Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
October 8, 1993
Information Notice No. 93-80: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED
10 CFR PART 20
Addressees
All byproduct, source, and special nuclear material licensees.
Purpose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is issuing this information notice to
emphasize the upcoming deadline for implementation of the revised 10 CFR
Part 20 and to encourage licensees to prepare for the revised Part 20
immediately. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR MANAGEMENT AND RADIATION SAFETY STAFF,
SUCH AS RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER AND RADIATION SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
REVIEW THIS DOCUMENT. It is expected that licensees will review this
information for applicability to their operation, distribute it to appropriate
staff, and consider actions to prepare for, and incorporate, these changes.
However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not new NRC
requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.
Description of Circumstances
The revised Part 20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation," becomes
effective for all NRC licensees on January 1, 1994. In recent meetings NRC
has held with byproduct material licensees, NRC has become aware that some
licensees are not knowledgeable about and have done little, if anything, to
prepare for the revised Part 20, even though the implementation date is less
than 3 months away. On January 1, 1994, NRC will begin inspecting against and
enforcing the regulations in the revised Part 20 for all licensees.
Discussion
Licensees who have not yet prepared to implement the revised Part 20
regulations are late. Licensees who are not even knowledgeable about the new
regulations will have difficulty in meeting the January 1, 1994,
implementation date and risk being out of compliance with the regulations once
they become effective for all licensees. All NRC licensees should be taking
action as soon as possible to develop procedures for implementing the revised
Part 20.
9310040360.
IN 93-80
October 8, 1993
Page 2 of 2
The final rule for the revised Part 20 was published in the Federal Register
on May 21, 1991 (56 FR 23360), with an original implementation date of
January 1, 1993. Subsequently, the implementation date was extended to
January 1, 1994 (57 FR 38588). Licensees were sent copies of the new
regulations and were informed of the revised Part 20 in an information notice
(IN 93-03). Licensees have had over 2 years to prepare for the new
regulations.
The revised Part 20 makes fundamental changes in the standards for protection
against radiation. These changes require corresponding changes in licensees'
radiation protection programs. Licensees who are just now beginning to look
at the new regulations and consider their impact are sorely behind in
preparing for implementation. If licensees find themselves in this situation,
NRC encourages them to immediately review the regulations, associated
regulatory guides, and related guidance documents, and begin to prepare to
implement the revised Part 20. Copies of the revised Part 20 and the
regulatory guides may be obtained in accordance with the directions in
Attachment 1.
This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate regional office.
/s/'d by Carl J. Paperiello
Carl J. Paperiello, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical contacts: Cynthia G. Jones, NMSS
(301) 504-2629
Joseph E. DeCicco, NMSS
(301) 504-2067
Catherine T. Haney, NMSS
(301) 504-2628
Scott W. Moore, NMSS
(301) 504-2514
Sami Sherbini, NMSS
(301) 504-3680
Attachments:
1. Addresses for Obtaining Part 20 Documents
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
3. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
.
