Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 53, 81, 83, 84, 122, 161, 181, 223, 234, 274 (42 U.S.C. 2014, 2201, 2231, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, sec. 201 (42 U.S.C. 5841); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 135, 141 (42 U.S.C. 10155, 10161); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.

Source: 27 FR 1352, Feb. 14, 1962, unless otherwise noted.

[72 FR 55934 Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 32464, Jun. 9, 2008; 73 FR 78615, Dec. 23, 2008; 73 FR 63581, Oct. 24, 2008; 77 FR 39910, Jul. 6, 2012; 80 FR 54236, Sep. 9, 2015]

General Provisions

§ 150.1 Purpose.

The regulations in this part provide certain exemptions to persons in Agreement States from the licensing requirements contained in chapters 6, 7, and 8 of the Act and from the regulations of the Commission imposing requirements upon persons who receive, possess, use or transfer byproduct material, source, or special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass; and to define activities in Agreement States and in offshore waters over which the regulatory authority of the Commission continues. The provisions of the Act, and regulations of the Commission apply to all persons in Agreement States and in offshore waters engaging in activities over which the regulatory authority of the Commission continues.

[46 FR 44151, Sept. 3, 1981]

§ 150.2 Scope.

The regulations in this part apply to all States that have entered into agreements with the Commission or the Atomic Energy Commission pursuant to subsection 274b of the Act. This part also gives notice to all persons who knowingly provide to any licensee, applicant for a license or certificate or quality assurance program approval, holder of a certificate or quality assurance program approval, contractor, or subcontractor, any components, equipment, materials, or other goods or services that relate to a licensee's, certificate holder's, quality assurance program approval holder's or applicant's activities subject to this part, that they may be individually subject to NRC enforcement action for violation of §§ 30.10, 40.10, 61.9b, 70.10, and 71.8.

[63 FR 1901, Jan. 13, 1998; 80 FR 63419, Oct. 20, 2015]

§ 150.3 Definitions.

As used in this part:

Act means the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 919) including any amendments thereto;

Agreement State means any State with which the Commission or the Atomic Energy Commission has entered into an effective agreement under subsection 274b of the Act. Nonagreement State means any other State.

Byproduct material means—

(1) Any radioactive material (except special nuclear material) yielded in, or made radioactive by, exposure to the
radiation incident to the process of producing or using special nuclear material;

(2) The tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from ore processed
primarily for its source material content, including discrete surface wastes resulting from uranium solution extraction processes. Underground ore bodies depleted by these solution extraction operations do not constitute "byproduct material" within this definition; (3)(i) Any discrete source of radium-226 that is produced, extracted, or converted after extraction, before, on, or after August 8, 2005, for use for a commercial, medical, or research activity; or

(ii) Any material that—

(A) Has been made radioactive by use of a particle accelerator; and

(B) Is produced, extracted, or converted after extraction, before, on, or after August 8, 2005, for use for a commercial, medical, or research activity; and

(4) Any discrete source of naturally occurring radioactive material, other than source material, that—

(i) The Commission, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the head of any other appropriate Federal agency, determines would pose a threat similar to the threat posed by a discrete source of radium-226 to the public health and safety or the common defense and security; and

(ii) Before, on, or after August 8, 2005, is extracted or converted after extraction for use in a commercial, medical, or
research activity.

Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or its duly authorized representatives.

Discrete source means a radionuclide that has been processed so that its concentration within a material has been purposely increased for use for commercial, medical, or research activities.

Foreign obligations means the commitments entered into by the U.S. Government under Atomic Energy Act (AEA) section 123 agreements for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Imports and exports of material or equipment pursuant to such agreements are subject to these commitments, which in some cases involve an exchange of information on imports, exports, retransfers with foreign governments, peaceful end-use assurances, and other conditions placed on the transfer of the material or equipment. The U.S. Government informs the licensee of obligations attached to material.

Government agency means any executive department, commission, independent establishment, corporation, wholly or partly owned by the United States of America which is an instrumentality of the United States, or any board, bureau, division, service, office, officer, authority, administration, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government.

Offshore waters means that area of land and water, beyond Agreement States' Submerged Lands Act jurisdiction, on or above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

Person means:

(1) Any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, agency, and State or any political subdivision of any political entity within a State, and any legal successor, representative, agent, or agency of the foregoing other than Government agencies.

Production facility means:

(1) Any equipment or device determined by rule of the Commission to be capable of the production of special nuclear material in such quantity as to be of significance to the common defense and security, or in such manner as to affect the health and safety of the public, including a uranium enrichment facility; or

(2) Any important component part especially designed for such equipment or device as determined by the Commission.

Reconciliation means the process of evaluating and comparing licensee reports required under this part to the projected material balances generated by the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System. This process is considered complete when the licensee resolves any differences between the reported and projected balances, including those listed for foreign obligated materials.

Source material means: (1) Uranium, thorium, or any other material which is determined by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of section 61 of the Act to be source material; or (2) ores containing one or more of the foregoing materials, in such concentration as the Commission may by regulation determine from time to time;

Special nuclear material means: (1) Plutonium, uranium 233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, and any other material which the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of the Act, determines to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material; or (2) any material artificially enriched by any of the foregoing but does not include source material;

State means any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.

