NRC: News Release - 2008-153 - NRC Seeking Roundtable Participants for September Public Meeting on the Use of Radioactive Cesium-137 Chloride Sources

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: opa@nrc.gov
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No. 08-153

August 19, 2008

NRC SEEKING ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS FOR SEPTEMBER PUBLIC MEETING
ON THE USE OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM-137 CHLORIDE SOURCES
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking individuals interested in participating in roundtable discussions at a public meeting scheduled for Sept. 29-30 in Rockville, Md. The meeting is being held to solicit early public input on issues associated with the use of radioactive cesium chloride sources. Interested individuals must submit their names to the NRC by Sept. 1.

There will be five roundtable sessions on the topics of: alternative cesium chloride sources, alternative technologies, phase out and transportation issues, additional enhanced security, and potential future requirements. For each roundtable session, five to seven panel members will be selected. The goal is to receive broad stakeholder perspectives on each of the five topics.

Cesium chloride sources are used in many different devices including irradiators. However, the workshop will concentrate on the use of sources identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency as Category 1 and 2 sources, which may pose a significant risk to public health and the environment if not properly handled and secured. The National Academy of Sciences has recently recommended the replacement or elimination of certain cesium chloride sources.

Those interested in being roundtable participants should contact John P. Jankovich, at (301) 415-7904 or Cynthia Jones, at (301) 415-0298, or via e-mail to john.jankovich@nrc.gov or Cynthia.jones@nrc.gov. An NRC staff member will follow-up with interested participants with additional details. More information is also available in the Federal Register, at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17545.pdf.

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