[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3463]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 15, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 

Draft NUREG: Issuance, Availability

    On May 21, 1991, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published 
a revision to 10 CFR part 20, ``Standards for Protection Against 
Radiation.'' The rule became effective in June 1991, and licensees are 
required to implement the regulations on or before January 1, 1994.
    The revised 10 CFR part 20 is based upon the recommendations of the 
International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 
Publication 26 (ICRP 1977). In 1991, the ICRP published revised 
recommendations in Publication 60. These recommendations were based 
upon revised dosimetry and epidemiology, including the information 
presented in reports such as the 1988 United Nations Scientific 
Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The new 
recommendations include a revised occupational dose limitation approach 
of 100 mSv (10 rem) in 5 years, with the additional limitation that no 
more than 50 mSv (5 rem) be received in any one year.
    In 1991, the National Council on Radiation Protection and 
Measurements (NCRP) recommended a lifetime limit of 10 mSv (1 rem) 
times age in years (NCRP Report 91). This recommendation was continued 
in recommendations published in 1993 (NCRP Report 116).
    In anticipation of these recommendations, and as a result of the 
epidemiological and dosimetric information available in the last 5 
years, the NRC staff initiated a study by Brookhaven National 
Laboratory (BNL) to analyze the potential impacts of reduced dose 
limits on its licensees. The results of this study are contained in 
this draft NUREG/CR. During the study period, a relatively small number 
of licensees responded to questionnaires and surveys, thereby limiting 
the extent to which the survey results can be assumed to be an accurate 
representation of the potential impacts of changed dose limits.
    The NRC staff has decided to publish these results in draft form, 
and to solicit further comments from interested parties regarding the 
impacts of the different possible dose limits discussed in the NUREG/
CR. These limits could take the form of annual limits, similar to those 
presently employed in 10 CFR part 20; long term average values, such as 
recommended by the ICRP; lifetime limits, such as suggested by the 
NCRP; or some combination of the above. The NRC staff is particularly 
interested in comments on the impacts of such possible approaches, and 
comments on the preliminary information presented in this NUREG/CR.
    Licensees, Agreement States, and all other interested parties are 
encouraged to submit comments and relevant data on this draft report.
    Comment and data are solicited in particular in the following 
areas:

--Identification of safety related jobs that might be difficult to do 
at the reduced dose limits considered in NUREG/CR-6112.
--Identification of worker groups that currently exceed the reduced 
dose limits considered in NUREG/CR-6112.
--Costs in terms of increased workforce, increased collective dose, 
facility modification, etc., that would be needed to operate under 
reduced dose limits.

    NUREG/CR-6112 is not a substitute for NRC regulations, and 
compliance is not required. The approaches and/or methods described in 
this NUREG/CR are provided for information only. Publication of the 
report does not necessarily constitute NRC approval or agreement with 
the information cited therein.
    A free single copy of draft NUREG-6112, may be requested by those 
considering public comment by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    Comments on the draft report should be sent to the Chief, Rules 
Review and Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and 
Publications Services, Mail Stop P-223, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Copies of the comments received may 
be examined at the NRC Public Document Room at 2120 L Street NW. (Lower 
Level), Washington, DC. Comments will be most helpful if they are 
received by June 30, 1994.
    For further information contact George E. Powers, Radiation 
Protection and Health Effects Branch, Mail Stop NL/S-139, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Telephone (301) 492-3747.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of January, 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Bill M. Morris,
Director, Division of Regulatory Applications, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 94-3463 Filed 2-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M