Uranium enrichment facility means:

(1) Any facility used for separating the isotopes of uranium or enriching uranium in the isotope 235, except laboratory scale facilities designed or used for experimental or analytical purposes only; or

(2) Any equipment or device, or important component part especially designed for such equipment or device, capable of separating the isotopes of uranium or enriching uranium in the isotope 235.

Utilization facility means: (1) Any equipment or device, except an atomic weapon, determined by rule of the Commission to be capable of making use of special nuclear material in such quantity as to be of significance to the common defense and security, or in such manner as to affect the health and safety of the public, or peculiarly adapted for making use of atomic energy in such quantity as to be of significance to the common defense and security, or in such manner as to affect the health and safety of the public; or (2) any important component part especially designed for such equipment or device as determined by the Commission.

[27 FR 1352, Feb. 14, 1962, as amended at 31 FR 15145, Dec. 2, 1966; 40 FR 8794, Mar. 3, 1975; 44 FR 55327, Sept. 26, 1979; 45 FR 18906, Mar. 24, 1980; 46 FR 44152, Sept. 3, 1981; 57 FR 18394, Apr. 30, 1992; 68 FR 10365, Mar. 5, 2003; 72 FR 55934 Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 32464, Jun. 9, 2008]

§ 150.4 Communications.

Except where otherwise specified in this part, all communications and reports concerning the regulations in this part should be sent by mail addressed: ATTN: Document Control Desk, Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and sent either by mail to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; by hand delivery to the NRC's offices at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland; or, where practicable, by electronic submission, for example, via Electronic Information Exchange, or CD–ROM. Electronic submissions must be made in a manner that enables the NRC to receive, read, authenticate, distribute, and archive the submission, and process and retrieve it a single page at a time. Detailed guidance on making electronic submissions can be obtained by visiting the NRC's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html; by e-mail to MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov; or by writing the Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001. The guidance discusses, among other topics, the formats the NRC can accept, the use of electronic signatures, and the treatment of nonpublic information.

[53 FR 6140, Mar. 1, 1988, as amended at 53 FR 43422, Oct. 27, 1988; 68 FR 58824, Oct. 10, 2003; 70 FR 69421, Nov. 16, 2005; 72 FR 33386, Jun. 18, 2007; 73 FR 5727, Jan. 31, 2008; 74 FR 62686, Dec. 1, 2009; 79 FR 75742, Dec. 19, 2014; 80 FR 74982, Dec. 1, 2015]

§ 150.5 Interpretations.

Except as specifically authorized by the Commission in writing, no interpretation of the meaning of the regulations in this part by an officer or employee of the Commission other than a written interpretation by the General Counsel will be recognized to be binding upon the Commission.

Continued Commission Regulatory Authority in Offshore Waters

§ 150.7 Persons in offshore waters not exempt.

Persons in offshore waters are not exempt from the Commission's licensing and regulatory requirements with respect to byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials.

[46 FR 44152, Sept. 3, 1981]

§ 150.8 Information collection requirements: OMB approval.

(a) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has submitted the information collection requirements contained in this part to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved the information collection requirements contained in this part under control number 3150-0032.

(b) The approved information collection requirements contained in this part appear in §§ 150.16, 150.17, 150.17a, 150.19, 150.20, and 150.31.

(c) This part contains information collection requirements in addition to those approved under the control number specified in paragraph (a) of this section. These information collection requirements and the control numbers under which they are approved are as follows:

(1) In § 150.16, DOE/NRC FORM 741 and its computer-readable format are approved under control number 3150–0003.

(2) In § 150.17, DOE/NRC Form 742 and its computer-readable format are approved under control number 3150–0004, and DOE/NRC Form 742C and its computer-readable format are approved under control number 3150–0058.

(3) In § 150.17a, Form N–71 and associated forms are approved under OMB control number 3150–0056 and DOC/NRC Forms AP–1 or AP–A and associated forms are approved under OMB control number 0694–0135.

(4) In § 150.20, NRC Form 241 is approved under control number 3150-0013.

[49 FR 19629, May 9, 1984, as amended at 62 FR 52190, Oct. 6, 1997; 73 FR 32464, Jun. 9, 2008; 74 FR 1872, Jan. 14, 2009]

Exemptions in Agreement States

§ 150.10 Persons exempt.

Except as provided in §§ 150.15, 150.16, 150.17, 150.17a, and 150.19, any person in an Agreement State who manufactures, produces, receives, possesses, uses, or transfers byproduct material, source material, or special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass is exempt from the requirements for a license contained in Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of the Act, regulations of the Commission imposing licensing requirements upon persons who manufacture, produce, receive, possess, use, or transfer such materials, and from regulations of the Commission applicable to licensees. The exemptions in this section do not apply to agencies of the Federal government as defined in § 150.3.

[37 FR 9208, May 6, 1972, as amended at 45 FR 50718, July 31, 1980; 75 FR 73946, Nov. 30, 2010]

§ 150.11 Critical mass.

