Federal Register: October 24, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 206)
DOCID: FR Doc 00-26989
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
CFR Citation: 10 CFR Parts 34, 36 and 39
RIN ID: RIN 3150-AG21
NOTICE: Part IV
DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
New Dosimetry Technology
DATES: Comments on the proposed rules must be received on or before November 24, 2000.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations that govern radiological safety to allow licensees to use any type of personnel dosimeter that requires processing to determine the radiation dose, provided that the processor of the dosimeter is accredited to process this type of dosimeter under the National Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
SUMMARY:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
For additional information see the direct final rule published in the rules section of this Federal Register. Procedural Background
Because the NRC considers this action noncontroversial and routine,
we are publishing this proposed rule concurrently with a direct final
rule. The direct final rule will become effective on January 8, 2001.
However, if the NRC receives significant adverse comments on the direct
final rule, by November 24, 2000, the NRC will publish a document to
withdraw the direct final rule. If the direct final rule is withdrawn,
the NRC will address the comments received in response to the proposed
revisions in a subsequent final rule. Absent significant modifications
to the proposed revisions requiring republication, the NRC will not
initiate a second comment for this action if the direct final rule is withdrawn.
List of Subjects
10 CFR Part 34
Criminal penalties, Packaging and containers, Radiation protection, Radiography, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment, Security measures.
10 CFR Part 36
Byproduct material, Criminal penalties, Nuclear materials, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment, Security measures.
10 CFR Part 39
Byproduct material, Criminal penalties, Nuclear material, Oil and gas explorationwell logging, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment, Security measures, Source material, Special nuclear material.
For reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization Act of
1974, as amended; and 5 U.S.C. 553; the NRC is proposing to adopt the following amendments to 10 CFR parts 34, 36, and 39.
PART 34LICENSES FOR RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 34 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 81, 161, 182, 183, 68 Stat. 935, 948, 953, 954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2111, 2201, 2232, 2233); sec. 201, 88 Stat. 1242, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5841). Section 34.45 also issued under sec. 206. as Stat. 1246 (42 U.S.C. 5846).
2. In Sec. 34.47, the introductory text of paragraph (a), and
paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (d), (e), and (f) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 34.47 Personnel monitoring.
(a) The licensee may not permit any individual to act as a
radiographer or a radiographer's assistant unless, at all times during
radiographic operations, each individual wears, on the trunk of the
body, a direct reading dosimeter, an operating alarm ratemeter, and a
personnel dosimeter that is processed and evaluated by an accredited
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) processor.
At permanent radiography installations where other appropriate alarming
or warning devices are in routine use, the wearing of an alarming ratemeter is not required.
* * * * *
(2) Each personnel dosimeter must be assigned to and worn only by one individual.
(3) Film badges must be replaced at periods not to exceed one month
and other personnel dosimeters processed and evaluated by an accredited
NVLAP processor must be replaced at periods not to exceed three months.
(4) After replacement, each personnel dosimeter must be processed as soon as possible.
* * * * *
(d) If an individual's pocket chamber is found to be offscale, or
if his or her electronic personal dosimeter reads greater than 2
millisieverts (200 millirems), and the possibility of radiation
exposure cannot be ruled out as the cause, the individual's personnel
dosimeter must be sent for processing within 24 hours. In addition, the
individual may not resume work associated with licensed material use
until a determination of the individual's radiation exposure has been
made. This determination must be made by the RSO or the RSO's designee.
The results of this determination must be included in the records maintained in accordance with Sec. 34.83.
(e) If the personnel dosimeter that is required by paragraph (a) of
this section is lost or damaged, the worker shall cease work
immediately until a replacement personnel dosimeter meeting the
requirements in paragraph (a) is provided and the exposure is
calculated for the time period from issuance to loss or damage of the
personnel dosimeter. The results of the calculated exposure and the
time period for which the personnel dosimeter was lost or damaged must
be included in the records maintained in accordance with Sec. 34.83.
(f) Dosimetry reports received from the accredited NVLAP personnel
dosimeter processor must be retained in accordance with Sec. 34.83. * * * * *
3. In Sec. 34.83, paragraphs (c) and (d) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 34.83 Records of personnel monitoring procedures.
* * * * *
[[Page 63754]]
(c) Personnel dosimeter results received from the accredited NVLAP processor until the Commission terminates the license.
(d) Records of estimates of exposures as a result of: offscale
personal direct reading dosimeters, or lost or damaged personnel dosimeters until the Commission terminates the license.
PART 36LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS
4. The authority citation for part 36 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs 81, 82, 161, 182, 183, 186, 68 Stat. 935, 948, 953, 954, 955, as amended, sec. 234, 83 Stat. 444, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2111, 2112, 2201, 2232, 2233, 2282); secs. 201, as amended, 202, 206, 88 Stat.1242, as amended 1244, 1246 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846).
5. In Sec. 36.55, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows: Sec. 36.55 Personnel monitoring.
(a) Irradiator operators shall wear a personnel dosimeter that is
processed and evaluated by an accredited National Voluntary Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) processor while operating a panoramic
irradiator or while in the area around the pool of an underwater
irradiator. The personnel dosimeter processor must be accredited for
high energy photons in the normal and accident dose ranges (see 10 CFR
20.1501(c)). Each personnel dosimeter must be assigned to and worn by
only one individual. Film badges must be processed at least monthly,
and other personnel dosimeters must be processed at least quarterly. * * * * *
6. In Sec. 36.81, paragraph (e) is revised to read as follows: Sec. 36.81 Records and retention periods.
* * * * *
(e) Evaluations of personnel dosimeters required by Sec. 36.55 until the Commission terminates the license.
* * * * *
PART 39LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WELL LOGGING
7. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 53, 57, 62, 63, 65, 69, 81, 82, 161, 182, 183, 68 Stat. 929, 930, 932, 933, 934, 935, 948, 953, 954, 955, as amended, sec. 234, 83 Stat. 444, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2112, 2201, 2232, 2233, 2236, 2282); secs. 201, as amended, 202, 206, 88 Stat. 1242, as amended, 1244, 1246 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846).
8. In Sec. 39.65, paragraphs (a) and (c) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 39.65 Personnel Monitoring.
(a) The licensee may not permit an individual to act as a logging
supervisor or logging assistant unless that person wears, at all times
during the handling of licensed radioactive materials, a personnel
dosimeter that is processed and evaluated by an accredited National
Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) processor. Each
personnel dosimeter must be assigned to and worn by only one
individual. Film badges must be replaced at least monthly and other
personnel dosimeters replaced at least quarterly. After replacement, each personnel dosimeter must be promptly processed.
* * * * *
(c) The licensee shall retain records of personnel dosimeters
required by paragraph (a) of this section and bioassay results for
inspection until the Commission authorizes disposition of the records.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of September, 2000.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William D. Travers,
Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 0026989 Filed 102300; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 759001P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Betty Ann Torres, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 205550001, telephone, (301) 4150191, email: BAT@nrc.gov.