Increased Controls

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Agreement States (which includes Alabama) require the implementation of increased controls for licensees that possess certain radioactive materials in quantities of concern. The NRC has determined that additional requirements need to be implemented to supplement existing regulatory requirements in 10 CFR 20.1801-1802 [rules similar to Alabama Rules 420-3-26-.03(25) and (26)]. The increased controls are a matter of compatibility with the NRC and must be implemented in a time frame desired by the NRC and with essentially identical content to those being used by the NRC for its licensees.

If your radioactive material license authorizes you to possess certain radioactive material at activities above the quantities of concern, you must implement all of the required increased controls prior to actually possessing such materials.

If you consider that implementation of any of the requirements would adversely impact safe operation of your facility, you must notify the Alabama Office of Radiation Control, in writing, of the adverse safety impact, the basis for your determination that the requirement would have an adverse safety impact, and either a proposal for achieving the same objectives specified in the increased controls, or a schedule for modifying the facility to address the adverse safety condition. If neither approach is appropriate, you must supplement your response to identify the increased control condition as a requirement with which you cannot comply, and provide justifications for not complying.

Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material
This new rule replaces previous security orders referenced by condition on certain radioactive material licensees. The implementation date assigned for this new rule by the Office of Radiation Control was March 19, 2016. At this time, all affected radioactive material licensees should be in full compliance with the new rule.

To assist licensees with this new rule, the following documents and reference material are available:

• Differences between the IC Orders and the New Security Rules
  
• Rule 420-3-26-.15 to NRC 10 CFR Part 37 Cross Reference
• Rule 420-3-26-.15 Frequently Asked Questions
• Answers to Additional Questions Collected
• Condensed Information for Implementation of Rule 420-3-26-.15
• Compliance Checklists 1 through 4
• Workshop Handouts
• NRC NUREG-2155 - Implementation Guidance for 10 CFR Part 37
• NRC NUREG-2166 - Physical Security Best Practices for Protection of Risk Significant Radioactive Material
• NRC NUREG-1959 - Intrusion Detection Systems and Subsystems: Chapter 4. Interior Intrusion Detection Sensors