(a) For the purposes of this part, special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass means uranium enriched in the isotope U-235 in quantities not exceeding 350 grams of contained U-235; uranium-233 in quantities not exceeding 200 grams; plutonium in quantities not exceeding 200 grams; or any combination of them in accordance with the following formula: For each kind of special nuclear material, determine the ratio between the quantity of that special nuclear material and the quantity specified above for the same kind of special nuclear material. The sum of such ratios for all kinds of special nuclear materials in combination shall not exceed unity. For example, the following quantities in combination would not exceed the limitation and are within the formula, as follows:

(175 (grams contained U-235/350)+(50 grams U-233)/200)+(50 grams Pu/200)=1

(b) To determine whether the exemption granted in § 150.10 applies to the receipt, possession or use of special nuclear material at any particular plant or other authorized location of use, a person shall include in the quantity computed according to paragraph (a) of this section the total quantity of special nuclear material which he is authorized to receive, possess or use at the plant or other location of use at any one time.

[27 FR 1352, Feb. 14, 1962, as amended at 30 FR 12069, Sept. 22, 1965]

Continued Commission Regulatory Authority in Agreement States

§ 150.14 Commission regulatory authority for physical protection.

Persons in Agreement States possessing, using or transporting special nuclear material of low strategic significance in quantities greater than 15 grams of plutonium or uranium-233 or uranium-235 (enriched to 20 percent or more in the U - 235 isotope) or any combination greater than 15 grams when computed by the equation grams=grams uranium-235+grams plutonium+grams uranium-233 shall meet the physical protection requirements of § 73.67 of 10 CFR part 73.

[44 FR 43285, July 24, 1979, as amended at 44 FR 68199, Nov. 28, 1979]

§ 150.15 Persons not exempt.

(a) Persons in agreement States are not exempt from the Commission's licensing and regulatory requirements with respect to the following activities:

(1) The construction and operation of any production or utilization facility. As used in this subparagraph, operation of a facility includes, but is not limited to (i) the storage and handling of radioactive wastes at the facility site by the person licensed to operate the facility, and (ii) the discharge of radioactive effluents from the facility site.

(2) The export from or import into the United States of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material, or of any production or utilization facility.

(3) The disposal into the ocean or sea of byproduct, source, or special nuclear waste materials, as defined in regulations or orders of the Commission. For purposes of this part, ocean or sea means any part of the territorial waters of the United States and any part of the international waters.

(4) The transfer, storage or disposal of radioactive waste material resulting from the separation in a production facility of special nuclear material from irradiated nuclear reactor fuel. This subparagraph does not apply to the transfer, storage or disposal of contaminated equipment.

(5) The disposal of such other byproduct, source, or special nuclear material as the Commission determines by regulation or order should, because of the hazards or potential hazards thereof, not be so disposed of without a license from the Commission.

(6) The transfer of possession or control by the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing source material or byproduct material whose subsequent possession, use, transfer, and disposal by all other persons are exempted from licensing and regulatory requirements of the Commission under Parts 30 and 40 of this chapter.

(7) The storage of:

(i) Spent fuel in an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) licensed under part 72 of this chapter,

(ii) Spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste in a monitored retrievable storage installation (MRS) licensed under part 72 of this chapter, or

(iii) Greater than Class C waste, as defined in part 72 of this chapter, in an ISFSI or an MRS licensed under part 72 of this chapter; the GTCC waste must originate in, or be used by, a facility licensed under part 50 or 52 of this chapter

(8) Greater than Class C waste, as defined in part 72 of this chapter, that originates in, or is used by, a facility licensed under part 50 or 52 of this chapter and is licensed under part 30 and/or part 70 of this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any exemptions provided in this part, the Commission may from time to time by rule, regulation, or order, require that the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing source, byproduct, or special nuclear material shall not transfer possession or control of such product except pursuant to a license or an exemption from licensing issued by the Commission.

(9) The requirements for the protection of Safeguards information in § 73.21 of this chapter and the requirements in § 73.22 or § 73.23 of this chapter, as applicable.

[27 FR 1352, Feb. 14, 1962, as amended at 34 FR 7369, May 7, 1969; 53 FR 31683, Aug. 19, 1988; 66 FR 51843, Oct. 11, 2001; 73 FR 63582, Oct. 24, 2008; 79 FR 58672, Sept. 30, 2014; 87 FR 68032, Nov. 14, 2022]

§ 150.15a Continued Commission authority pertaining to byproduct material.

(a) Prior to the termination of any Agreement State license for byproduct material as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part, or for any activity that results in the production of such material, the Commission shall have made a determination that all applicable standards and requirements pertaining to such material have been met.

(b) After November 8, 1981, the Commission reserves the authority to establish minimum standards regarding reclamation, long term surveillance (i.e., continued site observation, monitoring and, where necessary, maintenance), and ownership of byproduct material as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part and of land used as a disposal site for such material. Such reserved authority includes:

(1) Authority to establish such terms and conditions as the Commission determines necessary to assure that, prior to termination of any license for byproduct material as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part, or for any activity that results in the production of such material, the licensee shall comply with decontamination, decommissioning, and reclamation standards prescribed by the Commission; and with ownership requirements for such materials and its disposal site;

(2) The authority to require that prior to termination of any license for byproduct material as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part, or for any activity that results in the production of such material, that title to such byproduct material and its disposal site be transferred to the United States or the State in which such material and land is located, at the option of the State (provided such option is exercised prior to termination of the license);

(3) The authority to permit use of the surface or subsurface estates, or both, of the land transferred to the United States or a State pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, provided that the Commission determines that such use would not endanger the public health, safety, welfare, or the environment;

(4) The authority to require, in the case of a license for any activity that produces such byproduct material (which license was in effect on November 8, 1981) transfer of land and material pursuant to paragraph (b)(2), of this section, taking into consideration the status of such material and land and interests therein, and the ability of the licensee to transfer title and custody thereof to the United States or a State.

