The Bureau's Functional Statement
Directs the statewide radiation protection program with the goal of protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth from unnecessary exposure to radiation. This includes policy, technical, and fiscal management for the program areas of: radioactive material, radiation producing machines, radon, nuclear safety, low-level radioactive waste, emergency response, and decommissioning and environmental surveillance. Ensures Central and Regional Office Radiation Protection Program staff communicate, uniformly implement and effectively support statewide program activities such as licensing, registration, certification and inspections. Produces an Annual Report on all Radiation Protection Program activities in Pennsylvania. The Director is the primary and official liaison for the Commonwealth to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Organization of Agreement States, and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD).
- Registers x-ray equipment and vendors of machines which produce ionizing radiation.
- Issues specific licenses to accelerator facilities.
- Issues specific and general licenses for the use of radioactive material.
- Oversees the production and issuance of associated registration certificates, renewal letters, invoices and the collection of annual fees. Ensures that necessary related administrative actions are taken.
- Audits Regional Office inspections of users of ionizing radiation sources to monitor compliance with state radiation regulations.
- Monitors the Regional Offices in their conduct of inspections of users of radiation producing machines and radioactive material to ensure uniform and competent program implementation.
- Monitors and tracks medical and nuclear material events. Coordinates with regional offices on the response to the associated radiological incidents.
- Oversees the Regional Office investigation of incidents and accidents involving ionizing radiation, and maintains the database(s) of such events.
- Provides the public with information regarding the use of ionizing radiation in the Commonwealth.
- Develops regulations for the safe use of radiation-producing machines and radioactive material as the need arises.
- Conducts studies to evaluate ionizing radiation hazards and their control.
- Develops guidance and fact sheets to assist licensees and registrants in complying with the radiation regulations and avoiding unnecessary exposure to radiation.
- Provides consultative support to Regional Office staff in the interpretation of regulations and policy.
- Administers the Bureau’s federal contracts for special projects such as the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), which involve surveying the use of x-ray equipment.
- Reviews solid waste facility radiation monitoring action plans, and facilitates the safe disposal of orphan sources of radiation.
- Division staff serve in a number of Emergency Response Team roles, including Field Team Committee and coordinator, radio operator, alternate incident manager and dose assessor.
- Provides liaison and support for the Radiation Protection Committee (RPAC).
- Produces a Division Annual Report on radiation control activities, inspections and related events in Pennsylvania, including data interpretation.
- Performs technical reviews of decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities for radioactive materials licensees in accordance to appropriate state and federal criteria.
- Reviews and evaluates financial assurance mechanisms required for decommissioning, site characterization plans and reports, health and safety plans for decommissioning activities, decommissioning plans and final status surveys.
- Responsible for performing onsite reviews and inspections of D&D activities for occupational, public, and environmental radiation protection concerns. These activities include performing confirmatory surveys and samples to ensure the cleanup levels established for the site have been met.
- Primary interface with federal agencies (e.g., NRC, EPA, ATSDR) that deal with radiological cleanup of sites in Pennsylvania. This includes attending and participating in a variety of public and technical meetings with these agencies.
- Collects environmental samples and measures radiation/radioactivity levels on decommissioning projects during investigation and release surveys.
- Conducts a comprehensive environmental radiation monitoring program throughout the Commonwealth. This includes sampling and analysis of environmental parameters to determine levels of radiation and radioactivity in the general environment, around nuclear power reactors, background levels of radiation in the environment attributable to naturally occurring materials fallout from nuclear weapons testing, and accidents or events.
- Assists other programs in performing dose assessments for contaminated soils, ground water and buildings.
- Coordinates and serves as liaison for samples submissions to the DEP Radiation Measurement Lab.
- Participates in inspections of any active NRC Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) sites in Pennsylvania. The Decommissioning Division will be the primary regulator for most of the NRC SDMP sites upon attainment of Agreement State status.
- Division staff serve in a number of Emergency Response Team roles, including Field Team Committee and coordinator, radio operator, alternate incident manager and dose assessor.
- Provides expertise and policy analysis of a wide range of environmental radiation issues.
- Responds to and advises Regional Offices on decommissioning and decontamination, environmental surveillance, and any unusual radiological incident.
- Produces a Division Annual Report on decommissioning and environmental radiation surveillance activities in Pennsylvania, including data interpretation.
