1

Milestones of Cooperation

Michael Weber Deputy Executive Director for

OperationsU.S. Nuclear Regulatory

CommissionAugust 22, 2011

2

Milestones

First Agreement - 1962

Mill Tailings - 1978

Low-Level Waste - 1979

IMPEP - 1993

Adequacy & Compatibility - 1997

NMP - 2001

Increased Controls - 2005

GAO Sting - 2007

3

The First Agreement - 1962

• Atomic Energy Act amended in 1959• Kentucky became first Agreement

State on March 26, 1962• Lessons

– States are active– States are persuasive– Criteria for discontinuance of authority– Annual meetings with Agreement

States

4

Uranium Mill Tailings - 1978

• The problem with mill tailings

• Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978

• Lessons– Explicit requirement

for State reviews– Authority for

temporary suspensions

5

Low-Level Waste - 1979

• Crisis in low-level waste management• Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act

of 1980 – limited progress• Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy

Amendments Act of 1985• Lessons

– Regulator, not waste advocate– Waste management recognized as

category

6

IMPEP - 1993

• Congressman Mike Synar• GAO audits on decommissioning

and materials oversight• Lessons

– Need for high-level involvement– Benefits of greater structure– Integrated Materials Performance

Evaluation Program (IMPEP)

7

Adequacy and Compatibility

• Orderly regulatory pattern• Policy statements

– Principles and Policy of the Agreement State Program

– Adequacy and Compatibility • Early and substantive involvement• Lessons

– Management Directive 5.9– Mutual ownership and understanding– Alignment is key– Working groups work

8

National Materials Program

• Agreement States regulate half – 1970

• Emergence of the concept• Cooperative process to prioritize• Lessons

– Working groups help– Compatibility essential– IMPEP focus– Early involvement

9

Increased Controls - 2005

• Terrorist attacks of 9-11• Safety and security enhancements• Security orders in 2003-2004• 274i Agreements• Increased controls in 11-12/2005• Energy Policy Act of 2005• Lessons

– Relationships founded on trust– States know their licensees best

10

GAO Sting

• “Good faith” presumption• Vulnerabilities exploited• Improved control, effectiveness, and

efficiency through automation– National Source Tracking System– Web-Based Licensing System– License Verification System

• Lessons– Learning from each other– Sharing best practices– Accomplish outcomes with flexibility

11

Conclusion

• Stronger, more resilient partnership• Significant evolution

– Past– Future

• Build on successes