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> SECY-04-0055
May 13, 2004
COMMISSION VOTING RECORD
DECISION ITEM: |
SECY-04-0055 |
TITLE: |
PLAN FOR EVALUATING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND RADIATION PROTECTION
RECOMMENDATIONS |
The Commission (with Commissioners McGaffigan and Merrifield approving
and Chairman Diaz approving in part and disapproving in part) acted on
the subject paper as recorded in the Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM)
of May 13, 2004.
This Record contains a summary of voting on this matter together with
the individual vote sheets, views and comments of the Commission.
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___________________________
Annette L. Vietti-Cook
Secretary of the Commission |
cc: |
Chairman Diaz
Commissioner McGaffigan
Commissioner Merrifield
OGC
EDO
PDR |
VOTING SUMMARY - SECY-04-0055
RECORDED VOTES
|
APRVD |
DISAPRVD |
ABSTAIN |
NOT
PARTICIP |
COMMENTS |
DATE |
CHRM. DIAZ |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
4/14/04 |
COMR. McGAFFIGAN |
X |
|
|
|
X |
5/10/04 |
COMR. MERRIFIELD |
X |
|
|
|
X |
4/21/04 |
COMMENT RESOLUTION
In their vote sheets, Commissioners McGaffigan and Merrifield approved
and Chairman Diaz approved in part and disapproved in part the staff's
recommendation and provided some additional comments. Subsequently, the
comments of the Commission were incorporated into the guidance to staff
as reflected in the SRM issued on May 13, 2004.
Commissioner Comments on
SECY-04-0055
Chairman Diaz
I approve the staff's plan for evaluating scientific information and
radiation protection recommendations with one exception. I disapprove
further staff support for ongoing efforts by the International Atomic
Energy Agency and International Commission on Radiation Protection to
develop regulatory standards for protection of the environment from ionizing
radiation, i.e., flora and fauna. If staff participates in future meetings
on this initiative, the staff should clearly express the Commission's
strong reservations with it and not assist in development of the standard
or its scientific basis.
As I have stated previously, I have deep misgivings with, and am highly
skeptical of, the need to develop separate standards for the protection
of non-human species. There is no evidence to suggest that the existing
regulatory framework to protect the public is not protective of other
species, and in the absence of such evidence, the effort to develop separate
standards is likely to detract from our ongoing efforts to improve, integrate,
and harmonize the existing framework for the protection of the public
health and safety and the environment.
Commissioner McGaffigan
I approve the staff's plan for evaluating scientific information and
recommendations of national and international radiation protection organizations,
with one clarification. I share the Chairman's and Commissioner Merrifield's
misgivings about the need to go forward with the development of a separate
standard for the protection of non-human species. I believe, and there
is no evidence to the contrary, that the strict standards that are in
place for the protection of humans are also fully protective of the environment
and non-human species. The European community, however, has decided to
pursue the development of such a standard. That being the case, I believe
that the NRC staff should be involved in the on-going efforts by the International
Atomic Energy Agency and the International Commission on Radiation Protection
on this topic to ensure that our opinion is heard and to ensure that individual
nations have great flexibility to decide what, if any, additional measures
need to be implemented. The NRC staff should not, however,
expend significant research dollars on this activity.
Commissioner Merrifield
I approve the staff's plan for evaluating scientific information and
radiation protection recommendations as modified in the following sentences.
Available data continues to support the general conclusion that radiation
standards developed to protect the human species also adequately protects
other elements of the environment. Consequently, I share the Chairman's
misgivings about the need to develop separate standards for the protection
of non-human species. However, it is evident that there is international
interest in developing standards in this area. NRC staff should expend
appropriate resources to participate in this international effort and
provide comments, but significant research dollars should not be spent
on this effort. The staff should continue to articulate the Commission's
view on this activity. If the international community desires to continue
this effort, staff should participate to (1) maintain the focus of the
IAEA activity on the development of an overall process for evaluating
environmental impacts and (2) not support the development of specific
IAEA standards in this area but rather leave the development of specific
standards for the protection of non-human species to the individual national
governments so that flexibility for implementation is maintained on a
national level.
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