Indiana became the nation's 41st Agreement State on Thursday, assuming responsibility for regulating radioactive materials used across the state after receiving approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The agreement, which takes effect Sept. 30, gives Indiana authority to oversee approximately 213 licenses covering medical, academic and industrial uses of radioactive materials. The state will handle licensing, inspection and enforcement of these activities, while the NRC retains oversight of Indiana's program through periodic reviews.
NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh and Gov. Mike Braun signed the formal agreement in Indianapolis. "As an Agreement State, Indiana can apply that expertise to address the needs of its communities while maintaining the high safety standards Americans expect," Nieh said.
The agreement is authorized under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act, which allows the NRC to transfer regulatory authority to states that demonstrate adequate protection of public health and safety. With Indiana joining the program, 41 states now regulate these materials under NRC agreements, while the federal agency continues to directly regulate radioactive materials in the remaining states and certain federally regulated activities.