1 Milestones of Cooperation Michael Weber Deputy Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission August 22, 2011

Milestones 2 First Agreement Mill Tailings Low-Level Waste IMPEP Adequacy & Compatibility NMP Increased Controls GAO Sting

The First Agreement Atomic Energy Act amended in 1959 Kentucky became first Agreement State on March 26, 1962 Lessons –States are active –States are persuasive –Criteria for discontinuance of authority –Annual meetings with Agreement States 3

Uranium Mill Tailings The problem with mill tailings Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 Lessons –Explicit requirement for State reviews –Authority for temporary suspensions 4

Low-Level Waste Crisis in low-level waste management Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 – limited progress Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 Lessons –Regulator, not waste advocate –Waste management recognized as category 5

IMPEP Congressman Mike Synar GAO audits on decommissioning and materials oversight Lessons –Need for high-level involvement –Benefits of greater structure –Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) 6

Adequacy and Compatibility Orderly regulatory pattern Policy statements –Principles and Policy of the Agreement State Program –Adequacy and Compatibility Early and substantive involvement Lessons –Management Directive 5.9 –Mutual ownership and understanding –Alignment is key –Working groups work 7

National Materials Program Agreement States regulate half – 1970 Emergence of the concept Cooperative process to prioritize Lessons –Working groups help –Compatibility essential –IMPEP focus –Early involvement 8

Increased Controls Terrorist attacks of 9-11 Safety and security enhancements Security orders in i Agreements Increased controls in 11-12/2005 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Lessons –Relationships founded on trust –States know their licensees best 9

GAO Sting “Good faith” presumption Vulnerabilities exploited Improved control, effectiveness, and efficiency through automation –National Source Tracking System –Web-Based Licensing System –License Verification System Lessons –Learning from each other –Sharing best practices –Accomplish outcomes with flexibility 10

Conclusion Stronger, more resilient partnership Significant evolution –Past –Future Build on successes 11