TOPIC 3: Radioactive Material License

Let’s explore the Radioactive Materials License.

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Radioactive Materials License

In the U.S., a radioactive materials license is necessary to possess and use radioactive material. The license sets limits on how much radioactive material a user can possess and what the user can do with the radioactive materials.  A license is issued by the USNRC, an agreement state or a licensing state. If a user intends to use a radioactive material in another country, they need to check their regulations. Types of licenses and conditions around the world may differ from the U.S., but the principles, procedures and practices described in this course provide a good basis for the use of radioactive materials by anyone.

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Each site that uses radioactive material must have a Radioactive Materials License. The receipt and use of the radioactive materials will be under a SPECIFIC LICENSE (SL) or a GENERAL LICENSE (GL).

For sealed sources, either a specific or general license may be possessed, but there is a difference in how the licensee can handle the radioactive materials.

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The SPECIFIC LICENSE provides much more flexibility for the licensee and the GL is much more restrictive. However, the SPECIFIC LICENSE is more costly, more time consuming to remain in compliance, and requires training of the operators.

The GENEARL LICENSE is automatically authorized by state or federal regulations if the manufacturer distributes the sealed sources under the manufacturer’s distribution license or small amounts of radioactive materials for in vitro laboratory use. In this case, the general licensee need not apply for a license, but simply receive the radioactive materials and comply with the instructions from the manufacturer.

The general licensee need not have any special training. They must ensure that the sources are leak tested on time, are inventoried, and are relocated or transferred by a specific licensee.

If the facility decides to be more involved in the management of the sources or to have flexibility, a SPECIFIC LICENSE will be required.

When it is time for removal from service, packaging for transportation, and shipping for disposal, a general licensee must contact a specific licensee to perform the tasks.

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In a specific license, all conditions of use must be specifically stated. No authority can be assumed to be automatically granted. You can only do what your license specifically allows you to do with your radioactive materials.

After verified training, users and the RSO may be authorized by the regulator to perform specific tasks involving the radioactive materials.

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Radioactive Materials License

The radioactive materials license has three parts: administrative, radioactive materials, and conditions.

The Administrative part includes the issuing authority (the agreement state or USNRC), the licensee, address where administrative control of the radioactive materials is managed, contact phone numbers and expiration date of the license.

The radioactive materials part lists the element and mass number, chemical and physical form of the sources (for instance the “sealed source” for devices), manufacturer and model number of the sealed source, the total number of sources authorized with model numbers of the source holders, and how the source/source holder may be used.

The conditions part of the license includes the location (physical address) where radioactive materials may be possessed, the name of the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), list of Authorized Users, leak test frequency requirement, inventory frequency requirement, advanced activities authorized, and the “catch all” condition which includes all the statements, representations, and documents that the licensee submitted to the agency to be reviewed in order to receive the license. Therefore, all of these documents are a part of the license document and are equally subject to regulatory inspection as if they were specifically stated on the license.