Federal regulators on Wednesday announced tightened rules surrounding radioactive materials used by manufacturers.
Specifically, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will now require a license for more manufactures and importers of products that contain small amounts of unenriched uranium and thorium, such as welding rods, decorative glassware and gas lantern mantles. Additionally, the rules introduce new requirements for labeling, reporting and record keeping.
The agency will also be less generous with licensing exemptions for small amounts of these source materials in dispersible forms, such as liquids and powders. Their use or transfer without a license will be restricted to 3.3 pounds at a time, compared to 15 pounds previously. Annual limits will drop from 150 pounds to 15.4 pounds. Limits on solid, non-dispersible forms of the materials, as well as certain laboratory and water treatment applications, are unchanged. At the same time, the NRC expanded a licensing exemption for manufacturers of high-tech lens coatings.
The rule changes, which underwent a public comment process in 2010, will take effect Aug. 27, according to an NRC release.