Radiation
On this Page:
- Prevention and control of environmental pollution by radioactive materials
- Radiation control permits - application guides
- Additional documents & guides
- Amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 380 - effective May 10, 2018
- Regulations Being Considered
- Outreach Information
- Transportation and disposal of low-level radioactive waste
- Site investigation and remediation
- Federal resources & guides
- Radiation monitoring of non-radioactive waste
Radiation Regulations
Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Radioactive Materials
6 NYCRR Part 380 (link leaves DEC's website) requires parties who discharge radioactive material to keep records of the radioactive material discharged to the environment and to maintain those discharges as low as reasonably achievable. The regulation sets radiation dose limits and emission levels above which a party must obtain a radiation control permit from DEC. Permittees include industrial, research, medical, radiopharmaceutical, and wastewater treatment facilities. DEC staff perform regular, unannounced inspections of all Part 380 permittees. NOTE: Amendments to Part 380 were adopted, effective May 10, 2018. See below for details and link to the amended Express Terms.
Radiation Control Permits - Application Guides
The following guides were updated in April 2018, and pertain to Part 380 and Radiation Control Permits.
- How the Part 380 Regulations Apply to Me (PDF, 172 KB)
- Permit Application Guide for Emission of Radioactive Material in Effluents to Air (PDF, 231 KB)
- Demonstrating Compliance with the Public Dose Limits in Part 380 (PDF, 155 KB)
- Review of Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Models Used for Dose Assessment (PDF, 208 KB)
- Supplemental Information for Cyclotron Production Facilities (PDF, 183 KB)
- Permit Application Guide for Discharges of Radioactive Material in Effluents to Ground or Surface Water (PDF, 172 KB)
- Permit Application Guide for Non-Commercial Incineration of Radioactive Material (PDF, 180 KB)
- Permit Application Guide for Use of Radioactive Material in the Environment (PDF, 156 KB)
- Permit Application Guide for Use of Radioactive Proppant Particles in Deep Well Tracer Studies (PDF, 122 KB)
Additional Documents & Guides
- Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF)
- What to Expect During Part 380 Compliance Inspections (PDF, 87 KB)
Amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 380 - Effective May 10, 2018
DEC has adopted amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 380 to incorporate eight federal rule changes that have occurred from 1991 through 2008, and to clarify and improve the existing regulation. Details are available on the Part 380 rule making page which has links to the final Part 380 Express Terms (effective May 10, 2018) and revised supporting rule making documents, including the Assessment of Public Comment.
Transportation and Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Under the State low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) Management Act of 1986, DEC was charged with permitting and regulating LLRW disposal facilities.
6 NYCRR Part 381 (link leaves DEC's website) requires transporters of LLRW to obtain a permit from DEC and submit LLRW manifests. DEC administers this permitting and manifest tracking system, and DEC handles all new permits and permit modifications.
6 NYCRR Part 382 (link leaves DEC's website) contains requirements for LLRW site and method selection.
6 NYCRR Part 383 (link leaves DEC's website) applies to LLRW facility design, construction, operation, closure, post-closure, and institutional control. Part 383 includes requirements for financial assurance, site monitoring, and emergency response planning.
Currently, there are no LLRW disposal facilities operating in New York State.
Regulations Being Considered
DEC is seeking input from the regulated community and the public regarding a rulemaking initiative to adopt regulations to make DEC's regulations compatible with those of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. To achieve this, DEC is conducting stakeholder meetings regarding a new 6 NYCRR Part 384 - Cleanup Criteria for Remediation of Sites Contaminated with Radioactive Material, and revisions to the existing 6 NYCRR Part 381 - Transporters of Low-Level Radioactive Waste regulations.
Outreach Information
Stakeholder Meetings
Virtual stakeholder meetings were conducted on October 19, 2022. Recordings of the two meetings can be found below:
- 1 PM Virtual stakeholder meeting - Play recording here (link leaves DEC website)
- 6 PM Virtual stakeholder meeting - Play recording here (link leaves DEC website)
Virtual stakeholder meeting presentation slides (PDF, 91 KB)
DEC is accepting unofficial written comments regarding this regulatory initiative, and you should submit them to: Thomas Papura, NYS DEC - Division of Materials Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7255 or e-mail to regs.radiation@dec.ny.gov. Please include "Comments on Part 384" or "Comments on Part 381" in the subject line of the email as appropriate. Comments must be submitted by November 21, 2022.
Site Investigation and Remediation
DEC monitors the remediation of sites contaminated with radioactive material in accordance with DEC's Cleanup Guideline for Soils Contaminated with Radioactive Materials (DER-38).
Federal Resources & Guides
- NRC Regulatory Guide 4.20, "Constraint on Releases of Airborne Radioactive
Materials to the Environment for licensees other than Power Reactors" (PDF) ( (Link leaves DEC website) - NRC Regulatory Guide 8.37, "ALARA levels for Effluents from Materials Facilities" (PDF) ( (Link leaves DEC website)
- NRC Information Notice No. 96-28: Suggested Guidance Relating to Development and Implementation of Corrective Action (PDF) ( (Link leaves DEC website)
Radiation Monitoring of Non-Radioactive Waste
Staff in the radiation program work with DEC's solid waste, hazardous waste, and regulated medical waste (RMW) programs to prevent the unauthorized disposal of regulated radioactive material at RMW treatment facilities, resource recovery facilities, landfills, and steel smelters. DEC staff work with these facilities to promote the use of effective radiation monitoring where needed and appropriately respond when radioactive material is detected at the facilities.
More about Radiation:
- An Investigation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Oil and Gas Wells in New York State - An Investigation of Naturally Occurring radioactive Materials (NORM) in Oil and Gas Wells in New York State
