Connecticut Becomes the 40th NRC Agreement State

If your facility uses sealed radioactive gauges, moisture-density equipment, XFR analyzers, or other regulated radioactive sources, you may start noticing some changes in 2026. These changes relate to radioactive material licensing, inspections, and compliance.

On September 25, 2025, Governor Ned Lamont and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) finalized an agreement that makes Connecticut the nation’s 40^th “Agreement State.” Simply put, certain regulatory responsibilities that once belonged to the NRC are now being handled directly by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). This change in authority will affect more than 100 businesses across the state, particularly those that use sealed radioactive materials.

What Exactly Is Changing?

This new “Agreement State” status transfers the oversight of most radioactive material licenses, inspections, and enforcement activities from the federal NRC to the CT DEEP. This means DEEP will now license and inspect more radioactive material users in CT. The NRC will continue to regulate nuclear power plants and spent fuel storage facilities.

Industries that rely on sealed sources (i.e., thickness and density gauges, well-logging tools, medical isotopes, radiography devices, or analytical equipment) will now work directly with the state instead of the federal government.

According to DEEP, this change is intended to streamline regulatory processes, improve efficiency, and give CT businesses more direct access to regulators who understand local operations and needs.

Important Note: The safety standards surrounding radioactive material are not changing. Only the regulator is changing.

Who Is Affected?

Any facility in Connecticut that uses licensed radioactive materials will be affected by this transition. Common examples include:

• Manufacturers with fixed industrial gauges
• Food processors using moisture or thickness/density gauges
• Research laboratories that use radioactive materials
• Hospitals and medical practices using diagnostic or therapeutic isotopes
• Any business with portable nuclear gauges

If your facility uses radioactive materials in any capacity, you should expect communication from CT DEEP as they launch the new licensing framework.

At this stage, Connecticut has not required any action from the public other than staying informed. The transition process will continue through 2026, with full implementation expected by the end of the year.

How Walden Can Help

At this time, Walden recommends that businesses:

• Keep current NRC licenses active until the transition is complete
• Review internal radiation safety programs and compliance
• Monitor DEEP announcements
• Train employees and any radiation safety officers (RSOs) on upcoming changes

Walden supports many facilities in CT that use sealed radioactive gauges and other regulated materials. Our EHS team can help your business:

• Understand upcoming regulatory changes
• Prepare or update radiation safety documentation
• Coordinate licensing transitions between NRC and DEEP
• Administer employee training
• Conduct semi-annual radiation source inventory
• Perform leak testing as required by license or manufacturer

Call Walden today at 860-846-4069 to speak with an experienced safety professional.