§16041 Nuclear Facility and Materials Security

Summary

Requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to put a Federal security coordinator in each NRC region within 18 months after August 8, 2005. Each coordinator must talk with federal, state, and local officials about threats, watch certain kinds of nuclear facilities to make sure their security matches the current threat level, and help coordinate security between private guards and the government. If a nuclear power plant has more than 15,000,000 people living within 50 miles (per the 2000 census), the NRC must, within 18 months after August 8, 2005, require backup power for the plant’s emergency notification systems (including sirens) if the normal electric supply inside the 10-mile emergency planning zone is lost. Within 18 months after August 8, 2005, the NRC must issue final rules, after talking with States and others, to carry out these requirements and related changes. The rules must define the term “discrete source” for use in section 2014(e)(3)–(4), and must use or consider State model standards that existed on August 8, 2005 while cooperating with States. The NRC must prepare a transition plan about state authority over “byproduct material” (the kind of leftover radioactive material defined in section 2014(e)(3)–(4)) for States with and without agreements under section 2021(b). The plan must explain when a State can regulate byproduct material and say that existing State agreements can cover the newly defined material if the Governor certifies the State’s program is adequate and will continue. The NRC must consider how rules affect access to radiopharmaceuticals for doctors and patients. The NRC may grant limited waivers about byproduct material if public health, safety, and security are protected, but it cannot waive certain new rule requirements and has time limits on other waivers (no waiver for import/export beyond 1 year after August 8, 2005, or for other matters beyond 4 years after that date). Any waiver must be published in the Federal Register. Defined terms (one line each): “discrete source” — a specific kind of radioactive source referenced in section 2014(e)(3)–(4). “byproduct material” — the leftover radioactive material defined in section 2014(e)(3)–(4).