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IN RESPONSE, PLEASE
REFER TO: M990317B
March 17, 1999
| MEMORANDUM TO: | Executive Director for Operations |
| FROM: | Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary /s/ |
| SUBJECT: | STAFF REQUIREMENTS - AFFIRMATION SESSION, 11:30 A.M., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1999, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) |
The Commission approved a final rule amending 10 CFR Part 40, Appendix A, Criterion 6(6), to provide radiological criteria for building surfaces and radionuclides other than radium in soil, for termination of uranium recovery licensees.
Following incorporation of attached changes, the Federal Register notice should be reviewed by the Rules Review and Directives Branch in the Office of Administration and forwarded to the Office of the Secretary for signature and publication.
| (EDO) | (SECY Suspense: 4/9/99) |
Attachment: As stated
| cc: | Chairman Jackson Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield EDO OGC CIO CFO OCAA OCA OIG OPA Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail) PDR - Advance DCS - P1-17 |
Changes to the Federal Register notice:
On page 8, last line insert 'radioactive' after 'occurring' so that the sentence reads: "The 5 pCi/g radium value has also been recommended as an exemption level by the Board of Directors of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (October 1998) for the Suggested State Regulations on technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials.
On page 9, change the first sentence as follows: "The NRC staff's preliminary dose modeling , using realistic parameter values and the RESRAD code, indicates that at typical UR facilities, where the background radiation results in doses of over 200 mrem/yr (2.0 mSv/yr), the Ra-226 standard of 5 pCi/g (0.19 Bq/g) could typically result in a potential peak annual dose on the order of 20 to 35 mrem/yr (0.2 to 0.35 mSv/yr) to the average member of the critical group.
On page 9, paragraph 2 line 4, insert a new sentence prior to the start of the third sentence as follows: " Also, EPA modeled a much smaller fraction of time an individual would spend outdoors (0.02 versus 0.25) and used a less conservative root depth value (0.9 versus 0.25 meters) which generally decreases the calculated potential dose.
On page 10, change the next to the last sentence in the first partial paragraph as follows: "The rule text and guidance also stipulate that the total effective dose equivalent limit is based on the maximum peak annual dose within a 1000 year period to the average member of the critical group.
On page 12, paragraph 2, line 3, delete the 'm' in '0.1 mSv/yr'.
On page 18, change the last sentence to read: " The use of decommissioning plans with benchmark doses which exceed 100 mrem/yr, before application of ALARA, requires the approval of the Commission after consideration of the recommendation of the NRC staff."
Changes to the Public Announcement
On page 1, paragraph 3, revise the first 2 sentences as follows: "The new dose criteria are based on the existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) soil standard for radium. The EPA Environmental Protection Agency previously set standards requiring that the concentration of radium at uranium mills after decommissioning may not exceed the natural background level s of radiation by more than 5 picocuries per gram in the first 6 inches of soil, and 15 picocuries per gram for every subsequent 6-inch layer."
On page 1, paragraph 4, change the first sentence as follows: "The new standard for uranium and thorium uses the radiation dose from radium in oil as a benchmark." In line 2, change 'facility' to 'facilities'.
On page 2, line 2, add the following new sentence at the end of the paragraph: "The staff recently calculated that the potential dose to an individual from applying the benchmark approach may range between 22 and 34 millirem per year."
On page 2, revise the last paragraph as follows: "In the unlikely event that appliation of this benchmark would result in a dose exceeding 100 millirems per year, the staff will consult with and receive the approval of the Commission before approving the decommissioning plan. Commission will specifically review the situation. The 100-millirem dose is the NRC annual limit for members of the public. The average annual dose to an individual in the United States from natural sources background radiation is about 300 millirems."
Changes to the Congressional letters
In line 1, insert 'U.S.' prior to 'Nuclear" so it reads: "The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication ..."
In the last line, insert 'unique' before 'issues' so it reads: "... and instead request additional public comment so as to provide full consideration of the unique issues involving decommissioning of UR facilities."
Changes to the Letters to Gore, Murphy, and Hastert
In line 2, insert 'U.S.' prior to 'Nuclear" so it reads: "... the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is submitting a final rule regarding decommissioning ..."