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Radiation Regulations

Copyright/Disclaimer Statement

There have been (and will continue to be) frequent changes in the Radiation Regulations.  The June 2003 edition of the printed regulations is the most current hardcopy.  Regulations can be downloaded and information on the latest regulations, proposed regulations, and future changes can be obtained at the Washington State Office of the Code Reviser site.  Use the Washington State Register site for proposed regulations, notices of public hearings, and final rules on Radiation Regulations.

Statutory Authority and Rule

• Our statutory authority is found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW)  (RCW 70.98 for ionizing radiation in general and RCW 70.121 for uranium mill tailings).
• The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for all agency rules is available on-line (Search for Title 246, then look for Radiation rules under chapters 246-220 through 246-254 WAC).
• Printed versions of the regulations are also available under publications.

Chapters of Use to All Licensees

• Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
• Chapter 246-221 WAC Basic Standards.

• Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.

• Chapter 246-254 WAC Fees.

• Chapter 246-232 Licensing Applicability.

The following specialized chapters are of importance to the type of users listed:

• Chapter 246-231 WAC Transportation Licensees involved in transporting radioactive materials, such as portable gauge users, industrial radiographers, and nuclear pharmacies.
• Chapter 246-249 WAC  Commercial Disposal Site Licensees needing to dispose of long-lived waste.
• Chapter 246-247 WAC Air Emissions Licensees with unsealed radioactive materials that could potentially become airborne.
• Chapter 246-246 WAC Criteria for License Termination Licensees needing to decontaminate their facilities.

Cross Reference

Cross Reference to our Regulatory Programs. Go to the Section for a list of which regulations you should download.

1. X-Ray Control Section

   X-ray machines

   Accelerators

2. Radioactive Materials Section

   Nuclear Medicine

   Industrial Radiography

   Portable and Fixed Gauges

   Research Laboratories

3. Waste Management Section

   Low Level Waste disposal; site user permits

   Uranium Mill Tailings

   Radioactive Waste Processors

4. Air Emissions Section

   Federal facilities

   Notices of Construction

X-Ray Control Section

Applicable chapters to dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, private medical practices, medical clinics, and hospitals.

• Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
• Chapter 246-221 WAC Basic Standards.
• Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
• Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly & Registration.
• Chapter 246-225 WAC X-Rays in the Healing Arts.

Applicable chapters to industrial radiographers.

• Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
• Chapter 246-221 WAC Basic Standards.
• Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
• Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly & Registration.
• Chapter 246-227 WAC Industrial X-Ray.

Applicable chapters to other industrial and laboratory research.

• Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
• Chapter 246-221 WAC Basic Standards.
• Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.
• Chapter 246-224 WAC Radiation Machine Assembly & Registration.
• Chapter 246-228 WAC Analytical X-Ray Equipment.
• Chapter 246-229 WAC Particle Accelerators.

To obtain further information, please call, write or e-mail:

Radioactive Materials Section

All radioactive materials licensees need to have the following chapters available at all times:

• Chapter 246-220 WAC General Provisions.
• Chapter 246-221 WAC Basic Standards (excluding 246-221-290).
• Chapter 246-222 WAC Worker Rights.

Applicable chapters to the Radioactive Materials Section.

• Chapter 246-235 WAC Specific Licenses.
• Chapter 246-239 WAC Nuclear Medicine Licensees involved in nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology, radiopharmaceutical therapy, etc.
• Chapter 246-240 WAC Medical Use of Radioactive Material Licensees treating patients with sealed sources.
• Chapter 246-243 WAC Industrial Radiography Licensees performing industrial radiography.
• Chapter 246-244 WAC Wireline Services Licensees performing well logging.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

Waste Management Section

Applicable chapters for the Waste Management Section. 

• Chapter 246-249 WAC Use of the Commercial Disposal Site.
• Chapter 246-250 WAC Licensing and Land Disposal.
• Chapter 246-252 WAC Uranium and/or Thorium Milling.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

Air Emissions Section

Chapter 246-247 WAC contains regulations important to all facilities with the potential to emit airborne radioactivity.  This includes federal facilities and state licensed facilities.

