February 10, 2004

Gary N. Wright, Assistant Director

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

1035 Outer Park Drive

Springfield, IL 62704

Dear Mr. Wright:

A periodic meeting with Illinois was held on January 20, 2004. The purpose of this meeting was

to review and discuss the status of Illinois’ Agreement State program. The NRC was

represented by Geoffrey Grant, Marc Dapas, Richard Blanton and me.

I have completed and enclosed a general meeting summary, including any specific actions that

will be taken as a result of the meeting.

If you feel that our conclusions do not accurately summarize the meeting discussion, or have

any additional remarks about the meeting in general, please contact me at (630) 829-9661, or

e-mail to JLL2@NRC.GOV to discuss your comments.

Sincerely,

/RA/

James L. Lynch

State Agreements Officer

Enclosure: As stated

cc w/encl: P. Eastvold, IEMA

J. Klinger, IEMA

P. Lohaus, STP

R. Blanton, STP

O. Siurano, STP

G. Grant, RIII

M. Dapas, RIII

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SEC\LynchStuff\periodic 0104.wpd

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AGREEMENT STATE PERIODIC MEETING SUMMARY FOR ILLINOIS

DATE OF MEETING: JANUARY 20, 2004

ATTENDEES: NRC STATE

Geoff Grant Bill Burke

Marc Dapas Gary Wright

Jim Lynch Paul Eastvold

Richard Blanton Joe Klinger

Daren Perrero

Gibb Vinson

Gary McCandless

Mike Parker

DISCUSSION:

The recommendation in Section 5.0 of the 2001 Illinois final IMPEP report is summarized

below, followed by a summary of actions in response to the finding.

1. Recommendation: The review team recommends that the State adopt the regulations,

or other legally-binding requirements, which are overdue for adoption. (Section 4.1.2)

Current Status: Some progress has been made in the development of regulations. 

Medical training, industrial radiography and well logging regulations were submitted to

NRC for compatibility reviews. The NRC reviewed the proposed regulations and

provided comments to the State. Other regulations, including medical (10 CFR Part 35

equivalent) are in various stages of development. It is recommended that this comment

remain open.

Organization

In July 2003, the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety became a division of the Illinois

Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Although changes were made to the organizational

structure, the basic radiation control program remained intact. Bill Burke, IEMA Director,

indicated during the meeting that Gary Wright, Assistant IEMA Director, remains as the main

contact and responsible party for the radiation control program.

The reorganization under IEMA resulted in most of the radioactive materials program functions 

residing in the Bureau of Radiation Safety. Some programs, such as decommissioning and

financial surety are located in the Bureau of Environmental Safety. According to IEMA

management, both Bureaus work cooperatively together and resources from one may be used

to assist the other, if needed. An internal policy memorandum describes the relationship

between the Bureaus.
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Daren Perrero, was officially named Supervisor of the Radioactive Materials Inspection and

Enforcement program. Mr. Perrero had been acting in that position.

Radiation Control Program Staffing

A well-trained, experienced staff remains a strength of the Illinois radiation control program. 

The licensing and inspection staffs are similar to that seen during the last IMPEP review. David

Price was transferred to the licensing section to fill the slot vacated by Daren Perrero. Five of

the six materials inspectors are located in the West Chicago office, as the bulk of the inspection

load is in the Chicago area. Illinois has approximately 740 specific licensees.

Training

A training matrix was developed for all employees to track their training history. Formalized

training requirements were developed for license reviewers. Similar requirements have been

drafted for inspectors, and will be utilized if a new inspector is hired.

Joe Klinger is a member of the IMPEP Sealed Source and Device performance indicator

working group. IEMA management was encouraged to continue to support the IMPEP program

to share Illinois expertise and to strengthen staff skills and perspectives.

Inspections

Illinois inspection frequencies are at least as frequent as NRC’s. Only three inspections are

currently overdue. (Note: The overdue inspections were completed by the time of meeting

minutes issuance.)

The December 2003 revision of NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 2800 “Materials Inspection

Program” was discussed in detail. The State was advised to pay particular attention to those

routine inspection frequencies which were changed for various types of licensees. In addition,

the initial inspection frequency was simplified to one year after license issuance, regardless of

whether the licensee has received radioactive material.

Licensing

No significant licensing backlogs exist.

IEMA has chosen not to extend expiration dates to 10 years as the NRC does. They will keep

the 5-year license term currently used. An expedited license renewal program is under

consideration.

