Question 204: (a) Licensees may apply under 10 CFR 20.1301
(c) to operate at a higher annual dose limit of 500
millirem to individual members of the public. How long will
this 500 millirem limit apply to the licensee? (b) Can a
licensee apply for an authorization to operate at this
higher limit indefinitely?
Answer: (a) The 0.5 rem per year limit is intended to be
applied primarily to temporary situations where operation
of the facility, or public exposure to radiation, is not
expected to result in doses above 0.1 rem over long periods
of time. 20.1301 (c) (1) requires that the licensee
specify the expected duration of operation in excess of the
limit. The Commission will only approve such applications
if the licensee provides all of the information specified
in 10 CFR 20.1301 (c), and if the information is acceptable.
(b) It is unlikely that the Commission will approve a
request to operate at the higher limit indefinitely.
(Reference: 10 CFR 20.1301)