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Going From Good to Great: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Continual Learning

Mark A. Satorius, Director

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs

The National Materials Program• Less than 1000 NRC and Agreement

State staff ensure the safe and secure use of radioactive materials nationally– More than 22,000 specific material licenses– Broad range of medical, commercial and

academic uses– 38 separate regulatory programs

• 50 years old and still going strong• Quality leadership and staff

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Forward Focus

• Cooperation– Progression of the AS Program– States Helping States

• Collaboration– Rulemakings, guidance, policy statements

• Continual Learning– Emphasis on Lessons Learned (IR, IMPEP)– Event Notification

Cooperation…the flywheel effect…using positive

momentum to build on current successes.

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50 Years Ago Today

The Agreement State Program

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States Helping States

• Similarity of Programs• Geographical location• Synergy • Leveraging of knowledge• OAS’s role

–OAS Monthly Call– OAS Annual Meeting

Collaboration …early and substantive involvement in

ongoing activities .

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Rulemaking and Rulemaking Guidance• Working Group/Steering Committee

ParticipationPart 35 (Attestation and other items)In-Situ LeachingPart 61-Site specific analysisPart 40-Integrated Safety Analysis Part 40.22-Distribution of Source

Materials to Exempt PersonsPart 37-Physical Security of Byproduct

Material

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Policy Statements• Principles and Policy of the AS Program• Abnormal Occurrences• LLW Volume Reduction• Medical Uses of Byproduct Material• Protection Of Cesium-137 Chloride Sources• Safety Culture• Consumer Product Policy • Adequacy and Compatibility of the AS program and

associated guidance documents

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Adequacy and Compatibility Policy Statements• Currently updating the Policy Statements and

associated guidance documents.• Draft Policy Statements submitted to the

Commission in Sept. 2012• Public comment period of 75 days• Provide the Commission proposed Final Policy

Statements in 2013• Associated guidance documents will be

available for public comment in 2013

Continual Learning

…confronting the brutal facts…promoting awareness of emerging trends and potential

issues.

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Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program• Effective tool of evaluation of state and

regional material programs.• Revision of MD 5.6.• Evolving effectiveness of IMPEP

– Are we looking at the right performance criteria?

– Does the IMPEP process identify performance issues early?

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Event Notifications• For the most part, states provide event

notifications that supply sufficient information.

• Noted lack of sufficient information in some cases.

• Importance?– Health and safety or security issue? – What is the significance of the event? – What is the state doing to respond?

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Event Notifications (cont.)

• Information used to – Identify generic issues – In preparation of NRC annual performance

reports to Congress and IAEA.

• Work closely together to ensure that our commitment to safety and security is accurately assessed and communicated.

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Radiography Overexposures

• Trend of increasing radiography overexposures

• What do we do to bring awareness to this issue?– Communication– Education– Oversight from a different perspective

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Final Considerations

• Build on current successes• Early and substantive involvement in

ongoing activities • Identification of generic issues and

lessons learned• Budget Challenges• Knowledge Management