(5) The authority to require the Secretary of the Department of Energy, other Federal agency, or State, whichever has custody of such property and materials, to undertake such monitoring, maintenance and emergency measures as are necessary to protect the public health and safety and other actions at the Commission deems necessary to comply with the standards promulgated pursuant to the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978; and

(6) The authority to enter into arrangements as may be appropriate to assure Federal long term surveillance (i.e., continued site observation, monitoring, and where necessary, maintenance) of such disposal sites on land held in trust by the United States for any Indian Tribe or land owned by an Indian Tribe and subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States.

[45 FR 65536, Oct. 3, 1980; 80 FR 74982, Dec. 1, 2015]

Continued Commission Authority in Agreement States

§ 150.16 Submission to Commission of nuclear material transaction reports.

(a)(1) Each person who transfers or receives special nuclear material in a quantity of one gram or more of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium under an Agreement State license shall complete and submit in computer-readable format Nuclear Material Transaction Reports as specified in the instructions in NUREG/BR–0006 and NMMSS Report D–24, "Personal Computer Data Input for NRC Licensees." In addition, each person who adjusts the inventory in any manner, other than for transfers and receipts, shall submit in computer-readable format Nuclear Material Transaction Reports as specified in the instructions in NUREG/BR–0006 and NMMSS Report D–24, "Personal Computer Data Input for NRC Licensees." Each licensee who receives special nuclear material in a quantity of one gram or more of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium from a foreign source, or who ships special nuclear material in a quantity of one gram or more of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium to a foreign source, shall submit the licensee portion of this information as specified in the instructions in this part. The applicable foreign facility portion of the form must be completed and submitted for imports. The foreign facility portion of the form must be completed for exports only if a significant shipper-receiver difference as described in §§ 74.31, 74.43, or 74.59 of this part, as applicable, is identified. Each person who transfers the material shall submit a Nuclear Material Transaction Report in computer-readable format as specified in the instructions no later than the close of business the next working day. Each person who receives special nuclear material shall submit a Nuclear Material Transaction Report in the computer-readable format as specified in the instructions within ten (10) days after the special nuclear material is received. Copies of these instructions may be obtained either by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Fuel Management, Washington, DC 20555–0001, or by e-mail to RidsNmssFcss@nrc.gov. These prescribed computer-readable formats replace the DOE/NRC Form 741 which have been previously submitted in paper form.

(2) Except as specified in §§ 150.17(d) and 150.17a, each person who, under an Agreement State specific license transfers, receives, or adjusts the inventory in any manner, of uranium or thorium source material with foreign obligations by one kilogram or more; imports or exports one kilogram or more of uranium or thorium source material; or uses one kilogram or more of any uranium or thorium source material in enrichment services, downblending uranium that has an initial enrichment of the U²³⁵ isotope of 10 percent or more, or in the fabrication of mixed-oxide fuels, shall complete and submit in computer-readable format Nuclear Material Transaction Reports as specified in the instructions in NUREG/BR–0006 and NMMSS Report D–24, "Personal Computer Data Input for NRC Licensees." Each person who, under an Agreement State specific license exports one kilogram or more of uranium or thorium source material shall complete in the format listed above the licensee's portion of the Nuclear Material Transaction Report unless there is indication of loss, theft, or diversion as discussed in § 40.64(c)(1) of this chapter is identified, in which case both the licensee’s and the foreign facility's information shall be reported. For imports, the shipper’s portion of the form must also be completed. Copies of the instructions may be obtained either by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Fuel Management, Washington, DC 20555–0001, or by e-mail to RidsNmssFcss@nrc.gov. Each licensee who transfers the material shall submit a Nuclear Material Transaction Report in computer-readable format as specified in the instructions no later than the close of business the next working day. Each licensee who receives the material shall submit a Nuclear Material Transaction Report in computer-readable format in accordance with instructions within ten (10) days after the material is received. The Commission’s copy of the report must be submitted to the address specified in the instructions. These prescribed computer-readable forms replace the DOE/NRC Form 741 which have been previously submitted in paper form.

(b)(1) Each person who, pursuant to an Agreement State License, possesses 1 gram or more of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium shall report immediately to the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office listed in appendix A of part 73 of this chapter, by telephone, any theft or other unlawful diversion of special nuclear material which the licensee is licensed to possess or any incident in which an attempt has been made, or is believed to have been made, to commit a theft or unlawful diversion of special nuclear material.

(2) Within 15 days, the licensee shall follow the initial report with a written report that sets forth the details of the incident. The report must be sent by an appropriate method listed in § 150.4 to the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, with a copy to the appropriate NRC Regional Office, shown in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter.

(3) Subsequent to the submission of the written report required by this paragraph, each licensee shall promptly inform the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office by means of a written report of any substantive additional information which becomes available to the licensee concerning an attempted or apparent theft or unlawful diversion of special nuclear material.

