March 21, 2006

Karen Beckley

Radiological Health Section

Bureau of Health Protection Services

Nevada State Health Division

1179 Fairview Drive, Suite 102

Carson City, Nevada 87901-5405

Dear Ms. Beckley:

A periodic meeting with Nevada was held on March 2, 2006. The purpose of this meeting was

to review and discuss the status of Nevada’s Agreement State Program. The NRC was

represented by me from NRC’s Region IV office, and Mr. John Zabko from the Office of State

and Tribal Programs. 

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 (817) 860-8116 or

e-mail MLM1@NRC.GOV to discuss your concerns.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Linda McLean

State Agreements Officer

Region IV

cc:

Janet Schlueter, Director

Office of State and Tribal Programs
Nevada Periodic Meeting Summary - 2 -

bcc: (via ADAMS e-mail distribution):

DRathbun, STP

LWert

CCain

VCampbell

JZabko, STP

AMcCraw, STP

SUNSI Review Completed: ADAMS: No Initials: _mlm_____ 

ADAMS: :Yes 9No Initials: _mlm_____ 

:Publicly Available 9Non-Publicly Available 9Sensitive :Non-Sensitive

DOCUMENT NAME: E:\Filenet\ML060860235.wpd final r:\_dnms

RIV:RSAO

MLMcLean

03/ /06

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax
Nevada Periodic Meeting Summary 

Date of Meeting: March 2, 2006

Attendees: 

State of Nevada NRC

Karen Beckley, Manager Linda McLean, RIV

Larry Boschult John Zabko, STP

Adrian Howell

The Nevada Agreement State program is administered by the Radiological Health Section (the

Section). The Section is located within the Bureau of Health Protection Services, which is part

of the State Health Division. The State Health Division reports to the Department of Human

Resources. Within the Section, there are two offices (Carson City and Las Vegas). Both

offices have the responsibility for the inspection of radioactive materials licenses and response

to radioactive materials incidents. In addition, both offices are responsible for machine

produced radiation and mammography. Program management and radioactive material

licensing is based in the Carson City office.

The last Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) Review was conducted

during the week of March 15-18, 2005. At the conclusion of the review, the team

recommended that Nevada’s performance be found satisfactory for all eight performance 

indicators reviewed. Accordingly, the review team recommended that the Nevada Agreement

State program be found adequate to protect public health and safety and compatible with

NRC's program, and that the next full review take place in approximately four years. The

review team also recommended that the period of monitoring of the State be discontinued.

Status of State’s actions to address all open previous IMPEP review findings and/or open

recommendations. Below are the IMPEP recommendations:

1. The review team recommended that the State develop and implement a staffing plan to

fill current vacancies, meet growing program needs and maintain long-term program

stability. 

Status: Two radiation control specialists’ positions have been filled. Both are

scheduled for training. One is scheduled for an inspection procedures course, and one

is scheduled for the 5-week health physics course. These two positions will provide 1.5

FTE to the materials program. There are 17 staff positions in the program, including

one temporary clerical position. Three vacancies still exist in the materials and x-ray

programs. The postings for these openings are out. It is recommended that this item

remain open.

2. The review team recommends that the Section revise their inspection procedures and

provide training to implement a policy for timely and orderly license termination of

licensed materials not in use. 

Status: Currently there are four licensees that are either missing or do not have a

current license due to non-payment of fees. The section is continuing their investigation

on these licensees. Procedures have been revised to identify delinquent licensees to
Nevada Periodic Meeting Summary

find and to timely terminate delinquent licenses. It is recommended that this item

remain open.

3. The review team recommends that the Section develop, implement and maintain a

reliable and comprehensive licensing and inspection database that serves as an

effective and efficient planning, tracking and management tool. 

Status: The same database is being used as during the IMPEP; however, the Section

has evaluated other States (MA and KS) databases as an option to improve theirs. 

