As the state of Utah continues to explore the viability of nuclear energy as a power source in Utah to support our growing energy demands as a state, our role at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is very specific: safety and efficiency. Safety is our number one role, and we embrace that responsibility. It is also a very limited role right now, with the vast majority of nuclear regulation remaining with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We also have a successful track record of safely and efficiently managing elements of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Learn more about how nuclear waste is managed in the United States
What is an “Agreement State”?
Utah is a proud “Agreement State.” This means the NRC has relinquished to the State of Utah portions of its regulatory authority to license and regulate byproduct materials (radioisotopes), source material (uranium and thorium), and certain quantities of special nuclear material. Under this agreement, we are entirely responsible for managing our state programs that regulate these low-level radioactive materials while maintaining the rigorous, uncompromising safety standards established by the federal Atomic Energy Act and the Utah Radiation Control Act.
Our regulatory responsibilities
1. Uranium milling
Overseeing the first stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. Utah regulates conventional uranium milling, specifically at the White Mesa Uranium Mill outside of Blanding, Utah. This involves extracting uranium ore to create “yellowcake,” a crucial early step in processing nuclear fuel.
2. Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW)
Managing the safe disposal of Class A low-level radioactive waste. This is the least radioactive and least hazardous classification designated by the NRC, consisting of items like personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning rags, and medical tools. This waste is safely managed at the EnergySolutions Clive Facility in Tooele County.
3. Radioactive Material (RAM)
Regulating the civilian use of radioactive sources in our communities. DEQ handles the licensing, inspection, and management of radioactive materials in various applications, such as industrial radiography, nuclear medicine, and industrial gauges. material that is beneficial. (Note: The federal government maintains exclusive authority over commercial nuclear power plants.)
Utah’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office
The Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office is a specialized regulatory arm within the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control. Its mission is to centralize Utah’s current and future oversight of the “nuclear fuel cycle.” This Office will ensure a faster, more responsive regulatory environment while, above all, prioritizing safety of radioactive materials.