UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

March 4, 2016 

Mr. Michael Welling, Director 

Radioactive Materials Program 

Virginia Department of Health 

109 Governor St,, 7th Floor 

Richmond, VA 23219 

Dear Mr. Welling: 

We have reviewed the final revisions to the Virginia regulations 12VAC5-481, Section 10 and 

451, received by our office on February 22, 2016. These regulations were reviewed by 

comparison to the equivalent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules and the 

requirements of the one amendment identified in the enclosed State Regulation Status (SRS) 

Data Sheet. We discussed our review of the regulations with you on March 3, 2016. 

As a result of our review, we have three comments that have been identified in the enclosure. 

Please note that we have limited our review to regulations required for compatibility and/or 

health and safety. We have determined that if these regulations are revised, incorporating our 

comments and without other significant change, they would meet the compatibility and health 

and safety categories established in the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 

(NMSS) Procedure SA-200, “Compatibility Categories and Health and Safety Identification for 

NRC Regulations and Other Program Elements.” 

We request that when you revise your regulations to address our comments, a copy of the “as 

published” regulations be provided to us for review. As requested in NMSS Procedure SA-201, 

“Review of State Regulatory Requirements,” please highlight the location of any changes made 

by Virginia, in response to our comments, and provide a copy to Division of Material Safety, 

State, Tribal, and Rulemaking Programs, NMSS. The SRS Data Sheet summarizes our 

knowledge of the status of other Virginia regulations, as indicated. Please let us know if you 

note any inaccuracies, or have any comments on the information contained in the SRS Data 

Sheet. This letter, including the SRS Data Sheet, is posted on the NMSS State Communication 

Portal: https://scp.nrc.gov/rulemaking.html. 

 
M. Welling -2- 

If you have any questions regarding the comments, the compatibility and health and safety 

categories, or any of the NRC regulations used in the review, please contact Michelle 

Beardsley, State Regulation Review Coordinator, at (610) 337-6942 

(Michelle.Beardsley@nrc.gov) or Stephen Poy at (301) 415-7135 (Stephen.Poy@nrc.gov). 

Sincerely, 

/RA/ 

Michalak for PHenderson 

Pamela J. Henderson, Deputy Director 

Division of Material Safety, State, Tribal 

 and Rulemaking Programs 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Enclosures: 

1. Compatibility Comments 

2. Virginia SRS Data Sheet
M. Welling -2- 

If you have any questions regarding the comments, the compatibility and health and safety 

categories, or any of the NRC regulations used in the review, please contact Michelle 

Beardsley, State Regulation Review Coordinator, at (610) 337-6942 

(Michelle.Beardsley@nrc.gov) or Stephen Poy at (301) 415-7135 (Stephen.Poy@nrc.gov). 

Sincerely, 

Pamela J. Henderson, Deputy Director 

Division of Material Safety, State, Tribal 

 and Rulemaking Programs 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Enclosures: 

1. Compatibility Comments 

2. Virginia SRS Data Sheet 

DISTRIBUTION: SP 05 

DIR RF (16-48) 

M. Ford, RSAO 

Virginia File 

OFFICE ASPB ASPB OGC ASPB:BC MSTR:DD 

NAME SPoy MBeardsley IIrvin PMichalak PMichalak for 

PHenderson 

DATE 3/1/16 3/1/16 3/2/16 3/04/16 3/04/16 

ML16061A479 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Package ML16054A371
Enclosure 1 

COMPATIBILITY COMMENTS ON VIRGINIA FINAL REGULATIONS 

STATE SECTION NRC SECTION RATS ID CATEGORY SUBJECT and COMMENTS 

1 481-451.B.1 37.21(b) 2013-1 B Personnel access authorization 

requirements for category 1 or 

category 2 quantities of radioactive 

material 

Virginia regulations omit an equivalent 

requirement in 10 CFR 37.21(b). 

Virginia needs to add an equivalent 

requirement to 481-451.B.1. in order 

to meet the Compatibility Category B 

designation assigned to 10 CFR 

37.21(b). 

2 481-451.B.3. 

 

37.25(b) 2013-1 C Background investigations 

Virginia regulations in Section 

451.B.3.b state, “Individuals who have 

been determined to be 

trustworthy and reliable for 

unescorted access to Category 1 or 

Category 2 quantities of radioactive 

material in accordance with 

12VAC5-481-451, 

"Increased controls and 

fingerprinting," as effective on 

October 3, 2008, can continue to 

have unescorted access 

to Category 1 and Category 2 

quantities of radioactive 

material without further investigation.” 

