Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 62

Question 62: With 10 CFR 20.1101 (b) making ALARA a requirement ("shall" instead of a "should"), does the NRC staff plan or anticipate any significant change in inspection program focus or in enforcement activity with respect to ALARA for occupational exposure at nuclear power plants?

Answer: No. In general, the recent performance of the nuclear power reactor industry has been good with respect to efforts to achieve occupational doses that are ALARA. Collective doses (person-rem) for both PWRs and BWRs have been declining since the early 1980s. The NRC staff is not planning any significant change in the depth or scope of inspections with respect to ALARA and, therefore, no significant change in the inspection program and procedures. NRC headquarters does plan to review all draft notices of violation of 10 CFR 20.1101 (b) in order to monitor proposed enforcement actions in this area to ensure that a reasonably consistent approach is established. Consistent with current and past policy, the NRC Regional Offices will continue to allocate increased inspection resources (e.g., ALARA team inspections) to inspections of poor ALARA performers.

(References: 10 CFR 20.1101 (b))