Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
(1)
Initial investigation. Before allowing an individual unescorted access to
category 1 or category 2 quantities of radioactive material or to the devices
that contain the material, licensees shall complete a background investigation
of the individual seeking unescorted access authorization. The scope of the
investigation must encompass at least the seven years preceding the date of the
background investigation or since the individual's eighteenth birthday,
whichever is shorter. The background investigation must include at a minimum:
a. Fingerprinting and an FBI identification
and criminal history records check in accordance with rule
641-37.27
(136C);
b. Verification of true
identity. Licensees shall verify the true identity of the individual who is
applying for unescorted access authorization to ensure that the applicant is
who the applicant claims to be. A licensee shall review official identification
documents (e.g., driver's license; passport; government identification;
certificate of birth issued by the state, province, or country of birth) and
compare the documents to personal information data provided by the individual
to identify any discrepancy in the information. Licensees shall document the
type, expiration, and identification number of the identification document, or
maintain a photocopy of identifying documents on file in accordance with rule
641-37.31
(136C). Licensees shall certify in writing that the identification was properly
reviewed, and shall maintain the certification and all related documents for
review upon inspection;
c.
Employment history verification. Licensees shall complete employment history
verification, including military history. Licensees shall verify the
individual's employment with each previous employer for the most recent seven
years before the date of application;
d. Verification of education. Licensees shall
verify that the individual participated in the education process during the
claimed period;
e. Character and
reputation determination. Licensees shall complete reference checks to
determine the character and reputation of the individual who has applied for
unescorted access authorization. Unless other references are not available,
reference checks may not be conducted with any person who is known to be a
close member of the individual's family, including but not limited to the
individual's spouse, parents, siblings, or children, or any individual who
resides in the individual's permanent household. Reference checks under this
rule must be limited to whether the individual has been and continues to be
trustworthy and reliable;
f .The
licensee shall also, to the extent possible, obtain independent information to
corroborate that provided by the individual (e.g., seek references not supplied
by the individual); and
g. If a
previous employer, educational institution, or any other entity with which the
individual claims to have been engaged fails to provide information or
indicates an inability or unwillingness to provide information within a time
frame deemed appropriate by the licensee but at least after ten business days
of the request or if the licensee is unable to reach the entity, the licensee
shall document the refusal, unwillingness, or inability in the record of
investigation and shall attempt to obtain the information from an alternate
source.
(2)
Grandfathering.
a. Individuals who have been
determined to be trustworthy and reliable for unescorted access to category 1
or category 2 quantities of radioactive material under the fingerprint orders
may continue to have unescorted access to category 1 and category 2 quantities
of radioactive material without further investigation. These individuals shall
be subject to the reinvestigation requirement.
b. Individuals who have been determined to be
trustworthy and reliable under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 73 or the security
orders for access to safeguards information, safeguards information-modified
handling, or risk-significant material may have unescorted access to category 1
and category 2 quantities of radioactive material without further
investigation. The licensee shall document that the individual was determined
to be trustworthy and reliable under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 73 or a
security order. Security order, in this context, refers to any order that was
issued by the NRC that required fingerprints and an FBI criminal history
records check for access to safeguards information, safeguards
information-modified handling, or risk-significant material such as special
nuclear material or large quantities of uranium hexafluoride. These individuals
shall be subject to the reinvestigation requirement.
(3) Reinvestigations. Licensees shall conduct
a reinvestigation every ten years for any individual with unescorted access to
category 1 or category 2 quantities of radioactive material. The
reinvestigation shall consist of fingerprinting and an FBI identification and
criminal history records check in accordance with rule
641-37.27
(136C). The reinvestigations must be completed within ten years of the date on
which these elements were last completed.