skip navigation links 
 
 Search Options 
Index | Site Map | FAQ | Facility Info | Reading Rm | New | Help | Glossary | Contact Us blue spacer  
secondary page banner Return to NRC Home Page

Quick Links - to materials information on one page

Key Topics

Naturally-Occurring and Accelerator-Produced Radioactive Material (NARM) Toolbox
Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility Licensing
Risk Assessment in Regulation
Medical Use Licensing (Part 35)
Gas Centrifuge Enrichment
Pa'ina Irradiator PDF Icon
   

Nuclear Materials

Find the locations of nuclear materials facilities.

Regulated Materials

  • Special Nuclear Material - consists of uranium-233 or uranium-235, enriched uranium, or plutonium
  • Source Material - is natural uranium or thorium or depleted uranium that is not suitable for use as reactor fuel
  • Byproduct Material - is, generally, nuclear material (other than special nuclear material) that is produced or made radioactive in a nuclear reactor. Also the tailings and waste produced by extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from an ore processed primarily for its source material content.

For types of materials regulated by NRC see Who Regulates Radioactive Materials and Radiation Exposure for details.

Regulated Activities

For general information, see the How We Regulate page. For details, see the following:

Responsibilities

The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards has overall responsibility for NRC's materials program and NRC's Regional Offices (Region I - Northeast, Region II - Southeast, Region III - Midwest, and Region IV - West/Southwest) implement these programs in the states for which they are responsible. Materials regulation is also supported by a Nuclear Materials Safety Research program and by independent advice from the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes.

The NRC ensures its materials program complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by conducting NEPA reviews for all major actions within the program.  See the Materials Environmental Reviews page for detailed information on active reviews.

Of the over 20,000 active source, byproduct, and special nuclear materials licenses in place in the United States, about a quarter are administered by NRC; the rest are administered by the 35 Agreement states.

Related Information



Privacy Policy | Site Disclaimer
Thursday, May 15, 2008