The reference to12VAC5-481-451, 

“Increased controls and fingerprinting” 

needs to be replaced with “fingerprint 

orders”. 

Virginia needs to make the change 

indicated above in order to meet the 

Compatibility Category C designation 

assigned to 10 CFR 37.25(b). 

COMMENT MODIFIED FROM FROM 

NRC LETTER DATED February 19, 
2 

STATE SECTION NRC SECTION RATS ID CATEGORY SUBJECT and COMMENTS 

2015/ML15020A705.

3 481-451.B.5 37.29(a) 2013-1 B Relief from fingerprinting, 

identification, and criminal history 

records checks and other elements 

of background investigations for 

designated categories of 

individuals permitted unescorted 

access to certain radioactive 

materials 

Virginia regulations omit an equivalent 

requirement to 10 CFR 37.29(a)(7). 

Virginia needs to add an equivalent 

requirement to 481-451.B.5. in order 

to meet the Compatibility Category B 

designation assigned to 10 CFR 

37.29(a)(7). 

COMMENT STANDS FROM NRC 

LETTER DATED February 19, 

2015/ML15020A705. 
STATE REGULATION STATUS

State: Virginia Trackin

Date: 0

[ 1 amendment(s) reviewed identified by a * at the beginning of the equivalent NRC requirement.] 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1991-1 Safety Requirements for Radiographic Equipment 

Part 34 55 FR 843 (Superceded by 1997-5) 

01/10/1994 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1991-2 ASNT Certification of Radiographers 

Part 34 56 FR 11504 (Superceded by 1997-5) 

none Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1991-3 Standards for Protection Against Radiation 

Part 20 56 FR 23360; 56 FR 61352; 57 FR 38588; 57 FR 

57877; 58 FR 67657; 59 FR 41641; 60 FR 20183 

01/01/1994 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1991-4 Notification of Incidents 

Parts 20, 30, 31, 34, 39, 40 and 70 56 FR 64980 

10/15/1994 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1992-1 Quality Management Program and 

Misadministrations Part 35 56 FR 34104 (Superceded by 2002-2)

01/27/1995 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
2 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1992-2 Eliminating the Recordkeeping Requirements 

for Departures from Manufacturer's Instructions Parts 30 and 35 57 FR 45566 

none Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1993-1 Decommissioning Recordkeeping and License 

Termination: Documentation Additions [Restricted 

areas and spill sites] Parts 30 and 40 58 FR 39628 

10/25/1996 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1993-2 Licensing and Radiation Safety Requirements for 

Irradiators Part 36 58 FR 7715 

07/01/1996 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1993-3 Definition of Land Disposal and Waste Site QA 

Program Part 61 58 FR 33886 

07/22/1996 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1994-1 Self-Guarantee as an Additional Financial 

Mechanism Parts 30, 40 and 70 58 FR 68726; 59 FR 1618 

none Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1994-2 Uranium Mill Tailings Regulations: Conforming 

NRC Requirements to EPA Standards Part 40 59 FR 28220 

07/01/1997 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
3 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1994-3 Timeliness in Decommissioning Material Facilities 

Parts 30, 40 and 70 59 FR 36026 

08/15/1997 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-1 Preparation, Transfer for Commercial Distribution, 

and Use of Byproduct Material for Medical Use Parts 30, 32 and 35 59 FR 61767; 59 FR 65243; 60 FR 322 

01/01/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-2 Frequency of Medical Examinations for Use of 

Respiratory Protection Equipment Part 20 60 FR 7900 

03/13/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-3 Low-Level Waste Shipment Manifest Information 

and Reporting Parts 20 and 61 60 FR 15649; 60 FR 25983 

03/01/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-4 Performance Requirements for Radiography 

Equipment Part 34 60 FR 28323 (Superceded by 1997-5) 

06/30/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-5 Radiation Protection Requirements: Amended 

Definitions and Criteria Parts 19 and 20 60 FR 36038 

08/14/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
4 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1995-6 Clarification of Decommissioning Funding 

Requirements Parts 30, 40 and 70 60 FR 38235 

11/24/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1995-7 Medical Administration of Radiation and Radioactive 

