RAM security -Reply

[Charles Willis <CAW@nrc.gov>]

Les and other interested parties,

Les asked whether there is anything to be done about the security problem.  I
believe there are several promising approaches.  Unfortunately, there seems to be 
no approach that does not require effort.  A petition for rulemaking is one way to
ensure that the issues are addressed and to obtain a hearing for your position.  This
can be difficult because the petitioner needs to recommend what should be
required and why;  this is more difficult than simply bemoaning what has been done.

An alternative is to establish a dialogue with the NRC Commissioners, perhaps
through a group such as the Health Physics Society (the National is more likely to
be effective on this than the local chapter)  and/or through Commissioner's
assistants such as Joel Lubenau.

If  the problems are not in the rules themselves, but are in the related practices,
the development of a consensus standard might serve a useful purpose.

If the problem is as serious as it seems ("worse public health impact than
Chernobyl"), action should be taken.  Diane's presentation is a step in the right
direction but more needs to be done.

Charlie Willis
caw@nrc.gov