Information Notice No. 92-38: Implementation Date for the Revision to the EPA Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                   OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION &
              OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                                May 12, 1992


NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 92-38:  IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THE REVISION TO THE 
                               EPA MANUAL OF PROTECTIVE ACTION GUIDES AND 
                               PROTECTIVE ACTIONS FOR NUCLEAR INCIDENTS 

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power 
reactors, non-power reactors and materials licensees authorized to possess 
large quantities of radioactive material. 

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information 
notice to notify addressees of a recent Commission decision that will affect 
the implementation date for the revised U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear 
Incidents.  It is expected that recipients will review the information for 
applicability to their facilities and consider actions as appropriate.  
However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC 
requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On November 19, 1991, and January 23, 1992, the NRC issued Information 
Notices 91-72, "Issuance of a Revision to the EPA Manual of Protective 
Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents" and 92-08, 
"Revised Protective Action Guidance for Nuclear Incidents," respectively, to 
notify licensees of a revision to EPA's Manual of Protective Action Guides 
and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents.  EPA revised this manual to 
incorporate the current health physics practice for dose units and to expand 
the applicability of the guidance to include nuclear incidents for both 
commercial and Federal facilities.

The NRC agreed with EPA's recommendation to implement the manual revision 
concurrently with the revised Part 20 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.  The original dates for implementing the revised Part 20 were 
January 1, 1993, for NRC licensees, and January 1, 1994, for Agreement 
States.

On February 12, 1992, the Commission informed the NRC staff of its decision 
to delay the required implementation date of 10 CFR Part 20 for a period of 
1 year to January 1, 1994.  The staff has initiated the necessary rulemaking 
to reflect this delay.  To be consistent with the change in the date for 
implementing 10 CFR Part 20, the addressees may delay for up to 1 year their 
implementation of the revision to EPA's Manual of Protective Action Guides 
and Protective 

9205050256 
.

                                                            IN 92-38        
                                                            May 12, 1992
                                                            Page 2 of 2   


Actions for Nuclear Incidents.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
agrees with the new date for implementing the revised EPA manual.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response.  If 
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact 
one of the technical contacts listed below, or the appropriate NRC project 
manager.




Charles E. Rossi, Director                 Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment  Division of Industrial and
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation         Medical Nuclear Safety
                                           Office of Nuclear Material Safety
                                             and Safeguards

Technical contacts:  Aby Mohseni, NRR
                     (301) 504-2925

                     Kevin M. Ramsey, NMSS
                     (301) 504-2534

Attachments:
1.  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
2.  List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
.