[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6745-6746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3185]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Guidance for the Use of Portable (Hand-Held) Radiological 
Instruments

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of final guidance.

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SUMMARY: We (FEMA) have developed the final guidance for the use of 
portable (hand-held) radiological instruments, identified as FEMA-REP-
22, for the detection of radioactive contamination on persons in 
association with peacetime nuclear accidents. Three documents 
pertaining to the final guidance are available for use.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the final guidance documents from 
the FEMA Distribution Center, (800) 480-2520, or www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/fr.shtm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William F. McNutt, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-
2857, or (e-mail) [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The three available documents are:
    (a) Contamination Monitoring Guidance for Portable Instruments Used 
for Radiological Emergency Response to Nuclear Power Plant Accidents, 
FEMA-REP-22, (12 pages);
    (b) Background Information on Contamination Monitoring Guidance for 
Portable Instruments Used for Radiological Emergency Response to 
Nuclear Power Plant Accidents (62 pages); and
    (c) Statements of Consideration for Contamination Monitoring 
Guidance for Portable Instruments Used for Radiological Emergency 
Response to Nuclear Power Plant Accidents (12 pages).
    We developed this guidance in response to a request from the 
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). The CRCPD 
asked us to develop portable instrument guidance that affords 
protection to the public equivalent to the portal monitor standard 
(FEMA-REP-21) that we established and published in the Federal Register 
on March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15290-15291).
    We worked through the Federal Radiological Preparedness 
Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) and its Offsite Emergency 
Instrumentation Subcommittee to develop and coordinate the portal 
monitor standard and the guidance for portable instruments. We chair 
the FRPCC and, with the Department of Energy, co-chair the Offsite 
Emergency Instrumentation Subcommittee, which includes members from 
several Federal agencies. Members of the CRCPD's E-6 Committee 
(composed of State radiological health officials) participated in 
meetings of this Subcommittee as ex-officio members.

[[Page 6746]]

We made the draft guidance available to FEMA Regional staff, CRCPD 
constituents in all 50 States and the general public for review and 
comment. We have addressed and resolved their comments.
    While we developed only one standard for portal monitors, we 
developed guidance for four (4) types of portable instruments because 
of the instrument-specific factors that influence the manner in which 
radiation is detected and measured. We developed the guidance for 
portable instruments through extensive empirical tests of different 
portable radiological instruments currently in use today by State and 
local government personnel. Despite instrument-specific differences 
between portal monitors and portable instruments, use of this guidance 
will afford protection to individuals equivalent to that afforded by 
the portal monitor standard.
    Based on extensive consultation with Federal and State officials, 
the primary issue involving this guidance is the extended period of 
time required to monitor an individual adequately with some types of 
portable radiological instruments. Empirical studies undertaken since 
1991 have substantiated per-person monitoring time frames for different 
types of radiological instruments ranging from 2.6 minutes to as high 
as 19 minutes (for a CD V-700 with standard GM side window probe) for 
total body scans to detect spot contamination. The planning criterion 
for monitoring individuals using a portable CD V-700 radiation survey 
instrument is 300 counts per minute (CPM) above background levels.
    The range of times required to monitor individuals is critical, as 
is the need for State and local governments to provide sufficient 
resources to monitor at least 20% of the plume exposure pathway 
emergency planning zone (EPZ) population in about twelve (12) hours. 
This may require State and local governments with certain types of 
radiological instruments to re-examine their radiological emergency 
planning and preparedness for accidents involving commercial nuclear 
power plants. This issue is extensively documented and addressed in the 
three documents previously cited, and we provide suggestions on how 
State and local governments may address this issue and related resource 
requirements.

    Dated: February 4, 2003.
Joe M. Allbaugh,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-3185 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]
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