AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN 

FOR DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN COMMISSION REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND

RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 274 OF THE ATOMIC

ENERGY ACT OF 1954, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Whereinafter referred to as the 

Commission) is authorized under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (hereinafter 

referred to as the Act), to enter into Agreements with the Governor of any State providing for 

discontinuance of the regulatory authority of the Commission within the State under Chapters 6, 7, and 8, 

and Section 161 of the Act with respect to byproduct materials as defined in Sections 11e. (1) and (2) of 

the Act, source materials, and special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass; 

and, 

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Wisconsin is authorized under section 254.335 (1), 

Wisconsin Statutes, to enter into this Agreement with the Commission; and, WHEREAS, the Governor of 

the State of Wisconsin certified on August 21, 2002, that the State of Wisconsin (hereinafter referred to 

as the State) has a program for the control of radiation hazards adequate to protect public health and 

safety with respect to the materials within the State covered by this Agreement, and that the State desires 

to assume regulatory authority for such materials; and, 

WHEREAS, the Commission found on June 30, 2003 that the program of the State for the 

regulation of the materials covered by this Agreement is compatible with the Commission's program for 

the regulation of such materials and is adequate to protect public health and safety; and, 

WHEREAS, the State and the Commission recognize the desirability and importance of 

cooperation between the Commission and the State in the formulation of standards for protection against 

hazards of radiation and in assuring that State and Commission programs for protection against hazards of 

radiation will be coordinated and compatible; and, 

WHEREAS, the Commission and the State recognize the desirability of the reciprocal recognition 

of licenses, and of the granting of limited exemptions from licensing of those materials subject to this 

Agreement; and, 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Act: Now, 

Therefore, It is hereby agreed between the Commission and the Governor of the State, acting on behalf of 

the State, as follows: 
Article I 

Subject to the exceptions provided in Articles II, IV, and V, the Commission shall discontinue, as 

of the effective date of this Agreement, the regulatory authority of the Commission in the State under 

Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and Section 161 of the Act with respect to the following materials: 

A. Byproduct materials as defined in Section 11e. (1) of the Act; 

B. Source materials; 

C. Special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass. 

Article II 

This Agreement does not provide for discontinuance of any authority and the Commission shall 

retain authority and responsibility with respect to: 

A. The regulation of the construction and operation of any production or utilization facility or any 

uranium enrichment facility; 

B. The regulation of the export from or import into the United States of byproduct, source, or 

special nuclear material, or of any production or utilization facility; 

C. The regulation of the disposal into the ocean or sea of byproduct, source, or special nuclear 

material wastes as defined in the regulations or orders of the Commission; 

D. The regulation of the disposal of such other byproduct, source, or special nuclear material as 

the Commission from time to time determines by regulation or order should, because of the hazards or 

potential hazards thereof, not be so disposed without a license from the Commission; 

E. The evaluation of radiation safety information on sealed sources or devices containing 

byproduct, source, or special nuclear materials and the registration of the sealed sources or devices for 

distribution, as provided for in regulations or orders of the Commission; 

F. The regulation of the land disposal of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material waste 

received from other persons; 

G. The extraction or concentration of source material from source material ore and the 

management and disposal of the resulting byproduct material. 

Article III 

With the exception of those activities identified in Article II, paragraphs A through D, this 

Agreement may be amended, upon application by the State and approval by the Commission, to include 
the additional areas specified in Article II, paragraphs E, F and G, whereby the State can exert regulatory 

authority and responsibility with respect to those activities and materials. 

Article IV 

Notwithstanding this Agreement, the Commission may from time to time by rule, regulation, or 

order, require that the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or 

other product containing source, byproduct, or special nuclear material shall not transfer possession or 

control of such product except pursuant to a license or an exemption from licensing issued by the 

Commission. 

Article V 

This Agreement shall not affect the authority of the Commission under subsection 161b or 161i of 

the Act to issue rules, regulations, or orders to protect the common defense and security, to protect 

restricted data, or to guard against the loss or diversion of special nuclear material. 

Article VI 

The Commission will cooperate with the State and other Agreement States in the formulation of 

standards and regulatory programs of the State and the Commission for protection against hazards of 

radiation and to assure that Commission and State programs for protection against hazards of radiation 

will be coordinated and compatible. The State agrees to cooperate with the Commission and other 

Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs of the State and the 

Commission for protection against hazards of radiation and will assure that the State's program will 

continue to be compatible with the program of the Commission for the regulation of materials covered by 

this Agreement. 

The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of proposed changes in their 

respective rules and regulations, and to provide each other the opportunity for early and substantive 

contribution to the proposed changes. 

The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of events, accidents, and 

licensee performance that may have generic implication or otherwise be of regulatory interest. 
Article VII 

The Commission and the State agree that it is desirable to provide reciprocal recognition of licenses for 

the materials listed in Article I licensed by the other party or by any other Agreement state. Accordingly, 

the Commission and the State agree to develop appropriate rules, regulations, and procedures by which 

such reciprocity will be accorded. 

Article VIII 

The Commission, upon its own initiative after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the State, or 

upon request of the Governor of the State, may terminate or suspend all or part of this Agreement and 

reassert the licensing and regulatory authority vested in it under the Act if the Commission finds that (1) 

such termination or suspension is required to protect public health and safety, or (2) the State has not 

complied with one or more of the requirements of Section 274 of the Act. The Commission may also, 

pursuant to Section 274j of the Act, temporarily suspend all or part of this Agreement if, in the judgement 

of the Commission, an emergency situation exists requiring immediate action to protect public health and 

safety and the State has failed to take necessary steps. The Commission shall periodically review this 

Agreement and actions taken by the State under this Agreement to ensure compliance with Section 274 

of the Act which requires a State program to be adequate to protect public health and safety with respect 

to the materials covered by the Agreement and to be compatible with the Commission's program. 

Article IX 

This Agreement shall become effective on August 11, 2003, and shall remain in effect unless and 

until such time as it is terminated pursuant to Article VIII. 

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, in triplicate, this 1st day of July, 2003. 

For the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Nils J. Diaz, Chairman.

Dated at Madison, Wisconsin, in triplicate, this 3rd day of July, 2003. 

For the State of Wisconsin. 

Jim Doyle, Governor.