United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-07-12 monographic deposited born digital 13 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-1038T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T P0b002ee18039704e f:d071038t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T GAO-07-1038T Accountability Federal regulations Independent regulatory commissions License agreements Licenses Radiation safety Radioactive materials Safety regulation Security investigations Testimony A72503 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates domestic medical, industrial, and research uses of sealed radioactive sources. Organizations or individuals attempting to purchase a sealed source must apply for a license and gain the approval of either NRC or an "agreement state." To become an agreement state, a state must demonstrate to NRC that its regulatory program is compatible with NRC regulations and is effective in protecting public health and safety. NRC then transfers portions of its authority to the agreement state. In 2003, GAO reported that weaknesses in NRC's licensing program could allow terrorists to obtain radioactive materials. NRC took some steps to respond to the GAO report, including issuing guidance to license examiners. To determine whether NRC actions to address GAO recommendations were sufficient, the Subcommittee asked GAO to test the licensing program using covert investigative methods. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T.pdf GAO-07-1038T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1038T Testimony GAO-07-1038T; Nuclear Security: Actions Taken by NRC to Strengthen Its Licensing Process for Sealed Radioactive Sources Are Not Effective; Accountability Federal regulations Independent regulatory commissions License agreements Licenses Radiation safety Radioactive materials Safety regulation Security investigations