Materials Parts 20 and 35 60 FR 48623 (Superceded by 2002-2 and 2005-2) 

10/20/1998 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1996-1 Compatibility with the International Atomic Energy 

Agency Part 71 60 FR 50248; 61 FR 28724 (Superceded by 2004-1) 

04/01/1999 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1996-2 One Time Extension of Certain Byproduct, Source 

and Special Nuclear Materials Licenses Parts 30, 40 and 70 61 FR 1109 

02/15/1999 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1996-3 Termination or Transfer of Licensed Activities: 

Record keeping Requirements Parts 20, 30, 40, 61 and 70 61 FR 24669 

06/17/1999 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-1 Resolution of Dual Regulation of Airborne Effluents 

of Radioactive Materials; Clean Air Act Part 20 61 FR 65120 

01/9/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
5 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1997-2 Recognition of Agreement State Licenses in Areas 

Under Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction Within an 

Agreement State Part 150 62 FR 1662 

02/27/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-3 Criteria for the Release of Individuals Administered 

Radioactive Material Parts 20 and 35 62 FR 4120 

05/29/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-4 Fissile Material Shipments and Exemptions 

Part 71 62 FR 5907 (Superceded by 2004-1) 

02/10/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-5 Licenses for Industrial Radiography and Radiation 

Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiography Operations Parts 30, 34, 71 and 150 62 FR 28947 

06/27/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-6 Radiological Criteria for License Termination 

Parts 20, 30, 40 and 70 62 FR 39057 

08/20/2000 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1997-7 Exempt Distribution of a Radioactive Drug 

Containing One Micro curie of Carbon-14 Urea Part 30 62 FR 63634 

01/02/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
6 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1998-1 Deliberate Misconduct by Unlicensed Persons 

Parts 30, 40, 61, 70, 71 and 150 63 FR 1890; 63 FR 13773 

02/12/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1998-2 Self-Guarantee of Decommissioning Funding by 

Nonprofit and Non-Bond-Issuing Licensees Parts 30, 40 and 70 63 FR 29535 

07/01/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1998-3 License Term for Medical Use Licenses 

Part 35 63 FR 31604 (Superceded by 2002-2) 

07/10/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1998-4 Licenses for Industrial Radiography and Radiation 

Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiographic Operations Part 34 63 FR 37059 

07/09/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1998-5 Minor Corrections, Clarifying Changes, and a Minor 

Policy Change Parts 20, 32, 35, 36 and 39 63 FR 39477; 63 FR 45393 

10/26/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1998-6 Transfer for Disposal and Manifests: Minor 

Technical Conforming Amendment Part 20 63 FR 50127 

11/20/2001 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
7 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

1999-1 Radiological Criteria for License Termination of 

Uranium Recovery Facilities Part 40 64 FR 17506 

06/11/2002 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1999-2 Requirements for Those Who Possess Certain 

Industrial Devices Containing Byproduct Material to Provide Requested Information Part 31 64 FR 42269 

10/04/2002 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

1999-3 Respiratory Protection and Controls to Restrict 

Internal Exposure Part 20 64 FR 54543; 64 FR 55524 

02/02/2003 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2000-1 Energy Compensation Sources for Well Logging 

and Other Regulatory Clarifications Part 39 65 FR 20337 

05/17/2003 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2000-2 New Dosimetry Technology 

Parts 34, 36 and 39 65 FR 63750 

01/08/2004 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2001-1 Requirements for Certain Generally Licensed 

Industrial Devices Containing Byproduct Material Parts 30, 31 and 32 65 FR 79162 

02/16/2004 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
8 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

2002-1 Revision of the Skin Dose Limit 

Part 20 67 FR 16298 

04/05/2005 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2002-2 Medical Use of Byproduct Material 

Parts 20, 32 and 35 67 FR 20249 

10/24/2005 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2003-1 Financial Assurance for Materials Licensees 

Parts 30, 40 and 70 68 FR 57327 

12/03/2006 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2004-1 Compatibility With IAEA Transportation Safety 

Standards and Other Transportation Safety Amendments Part 71 69 FR 3697 

10/01/2007 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2005-1 Security Requirements for Portable Gauges 

Containing Byproduct Material Part 30 70 FR 2001 

07/11/2008 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2005-2 Medical Use of Byproduct Material - Recognition of 