[39 FR 39559, Nov. 8, 1974, as amended at 41 FR 16447, Apr. 19, 1976; 52 FR 31613, Aug. 21, 1987; 59 FR 35622, July 13, 1994; 68 FR 58825, Oct. 10, 2003; 73 FR 5727, Jan. 31, 2008; 73 FR 32464, Jun. 9, 2008; 79 FR 75742, Dec. 19, 2014; 84 FR 65646, Nov. 29, 2019]

§ 150.17 Submission to Commission of nuclear material status reports.

(a) Except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section and § 150.17a, each person possessing, or who had possessed in the previous reporting period, at any one time and location, under an Agreement State license, special nuclear material in a quantity totaling one gram or more of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium, shall complete and submit, in computer-readable format Material Balance Reports concerning special nuclear material that the licensee has received, produced, possessed, transferred, consumed, disposed of, or lost. This prescribed computer-readable report replaces the DOE/NRC Form 742 which has been previously submitted in paper form. The Physical Inventory Listing Report must be submitted with each Material Balance Report. This prescribed computer-readable report replaces the DOE/NRC Form 742C which has been previously submitted in paper form. Each licensee shall prepare and submit the reports described in this paragraph as specified in the instructions in NUREG/BR–0007 and NMMSS Report D–24 ‘‘Personal Computer Data Input for NRC Licensees.’’ Copies of these instructions may be obtained from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Fuel Management, Washington, DC 20555–0001, or by e-mail to RidsNmssFcss@nrc.gov. Each person subject to this requirement shall submit a report no later than March 31 of each year. The Commission may, when good cause is shown, permit a licensee to submit Material Balance Reports and Physical Inventory Listing Reports at other times. Each licensee required to report material balance, and inventory information, as described in this part, shall resolve any discrepancies identified during the report review and reconciliation process within 30 calendar days of notification of a discrepancy identified by NRC.

(b) Except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section and § 150.17a, each person possessing, or who had possessed in the previous reporting period, at any one time and location, under an Agreement State license:

(1) One kilogram or more of uranium or thorium source material with foreign obligations, shall document holdings as of September 30 of each year and submit to the Commission within 30 days. Alternatively, these reports may be submitted with the licensee’s material status reports on special nuclear material filed under part 72 or 74 of this chapter. This statement must be submitted to the address specified in the reporting instructions in NUREG/BR–0007, and include the Reporting Identification Symbol (RIS) assigned by the Commission.

(2) One kilogram or more of uranium or thorium source material in the operation of enrichment services, downblending uranium that has an initial enrichment of the U²³⁵ isotope of 10 percent or more, or in the fabrication of mixed-oxide fuels shall complete and submit, in computer-readable format, Material Balance and Physical Inventory Listing Reports concerning source material that the licensee has received, produced, possessed, transferred, consumed, disposed, or lost. Reports must be submitted for each Reporting Identification Symbol (RIS) account including all holding accounts. Each licensee shall prepare and submit these reports as specified in the instructions in NUREG/BR–0007 and NMMSS Report D–24, ‘‘Personal Computer Data Input for NRC Licensees.’’ These reports must document holdings as of September 30 of each year and submitted to the Commission within 30 days. Alternatively, these reports may be submitted with the licensee’s material status reports on special nuclear material filed under part 72 or 74 of this chapter. Copies of the reporting instructions may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Fuel Management, Washington, DC 20555–0001, or by e-mail to RidsNmssFcss@nrc.gov. Each licensee required to report material balance, and inventory information, as described in this part, shall resolve any discrepancies identified during the report review and reconciliation process within 30 calendar days of the notification of a discrepancy identified by the NRC.

(c)(1) Except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section, each licensee who is authorized to possess uranium or thorium pursuant to a specific license shall notify the NRC Headquarters Operations Center by telephone, at the numbers listed in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter, of any incident in which an attempt has been made or is believed to have been made to commit a theft or unlawful diversion of more than 6.8 kilograms (kg) [15 pounds] of such material at any one time or more than 68 kg [150 pounds] of such material in any one calendar year.

(2) The licensee shall notify the NRC as soon as possible, but within 4 hours, of discovery of any incident in which an attempt has been made or is believed to have been made to commit a theft or unlawful diversion of such material.

(3) The initial notification shall be followed within a period of sixty (60) days by a written followup notification submitted in accordance with § 150.4. A copy of the written followup notification shall also be sent to the appropriate NRC Regional Office as shown in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter and to Director, Division of Security Policy, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(4) Subsequent to the submission of the written followup notification required by this paragraph, the licensee shall promptly update the written followup notification, in accordance with this paragraph, with any substantive additional information, which becomes available to the licensee, concerning an attempted or apparent theft or unlawful diversion of source material.

(d) The reports described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section are not required for:

(1) Processed ores containing less than five (5) percent of uranium or thorium, or any combination of uranium and thorium, by dry weight;

(2) Thorium contained in magnesium-thorium and tungsten-thorium alloys, if the thorium content in the alloys does not exceed 4 percent by weight;

(3) Chemical catalysts containing uranium depleted in the U-235 isotope to 0.4 percent or less, if the uranium content of the catalyst does not exceed 15 percent by weight; or

(4) Any source material contained in non-nuclear end use devices or components, including but not limited to permanently installed shielding, teletherapy, radiography, X-ray, accelerator devices, or munitions.

