NRC LICENSEES TEMPORARILY AUTHORIZED TO POSSESS MOLYBDENUM-99 INQUANTITIES THAT EXCEED LICENSE LIMITS

["Vargo, George J" <vargo@pnl.gov>]

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20555
Phone 301-415-8200   Fax 301-415-2234
Internet:opa@nrc.gov
                                 
No.  98-74  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(May 15, 1998)


NRC LICENSEES TEMPORARILY AUTHORIZED TO POSSESS MOLYBDENUM-99 IN QUANTITIES THAT
EXCEED LICENSE LIMITS 


     The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has temporarily authorized some licensees
to possess certain radioisotopes in quantities that exceed their license limits
in order to offset an anticipated shortage of the radioisotope that may be
caused by a labor strike in Canada where most of it is manufactured.

     Because there is no domestic supply of molybdenum-99, a labor dispute at
the Chalk River Laboratories of Atomic Energy Canada Limited, potentially could
disrupt the supply of radiopharmaceutical used in the U.S. for medical
diagnosis.  Molybdenum-99, which is supplied from Canada,  is used to generate
technetium-99m, an extremely short-lived  radioisotope used in many diagnostic
procedures.  Technetium-99m cannot be stockpiled because it is useful for only
about six
hours.

     To help minimize the effects of a possible shortage, the Commission has
authorized  licensees to possess molybdenum-99 and molybdenum-99/technetium-99m
generators in quantities it might otherwise not allow.  Thousands of facilities
affected include medical users like clinics and hospitals, commercial nuclear
pharmacies that prepare doses of radioisotopes for medical use, and
radiopharmaceutical
manufacturers that use molybdenum-99 to produce molybdenum-99/technetium-99m
generators for medical users.  

     Dr. Carl Paperiello, Director of the NRC's Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards said the NRC will permit its licensees to temporarily
exceed possession limits for molybdenum-99 and the generators until further
notice.  However, he said, this exercise of temporary enforcement discretion
does not relieve licensees from current molybdenum-99  testing requirements,
other applicable NRC requirements, or with maintaining compliance with other
applicable federal and state requirements
governing radioactive drugs.

##


George J. Vargo, Ph.D., CHP
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
International Nuclear Safety Program
509-375-6836; -2019 (fax)
vargo@pnl.gov
INSP web site:  http://insp.pnl.gov:2080/