Press Release-08-001, - NRC to Hold Three Public Meetings Seeking Input on Possible Changes to Security Requirements for Transporting Certain Radioactive Materials

Press Release-08-001 - NRC to Hold Three Public Meetings Seeking Input on Possible Changes to Security Requirements for Transporting Certain Radioactive Materials

ML080070281
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Issue date:	01/07/2008
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-08-001
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.08-001 January 7, 2008 NRC TO HOLD THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS SEEKING INPUT ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING CERTAIN RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold three public meetings in January to obtain public comments on plans to revise security requirements for transporting Radioactive Material in Quantities of Concern (RAMQC), a term given to 16 radionuclides considered potentially of interest for a malicious act.

The meetings will be held on Jan. 15 in the NRC Region III building in Lisle, Ill.; on Jan.

17 at the Federal Building in Oakland, Calif.; and on Jan. 23 at NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md.

The meetings are part of an enhanced participatory process the NRC has implemented to help develop a sound technical basis for rulemaking on RAMQC transportation. Once the technical basis is complete, a draft proposed rule will also be issued for public comment.

RAMQC includes Americium-241, Cobalt-60, Cesium-137, Plutonium 238 and Strontium-90, among others, in specific quantities. It does not include spent nuclear fuel.

RAMQC is typically shipped in packages that must meet NRC safety standards. The materials are shipped to medical institutions, companies that support medical and academic institutions, and companies that manufacture and distribute radioactive materials for various industrial applications. Both the NRC and the Department of Transportation regulate the transport of these materials. The technical basis being discussed at the meetings will not cover transportation by air or water, which is regulated by other government agencies.

NRC Orders and advisories were issued after Sept. 11, 2001, which placed additional security measures on the transportation of these materials. These requirements will be included in the proposed rule.

Through these public meetings, the NRC hopes to gather information on technologies used to track items during shipping, including global positioning satellite technology. The NRC is also seeking input on how the NRC should involve Agreement States, which regulate certain radioactive materials at the state level under agreements with the NRC.

A meeting notice with detailed information is available at: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm . Individuals who wish to comment in writing, may write to Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administration Services, Office of Administration, U.N. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001. Written comments can also be sent by fax to 301-415-5144 or via e-mail to nrcrep@nrc.gov .

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.