Financial assurance obligations are reevaluated every two years. A licensee may get a bye for

one review, if it indicates that no changes have occurred in the organization which would

warrant a reevaluation. If the licensee does not provide an updated surety evaluation for the

second review (four years), the license is subject to termination.

As required by State law, IEMA notifies local authorities upon receipt of an application for a new

license. IEMA experience has shown that local authorities check the legitimacy of the applicant,

if not a known entity.
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Self Assessments

The value of programmatic self assessments was discussed during the meeting. Currently,

IEMA managers perform substantial oversight of the program and have initiated self

assessments of several program components. NRC encourages States to perform self

assessments, which may use the IMPEP tools available on the Office of State and Tribal

Programs website.

IEMA uses a customer feedback program to improve inspection and licensing services. After

each inspection and licensing action, a feedback form is mailed to the licensee. This has

proved to be a very beneficial tool for the State.

Regulations

The State has made progress in addressing the backlog of compatibility-required regulations. 

Final medical training and experience regulations became effective in June 2003. Proposed

industrial radiography and well logging regulations were submitted to NRC in November 2003. 

Medical and irradiator regulations are in process. Additional regulation amendments are

planned.

Security

The current security advisories, orders, and the proposed 274i agreements were discussed in

detail. Illinois intends to enter into a 274i agreement with the NRC to inspect materials licensee

compliance with NRC-ordered additional security measures. Joe Klinger is the Safeguards

information manager for the Bureau and has implemented adequate controls over Safeguards

information.

At the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Klinger, in January 2004,

participated in a Focus Group meeting in Washington, D.C., consisting of 15 state employees. 

The Group reviewed two draft documents prepared by the Consequence Management Site

Restoration/Decontamination and Cleanup Subgroup of the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security’s Radiological Dispersal Device/Improvised Nuclear Device Working Group. The draft

documents address policy for site cleanup following an RDD/IND incident.

Incidents

IEMA staff communicates reportable incidents promptly to the NRC Operations Center and

Region III. Daren Perrero or Joe Klinger input incident information directly into the Nuclear

Materials Events Database (NMED) as incidents occur. Since the last Periodic Meeting in

September 2002, 70 incidents were reported to NMED, many of them scrap or landfill alarms. 

A review of NMED identified timely and quality input of incidents.

One abnormal occurrence involving a medical event was reported by the State. A

comprehensive abnormal occurrence report was prepared by IEMA and sent to NRC for

inclusion in the annual report to Congress.

The NRC representatives were provided a tour of IEMA’s emergency response center during

the Periodic Meeting.
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Allegations

One allegation was transferred to Illinois from NRC since the last Periodic Meeting in

September 2002. The allegation involved potential radioactive material contamination. IEMA

staff investigated the allegation and took prompt, appropriate action. Investigation results were

provided to the Regional State Agreements Officer.

Licensee Updates

Information on current NRC activities in Illinois was shared with IEMA staff. Updates were

provided regarding Honeywell, Inc. for which jurisdiction was transferred to Region II, and the

Department of Veterans Administration Master Materials License which covers several facilities

in Illinois.

The Kerr-McGee decommissioning project continues in West Chicago. The factory site

decommissioning is anticipated to be completed by July 2004. Groundwater remediation will

continue for several years. Only two or three residences remain to be remediated as does the

waste water treatment plant. Clean-up of Kress Creek will commence this year and is planned

through 2008. The total decommissioning project cost is estimated to be $650 million.

Sealed Sources and Devices

Gibb Vinson is on the Sealed Source and Device guidance working group. Joe Klinger is a

member of the IMPEP Sealed Source and Device performance indicator working group which

develops criteria for IMPEP reviews of SS&D programs.

The SS&D workload in Illinois has decreased significantly, as two major manufacturers moved

operations to different States. Approximately four or five SS&D amendments are issued

annually.

CONCLUSIONS:

The Illinois Radiation Control Program appears to be a strong, stable Agreement State

program. Staff has remained consistent for many years and the training level for staff members

is good.

The State’s radiation control program remained intact with the reorganization into IEMA.

IEMA will continue efforts to adopt regulations required for compatibility.

During the 2001 MRB meeting, it was recommended that the next IMPEP review be scheduled

in four years. Those present at this meeting agreed to schedule the review as planned, in FY

2005.