coordination with NRC - opinion

[Slaback@micf.nist.gov]

NRC has regular meetings with power reactor licensee groups.

The research reactor community has a successful organization
(TRTR) take provides a handy mechanism for informal
discussions with NRC, and a conduit for information from NRC.

But the materials licensee/medical licensee community does 
not have a similar organization.  The HPS at best reflects
opinions of the HPs, not the licensees.

With OPM restrictions on information gathering (as well as
dollar limitations) federal agencies are severly limited
in their contact with licensees.  These other organizations
provide very useful sounding boards for testing ideas
as well as keeping licensees with common interests up to date.

The University RSO group could conceivably do this if they had a
reasonably high participation rate (and maybe they do).
Clearly hospital RSOs have a common interest base.
etc.

Individual licensees will always be a single voice.
Joining/forming a group with a common interest involves work,
but can have significant benefits.  Having observed the
TRTR organization for 8+ years, I can attest to the benefits
both to NRC and the licensees.

Just food for thought for someone looking for another way
to skin the cat.

A little risk adds spice to life.
slaback@MICF.NIST.gov