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U.S. NRC proposes changes to shallow dose exposure limit
This is in keeping with the recommendations found in NCRP 130.
-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
3050 Traymore Lane
Bowie, MD 20715-2024
E-mail: jenday1@email.msn.com (H)
[Federal Register: July 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 134)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 36502-36509]
xFrom the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy01-25]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR PART 20
RIN 3150-AG25
Revision of the Skin Dose Limit
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend
its regulations to delete a reference to averaging over 1 square
centimeter from its definition of shallow-dose equivalent (SDE). In
addition, the proposed rule would change the method of calculating SDEs
by specifying that the assigned SDE must be the dose averaged over the
10 square centimeters of skin receiving the highest exposure. A result
of this rulemaking is to make the skin dose limit less restrictive when
small areas of skin are irradiated and to address skin and extremity
doses from all source geometries under a single limit. This change
would permit measuring or calculating SDEs from discrete radioactive
particles (DRPs) on or off the skin, from very small areas ( 1.0 square
centimeters) of skin contamination, and from any other source of SDE by
averaging the measured or calculated dose over the most highly exposed,
contiguous 10 square centimeters for comparison to the skin dose limit
of 50 rem (0.5 Sv).
DATES: Submit comments by September 25, 2001. Comments received after
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the
Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or
before this date.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff. Deliver comments to 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal
workdays.
You may also provide comments via the NRC's interactive rulemaking
Website at http://ruleforum.llnl.gov. This site provides the capability
to upload comments as files (any format) if your Web browser supports
that function. For information about the interactive rulemaking
Website, contact Ms. Carol Gallagher, (301) 415-5905 (e-mail:
CAG@nrc.gov).
Certain documents related to this rulemaking, including comments
received, may be examined in the NRC Public Document Room, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. These same documents may be viewed
and downloaded electronically via the rulemaking Website. The
regulatory analysis and the environmental assessment may be accessed
via the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
on the internet at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html.
Obtain single copies of the environmental assessment and the
regulatory analysis from Alan K. Roecklein, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, telephone (301) 415-3883, e-mail: AKR@nrc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan K. Roecklein, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-3883, e-mail: AKR@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
. . .
<cut>
. . .
In conclusion, the Commission believes that the proposed changes
constitute a reduction in unnecessary regulatory burden that redefines
the level of adequate protection and that should result in a
substantial increase in worker safety. The proposed changes are
therefore the type of change for which a backfit analysis is not
required under Sec. 50.109(a)(4)(iii).
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 20
Byproduct material, Licensed material, Nuclear materials, Nuclear
power plants and reactors, Occupational safety and health, Packaging
and containers, Penalty, Radiation protection, Reporting and recording
requirements, Source material, Special nuclear material, Waste
treatment and disposal.
For the 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 part 20.
PART 20--STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION
1. The authority citation for Part 20 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 53, 63, 65, 81, 103, 104, 161, 182, 186, 68
Stat. 930, 933, 935, 936, 937, 948, 953, 955, as amended, Sec. 1701,
106 Stat. 2951, 2952, 2953 (42 U.S.C. 2073, 2093, 2095, 2111, 2133,
2134, 2201, 2232, 2236, 2297f), Secs. 201, as amended, 202, 206, 88
Stat. 1242, as amended, 1244, 1246 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846).
2. In Sec. 20.1003 the definition of Shallow-dose equivalent
(Hs) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 20.1003 Definitions.
* * * * *
Shallow-dose equivalent (Hs), which applies to the
external exposure of the skin or an extremity, is taken as the dose
equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.007 centimeter (7 mg/cm2).
* * * * *
3. In Sec. 20.1201 the introductory text of paragraph (a)(2), and
paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) and (c) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 20.1201 Occupational dose limits for adults.
(a) * * *
(2) The annual limits to the lens of the eye, to the skin of the
whole body, and to the skin of the extremities, which are:
* * * * *
(ii) A shallow-dose equivalent of 50 rem (0.5 Sv) to the skin of
the whole body or to the skin of any extremity.
* * * * *
(c) The assigned deep-dose equivalent must be for the part of the
body receiving the highest exposure. The assigned shallow-dose
equivalent must be the dose averaged over the contiguous 10 square
centimeters of skin
receiving the highest exposure. The deep-dose equivalent, lens-dose
equivalent, and shallow-dose equivalent may be assessed from surveys or
other radiation measurements for the purpose of demonstrating
compliance with the occupational dose limits, if the individual
monitoring device was not in the region of highest potential exposure,
or the results of individual monitoring are unavailable.
* * * * *
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