[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32971-32972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16135]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 34
Radiographer Certification--Certifying Entities
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of certifying entities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has
completed its evaluation of a request from the American Society for
Nondestructive Testing, Inc. (ASNT) to be recognized as a Certifying
Entity, i.e., an Independent Certifying Organization. The NRC staff
found that ASNT's Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Personnel
(IRRSP) certification program meets the criteria established in the
NRC's regulations governing radiographic operations. Therefore, the NRC
recognizes ASNT as a Certifying Entity and individuals wishing to act
as radiographers who are certified in isotope radiography through the
IRRSP program meet the certification requirement specified in the
regulations. ASNT joins the following Agreement States as certifying
entities: Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, and
Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Bruce Carrico, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards, MS T8F5, Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 415-7826, e-
mail jbc@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 28, 1997 (62 FR 28948), NRC published
a final rule in the Federal Register that revised the regulations
applicable to industrial radiography, 10 CFR Part 34. This overall
revision of 10 CFR Part 34 introduced several new requirements. One of
these new requirements, specified in 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1), provides that
licensees may not permit any individual to act as a radiographer until
the individual ``is certified through a radiographer certification
program by a certifying entity in accordance with the criteria
specified in Appendix A of this part (34).'' This requirement becomes
effective June 27, 1999.
As defined in 10 CFR Part 34, ``Certifying Entity means an
independent certifying organization meeting the requirements in
Appendix A of this part or an Agreement State meeting the requirements
in Appendix A, Parts II and III of this part.'' An independent
certifying organization is defined as `` * * * an independent
organization that meets all of the criteria of Appendix A to this
part.'' A parenthetical sentence in 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1) states, ``An
independent organization that would like to be recognized as a
certifying entity shall submit its request to the Director, Office of
Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission * * * '' Part I of Appendix A to Part 34 provides the
requirements for an independent certifying organization, and only
applies to organizations other than the Agreement States. Parts II and
III of Appendix A to Part 34 provide the requirements for certification
programs and written examinations for a certifying entity, and includes
the Agreement States. 10 CFR Part 34, Appendix A does not impose new
requirements on licensees.
To be recognized as an independent certifying organization, the
organization should be a national society or association involved in
setting national standards of practice for industrial radiography or
non-destructive testing. An acceptable certification program would
require training in the subjects listed in 10 CFR 34.43(g), completion
of a written and practical examination, and require a minimum period of
on-the-job experience.
In April 1997, NRC received a submission from ASNT requesting
recognition as a certifying entity/independent certifying organization.
The submission described ASNT's IRRSP certification program and how the
program complies with 10 CFR Part 34, Appendix A criteria. A ``team''
review approach was followed in evaluating the submission. The team or
``working group'' was composed of three NRC staff members, two
Agreement State representatives from certifying states, and an
Agreement State representative from a non-certifying state. An expert
in the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Reactor
Controls and Human Factors, Human Factors Assessment Branch also
assisted the working group in evaluating those portions of the
submission applicable to examination development. The working group
completed its evaluation of the submission in April 1998.
In a letter dated May 15, 1998, NRC informed ASNT of its finding
that ASNT's IRRSP certification program met the criteria established in
10 CFR Part 34, Appendix A, that ASNT was recognized as a Certifying
Entity. Individuals wishing to act as radiographers who are certified
in isotope radiography through the IRRSP program will meet the
certification requirement specified in 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1).
[[Page 32972]]
The following Agreement States also administer certification
programs as Certifying Entities: Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana,
Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas. Individuals wishing to act as
radiographers who are certified in isotope radiography through one of
these state programs will meet the certification requirement specified
in 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 9th day of June, 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Larry W. Camper, Chief, Materials Safety Branch, Division of Industrial
and Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 98-16135 Filed 6-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
