[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: NCRP 136



John,
    Unfortunately, I can't disagree you. I guess that the life of a regulator is pretty easy. I know of no instance where a regulator has been jailed, fired, or reprimanded in any way for overregulating. As you suggest, Congress has essentially given them a license to do so. The sad part of all this is that all of the money and other limited resources  squandered in controlling non-problems, might actually do some good if it were directed toward areas of actual risk that have no political constituancy. "The squeaking hinge gets the oil."     Jerry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 5:21 AM
Subject: RE: NCRP 136

Jerry,
Well, you could ask Congress or state legislatures that pass the laws and allow regulatory agencies to function.  They also respond to their constituents. 
 
Do the regulations do what they intend to do?  Do speed laws and laws against drunk driving protect the public?  Do our radiation safety regulations protect the workers and general public?  I think they do.
 
I think the question you are asking is if the regulations are excessive and cause an undo burden economic burden.  I am sure that we have all seen cases where this is true.  Very often, laws are put on the books, but are never removed even when they cause excessive regulatory burdens.  Recently, the NRC included language in its regulations that allowed medical licensees to release patients from confinement if the TEDE to any individual was not likely to exceed 5 mSv.  Not a big concern to many unless you were a licensee and the limit for release was 1 mSv.  On the other hand, I believe that Congress passed a law the prevented the NRC from using deminimis in setting regulatory standards.  We lost on that one.
 
-- John

John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
3050 Traymore Lane
Bowie, MD  20715-2024

E-mail:  jenday1@email.msn.com (H)     

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Cohen [mailto:jjcohen@prodigy.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:48 PM
To: Jacobus, John (OD/ORS); tedrock@CPCUG.ORG; RadSafe
Subject: Re: NCRP 136

.
>  I am more concerned with the adequacy of
> our regulatory programs.
John,
    How do you determine whether or not a regulatory
program is "adequate"?