Uranium and NORM Licensing Programs

• Authorized activities.

• Facility organization.

• Radiation safety controls and monitoring.

• Access control and security.

• Operational and environmental health physics procedures.

• Technical assessments.

• Financial security documentation.

Regulations and Guidance Documents

The regulations governing Uranium facilities are 25 Texas Administrative Code §289.260 " Licensing of Uranium Recovery and Byproduct Disposal Facilities." You can view or download them from the rules page.

Refer to the following guidance materials to assist you in completing the forms and preparing necessary documents and information.

• Guidelines for the Preparation of Environmental Reports and Safety Evaluation Reports for In-Situ Uranium Recovery

You may also find additional information and guidance documents from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

NORM Licensing Program

There are three agencies responsible for regulating different aspects of NORM. The following is an attempt to clarify each agency's role, what regulations apply and whom to contact for more information or questions.

• Regulates receipt, possession, storage, use and treatment of NORM under 25 Texas Administrative Code §289.259 "Licensing of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material."

• Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the disposal of oil and gas NORM waste under 16 Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter F, §4.601 - 4.632; "Disposal of Oil and Gas NORM Waste."Also see http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/. Performance of NORM decontamination, and disposal by the owner through on-site land farming and/or injection well disposal is under the RRC’s purview.

3. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

• Regulates disposal of all NORM, except oil and gas. Their rules are currently in the developmental stage. For more information, see http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/.

Applications process for Mobile NORM Decontamination of Equipment under DSHS, includes submission of:

• Application [BRC252-2] and business information [BRC252-1] forms found at: http://www.dshs.texas.gov/radiation/forms.shtm,
• Application fee for Mobile operations, limited to temporary job sites of $6,556, plus a $328 license surcharge for a total of $6,884.00 (Checks should be written to the Texas Department of State Health Services. For other options or combinations of uses, contact staff. Renewals will include a $20 Texas Online fee), and
• Operating, Safety and Emergency Procedures Manual, completed to the level of detail as outlined in the guidance document, "BRANCH TECHNICAL POSITION for the Preparation of an Application for Processing of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) and/or Decontamination of Equipment, Facilities and Land Contaminated with NORM." Note that applicable statutes can be found at http://www.dshs.texas.gov/radiation/rules.shtm in Sections 289.259, 252, 202, 257, 201, 204, 203, and 205.

For Questions Contact the Following Individuals

Open Records

Submit written requests for information or to receive copies of specific files/correspondence, email or telephone to schedule times for review of Austin files at (512) 834-6688 ext. 2202.

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Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control Program
1100 West 49th Street - Austin, Texas 78756-3189 - (512) 834-6688 or (512) 834-6770

Last Updated September 27, 2006