U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Clarification of 10 CFR 50.72 with respect to Maine Yankee

HPPOS-101 PDR-9111210227

Title: Clarification of 10 CFR 50.72 with respect to Maine

Yankee

See the memorandum from E. L. Jordan to T. E. Murley dated

January 13, 1984. This memo states that 10 CFR 50.72 (b)

(2) (vi) does not require notification for routine

releases. However, when a licensee must report to another

agency, NRC requires notification only when that matter

involves a news release on an event related to health and

safety of the public.

Clarification of the intent of 10 CFR 50.72 (b) (2) (vi) as

it relates to notifications required for all radioactive

releases. The "inadvertent" release of radioactive

material was stated in the rule as an example which would

require a 4-hour notification, irrespective of magnitude,

if a news release or notification to other government

agencies is made. The 4-hour notification rule in Section

50.72 is not for "routine" releases, although they may be

required to be reported to the State. However, a "routine"

release that subsequently receives media attention should

be reported to the NRC. The referenced paragraph is as

follows:

(vi) Any event or situation, related to the health and

safety of the public or onsite personnel, or protection of

the environment, for which a news release is planned or

notification to other government agencies has been or will

be made. Such an event may include an onsite fatality or

inadvertent release of radioactively contaminated materials.

The key statement is "... event or situation, related to

the health and safety ...." Where a state or other

government entity has a requirement or agreement with an

NRC licensee for routine reporting of other matters, the

NRC only requires a report when that matter gets escalated

to a "news release" of a "situation."

Regulatory references: 10 CFR 50.72

Subject codes: 2.3, 9.0

Applicability: Reactors