ML19316B149
| ML19316B149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/16/1980 |
| From: | Kerr G NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Cobb A MISSISSIPPI, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006110404 | |
| Download: ML19316B149 (2) | |
Text
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O UNITED S TATES g
g NUCLEAR REGULAl ORY COMMISSION g
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i MAY 131980 Ref:
SA/RJD i
Alton B. Cobb, M.D.
State Health Officer I
State Board of Health P.O. Box 1700 Jackson, Mississippi 39205
)
Dear Dr. Cobb:
i This is to confirm the discussion Mr. Doda held with you and Messrs. Brown and Fuente following our review and evaluation of the Mississippi radiation control program.
The review covered the principal administrative and techni-cal aspects of the program. This included an examination of the program's:
l funding and personnel resources; licensing, inspection and enforcement i
activities; emergency response capabilities for agreement materials; and i
the status of the State's radiation control regulations.
There was also l
a field accompaniment of a State inspector during this review.
I 1
As a result of our review of the State's program and the routine exchange 4
of information between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the State of Mississippi, the staff believes that the Mississippi program for I
regulation of agreement materials is adequate to protect the public health and safety, and is compatible with the NRC's program for' regulation of similar materials.
We were pleased to note that the State's revised and updated radiation control regulations became effective February 28, 1980.
This accomplish-ment required significant staff efforts during the past year.
We find that the program presently has a staffing leve' of.94 person-years per-100 licenses, and a budget that corresponds to $1fd per license.
Both of these values lie below the NRC recomended ranges of 1.0-1.5 person-years per 100 licenses and $200-$350 per license, respectively. These factors 4
become more significant, as Mr. Doda indicated to you in the sumary dis-i cussion of April 25, 1980, when we. foresee additional staff efforts being required in the future for the following program areas:
(1) the renewal
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of many medical and industrial radiography licenses in their-entirety) the j'
to conform with the State's revised radiation control regulations; (2 inspection to DOT requirements of package preparation and shipping proced-ures by State licensees; and (3) the development of State responses to questions concerning low-level radioactive waste disposal and high-level
- radioactive waste burial sites. - Therefore, we recomend that the State fill the remaining vacancy as soon as possible with a view toward the planned implementation-of the above program areas.
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....u.q w
o Alton B. Cobb, M. D. After last year's review of the State's radiation control program, we recommended that the State consider a reclassification and review of the salary schedule for professional staff. We also included a list of median Agreement State staff salaries, showing Mississippi's relative position.
After this year's review, we note that a reclassification has not been accomplished.
In. light of Mississippi's standing in the list of median Agreement State staff salaries and the importance to an effective program of recruiting and, retaining qualified staff, we strongly recommend that the State consider a reclassification of the salary schedule for profes-sional staff.
Enclosed for your information is a copy of_ the letter to Mr. Fuente with comments regarding technical aspects of the program.
I am also enclosing a second copy of each letter which should be placed in your State Public Document Room or otherwise made available for public review.
I appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to our representative during the review.
Sincerely, U
G. Wayne Kerr Acting Director Office of State Programs
Enclosures:
as stated cc: Dr. A. B. Cobb Mr. J. Brown Mr. E. S. Fuente NRC Public Document Room State Public Document Room
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