[35 FR 12196, July 30, 1970, as amended at 36 FR 10938, June 5, 1971; 41 FR 16448, Apr. 19, 1976; 49 FR 24708, June 15, 1984; 51 FR 9767, Mar. 21, 1986; 52 FR 31613, Aug. 21, 1987; 59 FR 35622, July 13, 1994; 60 FR 24553, May 9, 1995; 68 FR 10365, Mar. 5, 2003; 68 FR 58825, Oct. 10, 2003; 73 FR 32465, Jun. 9, 2008; 74 FR 62686, Dec. 1, 2009; 75 FR 73946, Nov. 30, 2010; 79 FR 75742, Dec. 19, 2014; 84 FR 65646, Nov. 29, 2019]

§ 150.17a Compliance with requirements of US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms facility, location, and Eligible Facilities List have the meanings set forth in § 75.4 of this chapter.

(b) Each person who, under an Agreement State license, is authorized to possess byproduct, source, or special nuclear material is subject to the provisions of Part 75 of this chapter and shall comply with its applicable provisions. However, regarding these persons, the Commission will issue orders under section 274m of the Act instead of making license amendments; and, to the extent Part 75 of this chapter refers to license amendments and license conditions, these references shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, to refer to orders under section 274m of the Act.

(c)(1) In response to a written request by the Commission, each applicant for an Agreement State license or certificate, and each recipient of an Agreement State license or certificate shall submit facility information, as described in § 75.10 of this chapter, on Form N–71 and associated forms, and site information on DOC/NRC Form AP–A and associated forms;

(2) As required by the Additional Protocol, shall submit location information described in § 75.11 of this chapter on DOC/NRC Form AP–1 and associated forms; and

(3) Shall permit verification thereof by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and shall take other action as may be necessary to implement the US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement, as described in Part 75 of this chapter.

(d) In response to a written request by the Commission, each applicant for an Agreement State license or certificate, and each recipient of an Agreement State license or certificate shall submit facility information, as described in § 75.10 of this chapter, on Form N–71 and associated forms, and site information on DOC/NRC Form AP–A and associated forms; shall submit location information described in § 75.11 of this chapter on DOC/NRC Form AP–1 or AP–A and associated forms; shall permit verification thereof by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and shall take other action as may be necessary to implement the US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement, as described in Part 75 of this chapter.

[45 FR 50718, July 31, 1980, as amended at 47 FR 9, Jan. 4, 1982; 73 FR 78615, Dec. 23, 2008]

§ 150.19 Submission to Commission of tritium reports.

(a)-(b) [Reserved]

(c) Except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section, each person who, pursuant to an Agreement State license, is authorized to possess tritium shall report promptly to the appropriate NRC Regional Office as shown in appendix D of part 20 of this chapter by telephone and telegraph, mailgram, or facsimile any incident in which an attempt has been made or is believed to have been made to commit a theft or unlawful diversion of more than 10 curies of such material at any one time or 100 curies of such material in any one calendar year. The initial report must be followed within a period of fifteen days by a written report that sets forth the details of the incident and its consequences. The report must be submitted to the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, using an appropriate method listed in § 150.4, with a copy to the appropriate NRC Regional Office as shown in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter. Subsequent to the submission of the written report required by this paragraph, each person subject to the provisions of this paragraph shall promptly inform the appropriate NRC Regional Office by means of a written report of any substantive additional information, which becomes available to such person, concerning an attempted or apparent theft or unlawful diversion of tritium.

(d) The reports described in this section are not required for tritium possessed pursuant to a general license issued pursuant to regulations of an Agreement State equivalent to part 31 of this chapter or for tritium in spent fuel.

[37 FR 9208, May 6, 1972, as amended at 41 FR 16448, Apr. 19, 1976; 46 FR 55085, Nov. 6, 1981; 49 FR 24708, June 15, 1984; 52 FR 31613, Aug. 21, 1987; 68 FR 58825, Oct. 10, 2003; 73 FR 5727, Jan. 31, 2008; 79 FR 75742, Dec. 19, 2014]

Reciprocity

§ 150.20 Recognition of Agreement State licenses.

(a)(1) Provided that the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section have been met, any person who holds a specific license from an Agreement State, where the licensee maintains an office for directing the licensed activity and retaining radiation safety records, is granted a general license to conduct the same activity in--

(i) Non-Agreement States;

(ii) Areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction within Agreement States; and

(iii) Offshore waters.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (a)(1) of this section do not apply if the specific Agreement State license limits the authorized activity to a specific installation or location.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any specific license issued by an Agreement State to a person engaging in activities in a non-Agreement State, in an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction within an Agreement State, or in offshore waters under the general licenses provided in this section, the general licenses provided in this section are subject to all the provisions of the Act, now or hereafter in effect, and to all applicable rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission including the provisions of §§ 30.7(a) through (f), 30.9, 30.10, 30.34, 30.41, and 30.51 through 30.63 of this chapter; §§ 40.7(a) through (f), 40.9, 40.10, 40.41, 40.51, 40.61 through 40.63, 40.71, and 40.81 of this chapter; §§ 70.7(a) through (f), 70.9, 70.10, 70.32, 70.42, 70.52, 70.55, 70.56, 70.60 through 70.62 of this chapter; §§ 74.11, 74.15, and 74.19 of this chapter; and to the provisions of 10 CFR parts 19, 20 and 71 and subparts C through H of part 34, §§ 39.15 and 39.31 through 39.77 of this chapter. In addition, any person engaging in activities in non-Agreement States, in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction within Agreement States, or in offshore waters under the general licenses provided in this section:

