Alabama and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have a unique agreement that affects nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities within the state.
Firstly, it`s essential to understand what an Agreement State is. An Agreement State is a state in which the NRC has agreed to transfer some of its regulatory authority over radiation sources to the state government. States that enter into such agreements can regulate the use, possession, and disposal of radioactive materials and substances.
Alabama is an Agreement State, which means that the state has entered into an agreement with the NRC that allows it to regulate certain aspects of nuclear materials. Alabama`s regulatory authority is limited to some activities involving byproduct and source materials (as opposed to nuclear reactors), which are used for medical and industrial purposes. In essence, Alabama`s Agreement State status allows the state to regulate the use and possession of radioactive materials in medical and industrial settings.
It`s also important to note that while the state has a certain level of regulatory authority, the NRC retains oversight responsibility over certain aspects of nuclear power plants, including safety and security.
Alabama`s Agreement State status was first established in 1962, under the Atomic Energy Act. Today, the state`s regulatory agency is the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), which is responsible for licensing and regulating the use of radioactive materials.
In summary, Alabama is an Agreement State, which means that it has regulatory authority over certain aspects of nuclear materials. However, the NRC retains oversight and responsibility for certain aspects of nuclear power plants and other facilities. If you are looking to work with radioactive materials in the state of Alabama, it`s important to understand the state`s regulations and licensing requirements to ensure compliance with the law.