- Conducts an independent and comprehensive nuclear safety oversight review program at the nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania including routine site visits.
- Monitors nuclear safety and licensing issues at research reactors, independent spent nuclear fuel, and other fuel cycle facilities in the Commonwealth.
- Reviews and evaluates all proposed license amendments for the nuclear power plants and provides input into the NRC review and approval process.
- Evaluates generic and plant specific nuclear safety issues and recommends appropriate actions to the NRC and the utilities regarding those issues.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive radiological emergency response plan for the Commonwealth.
- Participates in the nuclear power plant emergency exercises in order to maintain the ability to assess plant conditions during emergency events or incidents.
- Provides technical assistance to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and other state agencies (i.e., Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, etc.) during a nuclear event or incident for making appropriate protective action recommendations to protect public health and safety.
- Provides technical assistance to the State Office of Homeland Security regarding nuclear power plant safety and security issues.
- Establishes and coordinates training courses for the bureau’s technical staff who respond to radiological emergencies.
- Participates in the development and implementation of the Pennsylvania Radiological Assistance Program (PARAP).
- Conducts inspections of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) shipments at nuclear power plants and other major LLRW generators in the Commonwealth.
- Provides liaison and support for the Low-level Radioactive Waste Advisory Committee (LLWAC).
- Provides administrative and technical support to the Department Secretary, who chairs the Appalachian States LLRW Compact Commission, regarding LLRW management and disposal within the Compact.
- Promotes radioactive waste minimization within the Appalachian Compact.
- Seeks advice from the Department Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee (LLWAC) regarding LLRW management and disposal issues.
- Monitors national developments regarding LLRW management and disposal issues.
- Regulates and oversees activities associated with the siting of a LLRW disposal facility in Pennsylvania.
- Coordinates the response to incidents involving major releases of radioactive materials.
- Monitors and reviews the proposed rulemaking by the appropriate federal agencies (i.e., NRC, EPA, FEMA, etc.) and provides feedback, as necessary.
- Monitors federal government’s development of a permanent high-level radioactive waste disposal facility.
- Educates the public regarding nuclear safety, radioactive waste and emergency preparedness issues.
- Produces a Division Annual Report on nuclear safety, nuclear / radiological emergency response activities in Pennsylvania.
- Prepares and publishes the annual LLRW Program Report and the annual report for the Appalachian States LLRW Compact Commission.
- Certifies individuals and firms to provide radon-related services to the public: Testing Certification, Laboratory Certification, and Mitigation Certification. Review and approve/disapprove certification applications, collect application fees, and enforce civil penalties.
- Performs routine inspections of mitigation installations, mitigation offices, testing, and laboratory facilities.
- Performs "courtesy inspections" on newly certified individuals/firms to catch mistakes before they occur and to provide a point of contact for the regulated community with the technical staff.
- Performs blind testing on radon-detection devices.
- Maintains and operates charcoal canister counting equipment and other radon monitoring devices in Central Office. Provides diagnostic services to homeowners and requesting mitigators on difficult-to-remediate houses.
- Operates a small radon chamber where calibrations, cross-checks, blind tests, and experiments can be carried out.
- Provides "Hot Spot" surveys in areas of high radon activity.
- Provides free confirmatory testing to homeowners who have installed active mitigation systems, and to homes with radon levels greater than 100 pCi/L.
- Develops and maintains various databases and spreadsheets for calculations, tracking data, and surveys. Maintains and configures DEP databases with BIS for certification tracking.
- Provides training to Central Office and Regional Office staff and to Radon Measurement Proficiency and Radon Contractor Proficiency standards. Provides technical support to Regions on all matters of radon mitigation, testing, diagnostics, and health effects.
- Is the primary interface with EPA for the State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG).
- Provides a wide variety of public information services to increase public awareness of the radon issue. Technical staff provide unbiased and expert advice on all aspects of radon to the general public.
- Division staff serve in a number of Emergency Response Team roles, including Field Team Committee and coordinator, radio operator, alternate incident manager and dose assessor.
- Responds to and advises regional offices on any unusual radiological incident.
- Performs limited research projects as opportunities present themselves, and continues to contribute technical information to the radon industry.
- Division staff serve on various radon related national committees.
- Produces a Division Annual Report on radon testing / mitigation and public outreach activities in Pennsylvania, including data interpretation.