Status of the Regulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material in the United States

The regulation of naturally occurring radioactive material in the United States presents unique regulatory challenges. Except for those isotopes considered to be byproduct, source or special nuclear material, naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is not included in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's authority under the Atomic Energy Act. Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to set standards involving exposure to NORM, that federal agency has not implemented regulations specific to this material. As a result, the possession and use of both discrete sources and diffuse material containing those isotopes has been left up to the individual states for regulation. Industrial processes, such as mining, oil and gas production, and drinking water treatment systems, that result in the concentration of NORM above concentrations that warrant regulatory attention vary widely in locale, degree of regulatory control needed, and options for disposal. Several states in which these industries have created NORM contamination problems or legal issues have adopted rules to address their specific situations. As a result, a patchwork of non-uniform rules for NORM has been developed in states across the country. The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., (CRCPD), an organization made up primarily of staff from state radiation control programs in the United States, has developed a suggested state regulation for NORM that radiation control programs in the states can use as a model. The model regulations provide a uniform dose basis for exemptions and decontamination, contamination criteria, and recycling of equipment, and disposal options. They also provide for flexibility in implementation by individual states in the regulation of unique processes and situations involving enhanced concentrations of NORM. (Author)