NRC Audit Finds Radiation Program Satisfactory

 

State oversight of radioactive materials in Utah adequately protects public health, according to the preliminary audit findings of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

“We are very satisfied with the results,” said Dane Finerfrock, director of the Division of Radiation Control (DRC). “It shows that we are doing a good job to protect the public from the potential hazards associated with the use of radioactive materials in the state.”

From June 11-15, the NRC evaluated the DRC’s radioactive materials program as part of a routine four-year audit to determine if there are any deficiencies that need to be corrected. Because Utah is part of an Agreement State program with the NRC, the state has primary oversight of the 183 radioactive materials licenses, including EnergySolutions’ low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, and three uranium mills in the state. If an NRC audit found significant deficiencies it could take steps to turn the program over to the federal government.

An NRC review team, headed by James Lynch of the NRC, looked at the way the state conducted inspections, issued licenses and responded to violations over a four year period, from June 28, 2003 to June 15, 2007, and found the state is doing a good job and should continue its oversight.

“The review team’s proposed recommendations are that the Utah Agreement State Program be found adequate to protect public health and safety and compatible with NRC's program,” wrote Lynch in a letter to Rick Sprott, executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality.

In general, the NRC found DRC’s performance to be satisfactory – the highest performance rating possible – but recommended on-site investigations of complex incidents to fully evaluate the potential safety factors and establish a more comprehensive inspection program for uranium mills.

The state agreed with the findings.

“We have already instituted a more comprehensive inspection program for uranium mills,” said Finerfrock. “As for the on-site investigations, the NRC review team recommends that we go directly to the licensee when there’s a question about an incident rather than contacting them by phone. Either way, we do thoroughly investigate incidents and make sure to follow up on any corrective actions.”

After the preliminary findings are reviewed, the NRC is expected to issue a final report in September.