1) Shall, at least 3 days before engaging in each activity for the first time in a calendar year, file a submittal containing an NRC Form 241, "Report of Proposed Activities in Non-Agreement States"' a copy of its Agreement State specific license, and the appropriate fee as prescribed in § 170.31 of this chapter with the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regional Office listed on the NRC Form 241 and in appendix D to part 20 of this chapter for the Region in which the Agreement State that issued the license is located. If a submittal cannot be filed 3 days before engaging in activities under reciprocity, because of an emergency or other reason, the Regional Administrator may waive the 3-day time requirement provided the licensee:

(i) Informs the Region by telephone, facsimile, an NRC Form 241, or a letter of initial activities or revisions to the information submitted on the initial NRC Form 241;

(ii) Receives oral or written authorization for the activity from the Region; and

(iii) Within 3 days after the notification, files an NRC Form 241, a copy of the Agreement State license, and the fee payment.

(2) Shall file an amended NRC Form 241 or letter with the Regional Administrator to request approval for changes in work locations, radioactive material, or work activities different from the information contained on the initial NRC Form 241.

(3) Shall not, in any non-Agreement State, in an area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction within an Agreement State, or in offshore waters, transfer or dispose of radioactive material possessed or used under the general licenses provided in this section, except by transfer to a person who is specifically licensed by the Commission to receive this material.

(4) Shall not, under the general license concerning activities in non-Agreement States or in areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction within Agreement States, possess or use radioactive materials, or engage in the activities authorized in paragraph (a) of this section, for more than 180 days in any calendar year, except that the general license in paragraph (a) of this section concerning activities in offshore waters authorizes that person to possess or use radioactive materials, or engage in the activities authorized, for an unlimited period of time.

(5) Shall comply with all terms and conditions of the specific license issued by an Agreement State except such terms or conditions as are contrary to the requirements of this section.

[35 FR 7725, May 20, 1970, as amended at 38 FR 1273, Jan. 11, 1973; 46 FR 44152, Sept. 3, 1981; 46 FR 50781, Oct. 15, 1981; 52 FR 41700, Oct. 30, 1987; 55 FR 10406, Mar. 21, 1990; 56 FR 54779, Oct. 23, 1991; 58 FR 52414, Oct. 8, 1993; 62 FR 1665, Jan. 13, 1997; 62 FR 28973, May 28, 1997; 66 FR 5443, Jan. 19, 2001; 66 FR 32469, June 14, 2001; 67 FR 78149, Dec. 23, 2002; 68 FR 58825, Oct. 10, 2003; 72 FR 58489, Oct. 16, 2007]

§ 150.21 Transportation of special nuclear material by aircraft.

Except as specifically approved by the Commission no shipment of special nuclear material in excess of 20 grams or 20 curies whichever is less of plutonium or uranium-233 shall be made by a licensee of an Agreement State in passenger aircraft.

[38 FR 3039, Feb. 1, 1973]

Enforcement

§ 150.30 Violations.

(a) The Commission may obtain an injunction or other court order to prevent a violation of the provisions of--

(1) The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;

(2) Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended; or

(3) A regulation or order issued pursuant to those Acts.

(b) The Commission may obtain a court order for the payment of a civil penalty imposed under section 234 of the Atomic Energy Act:

(1) For violations of--

(i) Sections 53, 57, 62, 63, 81, 82, 101, 103, 104, 107, or 109 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;

(ii) Section 206 of the Energy Reorganization Act;

(iii) Any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant to the sections specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section;

(iv) Any term, condition, or limitation of any license issued under the sections specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section.

(2) For any violation for which a license may be revoked under section 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

[57 FR 55081, Nov. 24, 1992]

§ 150.31 Requirements for Agreement State regulation of byproduct material.

(a) Prior to November 8, 1981, in the licensing and regulation of byproduct material, as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part, or of any activity which results in the production of such byproduct material, an Agreement State shall require compliance with the requirements in appendix A of 10 CFR part 40 of this chapter to the maximum extent practicable.

(b) After November 8, 1981, in the licensing and regulation of byproduct material, as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part, or of any activity which results in the production of such byproduct material, an Agreement State shall require:

(1) Compliance with requirements in appendix A of 10 CFR part 40 of this chapter established by the Commission pertaining to ownership of such byproduct material and disposal sites for such material; and

(2) Compliance with standards which shall be adopted by the Agreement State for the protection of the public health, safety, and the environment from hazards associated with such material which are equivalent, to the extent practicable, or more stringent than, standards in appendix A of 10 CFR part 40 of this chapter adopted and enforced by the Commission for the same purposes, including requirements and standards subsequently promulgated by the Commission and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Uranium Mill Tailing Radiation Control Act of 1978; and

(3) Compliance with procedures which:

(i) In the case of licenses, under State law include:

(A) An opportunity, after public notice, for written comments and a public hearing, with a transcript;

(B) An opportunity for cross examination; and

(C) A written determination by the appropriate State official which is based upon findings included in such determination and upon the evidence presented during the public comment period and which is subject to judicial review;

