ML20154S008
| ML20154S008 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/22/1998 |
| From: | Cool D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Forbes J AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9810270262 | |
| Download: ML20154S008 (2) | |
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l October 22,1998 l
Jerre L. Forbes, CHP Chairman N13 - Radiation Protection 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd., Suite 402 McLean, VA 22101 -
Dear Mr. Forbes,
As'a follow-up to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) correspondence to youi Vice Chairman, Dr. Joseph P. Ring, last year, I am forwarding to you, as the American National l Standards Institute (ANSI) N13 Chairman, an issue that NRC believes ANSI is in a position to address. 4 As you are aware, in 1995, two bioassay incidents occurred at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Both of these incidents involved high-level :nspection teams to investigate any under'ying causes or contributing factors for these events. One of the teams recommendations was related to bioassay. Specifically the team recommended that NRC "... evaluate the adequacy of regulatory guidance for collecting data to a.1alyze intakes of radioactive materials, for licensees seeking outside medical expertise, and for NRC staff who monitor the licensee's analysis of an intake."
Since these events in 1995, HPS N13.30, Performance Criteria for Bioassay was issued to provide guidance for quality assurance, evaluation of performance, and the accreditation of radiobioassay service laboratories. ;On' review, staff has concluded that it is more appropriate for ANSI to address the issues identified above rather than for NRC to expend its resources on additional guidance in this particular area of bioassay. Ace'ordingly, we would ask that ANSI, through the Health Physics Society N13 Committee, consider addressing the specific issues of bloassay sampling and collection during emergencies when future revisions to ANSI 13.30 are performed, or to address them through another standards document, as the N13 Committee determines. To assist the N13 Committee in this endeavor, we have enclosed a copy of NUREG-1535, Ingestion of Phosphorus-32 at Massachusetts Institute of Technclogy, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Identified on August 19,1995, and a copy of the NRC Director's Decision 97-22 in the matter of the NIH. Both documents discuss the licensee's difficulties and lack of available guidance in the area of bioassay collection and. emergency management of
. persons accidentally contaminated with radioactive material.
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- Jerre L. Forbes, CHP 2
. We appreciate the effort that your Committee has taken in offering to develop standards for use
. in the field of radiation protection. If you have any further questions on this, or other proposals
- for. N13 consideration, please contact Cynthia G. Jones, Senior Level Advisor for Health ,
= Physics, at e-mail cgj@nrc. gov or (301) 415-7853.-
Sincerely, (orig, signed by)
' Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
As stated i cc: ' Joseph P. Ring, Ph.D., CHP Vice Chairman N13 1
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