New Mexico Administrative Code

A. The radiation room at a panoramic irradiator must have heat and smoke detectors. The detectors must activate an audible alarm. The alarm must be capable of alerting a person who is prepared to summon assistance promptly. The sources must automatically become fully shielded if …

A. Irradiators with automatic product conveyor systems must have a radiation monitor with an audible alarm located to detect loose radioactive sources that are carried toward the product exit. If the monitor detects a source, an alarm must sound and product conveyors must stop au…

A. The mechanism that moves the sources of a panoramic irradiator must require a key to actuate. Actuation of the mechanism must cause an audible signal to indicate that the sources are leaving the shielded position. Only one key may be in use at any time, and only operators or f…

A. For licenses initially issued after July 1, 1993, irradiator pools must either: (1) have a water-tight stainless steel liner or a liner metallurgically compatible with other components in the pool; or (2) be constructed so that there is a low likelihood of substantial leakage …

If the product to be irradiated moves on a product conveyor system, the source rack and the mechanism that moves the rack must be protected by a barrier or guides to prevent products and product carriers from hitting or touching the rack or mechanism.

A. If electrical power at a panoramic irradiator is lost for longer than 10 seconds, the source must automatically return to the shielded position. B. The lock on the door of the radiation room of a panoramic irradiator may not be deactivated by a power failure. C. During a power…

Irradiators whose construction begins after July 1, 1993, must meet the design requirements of this section. A. Shielding. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall design shielding walls to meet generally accepted building code requirements for reinforced concrete, and desig…

The requirements of this section must be met for irradiators whose construction begins after July 1, 1993. The requirements must be met prior to loading sources. A. Shielding. For panoramic irradiators, the licensee shall monitor the construction of the shielding to verify that i…

A. Before an individual is permitted to operate an irradiator without a supervisor present, the individual must be instructed in: (1) the fundamentals of radiation protection applied to irradiators (including the differences between external radiation and radioactive contaminatio…

A. The licensee shall have and follow written operating procedures for: (1) operation of the irradiator, including entering and leaving the radiation room; (2) use of personnel dosimeters; (3) surveying the shielding of panoramic irradiators; (4) monitoring pool water for contami…

A. Irradiator operators shall wear a personnel dosimeter while operating a panoramic irradiator, or while in the area around the pool of an underwater irradiator. The personnel dosimeter processor must be capable of detecting high-energy photons in the normal and accident dose ra…

A. A radiation survey of the area outside the shielding of the radiation room of a panoramic irradiator must be conducted with the sources in the exposed position before the facility starts to operate. A radiation survey of the area above the pool of pool irradiators must be cond…

A. Each dry-source-storage sealed source must be tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed 6 months using a leak test kit or method approved by the department. In the absence of a certificate from a transferor that a test has been made within the 6 months before the transfer,…

A. The licensee shall perform inspection and maintenance checks that include, as a minimum, each of the following at the frequency specified in the license or license application: (1) operability of each aspect of the access control system required by 20.3.15.1507 NMAC; (2) funct…

A. Pool water purification system must be run sufficiently to maintain the conductivity of the pool water below 20 microsiemens per centimeter under normal circumstances. If pool water conductivity rises above 20 microsiemens per centimeter, the licensee shall take prompt actions…

A. Both an irradiator operator, and at least one other individual who is trained on how to respond and prepared to promptly render or summon assistance if the access control alarm sounds, shall be present on-site: (1) whenever the irradiator is operated using an automatic product…

A. Upon first entering the radiation room of a panoramic irradiator after an irradiation, the irradiator operator shall use a survey meter to determine that the source has returned to its fully shielded position. The operator shall check the functioning of the survey meter with a…

A. Irradiation of explosive material is prohibited, unless the licensee has received prior written authorization from the department. Authorization will not be granted, unless the licensee can demonstrate that detonation of the explosive would not rupture the sealed sources, inju…

The licensee shall maintain the following records at the irradiator for the periods specified. A. A copy of the license, license conditions, documents incorporated into a license by reference, and amendments thereto until superseded by new documents or until the department termin…

A. In addition to the reporting requirements in other parts these regulations (20.3 NMAC), the licensee shall report the following events, if not reported under other parts these regulations (20.3 NMAC):(1) source stuck in an unshielded position; (2) any fire or explosion in a ra…

A. The requirements of this part (20.3.15 NMAC) are in addition to other requirements in these regulations. In particular, the provisions of Parts 3, 4 and 10 (20.3.3 NMAC, 20.3.4 NMAC, and 20.3.10 NMAC) apply to applications and licenses subject to this part (20.3.15 NMAC). Noth…

Sections 74-1-9, 74-3-5, and 74-3-9 NMSA 1978.