(ii) In the case of rulemaking, provide an opportunity for public participation through written comments or a public hearing and provide for judicial review of the rule;

(iii) Require for each licensing action which has a significant impact on the human environment a written analysis by the appropriate State agency (which shall be available to the public before the commencement of any such proceedings) of the impact of such licensing action, including any activities conducted pursuant thereto, on the environment. Such analysis shall include:

(A) An assessment of the radiological and nonradiological impacts to the public health of the activities to be conducted pursuant to such licenses;

(B) An assessment of any impact on any waterway and groundwater resulting from such activities;

(C) Consideration of alternatives, including alternative sites and engineering methods, to the activities to be conducted pursuant to such license; and

(D) Consideration of the long term impacts, including decommissioning, decontamination, and reclamation impacts associated with activities to be conducted pursuant to such license, including the management of any byproduct material, as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part; and

(iv) Prohibit commencement of construction with respect to such material prior to complying with the provisions of paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section. As used in this paragraph:

(A) The term commencement of construction means taking any action defined as "construction" or any other activity at the site of a facility subject to the regulations in this part that has a reasonable nexus to radiological health and safety.

(B) The term construction means the installation of foundations, or in-place assembly, erection, fabrication, or testing for any structure, system, or component of a facility or activity subject to the regulations in this part that have a reasonable nexus to radiological safety or security. The term "construction" does not include:

(1) Changes for temporary use of the land for public recreational purposes;

(2) Site exploration, including necessary borings to determine foundation conditions or other preconstruction monitoring to establish background information related to the suitability of the site, the environmental impacts of construction or operation, or the protection of environmental values;

(3) Preparation of the site for construction of the facility, including clearing of the site, grading, installation of drainage, erosion and other environmental mitigation measures, and construction of temporary roads and borrow areas;

(4) Erection of fences and other access control measures that are not related to the safe use of or security of radiological materials subject to this part;

(5) Excavation;

(6) Erection of support buildings (e.g., construction equipment storage sheds, warehouse and shop facilities, utilities, concrete mixing plants, docking and unloading facilities, and office buildings) for use in connection with the construction of the facility;

(7) Building of service facilities (e.g., paved roads, parking lots, railroad spurs, exterior utility and lighting systems, potable water systems, sanitary sewerage treatment facilities, and transmission lines);

(8) Procurement or fabrication of components or portions of the proposed facility occurring at other than the final, in-place location at the facility; or

(9) Taking any other action which has no reasonable nexus to radiological health and safety.

(c) No Agreement State shall be required under paragraph (b) to conduct proceedings concerning any license or regulation which would duplicate proceedings conducted by the Commission.

(d) In adopting requirements pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the State may adopt alternatives (including, where appropriate, site-specific alternatives) to the requirements adopted and enforced by the Commission for the same purpose if, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, the Commission determines that the alternatives will achieve a level of stabilization and containment of the sites concerned, and a level of protection for public health, safety and the environment from radiological and nonradiological hazards associated with the sites, which is equivalent to, to the extent practicable, or more stringent than the level which would be achieved by standards and requirements adopted and enforced by the Commission for the same purpose and any final standards promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with section 275. Alternative State requirements may take into account local or regional conditions, including geology, topography, hydrology and meteorology.

[45 FR 65537, Oct. 3, 1980, and 50 FR 41866, Oct. 16, 1985; 76 FR 56966, Sep. 15, 2011]

§ 150.32 Funds for reclamation or maintenance of byproduct material.

(a) The total amount of funds an Agreement State collects, pursuant to a license for byproduct material as defined in § 150.3(c)(2) of this part or for any activity that results in the production of such material, for reclamation or long term maintenance and monitoring of such material, shall after November 8, 1981, be transferred to the United States if title and custody of such material and its disposal site is transferred to the United States upon termination of such license. Such funds include, but are not limited to, sums collected for long term surveillance (i.e., continued site observation, monitoring and, where necessary, maintenance). Such funds do not however, include monies held as surety where no default has occurred and the reclamation or other bonded activity has been performed.

(b) If an Agreement State requires such payments for reclamation or long term surveillance (i.e., continued site observation, monitoring and, where necessary, maintenance), the payments must, after November 8, 1981, be sufficient to ensure compliance with those standards established by the Commission pertaining to bonds, sureties, and financial arrangements to ensure adequate reclamation and long term management of such byproduct material and its disposal site.

[45 FR 65537, Oct. 3, 1980; 48 FR 40882, Sept. 12, 1983]

§ 150.33 Criminal penalties.

(a) Section 223 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, provides for criminal sanctions for willful violation of, attempted violation of, or conspiracy to violate, any regulation issued under sections 161b, 161i, or 161o of the Act. For purposes of section 223, all the regulations in part 150 are issued under one or more of sections 161b, 161i, or 161o, except for sections listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The regulations in part 150 that are not issued under sections 161b, 161i, or 161o for the purposes of section 223 are as follows: §§ 150.1, 150.2, 150.3, 150.4, 150.5, 150.7, 150.8, 150.10, 150.11, 150.15, 150.15a, 150.30, 150.31, 150.32, and 150.33.

[57 FR 55081, Nov. 24, 1992]

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, December 14, 2022