Specialty Boards Part 35 70 FR 16336; 71 FR 1926 

04/29/2008 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2005-3 Increased Controls for Risk-Significant Radioactive 

Sources (NRC Order EA-05-090)

70 FR 72128 

12/01/2005 Final 

ML100280901 

No Comments 03/02/2010 ML100350973 
9 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

2006-1 Minor Amendments 

Parts 20, 30, 32, 35, 40 and 70 71 FR 15005 

03/27/2009 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2006-2 National Source Tracking System - Serialization 

Requirements Part 32 with reference to Part 20 Appendix E 71 FR 65685 

02/06/2007 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2006-3 National Source Tracking System 

Part 20 71 FR 65685, 72 FR 59162 

01/31/2009 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2007-1 Medical Use of Byproduct Material - Minor 

Corrections and Clarifications Parts 32 and 35 72 FR 45147, 54207 

10/29/2010 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2007-2 Exemptions From Licensing, General Licenses, and 

Distribution of Byproduct Material: Licensing and 

Reporting Requirements Parts 30, 31, 32 and 150 72 FR 58473 

12/17/2010 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2007-3 Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct 

Material Parts 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 61 and 150 72 FR 55864 

11/30/2010 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 
10 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

2007-4 Order Imposing Fingerprinting Requirements and 

Criminal History Records Check Requirements for Unescorted Access to Certain Radioactive Material 

NRC Order EA-07-305 72 FR 70901 

06/05/2008 Final 

ML100280901 

Comments 03/02/2010 ML100350973 

2008-1 Occupational Dose Records, Labeling Containers, 

and Total Effective Dose Equivalent Parts 19 and 20 72 FR 68043 

02/15/2011 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

2009-1 Medical Use of Byproduct Material – Authorized 

User Clarification Part 35 74 FR 33901 

09/28/2012 Final 

ML081760528 ML082960329 

No Comments 11/10/2008 ML082970632 

Adopbeca

2011-1 Decommissioning Planning 

Parts 20, 30, 40 and 70 76 FR 35512 

12/17/2015 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 

2011-2 Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Materials 

Licensees Parts 30, 36, 39, 40, 70 and 150 76 FR 56951 

11/14/2014 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

No Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 

2012-1 Change of Compatibility of 10 CFR 31.5 and 31.6 

(See RATS ID: 2001-1 for Rule text) 77 FR 3640 

01/25/2015 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 
11 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

2012-2 Advance Notification to Native American Tribes of 

Transportation of Certain Types of Nuclear Waste 

Part 71 77 FR 34194 

08/10/2015 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 20/19/2015 ML14307B093 

2012-3 Technical Corrections 

Parts 30, 34, 40 and 71 77 FR 39899 

08/06/2015 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 

2012-4 Requirements for Distribution of Byproduct Material 

Parts 30, 31, 32, 40 and 70 77 FR 43666 

10/23/2015 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 

*2013-1 Physical Protection of Byproduct Material, 10 CFR 

Parts 20, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39 and 71 78 FR 16922 

03/19/2016 Proposed 

ML14307B118 Final ML16054A490 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 Comments 03/04/2016 ML16054A371 

2013-2 Distribution of Source Material to Exempt Persons 

and to General Licensees and Revision of General License and Exemptions, 10 CFR Parts 30, 40 and 70 78 FR 32310 

08/27/2016 Proposed 

ML14307B118 

Comments 02/19/2015 ML14307B093 

2015-1 Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material – 

Written Reports and Clarifying Amendments Part 70 79 FR 57721, 80 FR 143 

01/26/2018 
12 

RATS ID NRC Chronology Identification Date Due for 

State Adoption 

Incoming Letter 

Outgoing Package 

Note

2015-2 Safeguards Information - Modified Handling 

Categorization, Change for Materials Facilities Parts 30, 37, 73 and 150 79 FR 58664, 80 FR 3865 

01/28/2018 

2015-3 Revisions to Transportation Safety Requirements 

and Harmonization with International Atomic Energy Agency Transportation Requirements Part 71 80 FR 33987 

07/13/2018 

2015-4 Miscellaneous Corrections, 

Parts 37 and 40 80 FR 45841 

09/02/2018 

2015-5 Miscellaneous Corrections, 

Parts 19, 20, 30, 32, 37, 40, 61, 70, 71 and 150 80 FR 74974 

12/31/2018