Radioactive Material Program (RAM)

What We Do

The Radiation Control Program (RCP) is the office through which the Division accomplishes the statutory mandate for NRS 459.  In 1972, the State of Nevada entered into an agreement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) under Section 274b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.  Under this agreement Nevada assumed regulatory authority to license and regulate within the State; byproduct materials, source materials, and certain quantities of special nuclear materials.  As part of the agreement, Nevada maintains a regulatory program that is compatible with the program of the Commission for the regulation of like materials.  In addition, the State also regulates certain naturally-occurring and accelerator-produced radioactive materials.

The RCP license and inspects both medical and not medical uses of radioactive materials.  Medical uses of radiation sources include: radiology and nuclear medicine services to provide diagnostic information about the status of an organ or body part, radiation sources used for cancer therapy by implantation of radiation sources into the body or by external sources shielded in devices designed to control the high levels of radiation necessary to kill cancer with minimal impact otherwise to the patient. The medical radioactive materials are usually mixed and distributed through a radiopharmacy.

Non-medical industrial uses of radiation sources include fluid/level indicators installed in factories and other industrial environments, engineering tools for road construction, industrial radiography for welding quality, irradiators for sterilization, etc.

The RCP partners with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension to provide public information and outreach regarding radon health effects, testing, and mitigation and is responsible for long-term maintenance of the closed Beatty Low-Level Radioactive Waste.