To prevent terrorists from stealing “dirty bomb” materials, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering new security regulations for portable industrial measurement tools that contain small amounts of radioactive material, the commission announced last week in a press release (see GSN, June 17).

The proposed rule would require portable gauge licensees to use at least two independent physical controls to secure gauges whenever they are left unsupervised.  For example, a licensee would be required to secure a gauge by storing it in a locked van and tethering it to the van by a steel cable, according to the release.

Approximately 5,100 portable gauge licenses have either been issued by the NRC or by states that have assumed some of the commission’s regulatory authority, according to the release.  Those states would be required to adopt similar security requirements to be compatible with NRC regulations.

Interested parties will be able to submit comments on the proposed rule for 75 days after a notice on the issue is published in the Federal Register, which is expected shortly (U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission release, July 17).

NRC staff said in a memo last month that about 50 gauges are reported stolen each year out of the more than 22,000 that are in use.  Since 1990, about 450 gauges have been reported stolen, the staff said.

NRC Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield has said he believes new action to improve the security of industrial gauges is needed.

“I have been concerned about the number of missing/stolen sources for several years,” Merrifield said in a statement.  “Several states took the initiative to increase security of these devices and I applaud their efforts.  But it is time that NRC took action in this area,” he said (George Lobsenz, Energy Daily, July 22).

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