Current through the 2024 legislative session
Section 35-11-2003 - Licensure; license requirements; enforcement actions(a) The director is authorized to issue licenses to implement the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. DDM 2011 et seq., as amended. Licenses issued under this section shall also authorize the possession and use of (1) source materials involved in uranium or thorium recovery or milling and the associated byproduct material or (2) source material recovered from any mineral resources primarily for purposes other than obtaining the source material content as provided in this article. The director is further authorized to enforce license provisions in accordance with this article. The department shall recognize existing and effective licenses issued by the nuclear regulatory commission. The department shall also recognize licenses issued by other agreement states only for (1) source material involved in uranium or thorium recovery or milling or the associated byproduct material or (2) the source material recovered from any mineral resources primarily for purposes other than obtaining the source material content.(b) The director is authorized to use license conditions to address matters specific to particular licensees. The department may impose additional license conditions when required to protect public health and safety.(c) The director shall grant an exemption from a license requirement, including an exemption from the requirement to obtain a license, if the exemption provides adequate protection of public health and safety and is compatible with nuclear regulatory commission requirements.(d) The department shall inspect a licensee's operation to ensure compliance with license conditions, as determined necessary by the administrator of the land quality division to protect public health and safety. The department shall also inspect proposed facilities and proposed expansion of existing facilities to ensure that unauthorized construction is not occurring. Licensees, permittees and applicants for a license or permit shall obtain and grant the department access to inspect their facilities, source material involved in uranium or thorium recovery or milling and the associated byproduct material or the source material recovered from any mineral resources processed primarily for purposes other than obtaining the source material content at such times and frequencies as determined necessary by the department to protect public health and safety.(e) When issuing a license for byproduct material under this article, the director shall require licensees to provide an approved financial assurance arrangement consistent with nuclear regulatory commission requirements provided in 10 C.F.R. part 40 , appendix A, as amended. The arrangement shall cover the cost estimate and the payment of the charge for decommissioning, long term surveillance and control pursuant to 10 C.F.R. part 40, appendix A.(f) The director is authorized to suspend licenses, impound (1) source material involved in uranium or thorium recovery or milling and the associated byproduct material and (2) the source material recovered from any mineral resources processed primarily for purposes other than obtaining the source material content and conduct enforcement actions in accordance with this article, article 9 of this chapter and rules and regulations promulgated under this act. The director is authorized to suspend licenses and conduct enforcement actions in accordance with department rules and regulations and this article. In cases of an imminent threat to public health and safety, the director is authorized to issue an emergency order immediately suspending a license and any associated activity as provided in W.S. 35-11-115. The director is authorized to suspend or revoke a license for repeated or continued noncompliance with program requirements pursuant to its rules and regulations and this article. The director is also authorized to seek injunctive relief and impose civil or administrative monetary penalties as provided by law.Amended by Laws 2023, ch. 46,§ 1, eff. 2/21/2023.Amended by Laws 2017 , ch. 27, § 2, eff. 2/17/2017.Added by Laws 2016 , ch. 7, § 1, eff. 2/29/2016.