Money is being set aside to develop new programs. An IT person has been hired in the

Health Department and administrative support is being requested to help develop the

database. 

While the new database is being developed, the Section has developed alternative

solutions for the problems with its present database to make it a workable tool. The

current database is functioning well enough so that inspections are conducted on time,

and the Section is confident of the status of its inspections. It is recommended that this

item remain open.

Other topics discussed: 

Strengths and/or weaknesses of the State program as identified by the State or NRC including

identification of actions that could diminish weaknesses.

Strengths: The Section has experienced personnel and enthusiastic new hires. Necessary

overtime has been supported by the Bureau (overtime was approved to prevent inspections

from becoming overdue). The Section is fully fee funded; therefore there is money available

for training, new equipment, etc. 

Weaknesses: Filling vacancies is the most significant weakness for the Section. It has been

hard to compete with local businesses due to the State’s salary structure. 

Status of State Program including:

a. Staffing and training: This item is discussed under the IMPEP recommendations. 

b. Materials Inspection Program: 

Discuss the status of the inspection program including if an inspection backlog exists and

the steps being taken to work off backlog. Currently there is no backlog of inspections. 

However, overtime has been necessary to ensure that inspections are completed on time. 

c. Regulations and Legislative changes: 
Nevada Periodic Meeting Summary

Discuss status of State’s regulations and actions to keep regulations up to date, including

the use of legally binding requirements. The State Regulation Status (SRS) Data Sheet

report was discussed. The Section has kept up with the regulation changes. There are

two regulations that are behind schedule. 

d. Program reorganizations:

Discuss any changes in program organization including program/staff relocations and new

appointments. The Section promoted one individual to a new supervisory position in the

Carson City office. 

e. Changes in Program budget/funding. No changes are expected.

Event Reporting, including follow-up and closure information in NMED. Six events were entered

into NMED during this period. No problems were identified. 

Response to Incidents and Allegations:

a. Status of allegations and concerns referred by the NRC for action. No allegations were

referred to the Section during this period. 

b. Significant events and generic implications. Nothing to report. 

Information exchange and discussion:

a. Current State initiatives: The Section has purchased and is using tablet computers for

inspection activities. They are establishing protocols with other State and Federal

organizations to share security issues and for information exchange, and is also

developing procedures to integrate radioactive material response/information exchange

with them. 

b. Emerging technologies: Nothing to report.

c. Large, complicated or unusual authorizations for use of radioactive materials, including,

(e.g.., major decommissioning and license termination actions). Nothing to report

d. State’s mechanisms to evaluate performance (as applicable):

I) Self audits: The Section has no formal written self audit program; however, the Section

tracks key Program elements to ensure progress in all areas of the Agreement.

ii) Computer tracking: This was previously discussed. 

iii) Inspector accompaniments: The inspector accompaniments for 2005 were completed. 

The accompaniments for 2006 have been started. 

iv) Other management tools: The Section Chief conducts monthly Carson City and Las

Vegas offices section meetings. Also the Section Chief travels to Las Vegas every other
Nevada Periodic Meeting Summary

month for face to face meetings. The Section Chief is encouraging continuing education

training and team building for the staff. In addition, the Bureau is promoting technology

use in the Section with new computers, cell phones etc. 

e. NRC current initiatives. Increased controls inspections were discussed. The Section sent

two new inspectors to the security training instead of qualified inspectors because of a

misunderstanding of what was needed. The Section may need to send their qualified

inspectors this year once the Section determines the prioritization of inspections. Thirteen

increased controls inspections are due over the next three years. 

Other topics discussed: 

NRC’s method of verifying the proper handling of safeguards at the SLO level. 

The integration of security clearances amongst the federal government. 

The handling of safeguards information. 

The Section’s status of returning the SS&D program (no decision had been made yet). 

Schedule for the next Periodic Meeting: FY 2007

Schedule for the next IMPEP review: FY 2009