Re: Landauer's New Badge -Reply

[Joe Nick <JLN@nrc.gov>]

>>> Raymond Carroll sent the following message on 09/10/98 @ 09:37am >>>
There have been some very interesting comments on the pro's and con's of the 
new Landauer badge.  Two other points to consider:

Nuclear power plants went to very sensitive half body monitors some years ago 
for monitoring personnel contamination to prevent taking even low levels of 
contamination out of the plants.  The industry also developed more sensitive 
portable monitoring instruments.  Both of these are good ideas and should be 
applauded.  One problem though - the NRC, through individual inspectors, 
started taking the position that if you can measure it, it is radioactive and 
must be treated as such.  Suddenly, levels at or below background became 
expensive radioactive waste.  Think about that in relation to 1 mrem 
reportable dose.  The regulators and public will.  (I agree that if you are 
concerned about seeing 1 mrem then you probably are wasting your employeer's 
money by monitoring those individuals.  That is not ALARA.)
<<<<<<<<<< snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I just wanted to correct your assertion that "the NRC, through individual inspectors,
started taking a position..."  The idea that any measurable amounts were considered
radioactivity was promulgated as NRC policy due to the lack of specific material
release criteria in power reactor (10 CFR Part 50) licenses.  This policy was
documented in numerous staff position papers that provided guidance to inspectors. 

However, a recent Staff Requirements Memo (SRM) from the Commission to the
staff, requests the staff to proceed with dosed-based regulation for clearance of
materials and equipment with residual radioactivity (see SECY-98-028).   The
proposed standard will not be a detectability standard, but will focus on clearance
levels above background for unrestricted use that will adequately protect public
health and safety.  The rulemaking process will incorporate public and industry
feedback.


Of course, these views and opinions are my own and do not reflect upon official
agency positions.

Joseph Nick
Radiation Specialist
USNRC, Region I
JLN@NRC.GOV
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