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Information Directory

Reference Directory

Issues pertaining to radiation and radioactivity are not static. Regulations change, an item of concern at one facility raises issues of concern at others, public perceptions influence decision-making, and new discoveries are made all the time. Once each day, Plexus-NSD reviews its various sources of information so that we can keep ourselves and our clients constantly and continuously informed.

On a periodic basis, we summarize what we have found and post it at this web site in the "Regulatory Action", the "Press Pieces", and the "Upcoming Events" categories. In the "Plexus-NSD Announcements" section you can read about what our staff has been up to lately, including a description of some of our publications and products, copies of which we would be glad to send to you at no cost. In the "Plexus-NSD e-Newsletters" section is a listing of headlines from recent editions, as well as an invitation to subscribe to this free monthly publication. We encourage you to check back frequently so that you too can keep up on the ever-changing world of radiation and radioactivity.

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November 7, 2017-Radiation Exposure Guidance

On November 13th, 2017, posted in: Uncategorized

Have you ever wondered what the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommend concerning dental radiographic examinations?

If so, guidance is provided at The American Dental Association: DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATIONS: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENT SELECTION AND LIMITING RADIATION EXPOSURE

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The NRC has decided to extend the public comment period for 30 calendar days to allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments concerning a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) received from Matthew McKinley on behalf of the Organization of Agreement States (OAS). The public comment period was scheduled to close on November 6, 2017. The new due date for comments is December 6, 2017. More information on this may be found at <https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-11-06/pdf/2017-24122.pdf>

On June 27, 2017, West Virginia proposed a new rule, 64-23A, TENORM. The requirements of this rule series are designed to control the receipt, possession, use, transfer, and disposal of sources of radiation by a registrant so the total dose to an individual, including doses resulting from all sources of radiation other than background radiation, does not exceed the standards for protection against radiation prescribed by W.Va. Code R. § 64-23-6. This rule applies to any person who receives, possesses, uses, processes, transfers, distributes, or disposes of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM). This rule series establishes radiation protection standards for TENORM. On Sept 11, 2017, they withdrew the proposed rulemaking. See the details on their webpage – West Virginia Secretary of State Administrative Law.

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November 7, 2017 NRC Guidance Documents

On November 13th, 2017, posted in: Uncategorized

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced the availability of a draft guidance document concerning Yttrium-90 Microsphere Brachytherapy Sources and Devices TheraSphere® and SIR-Spheres®. NRC is requesting submittal of comments on this document by January 8, 2018. The document revises guidance for licenses authorizing the use of Yttrium-90 (Y–90) Microsphere Brachytherapy Sources and Devices TheraSphere® and SIRSpheres®. The NRC is requesting public comment on the draft revision of the licensing guidance (Rev. 10). The document has been revised to significantly update the criteria for training and experience, medical event reporting, inventory requirement specifications, and waste disposal issues. The revised guidance document also provides new information regarding cremation and autopsy. This guidance is intended for use by NRC applicants, NRC licensees, and the NRC staff. More information on this may be found at Government Printing Office: Federal Register / Vol 82, NO. 214

 

The NRC issued for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG–8056, ‘‘Instructions for Recording and Reporting Occupational Radiation Dose Data.’’

This DG is a proposed Revision 4 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 8.7 of the same name.

The DG addresses issues that were identified after Revision 3 was issued in December 2016. The DG reinstates the longstanding staff position concerning a licensee’s consideration of prior occupational dose when making prospective occupational dose monitoring determinations. The DG retains the guidance from Revision 3 on completing NRC Form 4, ‘‘Cumulative Occupational Dose History,’’

and NRC Form 5, ‘‘Occupational Dose Record for a Monitoring Period.’’ Submit comments by December 15, 2017. More information on this may be found at Federal Register /Vol. 82, No. 198

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October 28, 2016 – Updates on Temporary Hold – On this date, the radiation-related news and regulatory updates that take place regularly on the Plexus-NSD web site will cease for a short period of time.  Changes to the site, its content and navigation are forthcoming, at which time updates will resume.  In the interim, if you have any questions, please Contact Plexus-NSD.

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October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74828 – NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION – Exelon Generation Company, LLC.; LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2; License Renewal – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued renewed facility operating license Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 to Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon or the licensee), the operator of LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2. Renewed facility operating license Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 authorize the operation of LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 by the licensee at reactor core power levels not in excess of 3546 megawatts thermal in accordance with the provisions of the renewed licenses and technical specifications until April 17, 2042 and December 16, 2043, respectively. The NRC prepared a safety evaluation report, a final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS), and a record of decision (ROD) that support its decision to issue renewed facility operating license Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18.

October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74818-74819 – NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION – Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted the request of the Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC–the licensee) to withdraw its license amendment application dated November 24, 2014, as supplemented on September 28, 2015; March 3, 2016; and July 25, 2016, for proposed amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF 2 and NPF 8 for the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, respectively, located in Houston County, Alabama. The application contained 24 requests. Twenty-three of those requests were addressed in NRC letter dated August 3, 2016. The amendments adopted previously approved Technical Specifications Task Force Travelers and made two changes not associated with Travelers. A request to incorporate TSTF-312-A, Revision 1, “Administratively Control Containment Penetrations,” has been withdrawn by SNC in a letter dated October 17, 2016.

October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74819-74820 – NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION – Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4; Passive Core Cooling System (PXS) Design Changes To Address Potential Gas Intrusion – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and is issuing License Amendment No. 55 to Combined Licenses (COL), NPF-91 and NPF-92. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., and Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC, Authority of Georgia, and the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for construction and operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke County, Georgia. The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74820-74822 – NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION – Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a January 15, 2016, request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy or the licensee), from certain regulatory requirements. The exemption would permit a certified fuel handler to approve the emergency suspension of security measures for James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant (JAF) during certain emergency conditions or during severe weather. The exemption will be effective after JAF has submitted the certifications that it has permanently ceased power operation and has permanently removed fuel from the reactor vessel.

October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74822-74828 – NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION – Purdue University Reactor – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-87, held by Purdue University (the applicant), for the continued operation of the Purdue University Reactor (PUR-1), located in West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana for an additional 20 years. In connection with the renewed license, the applicant is also seeking a power increase from 1 kilowatt thermal (kW(t)) to a licensed power level of 12 kW(t). The NRC is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the renewal of the license.

October 27, 2016 – 81 FR 74779-74780 – DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY – Office of Nuclear Energy; Request for Information on Approaches Involving Private Initiatives for Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy, released on its Web site a Request for Information (RFI) on Private Initiatives (PIs) for Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities. The purpose of the RFI is to gather input on the role of PIs for private consolidated interim storage facilities (ISF) services as part of an
integrated waste management system.

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