ML20247K096
| ML20247K096 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/15/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Crane P AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20247K102 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9805220014 | |
| Download: ML20247K096 (2) | |
Text
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CLL G,lu scragk UNITED STATES y-)
B NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION If WASHINGTON, D.C. 2056M*H
+.,+f May 15, 1998 i
Mr. Peter G. Crane 4809 Drummond Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Dear Mr. Crane:
This is in response to your electronic communication to me on May 6,1998 (enclosed), in which you indicated that the position of the Federal Govemment regarding the policy on potassium iodide (KI) had been misrepresented in a letter from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to Congressman Bob Fitner signed by me on April 1,1998. In the letter to Congressman Filner, we stated that the Federal Government is evaluating whether the policy should be changed to include purchasing Kl for any State that elected to make it a component of their emergency l
planning for nuclear power plants. in your communication you state that, in reality, the Federal l
Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) has alrea,dy made (in 1996) the decision that the policy should be changed, and that the Commission has endorsed that position as it declared in its press release of July 1,1997.
The characterization of the Federal Govemment's current position on Kl in the response to Congressman Filner was carefully chosen to no.t misrepresent or mischaracterize the position of l
the FRPCC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other iiwolved agencies, l
including the NRC. Although the FRPCC has developed recommendations on KI, which the l
Commission has voted to endorse, the FRPCC policy on KI has not yet been issued in final form.
in a presentation to the Commission on November 5,1997, O. Megs Hepler, then Director of l
FEMA's Exercises Division and Chairman of the FRPCC, stated that once FEMA receives NRC's concurrence on the Federal Reaister notice announcing the revised policy, FEMA intends to circulate the final draft notice to the full FRPCC membership for their final review and Gnal concurrence. As you know, the Commission is considering your petition to revise the regulations to require the consideration of Kl as a protective measure for the public. Until the Commission acts, the staff considers any action or statement by the NRC that indicates a final position or policy on Ki by the FRPCC or any Government agency to be premature.
We believe our position in this matter was further reinforced in the letter of April 9,1998, to the Commission from Kay Goss, FEMA's Associate Director for Preparedness, Training, and Exercises, that states that
- FEMA supports the current proposed (emphasis added) FRPCC
/
revised policy." In addition, in discussing the FRPCC draft Federal Reaister notice on K!, the letter states that "while it [the draft Federal Reaister notice) accurately reflects the Subcommittee *s recommendations, which were adopted by the FRPCC, it will still need to be formally approved by FEMA and the FRPCC once the funding issue and the petition are addressed by the NRC"(empnasis added). By indicating that the Federal Government was evaluating the policy on Kl and was consic'ering whether it should be changed, our intention in our response to Congressman Filner was to not preclude any final decisions that may be taken by the FRPCC and other involved agencies following the Commission's decision.
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- As a matter of public record, I am placing this response and your correspondence to me in the Public Document Room.
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1 Sincerely,
' ph Callan L. J e
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
As stated i
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