Permanent.

May 3, 1995, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

This part (20.3.15 NMAC) contains requirements for the issuance of a license authorizing the use of sealed sources containing radioactive materials in irradiators used to irradiate objects or materials using gamma radiation. This part (20.3.15 NMAC) also contains radiation safety…

A. "Annually" means either: (1) at intervals not to exceed 1 year; or (2) once per year, at about the same time each year (plus or minus 1 month). B. "Doubly encapsulated sealed source" means a sealed source in which the radioactive material is sealed within a capsule and that ca…

Environmental Improvement Board.

A. The department shall develop and publish a current fee schedule each year by May 1 to take effect by July 1 of the same year. The fee schedule will list current license application fees, amendment application fees, annual fees, and termination request fees. B. Each Location of…

A. The categories of materials licenses for which fees are due for each location of use are listed below in this section. For each category of materials license, the FY 25 and FY 26 application fee and FY 25 and FY 26 annual fee amounts are listed. Starting in FY 27, all license …

A. A licensee may qualify as a small entity pursuant to the provisions of this section and receive a refund of a portion of annual fees paid following the submission of certification and documentation with the annual fee payment. The submission of certification and documentation …

A. The purpose of proration is to bring all licensees to an annual fee due date of July 1 of each year, beginning July 1, 2024. For licenses issued prior to July 1, 2024, the annual fees shall be prorated by multiplying the number of complete and partial months between the annive…

A. Payments of fees and costs shall be in the form of an online payment or a check or money order made payable to the Radiation Protection Fund at the address shown on the application, license, registration, or the invoice issued by the department or online payments service provi…

A. For each license termination, the licensee shall inform the department of the intention to terminate the license and shall follow the termination procedures in Chapter 3, Title 20 NMAC and any other requirements set by the department. B. Upon the department's determination tha…

By October 1 of each year, the department shall perform a review of the fees and costs required by this part and shall provide a report of the review to the chair of the New Mexico radiation technical advisory council (RTAC).

A. This Part applies to those entities or activities which require licensure in accordance with Chapter 3, Title 20 NMAC. B. The requirements of this Part are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other applicable requirements of the regulations in Chapter 3, Title 20 NMAC…

Section 74-1-8.A(5) and Section 74-3-5.A(2) NMSA 1978.

Permanent

May 1, 2024.

To establish fees and costs associated with applying for and maintaining radioactive material licenses.

A. "Amendment" means a request made by a licensee to the department to approve a change to its license. Examples of amendments include, but are not limited to, changes to users, changes in materials, and transfers of licenses. B. "Application" means an application for a new licen…

Except as specifically authorized by the department in writing, no interpretation of the regulations in this part by an officer or employee of the department, other than a written interpretation by the general counsel, will be recognized as binding on the department.

Starting in fiscal year 2027, then in each subsequent calendar year, all fees in this Part shall be increased pursuant to the provisions in this Part if there is an increase in the unadjusted consumer price index (CPI) for all urban consumers, United States city average for all i…

Environmental Improvement Board.

This subpart provides for the registration of: A. radiation machines; and B. persons providing radiation machine installation, servicing, or services as stipulated in 204 [20.3.2.204 NMAC]. C. In addition to the requirements of this subpart, all registrants are subject to the app…

A. Electronic equipment that produces radiation incidental to its operation for other purposes is exempt from the registration and notification requirements of this subpart, provided that the dose equivalent rate averaged over an area of 10 sq. cm does not exceed 0.5 mrem (5 mSv)…