ML20247M955
| ML20247M955 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/19/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Roberts P SENATE |
| References | |
| FRN-62FR42219, RULE-PR-35 NUDOCS 9805260428 | |
| Download: ML20247M955 (1) | |
Text
__ -_
UNITED STATC S f
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
-3*
2p WASHINGTON D C. 205W-0001 00LE i Us 3
U3F c
( * *.. +,/
May 19, 1998 t
78 MAY 21 All :49
"^**"
DOCKET NUMBER PROPOSED RULEh35 _ OF l
i Rut i
The Honorable Pat Roberts AD U; United States Senate (f,pggypp9) r Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Roberts:
4 I am responding to your letter dated May 5,1998, in which you expressed reservations about possible changes in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) 10 CFR Part 35 regulations on medical use of byproduct material. In particular, you were concerned about the training and experience requirements that would be applicable to personnel involved in diagnosuc uses of unsealed byproduc'..aaterial.
i The NRC staff is scheduled to provide its recommendations on proposed revisions to Part 35 to the Commission in June 1998. The proposed rule is being developed using an increased public participation process that included public workshops; meetings with various medical professional societies (including the American College of Radiology); and the posting of a "strawman" rule text on the internet for comments. The staff is carefully considering the comments received during these interactions, in preparing the proposal. After Commission approval, a proposed rule will be published in the Federal egister for public comment. We R
expect to hold additional public meetings during the comment period later this year.
The issue of training and experience has received the moet comments during the development of the proposed rule. Viewpoints on this issue have veried. The Commission has received comments both supporting reduction in requiremer40 affecting personnel in the diagnostic area, j
j including those from the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclea Cardiologists, and favoring keeping the presently existing requirements. The staff draft, while reducing the number of hours required for certain medical modalities, also spec:fied a focus on radiation safety and proposed that personnel competency be verified through an examination.
This proposal appears to be in keeping with the direction the Commission provided to the namely, to develop a risk-informed, and where appropriate, a more performance-based it addressed an objection often expressed by some commenters, that NRC requirements sometimes intruded into the practice of medicine.
The Commission will carefully consider the staff proposal in light of comments such as yours when it is received. The results of that consideration will then be available for additional public comment and discussion.
D Sincerely, N.,.s i
\\
9805260428 980519 PDR COMMS MtCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
- T)6 I O
___ _ ______ ___ - _ _