Licensing In Transition: What’s New In the Accelerators and Class II Facilities Division (ACFD)
Abstract
Purpose
To update COMP members on the implementation and adoption of lifecycle licences for radiotherapy licensees, and to highlight efficiencies realized through this regulatory framework. It will also outline planned improvements to licence appendices and the Class II amendment process to further streamline licensing.
Methods
Lifecycle licences were introduced to consolidate multiple licence phases (i.e. commissioning, operation and decommissioning) into a single licence, encompassing the full lifecycle of prescribed equipment in Class II nuclear facilities. Under this framework, licensees submit approved commissioning and decommissioning procedures as part of their licensing basis, allowing each phase to proceed without separate licences. Oversight is maintained through compliance with the licensing basis, which includes adherence to approved lifecycle procedures. Integral to the licensing basis, the licensee is authorized to replace their equipment through notifications to ACFD that includes commissioning and decommissioning results. Following implementation for conventional medical linear accelerators, ACFD assessed the effectiveness of the lifecycle approach, and tracked licensee use. Eligibility was then expanded to include brachytherapy remote afterloaders. ACFD is currently reviewing the licence appendices and amendment processes to identify opportunities for further efficiencies, to simplify them and reduce administrative burden.
Results
The lifecycle licence framework has been widely adopted and has streamlined licensing activities for radiotherapy licensees. Many licensees have also incorporated brachytherapy remote afterloaders following the recent expansion, further reducing the number of separate licensing actions required to commission the replacement equipment. Additional planned improvements include simplified licence appendices focused on safety-critical elements and a more efficient amendment process, which are expected to reduce review and licence issuance timelines.
Conclusion
Lifecycle licences have proven to be an effective and efficient approach to regulating radiotherapy licensees. Continued implementation, combined with future improvements to the licence appendices and amendment processes, is expected to further optimize licensing without compromising safety.