§16041 Nuclear Facility and Materials Security

Summary

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must put a Federal security coordinator, employed by the Commission, in each of its regions within 18 months after August 8, 2005. Those coordinators must talk with federal, state, and local officials about threats; watch certain kinds of nuclear facilities to make sure their security matches the required plans and threat levels; and help coordinate security between private guards and government authorities. Also, for any licensed nuclear power plant that has more than 15,000,000 permanent residents within 50 miles (based on the 2000 census), the Commission must require backup power for the plant’s emergency notification system, including sirens, if the normal electric supply is lost, and must do this within 18 months after August 8, 2005. Within 18 months after August 8, 2005, the Commission must issue final rules it thinks are needed to carry out these tasks and the related changes. The rules must define the term “discrete source,” and the Commission must work with States and use model State standards that existed on August 8, 2005. The Commission must publish a transition plan about which States can take authority over certain byproduct material and how prior State agreements may cover that material if a Governor certifies the State’s program is adequate and will continue. The rules must consider how they affect doctors’ and patients’ access to radiopharmaceuticals. The Commission may grant limited waivers about byproduct material if public health and security are protected, but it cannot waive certain items (including some import/export time limits), must end waivers when a State’s agreement and program cover the material, and must publish any granted waiver in the Federal Register.