Federal Law

• Clean Air Act Federal act authorizing EPA to regulate hazardous air pollutants including radionuclides.

EPA Regulations

• 40CFR61, Subpart A National emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, general provisions.

• 40CFR61, Subpart B radon-222 emissions to the ambient air from underground uranium mines.

• 40CFR61, Subpart H radionuclide emissions, other than radon, from U.S. Department of Energy facilities.

• 40CFR61, Subpart I radionuclide emissions emitted by federal facilities that are not regulated elsewhere.

• 40CFR61, Subpart K emissions of polonium-210 and lead-210 to the air from phosphorus plants.

• 40CFR61, Subpart Q emission of radon-222 to the ambient air from Department of Energy (DOE) storage or disposal facilities for radium-containing materials.

• 40CFR61, Subpart R emission of radon from phosphogypsum stacks.

• 40CFR61, Subpart T radon-222 emissions from uranium mill tailings piles that are no longer operational.

• 40CFR61, Subpart W emission of radon-222 from uranium mills and their associated tailings.

• Laws & Regulations legal authorities for the regulation of air emissions of radionuclide.

NRC regulations

• http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part020/index.html  Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 CFR 20.

• http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part020/part020-1101.html 10 CFR 20, 10 mrem constraint for  radioactive air emissions.

• Clean Air Act Federal act to regulate hazardous air pollutants which includes radionuclides.

Ecology Regulations

• Chapter 173-401 WAC Establishes the elements of a comprehensive Washington state air operating permit program consistent with the requirements of Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act.

• Chapter173-480  WAC Ambient air quality standards and emission limits for radionuclides. Defines maximum allowable levels for radionuclides in the ambient air and control emissions from specific sources.

Models

• CAP88-PC Atmospheric transport model for assessing dose and risk from radioactive air emissions. Applicable to Department of Energy compliance with Clean Air Act. 

• COMPLY Atmospheric screening model for assessing dose from radioactive air emissions. Applicable to Department of Energy compliance with Clean Air Act, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 CFR 20. 

• GENII-NESHAPs A model for use with routine chronic atmospheric releases of radionuclides, providing a standardized output in terms of radiation doses and risks.

Useful Information

• DOE Nuclear Air Cleaning Handbook

The revised DOE Nuclear Air Cleaning Handbook (HDBK-1169-2003) has useful information concerning the design of a nuclear air cleaning system.

To obtain further information please call, write or e-mail:

Proposed Regulation Changes

Regulation changes will occur in the following areas:

• Radioactive Air Emissions -- expected Fall 2005 - Spring 2007.
• Security for Portable Gauges -- expected Summer 2007.
• Transportation requirements update -- expected Fall 2006 - Winter 2007.
• Radiation Machine Assembly and Registration -- effective May 17, 2008.
• X-Ray Dental Standards -- Dental Rule expected Spring 2008.
• Radiation Machine Facility Registration Fees -- expected Summer 2008.
• Radiation Protection Fees -- Summer 2008

Timelines for these regulation changes may be viewed under "Office of Radiation Protection" on our Division of Environmental Health rules development Web page.  You may also go to our Department of Health Rules Comment page to view rules that are currently available for public comment.

Past Changes to Regulations

For information on how and why a specific regulation has changed over time, look up the "history" that appears as fine print at the end of the individual section.  Begin at Washington Administrative Code (WAC) to locate the regulation to be researched and the specific section of interest.  Locate the state register number (2 digit year - 2 digit register volume - 3 digit item number). For example 00-08-013. Finally, to find the specific Washington State Register notice go to search, in the Washington State Register, and put the register number in the box of the Search Legislative Documents:(Bills, RCW, WAC, and State Register documents.), be sure to check the specific year in the small boxes below.

Current Activities

• Proposed Regulation Changes

• Other Environmental Health Rules Under Development

• DOH Rules Open for Public Comment