ML20237A721
| ML20237A721 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/07/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Bensten K HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20237A723 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9808170049 | |
| Download: ML20237A721 (1) | |
Text
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. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20665-0001
- August 7, 1998 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.
United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515-4325'
Dear Congressman Bentsen:
I am responding to your letter dated July 14,1998, regarding proposed revisions to the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) 10 CFR Part 35 regulations on medical use of byproduct material. In particular, you were concemed about the training and experience requirements for the use of radioactive iodine in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases.'
Throughout the development of the proposed revisions, the staff carefully considered the public l input, including comments from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Most of 'l ine public comments addressed the issue of training and experience, and the staff had to weigh a wide variety of viewpoints on this issue. The Commission received comments both supporting changes in requirements affecting personnel in the diagnostic area, and favoring continuance of the existing requirements. The resulting proposed revision for training and experience focuses on radiation safety and proposes that personnel competency be verified through an examination. This proposal is consistent with the Commission's goal to develop a risk-!nformed, and where appropriate, a more performance-based rule, and to address an objection often expressed by some commenters, that NRC requirements sometimes intrude into the practice of medicine.
' On July 21,1998, the Commission approved publication of the proposed rulemaking, in the ;
Federal Et9iater, for a 90-day public comment period, and it is expected that the proposed rule j will be published for comment in early August. During the public comment period, public ;
i meetings will be .... eld in San Francisco, Califomia on August 19-20,1998, in Kansas City, Missouri on September 16-17,1998, and in Washington, DC on October 21-22,1998, to l provide an additional opportunity for comment on the proposed rulemaking and to discuss the l proposed revisions with other members of the medical community and the NRC staff.
Additional details on the public meetings were published in the Federal Register on July 24, '
1998 (63 FR 39763). !
i The Commission plans to carefuily evaluate all the public comments ?n finalizing the training and experience requirements for all users of byproduct material.
Sincerely, d-s
\
Shirley Ann Jackson 7$ h 9808170049.990807 7 PDR COP 916 fmCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR g t_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _______ _ _ __1- __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __