ML20217K301

Forwards Copies of Draft Public Announcement & Fr Notice Concerning Proposed Amend to 10CFR32.NRC Is Proposing to Amend Regulations to Permit Distribution of Timepieces Containing Gaseous Tritium Light Sources

ML20217K301
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/15/1997
From:	Rathbun D NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
To:	Inhofe J, Schaefer D HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS
Shared Package
ML20217K306	List: ML20217K301 ML20217K310
References
CCS, NUDOCS 9710240248
Download: ML20217K301 (4)

Text

. e ue bR OrJM g i UNITED STATES

, s" P; NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

'. WASHINGTON D.C. 30006-8001

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September 15, 1997 l

l The Honorable James M. Inhofe, Chairman Subcommittee on Clean Alt, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety j Committee on Environment and Public Works j United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclosed for the information of the Subcommittee are copies of a public announcement and a Federal Register notice conceming a proposed amendment to 10 CFR Put 32. This rulemaking is being undertaken in response to a petition for rulemaking PRM 32 4 submitted by mb-microtec, Inc.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to permit the distribution of timepieces containing gaseous tritium light sources to be regulated in accordance with the same requirements as timepieces containing tritium paint. If adopted, this proposed amendment would simplify the licensing process, allow the use of a new technology in self illuminated timepieces and result in significant savings to licerisees and the NRC, Sincerely, Y$

Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs

Enclosures:

1. Public Announcement

2. Federal Register Notice cc: Senator Bob Graham 97102402A8 970915 ~

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% ,,,,, !j September 15, 1997 The Honorable Dan Schaefer, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Power Committee on Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclossd for the information of the Subcommittee are copies cf a public announcement and a Federal Register notice conceming a proposed amendment to 10 CFR Part 32. This rulemaking is oeing undertaken in response to a petition for rulemaking PRM 32 4 submitted by mb-microtec, Inc.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to permit the distribution of timepieces containing gaseous tritium light sources to be regulated in accordance with the same requirements as timeplaces containing tritium paint. If adopted, this proposed amendment would simplify the licensing process, allow the use of a new technology in self illuminated timepieces and result in significant savings to licensees and the NRC.

Sincerely, A+h /,

Dennis K. a hbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs

Enclosures:

1. Public Announcement

2. Federal Register Notice cc: Reoresentative Ralph Hall 4

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3 Draft press release, g/21/97,2:30 p.m.

I NRC CONSIDERS CHANGES TO REOULATIONS -

l ON WATCHES AND CLOCKS CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE TRITIUM The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering amending its regulations to

, simplify the licaa lag proess for timepieces containing tritium, it would permit timepieces containing gaseous tritium to b'elicensed under the same regulatory requirements as those containing tritium paint.

The proposed reviolons are in response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by mb microtec, Inc, of North Tonawanda, New York.

Tritium, a self lwninescent radioactive material, is used in watches and clocks to make their lands, numbers or other parts visible in the dark. It may be either in the form of a gas--contained in tiny sealed asbes--or in paint. 'Ihe planned revisions would not change the level of radiation protection provided to users and wearers of tritiuta illuminated timepieces.

Currently timepieces containing tritium paint may be licensed under a section of the regulations that contains specific prototype testing requirements. License applications that meet those tests, and that do not exceed limits on the total amount of tritium permitted per timepiece, can meet NRC licensing requirements. However, some of the tests, such as a

, bending test designed to show that paint will not crack off, are probably not suitable for gaseous tritium. Therefore applicants for a license to manufacture watches and clocks containing gaseous tritium cannot apply under this section of the regulations and must apply 1

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for an NRC license under a separate rection of the regulations that requires subminal of much more detailed information (such as engineering drawings containing the overall dimensions, minimum and maximum dimensions of each model or series, and description of construction materials).

The prepere:! n:lc would remove from the regulations the specific requirements for prototype testing but would continue to contain requirements for overall product performance for all timepieces containing tritium. Where appropriate, the NRC staff, as part of its review of license applications, will impose teming requirements for watch hands and dials through license conditions.

The NRC has concluded that the manufacture and initial distribution of products containing gaseous tritium light sources and the release of gaseous tritium in the event of breakage of the glass vial do not result in significant radiation exposures. In fact, these exposures are a small fraction of the average exposure from natural backgrcund radiation in the United States. Therefore, by adopting the proposed rule, the cost savings would be maximized without any measurable adverse effect on public health and safety.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed changes to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention:

Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff, within 75 days after publication of a Federal Register notice. This notice is expected to be published shortly.

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___________________J

' CONGRESS 10NAL CORRESPONDENCE SYSTEM DOCUMENT PREPARATION CHECEIST This cheok list is to be submitted with each document (or group of Qs/As) sentforprocessing into the CCS.

1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT (S) l} . d  % h

2. TYPE OFDOCUMENT X CORRESPONDENG HE4 RINGS (Qs/As) 3, DOCUMEllT CONTROL _ SENSITIVE (NRC ONLY) X NON-SENSITIVE

4. CONGkESSIONAL COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITIEC ({f applicable)

Congressional Committee Subcommittee S SUBIECT CODES (A)

(B)

(C) 6, SOURG OFDOCUMENTS (A) _ $520 (DOCUMENT NAME )

(B) SC4N (C) ATTACHMENTS (D) OTHER_

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DATE RETURNED TO OC4 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (D) DATE RESUBMITTED BY OC4 TO CCS (E) OATE ENTERED INTO CCS BY (F) DATE OC4 NOTIFIED THAT DOCUMENT 15 IN CCS (Cb L CouuEurS:

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