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Options to Revise Radiation Protection Regulations and Guidance

On December 18, 2008, the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) submitted a Policy Issue Notation Vote Commission Paper, SECY-08-0197, requesting approval to revise the agency's radiation protection regulations and guidance to achieve greater alignment with the 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP Publication 103). [The NRC's Synopsis of ICRP Publication 103, which is available through the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), discusses the broad implications of the new recommendations.] Specifically, the revisions proposed to achieve alignment would affect the regulatory framework provided by Title 10, Part 20, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 20), "Standards for Protection Against Radiation"; 10 CFR Part 50, "Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities"; and Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50, "Numerical Guides for Design Objectives and Limiting Conditions for Operation to Meet the Criterion 'As Low as is Reasonably Achievable' for Radioactive Material in Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor Effluents."

The Commission subsequently accepted the staff’s recommendation through the related Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM-SECY-08-0197), dated April 2, 2009, instructing the staff to immediately begin engagement with stakeholders and interested parties to initiate development of the technical basis for possible revision of the NRC’s radiation protection regulations, as appropriate and where scientifically justified, to achieve greater alignment with the 2007 ICRP recommendations. In addition, the staff will seek to identify the scope of any warranted conforming changes in other parts of the 10 CFR regulations. Toward that end, the NRC staff will use this dedicated subsite and scheduled public meetings as tools to engage stakeholders and interested parties, in order to identify potential conflicts and gain an understanding of any unintended consequences that may result from drafting and implementing any related changes to the NRC's existing regulations. For additional information, see the following pages:

• Public Involvement
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Division 1, 4, and 8 Regulatory Guides Potentially Subject to Update
• Supporting Guidance and Computer Codes Potentially Subject to Update
• Contact Us

Related Information

• 10 CFR Part 20 Regulations
• 10 CFR Part 50 Regulations
• Guidance in Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50
• ICRP Web site

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Thursday, May 21, 2009