The NRC is statutorily required to recover most of its budget authority through fees for the regulatory services it provides under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Licensing fees for applicants for or holders of specific import or export licenses issued pursuant to 10 CFR Part 110 are based on the level of review required by the NRC and/or other government agencies to review applications.

Can I file an application without filing a fee?

No. Your license application will not be processed unless you also file the specified fee.

If I file an application and the required fee am I guaranteed to receive a license?

Submitting the fee has no bearing on whether you will be issued a license.

Where can I find more information on licensing fees?

Licensing fees are assessed in accordance with the NRC's regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, "Fees for Facilities, Materials, Import and Export Licenses, and Other Regulatory Services Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as Amended." The fee schedules can be found in Parts 170.21 and 170.31.

For more information, see License Fees.

License Types

What is the difference between a general license and a specific license?

A general license is an export or import license effective without filing a specific application with the Commission or the issuance of a licensing document to a particular person. It is a paperless authorization -- you do not need obtain a specific license or paper document from the NRC.

A specific license is a paper document issued by the NRC to a single specified applicant.

What exports and imports are covered under a general license?

Exports and imports under a general license are limited to specific items that do not pose public health or proliferation risks. Complete NRC regulations for general export and import licenses can be found in 10 CFR 110 Subpart C.

What types of equipment or materials can be exported or imported under a general license?

An NRC general license can be used for the export of

Special nuclear material (see 10 CFR 110.21)
Source material (see 10 CFR 110.22)
Byproduct material (see 10 CFR 110.23)
Deuterium (see 10 CFR 110.24)
Reactor components (see 10 CFR 110.26)

See 10 CFR 110.27 for requirements for using a General license to import byproduct, source, or special nuclear material.

How do I use an NRC general license?

To use an NRC general license as the authority to export or import you should cite on the shipping documents "materials being exported or imported under the NRC general license at 10 CFR 110.xxx" and specify the section of CFR 110 that authorizes the described export or import under the general license.

Note that if you are using an NRC general license as authority to export incidental radioactive material that is contained in or a contaminant of a shipment that exceeds 100 kilograms total weight you must file a completed NRC Form 7 before the export takes place.

Is a general license an exemption from NRC licensing regulations?

No. You must adhere to all requirements for packaging, transport, and recordkeeping as found in the NRC's regulations for export and import of nuclear equipment and material at 10 CFR 110, and you must comply with the regulations of other Government agencies applicable to exports or imports under their authority.

How do I apply for a specific license?

To receive a specific license from the NRC you must submit an application (NRC Form 7 or letter) and a fee. See 10 CFR 110.31 and 110.32.

License application requirements will change on December 28, 2005. See Recent Rule Changes Affecting Part 110.

What does the expiration date on each specific license denote?

It is the last date the export may leave the United States; it means the export must clear customs by that date.

Can I transfer a specific license?

A license may be transferred, disposed of, or assigned to another person only with the approval of the Commission by license amendment.

Shipment of Exports-Imports

How can I expedite my import or export shipments under an NRC general license?

If you use an NRC general license as the authority to export or import you should cite on the shipping documents "materials being exported or imported under the NRC general license at 10 CFR 110.xxx" and specify the section of CFR 110 that authorizes the described export or import under the general license. This will help expedite U.S. Customs Service processing of the shipment.

Is an export and import license required for Puerto Rico?

No. Puerto Rico is considered part of the U.S. This is clarified in Section 10 CFR 110.2 (definitions under "United States" where it states that the U.S. "includes Puerto Rico and all territories and possessions of the United States").

Accelerator Irradiated Gemstones

Are accelerator irradiated gemstones subject to NRC regulations?

Accelerator Irradiated Gemstones

At present, although accelerator irradiated gemstones are not subject to NRC regulations, NRC is currently in the process of revising its regulations to change this. Certain radium sources, accelerator-produced materials, and certain naturally occurring radioactive material will become subject to NRC regulation when the final rule is published. This is expected in the late fall or by the end of 2007. To monitor the status of this action, please check the NRC website: http://nrc-stp.ornl.gov/narmtoolbox.html

In the meantime, we recommend that anyone planning to import accelerator irradiated gemstones into the United States should check with the States into which the material will be imported, possessed, and distributed for any applicable requirements. In addition, because the source of radiation (accelerators or reactors) cannot be distinguished once the gemstones leave the facility, it is also recommended that importers include documentation indicating that the gemstones were ONLY exposed to radiation in an accelerator, and not in any reactors. It is common for some types of blue topaz to be exposed to both accelerators and neutron radiation, or neutron radiation alone. Documentation attesting to the nature of the irradiation should help in clarifying any questions of regulatory oversight.

Once the rule amending the definition of byproduct material becomes final and effective, and the waivers granted to States to regulate these materials are terminated, accelerator produced radioactive material will come under NRC's jurisdiction (appx. late fall/winter 2007 for about 40 of the 50 States, and within the following 2 years in the remaining 10 States, for exempt distribution licensing). At that point, NRC will regulate accelerator irradiated gemstones in the same fashion that it currently regulates neutron (reactor) irradiated gemstones. In other words, a party located in the U.S. would need to obtain an exempt product distribution license from NRC to authorize the initial distribution of accelerator irradiated gemstones in the U.S.

Should you have questions or require additional information about obtaining an exempt distribution license from the NRC, you will need to contact either the NRC Office of Public Affairs or the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.