NBR ARO Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Atomic Energy Act Section 274

Provision allowing the NRC to relinquish regulatory authority to agreement states for byproduct, source, and small quantities of special nuclear material, while retaining federal oversight of certain categories.

ALARA principle

Requirement in 10 CFR 20.1101(b) that licensees use procedures and engineering controls based on sound radiation protection principles to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable.

Occupational dose limit

Annual total effective dose equivalent limit of 50 mSv (5 rem) for radiation workers under 10 CFR 20.1201, with separate limits for lens, skin, and extremities.

Declared pregnant worker

A worker who voluntarily informs the licensee of pregnancy in writing; the licensee must limit fetal dose to 5 mSv (0.5 rem) over the gestation period.

General license

A license that authorizes possession or use of certain quantities or devices without a specific application, subject to conditions in 10 CFR Part 31 and related parts.

Specific license application

Submission to the NRC containing proposed radionuclides, quantities, facility description, RSO designation, and training and experience of users for review and approval.

Reciprocity

Process under 10 CFR 150.20 allowing an out-of-state licensee to perform work in an agreement state for up to 180 days per year after filing NRC Form 241.

License termination

Process requiring decommissioning and confirmation surveys demonstrating residual radioactivity meets release criteria in 10 CFR 20 Subpart E before the license is terminated.

Financial assurance

Requirement under 10 CFR 30.35 for licensees exceeding certain activity thresholds to demonstrate funds are available for decommissioning, calculated from radionuclide-specific cost factors.

Inverse square law

Principle that radiation dose rate from a point source varies inversely with the square of distance, so doubling distance reduces dose rate to one quarter.

Half-value layer

Thickness of shielding material that reduces radiation intensity by half, calculated as 0.693 divided by the linear attenuation coefficient.

Derived air concentration

Concentration of a radionuclide in air that, if breathed for a working year, results in an intake equal to the annual limit on intake.

Personnel monitoring threshold

Requirement under 10 CFR 20.1502 to monitor individuals likely to receive 10 percent or more of an annual occupational dose limit.

Instrument calibration interval

Survey instruments must be calibrated at intervals not exceeding 12 months and after repair, as required by 10 CFR 20.1501 and license conditions.

Leak test frequency

Sealed sources are tested for leakage at intervals not exceeding 6 months for beta/gamma sources and 3 months for alpha sources, per license conditions.

Posting requirements

Areas where licensed material is used or stored must be posted with the radiation symbol and caution signs under 10 CFR 20.1902.

Container labeling

Containers holding licensed material must be labeled with the radionuclide, activity, date, and radiation symbol unless exempted by regulation.

Category 1 and 2 security

10 CFR Part 37 imposes access controls, background checks, and physical protection requirements on licensees possessing category 1 or 2 quantities of radioactive material.

Sealed source inventory

Licensees must maintain and reconcile inventory records for sealed sources at intervals specified in the license, commonly every 6 months.

Severity Level I

The most significant NRC violation category, typically involving willful misconduct or an actual safety consequence requiring strong enforcement action.

Notice of violation

Enforcement document issued by the NRC describing a violation and requiring a written response within a specified time, commonly 30 days.

Civil penalty

Monetary enforcement action for violations, adjusted annually for inflation, with each day of a continuing violation potentially counted separately.

Pre-decisional enforcement conference

Meeting between licensee and NRC staff before an enforcement order is issued, allowing the licensee to present its position and supporting information.

Willful violation

Deliberate noncompliance that may be referred for criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. Section 1001 or Section 223 of the Atomic Energy Act.

Personnel exposure records

Records of individual radiation dose must be preserved for the life of the individual and maintained at least 30 years after termination of employment or license.

Immediate notification

Requirement to notify the NRC Operations Center promptly of events such as theft or loss of licensed material or an overexposure exceeding limits.

Thirty-day written report

Written report to the NRC required within 30 days for events such as theft or loss of licensed material or a dose exceeding the annual limit.

Survey record retention

Records of surveys, instrument calibrations, and checks must be retained for at least 3 years unless a license condition specifies a longer period.

RSO responsibilities

The radiation safety officer implements the radiation protection program, conducts training and audits, and ensures compliance with license conditions and regulations.

Worker training requirement

Licensees must instruct workers before they handle licensed material on health risks, precautions, and applicable regulations under 10 CFR 19.12.

Program audit

Documented review of the radiation protection program conducted at intervals specified in the license, commonly annually, to verify compliance and identify deficiencies.

RSO change notification

Licensees must notify the NRC of changes in the radiation safety officer or other key personnel within the time specified in the license, often 30 days.