NRC Taking Comments on Vermont's Agreement State Request
Under the proposed agreement, Vermont would accept responsibility for licensing, rulemaking, inspection, and enforcement activities related to industrial, medical, and academic uses of radioactive material. However, by law, NRC would retain jurisdiction over the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a request from Vermont Gov. Philip B. Scott for the NRC to discontinue, and for Vermont to assume, regulatory authority over certain radioactive materials in the state. If the request is approved, Vermont will become the 39th state to sign such an agreement with the federal agency. Under the proposed agreement, Vermont would accept responsibility for licensing, rulemaking, inspection, and enforcement activities related to industrial, medical, and academic uses of radioactive material. NRC would transfer 36 specific licenses for radioactive material to Vermont's jurisdiction.
However, by law, NRC would retain jurisdiction over the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, which is currently decommissioning, as well as federal agencies using certain nuclear material in Vermont.
Before entering into the agreement, NRC must determine that Vermont's radiation control program is adequate to protect public health and safety and is compatible with NRC's regulations.
The proposed agreement and the NRC staff's draft assessment of the Vermont program were published June 25 in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted through July 25 on the federal government's rulemaking website under Docket number NRC-2019-0114.