ML20216B046
| ML20216B046 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/09/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Harkin T SENATE |
| References | |
| FRN-62FR66038, RULE-PRM-50-63A NUDOCS 9803120398 | |
| Download: ML20216B046 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES o
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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14 March 9, 1998 W MAR 10 P12:10 c"*"
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PETITION ROLE
(& Q FR 44038)
The Honorable Tom Herkin j
United States Sendo i
Washington, D.C. 20510 Deer Senator Harkin:
Thank you for your Fetzuery 13,1998, letter that urged the Commissicn to revisc its cunent policy regenting the avallebility of pa**n lo&de (KI) for use by the general public in the event of an emergency at a nucteer power plant. Your letter has boon included h the record of rulemaking. We have also posted it on the Nuclear Regulatory Cors'::'
(NRC) Web Page with other comments fmm the public received on the petition.
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As a result of the petitioner revising his petibon, the Commiselon pubished a request for putsc commente in the Federal Ranistar on December 17,1997 (82 FR 88038). The comment penod was anh==y% extended until February 17,1998, by a Federal Register noboo published on j
January 21,1998 (63 FR 3052). Following receipt of the staffs r -x-wa-f:^'=, which we anticipale will be provided in the rieer future, the Commission will make its decision on the W of the petition. We anbapato puthshing a rensed pohcy regenting the stockpilmg and evallebilPy of potassium iodide for the general pubhc shortly after the Comminaion makes,it dodelon on the petition.
For your information, I am enclosing a copy of the January 18,1998, press reloose that the W on this matter. The Commission - =-:':^n your interest in this matter.
Sincerely, g
Shiriey Ann Jackson
Enclosure:
As stated
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bup;J/www.ntc. gov /OPA/gmo/nrarev/98 12.htm
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission i
Office of Public Affairs Washington DC 20555 Telephone: 301/415-8200 - E-mail: opa@nrc. gov i
No. 98-12 January 16,1998 NRC SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING CONCERNING USE OF THYROID-PROTECTING DRUG IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE The Nuclear Regulatory Co:.unission is seeking public co;nment on a petition for rulemaking which asks that the NRC modify its regulation,10 CFR 50.47 (b) (10), to require that nuclear power plant emergency plans consider the inclusion of the use of potassium iodide, a thyroid-protecting drug, f general public.
The deadline for comments is February 17.
Current Federal policy, published July 24,1985, calls for potassium iodide to be stockpiled for distribution during emergencies to emergency workers and institutionalized persons. If taken in time, t substance blocks most of the thyroid gland's uptake of radioactive iodine. It could thus help reduce the risk of thyroid cancer and other diseases that might otherwise be caused by exposure to radioactive iodine which could be dispersed in a severe nuclear accident.
The Commission last year voted to approve a proposed revision to the current Federal policy which would offer to provide funding for states which want to stockpile potassium iodide for use by the g public in the event of a nuclear power plant emergency.
The rulemaking petition now pending before the Commission calls for a change in NRC regulations t s xcify that states and licensees consider the use of potassium iodide, as well as evacuation and s ieltenng, in the preparation of nuclear power plant emergency plans.
The petition was filed by Peter G. Crane, an NRC staff attorney who took the action as a pr The onginal January 16 deadline for comments has been extended by 30 days to allow suffici for pub ic comment. Persons wishing copies of the petition may write: R Washington, DC 20555. A copy of the petition and other related documents are also available a NRC Public Document Room,2120 L Street NW (Lower Level), Washington, DC. The petition also may be accessed on the Internet at httn //ruleforum lin1. gov /cgi-bin /rulemake? source =K Comments should be mailed to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. Comments also may be delivered to 11555 RockvHie Pike, Rockviile, MD, between 7:30 a. m. and 4:15 p. m. on Federal workdays. Th also may be preided through the NRC's interactive rulemaking website, which may be reache Internet at http://www.nrc. gov by looking for rulemaking under the heading "Public Participatio School Programs."
02/24/98 09:19:32 Iof2
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Elnittd States Senatt APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON, oC 20510-1502 suALL BU$1 NESS LA80R DHUMAN Febmary 13,1998 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairwoman, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington D.C. 20555
Dear Dr. Jackson:
I applaud the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) proposal to stockpdmg potassium iodide (KI) as a measure to protect the general po nuclear reactor accident. I am, however, concerned that this proposal does I believe that the NRC's proposal to federally fund the purchase of KI for a h ld do more and make stockpiling is correct. This being said, I also believe that the NRC s ou mandatory, as proposed by Commissioners Diaz and McGaffigast The distribution of KI to the general public in the event of a nuclear emer KI is an extremely effective means in the prevention of the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid. For example, the World Health Organiza accepted protective measure.
its 13se for people living near a nuclear power plant if radiation levels are predetermined dose. A raunber of foreign govem KI for distribution to, and use by, the population in the event of a nuclear eme include the use of KI in their emergency planning and this proposed measure w effective in the protection of those citizens living and working near nuclear power Thank you for yr. r ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the U.S. p nuclear accidents. I look forward to hearing fiom you in the future.
l Sincerely, Tom Harkin Uni;ed States Senator 150 FIRST AVENUE, NE 210 WALNUT ST 131 E 4TH ST.
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