H.R. 1636: Securing our Radioactive Materials Act

The bill, known as the "Securing our Radioactive Materials Act," is aimed at enhancing the security measures related to radioactive materials overseen by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Here are the main provisions of the bill:

Actions Required by the NRC

Under this bill, the NRC is directed to take specific actions to address security risks associated with radioactive materials, as highlighted in a report by the Government Accountability Office. The actions include:

1. Incorporating Socioeconomic Factors: The NRC must consider the socioeconomic consequences when making decisions about security measures for radioactive materials.
2. Enhancing Licensing and Tracking Systems: The NRC is required to:
• Add all category 3 licenses to a Web-based Licensing System.
• Ensure that all category 3 sources are included and tracked in the National Source Tracking System.
• Require all vendors to confirm the legitimacy of potential purchasers’ category 3 licenses with the appropriate regulatory authority.

Regulation Revisions

The NRC must revise any relevant guidelines, policies, and regulations within one year of the bill's enactment to implement the actions specified in the previous section.

Objective

The overarching goal of the bill is to bolster security protocols concerning radioactive materials to mitigate potential threats, including the risk of "dirty bombs." By tightening these security measures, the bill aims to enhance public safety and ensure better tracking and verification practices for radioactive sources.

Relevant Companies

• DUK - Duke Energy Corporation: As an energy company that handles various forms of energy production, tightening regulations on radioactive materials may affect their operational practices concerning radioactive materials used in energy generation.
• EXC - Exelon Corporation: This company operates nuclear plants and would likely be impacted by the new licensing and tracking requirements for radioactive materials.
• NEE - NextEra Energy, Inc.: Similar to Duke and Exelon, NextEra operates in nuclear energy and may need to adapt its tracking and compliance measures in response to the bill.