NRC PROPOSES EXPANSION OF NATIONAL SOURCE TRACKING SYSTEM 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to expand its National Source 

Tracking System (NSTS) to include an additional 3,500 NRC and state licensees and nearly 

17,000 additional radioactive sources, to improve accountability and control of radioactive 

materials. 

 A proposed rule, to be published shortly in the Federal Register, would require the 

additional licensees to report information on the manufacture, transfer, receipt, disassembly and 

disposal of these radioactive sources to the NSTS. Manufacturers will be required to assign a 

unique serial number to each nationally tracked source. 

 “An expanded National Source Tracking System will enable the NRC and its federal and 

state partners to improve the security of radioactive materials while ensuring their continued 

beneficial use in industry, research and medicine,” NRC Chairman Dale E. Klein said. 

 As established in a final rule published Nov. 8, 2006, the NSTS covers radioactive 

sources in Categories 1 and 2 as determined by the International Atomic Energy Agency. These 

sources are typically used in radiothermal generators, irradiators, radiation therapy, industrial 

gamma radiography and high- and medium-dose-range brachytherapy cancer treatments. That 

rule covers approximately 1,350 licensees nationwide who possess Category 1 and 2 sources. 

The system is to be implemented by Jan. 31, 2009. 

 The proposed rule would expand the NSTS to include Category 3 sources as well as 

sources in the upper range of Category 4 – or at about 1/10 of the activity threshold for Category 

3. These sources include fixed industrial gauges (level gauges, conveyor gauges, thickness 

gauges, blast furnace gauges, dredger gauges, and pipe gauges); well-logging devices; mediumand low-dose-range brachytherapy; and certain radiography devices. 

 The NRC considers Category 1 and 2 sources to be the most significant from a security 

perspective. Expanding the NSTS will guard against the possibility that a small number of 

Category 3 of 4 radioactive sources could be collected to form a Category 2 amount of 

radioactive material. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 

E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 08-073 April 8, 2008
 The NRC believes the additional cost to the agency and licensees of an expanded NSTS 

is reasonable given the additional improvement in accountability and control of radioactive 

sources. 

 The NRC will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 75 days following 

publication. Comments may be mailed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff; or e-mailed to 

SECY@nrc.gov. Each submission should be labeled RIN 3150-AI29. 

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