1 / 34

Consideration of Michigan Pursuing an NRC Agreement

Consideration of Michigan Pursuing an NRC Agreement. A Discussion with Licensees and Stakeholders August 8, 2007. DEQ Thor Strong 517-241-1252 Robert Skowronek 517-241-1253 T.R. Wentworth 517-241-1438. DCH Bruce Matkovich 517-241-1993 Don Parry 517-241-1986. DEQ/DCH Work Group.

Download Presentation

Consideration of Michigan Pursuing an NRC Agreement

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Consideration of Michigan Pursuing an NRC Agreement A Discussion with Licensees and Stakeholders August 8, 2007

  2. DEQ Thor Strong 517-241-1252 Robert Skowronek 517-241-1253 T.R. Wentworth 517-241-1438 DCH Bruce Matkovich 517-241-1993 Don Parry 517-241-1986 DEQ/DCH Work Group

  3. I have asked the MDEQ and MDCH to develop a proposal, including a timeline and a program funding strategy, to consolidate the current state radiation control programs and to pursue an Agreement….. Governor Granholm’s response; Oct. 5, 2006

  4. Recent Steps • Development of Draft Strategy • March 2 Meeting with Key Stakeholders • Formation of an Agreement State Advisory Committee • ASAC assistance on Strategy, Legislative Revisions • Web Site, Notifications to all Licensees and Registrants

  5. Goals for Today • Describe the Agreement State program; • Describe the proposed strategy; • Provide opportunity for comment, questions, discussion; • Discuss next steps.

  6. What is an Agreement State? • Section 274(b) of Atomic Energy Act provides for transfer of certain NRC authority to states. • State chooses to assume authority over any of these categories: • Radioactive Materials - Section 11e(1)(2)(3)(4) • Source Materials • Special Nuclear Materials (small quantities) • Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal • Sealed Sources and Device Safety Evaluations

  7. What is an Agreement State? • Section 274(b) of Atomic Energy Act provides for transfer of certain NRC authority to states. • State chooses to assume authority over any of these categories: • Radioactive Materials - Section 11e(1) (2) (3) (4) • Source Materials • Special Nuclear Materials (small quantities) • Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal • Sealed Sources and Device Safety Evaluations

  8. What is an Agreement State? For the categories included in Agreement: • State becomes responsible for all phases of regulatory oversight: licensing, inspection, enforcement, decommissioning; • State sets and retains own fees; • NRC periodically evaluates state’s performance.

  9. AGREEMENT STATES AGREEMENT STATES

  10. Advantages To the Licensee: • Better service; • Regulatory Agency more accessible and responsive; • Regulatory authority centered in one agency, rather than two or three; • Reduced Annual Fees.

  11. Advantages To the State: • Greater capability to deal with all radiation issues, incidents, threats; • Individual programs strengthened; • Fees remain in state.

  12. Disadvantages Cited in Some Agreement States • Fees not necessarily reduced for all licensees; • Some Agreement States have more restrictive rules; • Growing pains; • Lots of work! (mainly for us)

  13. How to Become an Agreement State • Letter of Intent from the Governor • Statute/Rules Revisions needed to meet NRC criteria • Adequate Staffing • Adequate Training and Expertise • 4-5 Year Process.

  14. Key Conditions for Proceeding With Agreement State Proposal • Better protection of the public; • Better responsiveness to licensees; • Better synergy of resources; • Operate program at a lower cost than NRC; • Share cost savings with licensees as much as possible.

  15. Our Proposed Strategy • Time Line • Staffing • Agreement State Program Funding Needs • Program Development Funding Concept

  16. Timeline An aggressive timeline to finalize an NRC Agreement in 4 – 5 years. • Letter of Intent – Summer, 2007 • Introduction of Legislation – Fall, 2007 • Program Consolidation – Early 2008 • Submittal of Application – August, 2010 • Signing of an Agreement – Sept. 2011

  17. Staffing Adequate, well-trained staff is a prerequisite to signing an Agreement • Current Program Staff: 3.5 FTEs • Projected Additional Program Staff: 10 FTEs (8 tech., 2 admin. support) • 2.25 FTEs per 100 licensees; • Added staff to be hired 2008-2011; • Tech. Staff must be trained prior to submitting Agreement Application.

  18. Program Financing Assure that a State Program can be conducted for lower costs than that of NRC’s. • Other Agreement States program costs are less than that of NRC’s; annual fees often less; • Most licensees will pay less; • Retain Small Entity discount and Academic Fee exemptions.

  19. Comparison of Fees(if Michigan was an Agreement State)

  20. Program Start-up Funding Develop a Funding Mechanism that is limited, reasonable and equitable. • NRC provides no funding – State must develop a functional and capable program before signing Agreement; • State will not provide start-up funds; • Recommending a four year interim fee system.

  21. Interim Fee Structure • WI used a fixed percentage of NRC fees each year for 4 years; • We propose: • Fixed fee for 4 years - based on percentage of NRC fee in Year 1 (2007) • Fee will generate $ 867,000/year

  22. Interim Fee

  23. Financial Summary • Assuming comparable cost increases for both NRC and State, State fees in 2012 will be 35% less than comparable NRC fees; • Most licensees will recoup their interim fee expenditures in about 4 years; • If NRC fees remained at 2007 levels, MI fees in 2012 would still be 9% less.

  24. Training Need to train staff quickly but fully. • Use NRC courses as needed; take advantage of “space available” spots; • Sponsor NRC courses in Michigan • Shadow NRC inspectors – doing so now; • Visit other Agreement States; • Work with MI licensees to identify other opportunities.

  25. NRC’s Role • NRC’s official policy • Assistance to MI during process • Review Agreement State programs through the Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP)

  26. NRC Assistance to Michigan • Inspector accompaniments • One-on-one licensing training catered to the needs of Michigan staff • Technical assistance from the Regional Agreement State Officer

  27. Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Section 651(e) of EPAct amended the definition of byproduct material in Section 11e of the Atomic Energy Act to include NARM: • Accelerator-produced radioactive material • Discrete sources of radium-226 • Discrete sources of other naturally occurring radioactive material that the NRC determines, in consultation with EPA, DOE & DHS, pose a threat similar to radium-226 • Signed into law August 8, 2005

  28. Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Waivers • EPAct allows the Commission to grant waivers allowing current programs to continue for up to 4 years after enactment • NRC issued waiver August 25, 2005 • Waiver expires August 25, 2009 • What does this mean for MI registrants?

  29. Agreement State Questions Contact: James Lynch, Regional Agreement State Officer, NRC Region 3 630-829-9661 JLL2@nrc.gov

  30. Questions Regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Contact: Kevin Null, Senior Health Physicist, NRC Region 3 at 630-829-9854 KGN@nrc.gov

  31. “I believe that all good things come to those who wait – provided they work feverishly while they are waiting.” Dale Klein NRC Chairman

  32. Questions and Discussion

More Related