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Regulatory Programs and Rules


Chapters of Use to All Licensees

The following specialized chapters are of importance to the type of users listed:

  • Chapter 246-231 WAC Transportation Licensees involved in transporting radioactive materials, such as portable gauge users, industrial radiographers, and nuclear pharmacies.
  • Chapter 246-249 WAC  Commercial Disposal Site Licensees needing to dispose of long-lived waste.
  • Chapter 246-247 WAC Air Emissions Licensees with unsealed radioactive materials that could potentially become airborne.
  • Chapter 246-246 WAC Criteria for License Termination Licensees needing to decontaminate their facilities.

Radiation Regulatory Programs

Cross Reference to our Regulatory Programs. Go to the Section for a list of which regulations you should download.

  1. Air Emissions Section

    Federal facilities

    Notices of Construction

  2. Radioactive Materials Section

    Nuclear Medicine

    Industrial Radiography

    Portable and Fixed Gauges

    Research Laboratories

  3. Waste Management Section

    Low Level Waste disposal; site user permits

    Uranium Mill Tailings

    Radioactive Waste Processors

  4. X-Ray Section

    X-ray machines

    Accelerators


Air Emissions Section

Chapter 246-247 WAC contains regulations important to all facilities with the potential to emit airborne radioactivity.  This includes federal facilities and state licensed facilities.

Federal Law

  • Clean Air Act Federal act authorizing EPA to regulate hazardous air pollutants including radionuclides.

EPA Regulations
  • 40CFR61, Subpart A National emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, general provisions.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart B radon-222 emissions to the ambient air from underground uranium mines.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart H radionuclide emissions, other than radon, from U.S. Department of Energy facilities.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart I radionuclide emissions emitted by federal facilities that are not regulated elsewhere.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart K emissions of polonium-210 and lead-210 to the air from phosphorus plants.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart Q emission of radon-222 to the ambient air from Department of Energy (DOE) storage or disposal facilities for radium-containing materials.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart R emission of radon from phosphogypsum stacks.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart T radon-222 emissions from uranium mill tailings piles that are no longer operational.

  • 40CFR61, Subpart W emission of radon-222 from uranium mills and their associated tailings.

  • Laws & Regulations legal authorities for the regulation of air emissions of radionuclide.

NRC regulations

Ecology Regulations

  • Chapter 173-401 WAC Establishes the elements of a comprehensive Washington state air operating permit program consistent with the requirements of Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act.

  • Chapter173-480 WAC Ambient air quality standards and emission limits for radionuclides. Defines maximum allowable levels for radionuclides in the ambient air and control emissions from specific sources.

Models

  • CAP88-PC Atmospheric transport model for assessing dose and risk from radioactive air emissions. Applicable to Department of Energy compliance with Clean Air Act. 
  • COMPLY Atmospheric screening model for assessing dose from radioactive air emissions. Applicable to Department of Energy compliance with Clean Air Act, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 CFR 20. 

Useful Information

The revised DOE Nuclear Air Cleaning Handbook (HDBK-1169-2003) has useful information concerning the design of a nuclear air cleaning system.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

John Martell, Manager
509-946-3798 (Phone)
509-946-0876 (FAX)
 
Air Emissions Section, P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827

Radioactive Materials Section

All radioactive materials licensees need to have the following chapters available at all times:

  • Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
  • Chapter 246-221 WAC Radiation Protection Standards (excluding 246-221-290).
  • Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.

Applicable chapters to the Radioactive Materials Section.

  • Chapter 246-235 WAC Specific Licenses.
  • Chapter 246-240 WAC Medical Use of Radioactive Material.
  • Chapter 246-243 WAC Industrial Radiography Licensees.
  • Chapter 246-244 WAC Wireline Services Licensees performing well logging.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

Craig Lawrence, Manager
360-236-3221 (Phone)
360-236-2255 (FAX)
 
Radioactive Materials, P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827

Waste Management Section

Applicable chapters for the Waste Management Section. 

  • Chapter 246-249 WAC Use of the Commercial Disposal Site.
  • Chapter 246-250 WAC Licensing Land Disposal.
  • Chapter 246-252 WAC Uranium and/or Thorium Milling.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

Mike Elsen, Manager
360-236-3241 (Phone)
360-236-2255 (FAX)
 
Waste Management, P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827

X-Ray Section

Applicable chapters to dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, private medical practices, medical clinics, and hospitals.

  • Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
  • Chapter 246-221 WAC Standards.
  • Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
  • Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly and Registration.
  • Chapter 246-225 WAC X-Rays in the Healing Arts.
  • Chapter 246-225A WAC X-Ray Quality Standards for Dental Facilities

Applicable chapters to industrial radiographers.

  • Chapter 246-220 WAC Radiation Protection General Provisions.
  • Chapter 246-221 WAC Standards.
  • Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
  • Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly and Registration.
  • Chapter 246-227 WAC Industrial X-Ray.

Applicable chapters to other industrial and laboratory research.

  • Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
  • Chapter 246-221 WAC Standards.
  • Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
  • Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly and Registration.
  • Chapter 246-228 WAC Analytical X-Ray Equipment.
  • Chapter 246-229 WAC Particle Accelerators.

To obtain further information, please call, write or e-mail:

Daniel Van Gent, Manager
360-280-8335 (Mobile)
360-236-2266 (FAX)
 
X-Ray Section
P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827
 
 
     

Current Activities

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•  Environmental Health Rules Under Development

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Statutory Authority and Rule

• Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

• RCW 70.98 for   ionizing radiation

• RCW 70.121 for uranium mill tailings

• Washington Administrative Code (WAC)

• Washington State Office of the Code Revisor

• Washington State Register

• For proposed regulations, notices of public hearings, and final rules on Radiation Regulations.

 

 

 

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Washington State Department of Health

Office of Radiation Protection  
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(360) 236-3300

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