NRC: News Release - Region I - 2003-059 - NRC's Region I Office Now Responsible for Region II Materials Licenses

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NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region I
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
www.nrc.gov

No. I-03-059		September 30, 2003
CONTACT:	Diane Screnci (610) 337-5330 Neil A. Sheehan (610) 337-5331	E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov
NRC’S REGION I OFFICE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR REGION II MATERIALS LICENSES Printable Version
As of Oct. 1^st, the NRC’s Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa., will assume responsibility for nuclear materials licenses that were previously under the jurisdiction of the agency’s Region II Office in Atlanta. The Region I Office is responsible for the Northeastern United States while the Region II Office oversees the Southeastern portion of the country. About 800 nuclear materials licenses will be transferred to Region I in the consolidation. Region I will now be responsible for licensing, inspection, event response, enforcement and allegations pertaining to those licenses, in addition to the 1,700 materials licenses it already handles. The change is part of an agency-wide initiative designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the NRC’s nuclear materials program. It is expected to have minimal impact on license-holders. The Region II materials inspection staff will remain in NRC’s Region II office in Atlanta. In response to direction from the NRC’s Commissioners, the agency’s staff undertook a study of the most effective way to regulate its nuclear materials licensees. That careful review led to the decision to have Region I handle the Region II materials licenses. Other changes include Region II assuming responsibility for the inspection of all nuclear fuel cycle facilities regulated by the NRC. The materials licenses being transferred to Region I are largely in the states of Virginia, West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. NRC-licensed Federal facilities in Agreement States will also be transferred to Region I. Under the NRC’s Agreement State Program, states can assume responsibility for regulating nuclear materials within their borders that would otherwise be overseen by the NRC. To do that, they must establish regulations that are at least as stringent as those used by the NRC. In Region II, most of the states have become Agreement States.