Program B: Radiation Protection Program

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Program B: Radiation Protection Program

Program Authorization: R.S. 30:2101

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Radiation Protection Program is to ensure the public and occupational safety and welfare of the people and environmental resources of Louisiana by minimizing the risk and maximizing the benefits of using sources of radiation. The Radiation Protection Program maintains a comprehensive radiation regulatory program that will protect the public and occupational safety of the citizens and protect the environment of the State of Louisiana from the harmful effects of radiation, while maximizing the benefits of radiation processes. The Division coordinates state off-site activities related to nuclear power plants, high and low-level radioactive waste management, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, transportation of radioactive material, environmental assessment of radiation emissions, naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and emergency preparedness for response to radiation accidents of all descriptions. The Division strives to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of radiation activities through strict requirements and guidelines for the use of radioactive materials or radiation producing machines, and application of comprehensive inspection and enforcement measures designed to assure compliance. Louisiana has more than 8,000 x-ray units at 3,200 facilities, over 500 radioactive material licenses, thousands of NORM sites throughout the state, and two nuclear power plants within Louisiana and one on its eastern border. The goal of the Radiation Program is to ensure that operations involving the use of radioactive material and radiation-producing machines are conducted in the safest possible manner.

The Radiation Protection Program includes the following activities: Radiation Protection, Radioactive Materials and Equipment, Nuclear Power Plants Emergency Planning and Response.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. The Department of Environmental Quality and the Office of Planning and Budget do not agree upon a mutually acceptable objective for this performance information.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with Fees and Self-Generated Revenues, Statutory Dedications, and Federal Funds. Fees and Self-Generated Revenues are derived from the sale of regulations, manifest forms, photocopies, etc. Statutory Dedications are from the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF). (Per R.S. 39:32B. (8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) The ETF consist of all fees assessed pursuant to the authority granted in R.S. 30:2014, R.S.39:55.2 and any other provisions of law authorizing the department to assess a fee. Such fees are used only for the purposes for which they are assessed. Federal Funds are from the Federal U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Cooperative Agreement number NRC 31-83-669.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND	TOTAL	T.O.	DESCRIPTION

$0	$2,368,030	46	ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

			BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:
$0	$0	0	None

$0	$2,368,030	46	EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 10, 1997

$0	$49,581	0	Equipment/Major Repairs Adjustment(s) (Nonrecurring: -$201,213; Replacement/New: +$250,794)
$0	$31,498	0	Annualization of 1997-'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	$31,243	0	1997 -'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	($64,370)	0	Attrition Adjustment(s)
$0	$362	0	Adjustment(s) for Civil Service, Training and Other Statewide Interagency Transfer Activities
$0	$4,965	0	Risk Management Adjustment(s)
$0	$1,516	0	Rent in State-owned Buildings Adjustment(s)
$0	$41,456	0	Funding provided for Incumbent Adjustments and Automatic Upgrades
$0	($179,351)	(3)	Transfers/Consolidates the Radiation Protection Laboratory with Air, Biotoxicity and Water laboratories under the Office of Management and Finance
$0	$150,000	0	New/Expanded provides funding to train emergency response personnel at the state and local levels, and to prepare procedures to successfully deal with any radiological emergencies

$0	$2,431,898	43	TOTAL RECOMMENDED

$0	$63,868	(-3)	DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 102.7% of the existing operating budget. It represents 97.1% of the total request ($2,504,457) for this program. The increase is primarily due to acquisitions and major repairs, funding provided for incumbent adjustments and automatic upgrades, annualization of 1997-1998 merit pay, funding provided for 1998-1999 merit increases, and funding provided for training of emergency response personnel. This program does not have any positions that have been vacant for 1 year or more.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

$4,500		Contract for medical exams to provide health monitoring for personnel with possible exposure to radiation and hazardous materials
$1,000		Contract for Court Reporting to record depositions during the process of discovery during an appeal and testimony from witnesses during hearings

$5,500		TOTAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

$25,000		Central Low Level Radioactive Waste Compact - annual fees assessed to the State of Louisiana for the establishment of a joint multi-state disposal facility for Low Level Radioactive Waste
$150,000		Funding provided to train emergency response personnel at the state and local level and to prepare procedures to successfully deal with any radiological emergencies

$175,000		TOTAL OTHER CHARGES

		Interagency Transfers:
$3,063		Department of Civil Service for personnel services
$1,495		Division of Administration - Rent in State-owned Buildings (Shreveport Building)

$4,558		TOTAL INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

$247,394		Replacement of four (4) vehicles, one (1) new vehicle, library reference materials, air samplers, field equipment, etc.

$247,394		TOTAL ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

13 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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