§6156 Acceleration of Replacement of Cesium Blood Irradiation Sources

Summary

The Administrator must stop the use of blood irradiation machines that use cesium chloride in the United States by December 31, 2027. Participation must be voluntary for owners. The United States may pay up to 50% of each device’s replacement cost, subject to the Administrator’s review, and may pay up to 100% of the removal and disposal cost for retired cesium sources. Replacements must be x-ray machines or other FDA‑approved devices that cut the security risk. The covered programs run until December 31, 2027. Within 180 days after the John S. McCain NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 became law, the Administrator must report to the listed congressional committees with: a count and general location and user type of every cesium blood irradiator in the U.S.; a plan to meet the goal; a method for prioritizing replacements that looks at device age and past security work; a strategy, developed with the NRC and FDA, to limit new cesium devices; the yearly funds needed; and how retired cesium sources will be disposed. By September 20, 2023, the Administrator must send an assessment with the number of replacements, life‑cycle costs (training, maintenance, replacement), cost‑effectiveness, a review of the new technology, and a forecast of meeting the goal. "Appropriate congressional committees" are the named House and Senate committees. "Covered programs" are the NNSA Office of Radiological Security’s Cesium Irradiator Replacement Program and the Off‑Site Source Recovery Program.