Question 62: With 10 CFR 20.1101 (b) making ALARA a
requirement ("shall" instead of a "should"), does the NRC
staff plan or anticipate any significant change in
inspection program focus or in enforcement activity with
respect to ALARA for occupational exposure at nuclear power
plants?
Answer: No. In general, the recent performance of the
nuclear power reactor industry has been good with respect
to efforts to achieve occupational doses that are ALARA.
Collective doses (person-rem) for both PWRs and BWRs have
been declining since the early 1980s. The NRC staff is not
planning any significant change in the depth or scope of
inspections with respect to ALARA and, therefore, no
significant change in the inspection program and
procedures. NRC headquarters does plan to review all draft
notices of violation of 10 CFR 20.1101 (b) in order to
monitor proposed enforcement actions in this area to ensure
that a reasonably consistent approach is established.
Consistent with current and past policy, the NRC Regional
Offices will continue to allocate increased inspection
resources (e.g., ALARA team inspections) to inspections of
poor ALARA performers. (References: 10 CFR 20.1101 (b))