ML20204D076
| ML20204D076 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/22/1978 |
| From: | Minogue R NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT |
| To: | Libassi P HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| TASK-ES-901-9, TASK-OS NUDOCS 7812110253 | |
| Download: ML20204D076 (4) | |
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- r. i>eter F. Libbssi Parsont tt narrl Counsel UN Departr eat of ifcalth, Ecucation and l'elfare Hubert H. Hug!:rcy DuildinD -
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Machi 19 ten, D.C.
20201
Dear Mr. 1ibassi:
Enclosed is a copy of the final draft of the NRC/ EPA Memorandum of-Under.stending concerning epidemiological research on the health effects of low-level. ionizing radiation which our staffs have been discussing.
I believe it would be useful for you, David Hawkins and.1 to raeet and discuss this very irportant effort. Your input with respect to how this NPC/ EPA effort can be most effectively correlated with HEW's related programs would be rnost helpful.
Following the necting, I hope that you will be able to. provide HEU agreement with the recorandum of Understanding, and identify the HEW representative to serve en the Scientific Review Group. Since a major' role of the Scientific Review Group;is to ensure that the study effort is aimed at our respective regulatory needs, we urge that this represen-tative be knowledgable of HEW's regulatory functions and policies in the field of ionizing radiation.
'Py staff will be contacting yours to establish an acceptable time and place for a meeting. Since we are required to submit the completed POV to Congress before December 6,1978, I hope we can get together as soon as possible.
Sincerely, I
Origir.'l cisned by:
ROIEI23, EllA?ug Robert B. Minogue,-Director Office of. Standards Development
Enclosure:
Final Draft of MOU 7812110A5-3 1
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.c NRC/ EPA MEMORANDUM 0F UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF LOW-LEVEL-10NIZING RADIATION y
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have complementary responsibilities in areas of environmental j
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protection and _the control of radiation health hazards.
Pursuant to Reorganization' Plan-No. 3 of 1970, all functions of the former Federal Rafiation Council and the authority of the former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
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for setting " generally applicable environmental radiation standards" were transferred to EPA.j In addition, under other environmental statutes' EPA has authority to establish.various specific environmental standards for radiation protection of the public. The Nuclear Regulatory Cummission was created by the-Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to continue the regulatory activities of the former AEC for ensuring, among other things, the protectiori of public health and safety from connercial applications of nuclear energy and medical, research, and commercial uses of source, byproduct, and special nuclear materials. The NRC also has responsibility-for implementing Federal guidance pre. pared by EPA and approved by the President which pertains -to NRC-licensed activities and responsibility.
for enforcing " generally applicable environmental radiation standards"
,1 issued by EPA.
The Congress of the United States has authorized and directed NRC and EPA l
to: '(1)' conduct preliminary planning and design studies for epidemiological research on the health effects of low-level ionizing radiation; (2) submit
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to Congress by April 1,1979 an assessment of their capabilities and needs
.in the area of health effects of ionizing radiation research; and (3) submit a report to the Congress by September 30, 1979, which includes
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a study of options for Federal epidemiological research on the health effects of low-level ionizing radiation, with evaluations of the feasibility of such options.
I In order to clarify their respective roles with regard to the conduct of the planning studies, the EPA and the NRC agree as follows:
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- 1. NRC and EPA will separately prepare assessments of capabilities and i
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research needs io, the area of health effects of low-level ionizing radiation for their respective agencies, and will jointly prepare the report to the Congress of the results of those assessments.
- 2. Preparation of the technical scopes of work for the p< eliminary planning and design studies, selection of the type of organizations most appropriate to conduct such studies and monitoring of the technical progress and the effort, will be accomplished under the direction of
- a five-member scientific review group.
It will consist of members of the professional staffs of NRC, EPA, and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), two members designated by NRC and two by EPA with each other's agreement, and one member designated by HEW, with NRC's and EPA's agreement.
EPA will select, with NRC's agreement, the chairperson of this review group.
NRC will select, with EPA's agreement, a program manager (not a member of the review group), to be' respnnsible for the day-to-day management of the feasibility and planning studies and for the submission of technical reports to the review group.
o - ': 3. Any quest'cas that cannot be resolved by the scientific review group will be resolved by conference between the EPA Assistant Administrator for Air, Noise, and Radiation Programs and the Director of NRC's Office of Standards Development.
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- 4. As appropriate during the conduct of the studies, NRC and EPA shall consult with appropriate scientific organizations and Federal and State agencies.
- 5. NRC and EPA professional staffs will be utilized for preparation of O
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H work scopes, technical and admini.trative management of studies, and
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gpreparation of necessary reports to the Congress.
The NRC will make available up to $500,000 for outside assistance for the studies.
If a private contrac, tor is to be selected, the Division of Contracts of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will provide administrative support for issuin'g requests for proposals, receiving proposals, making contract awards, and administering the funds authorized for this purpose.
- 6. After review of the report by the scientific review group, the report will be sent to the Commission and Administrator of EPA for final approval prior to ~ transmittal to the Congress.
L. V. Gossick, Executive Director for Operations, NRC Assistant Administrator. for Air, Noise, Radiation, EPA Assistant Administrator for Research, EPA
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