ML20249B295
| ML20249B295 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/16/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Myrick S HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20249B296 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9806220293 | |
| Download: ML20249B295 (2) | |
Text
l The Hon:r:ble Sue Myrick United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-3309
' Dear Congresswoman Myrict I am responding to your letter dated May 13,1998, in which you expressed reservations about possible changes in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) 10 Part 35 regulations on medical use of byproduct material. In particular, you wer neerned about l
the training and experience requirements that would be applicable to sonnel involved in diagnostic and therapeutic uses of unsealed byproduct material.
l The NRC staff is scheduled to provide its recommendations o proposed revisions to Part 35 to the Commission in June 1998. The proposed rule is bein eveloped using an increased public participation process that included public workshops; m. tings with various medical professional societies (including the American College of Radiolo
- and the posting of a "strawman" rule text on the internet for comments. The staff is car ully considering the comments received during these interactions, in preparing the propo I. After Commission approval, a proposed rule will be published in the Federal Reaister r public comment. We expect to hold additional I
public meetings during the comment period ter this year.
l Theissue of training and experience h received the most comments during the development of the proposed rule. Viewpoints on is issue have varied. The Commission has received comments both supporting reduct in requirements affecting personnelin the diagnostic area, including those from the Americ College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiologists, and favoring ke ng the presently existing requirements. The staff draft, while
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reducing the number of hour required for certain medical modalities, also specified a focus on radiation safety and propo d that personnel competency be verified through an examination.
This proposal appears to e in keeping with the direction the Commission provided to the staff I
namely, to develop a ri -informed, and where appropriate, a more performance-based rule and it addressed an obje ion often expressed by some commqnters, that NRC requirements sometimes intrude into the practice of medicine.
The Commissi n will carefully consider the staff proposalin light of public comments such as yours when i is received. The results of that consideration will then be available for additional public com ent and discussion.
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Sincerely,
/ OM j E Rf F milyne p
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Shirley Ann Jackson plSTRIBUTION: G980353 SECY-CRC-98-0494 NRC File Center NMSS R/F EDO r/f HThompson LCallan PTressler NO]M CPoland NMSS Dir. Off. r/f IMNS RF PDR:_X_,Yes _ No DOCUMENT NAME A:G980353 *SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE 6/2/98Ce CP/ PROOFED / JUNE 3. t 998 OFFICE RGB*
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June 16, 1998 HThompson PNorry ap, NMSS DFlack, NMSS KCyr, 0GC G980353 The Honorable Sue Myrick EDO r/f United States House of Representatives
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Washington D.C. 20515-3309
Dear Congresswoman Myrick:
i I am responding to your letter dated May 13,1998, 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 diagnostic and therapeutic uses of unsealed byproduct material.
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 Eederal Register for public comment. We expect to hold additional public meetings during the comment period later this year.
The issue of training and experience has received the most comments during the development of the proposed rule. Viewpoints on this issue have varied. The Commission has received comments both supporting reduction in requirements affecting personnel in the diagnostic area, including those from the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiologists, and favoring keeping the presently existing requirements. The staff draft, while reducing the number of hours required for certain medical modalities, also specified 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 staff namely, to develop a risk-informed, and where appropriate, a more performance-based rule and 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 proposalin light of public comments such as yours when it is received. The results of that consideration will then be available for additional public comment and discussion.
Sincerely, i
b
[*-.
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' Originated by:
[DFlack,NMSS]
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