate, to cover the detailed cost estimate for decommissioning established pursuant to subdivision H 5 of this section. Following approval of the decommissioning plan and with the agency's approval, a licensee may reduce the amount of the financial assurance as decommissioning proceeds and radiological contamination is reduced at the site.

F. A licensee shall submit a decommissioning plan to the agency if required by license condition or if the procedures and activities necessary to carry out decommissioning of the site, separate building or outdoor area have not been previously approved by the agency and the procedures and activities may adversely effect the health and safety of workers or the public. The procedures may not be carried out prior to the agency's approval of the decommissioning plan. Examples of applicable procedures and activities include any of the following cases:

1. Procedures that would involve techniques not applied routinely during cleanup or maintenance operations.

2. Procedures by which workers would be entering areas not normally occupied where surface contamination and radiation levels are significantly higher than routinely encountered during operation.

3. Procedures that could result in significantly greater airborne concentrations of radioactive materials than are present during operation.

4. Procedures that could result in significantly greater releases of radioactive material to the environment than those associated with operation.

G. The agency may approve an alternate schedule for submittal of a decommissioning plan required pursuant to subsection D of this section if the agency determines that the alternative schedule is necessary to the effective conduct of decommissioning operations and presents no undue risk from radiation to the public health and safety and is otherwise in the public interest.

H. The proposed decommissioning plan for the site or separate building or outdoor area shall include all of the following elements:

1. A description of the conditions of the site, separate building or outdoor area sufficient to evaluate the acceptability of the plan.

2. A description of planned decommissioning activities.

3. A description of methods used to ensure protection of workers and the environment against radiation hazards during decommissioning.

4. A description of the planned final radiation survey.

5. An updated detailed cost estimate for decommissioning, comparison of that estimate with present funds set aside for decommissioning, and a plan for assuring the availability of adequate funds for completion of decommissioning.

6. For decommissioning plans calling for completion of decommissioning later than 24 months after plan approval, a justification for the delay based on the criteria in subsection J of this section.

I. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, a licensee shall complete decommissioning of the site or separate building or outdoor area no later than 24 months following the initiation of decommissioning. When decommissioning involves the entire site, a licensee shall request license termination no later than 24 months following the initiation of decommissioning.

J. The agency may approve a request for an alternative schedule for completion of decommissioning of the site, separate building or outdoor area, and license termination if appropriate, if the agency determines that the alternative is warranted after consideration of all the following:

1. Whether it is technically feasible to complete decommissioning within the allotted 24-month period.

2. Whether sufficient waste disposal capacity is available to allow completion of decommissioning within the allotted 24-month period.

3. Whether a significant volume reduction in wastes requiring disposal will be achieved by allowing short-lived radionuclides to decay.

4. Whether a significant reduction in radiation exposure to workers may be achieved by allowing short-lived radionuclides to decay.

5. Other site-specific factors which the agency may consider appropriate on a case-by-case basis, such as the regulatory requirements of other government agencies, court decisions, ground-water treatment activities, monitored natural ground-water restoration, actions that could result in more environmental harm than deferred cleanup, and other factors beyond the control of the licensee.

K. As the final step in decommissioning, a licensee shall do all the following:

1. Certify the disposition of all licensed material, including accumulated wastes, by submitting a completed agency form for disposition of radioactive materials or equivalent information.

2. Conduct a radiation survey of the premises where the licensed activities were carried out and submit a report of the results of this survey, unless the licensee demonstrates in some other manner that the premises are suitable for release in accordance with the criteria for decommissioning in 12VAC5-481-1161.

3. Report levels of gamma radiation in units of millisieverts (microroentgen) per hour at one meter from surfaces, and report levels of radioactivity, including alpha and beta, in units of megabecquerels per 100 square centimeters, disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeters or microcuries per 100 square centimeters - removable and fixed - for surfaces, megabecquerels (microcuries) per milliliter for water, and becquerels (picocuries) per gram for solids such as soils or concrete.

4. Specify the survey instruments used and certify that each instrument is properly calibrated and tested.

L. The agency shall terminate a specific license, including an expired license, by written notice to the licensee when the agency determines all of the following have occurred:

1. Radioactive material has been properly disposed of.

2. Reasonable effort has been made to eliminate residual radioactive contamination, if present.

3. The licensee has filed with the agency sufficient information, including a radiation survey, to demonstrate that the premises are suitable for release in accordance with the criteria for decommissioning in 12VAC5-481-1161.

4. The licensee has submitted records required under 12VAC5-481-571 to the agency.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

12VAC5-481-520. Renewal of licenses.

A. Applications for renewal of specific licenses shall be filed in accordance with 12VAC5-481-440.

B. In any case in which a licensee, not less than 30 days prior to expiration of his existing license, has filed an application in proper form for renewal or for a new license authorizing the same activities, such existing license shall not expire until final action by the agency.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006.

12VAC5-481-530. Amendment of licenses at request of licensee.

Amendment requests for a license shall be filed in accordance with 12VAC5-481-440 and shall specify the respects in which the licensee desires the license to be amended and the grounds for such amendment.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

12VAC5-481-540. Agency action on applications to renew or amend.

In considering an application by a licensee to renew or amend the license, the agency will apply the criteria set forth in 12VAC5-481-450 through 12VAC5-481-480 and in Parts V (12VAC5-481-1170 et seq.), VII (12VAC5-481-1660 et seq.), XI (12VAC5-481-2330 et seq.), XII (12VAC5-481-2660 et seq.), XIV (12VAC5-481-3140 et seq.), or XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, as applicable.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.