ML20148L127
| ML20148L127 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/13/1978 |
| From: | Ryan R NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Klein M IDAHO, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148L131 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7811200131 | |
| Download: ML20148L127 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES t
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
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WASHINGTON. D. C 20555
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NOV 13 jg7g Mr. Milton:Klein, Director Idaho Department of Health q
and Welfare Statehouse
.l Boise, Idaho 83720
Dear Mr. Klein:
This.is to confirm the discussion Mr. McGrath held with Mr. Burkhardt following our review and evaluation of the Idaho radiation control-program conducted October 24-27, 1978. The review covered the principal edministrative and technical aspects of the program..This included an examination of the program funding and personnel. resources; licensin~g, inspection and enforcement activities, field; evaluations of a State-inspector, emergency response capabilities, and the status of the State's radiation control regulations. As a result of our review of the' Department's program and the -routine exchange-of-information between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State, the staff believes that
- the Department's program for regulation of agreement' materials is adequate to protect the public health and safety and is compatible with t
the Commission's program, During our review the proposed Departmental reorganization was discussed in some detail. The plan, as we understand it, would remove all environ-mental programs from the Department of Health and Welfare and transfer them to a new Department 'of Environment. While such organizational arrangements are properly State decisions, we do have some concern about the possible impact on the State's radiation control program, namely fragmentation of an already small program. Two points which we feel should be considered are as follows:
(1) environmental radiation.
monitoring is essentially a one-man operation. The loss of that one man t
would suspend operation of the program.
Retaining the environmental pro-i gram in the Radiation Control Section would assure that other technically qualified individuals would be familiar enough with the program to sustain it and (2).no matter what specific duties would be transferred to the new department; there would still be a need for. some environmental monitoring associated with the materials regulatory program.
The Idaho radiation control regulations have not been updated since 1973.
During our previous review the Idaho staff stated that they were begin-i ning the process of revision. The process has not yet been completed.
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2-Mr. Milton Klein It is our understanding that they are now being reviewed by the Depart-ment's legal staff. We suggest that the Department conclude the revision process as soon as possible.
During the past year, we feel that the staffing level has been adequate to conduct the program. - It is our understanding, however, that one individual plans. to leave the program in the near future and we recommend that the resultant vacancy be-filled on a priority basis..Some specific recommendations were made. to Mr. Funderburg and his staff concerning the licensing program, but generally we were pleased to note.some improvement in this area since our previous review.
We have addressed several items in the Compliance program in the enclosed letter to Mr. Funderburg.
Item 1 was also addressed last year and we bring it to your attention for appropriate action.
The Radiation Control Section has encountered some difficulty in pursuing an enforcement action involving the impoundment of a radioactive source.
The problem seems to be mainly procedural. We recommend that the Depart-ment review its administrative procedures so that the Radiation Control staff will know how.to proceed in a timely manner in such enforcement Cases.
I would appreciate your response to the above comments. Enclosed is a copy of a letter to Mr. Funderburg regarding the technical aspects of our review.
I am also enclosing a second copy of each letter which should be placed in the State Public Document Room or otherwise made available for public review.
I appreciate the courtesy and cooperation your staff extended to Mr. McGrath during the meeting.
Sincerely, d
Robert G. Ryan, Directdr Office of State Programs 7
Enclosures:
As stated cc:
L. Stokes H. Burkhardt R. Funderburg State Public Document Room NRC Public Document Room wn~I-~
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