1. Oyster Creek License Renewal NJDEP-BNE Contentions and Request for Hearing
2. Hand-Held Dental X-ray Device Evaluated
3. Air Pollution/Radiation Data Acquisition and Early Warning System
4. Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Inspection

1. Oyster Creek License Renewal NJDEP-BNE Contentions and Request for Hearing

On February 27, 2006 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) completed their review of three New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) contentions and one contention concerning the need for ultrasonic inspections of the Oyster Creek drywell filed by several activist organizations. The ASLB consists of three NRC judges hired to independently review legal contentions raised by the public. The ASLB rejected the request for public hearings on all three NJDEP contentions but accepted on a two to one decision the drywell contention submitted by the activist organizations.

The three NJDEP contentions were submitted on November 14, 2005. The first contention raised issues regarding Oyster Creek's vulnerability to a terrorist attack through the Severe Accident Management Alternatives (SAMA). The second contention concerned the basis for calculating metal fatigue. The third contention concerned the use of backup power combustion turbines not owned by AmerGen for safety purposes.

According to the ASLB, two of the NJDEP contentions, metal fatigue and combustion turbine, were not in dispute since AmerGen has committed in principal to address them, therefore, no hearing would be granted. The SAMA contention was limited by prior rulings and judged to be beyond the scope of license renewal.

The NJDEP will continue to closely follow the Oyster Creek License Renewal process and the resolution of the accepted contention.

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2. Hand-Held Dental X-ray Device Evaluated

The Bureau of Radiological Health devoted numerous man-hours reviewing the design and intended use of a new hand-held dental x-ray device to ascertain compliance with the Department's radiation protection regulations. The Bureau identified four regulatory requirements in which the x-ray device was potentially non-compliant. On December 21, 2005 the Bureau received a request for exemption from these requirements from the device manufacturer, Aribex, Inc. The Bureau submitted Aribex's exemption request along with the Bureau's evaluation of the device to members of the Commission on Radiation Protection (Commission) for their consideration at the February 15, 2006 Commission meeting.

New Jersey radiation protection regulations permit the Department to grant exemptions from regulatory requirements with approval of the Commission provided that there is a demonstration of hardship or compelling need and provided that the use of the equipment will not result in the operator receiving a radiation exposure in excess of the permissible dose rates established in the regulations.

After much deliberation, the Commission determined that Aribex demonstrated a compelling need to exempt the hand-held dental x-ray device from certain regulatory requirements in limited circumstances. Specifically, the hand-held device was approved for use in certain emergency circumstances and for use in forensic dentistry. The Commission determined that Aribex did not demonstrate a compelling need for use of the hand-held dental x-ray device in routine dentistry and therefore such use is prohibited in New Jersey. Complete details on the exemption provided by the Department are available by contacting the Bureau.

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3. Air Pollution/Radiation Data Acquisition and Early Warning System

A "pre-kick off meeting" was held February 9 and 10, 2006 with the successful bidder, Envitech, Ltd. And their subcontractor, MFG Systems for a new Air Pollution/Radiation Data Acquisition and Early Warning System. A representative from Dell attended the meeting, as well as a telecommunications consultant, DarComm Network Solutions. The two days of meetings included preliminary discussions on general system design, hardware specifications, project management and potential data transmission alternatives. Because of the current system failures suffered in January, the possibility of Envitech providing a contingency system in the short-term also was discussed.

Additional internal meetings in February with the Office of Information Resource Management (ORM) and the Bureaus of Air Monitoring and Nuclear Engineering staff have focused on alternative off-site back up locations for both communication and database servers for the new system. More research must be done by OIRM to determine whether existing lines between the main 401 East State Street, Trenton site and other potential locations could handle the data or new lines would have to be run. Availability of suitable space to house the back-up system also is being investigated before a final decision for the back-up site is made.

The official kick-off meeting for the new system will be held on March 6, and 7, 2006. The meetings will include an overview of the new system design, detailed discussions on hardware specifications (to be purchased under state contract by OIRM) and telecommunication options and plans for access and notification. Extensive hands-on time will be spent by Envitech software designers and radiation and air monitoring technicians to work on polling protocols and communications between detectors and the new system. In parallel to design work for the new system, Envitech is making plans on how to implement a contingency system should the current system suffer catastrophic failure.

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4. Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Inspection

The Nonionizing Section has had an increasing number of inquiries as to the safety of WiFi technology. To that end, a survey was performed at the Mercer County Library's Lawrence Branch. The library has a Linksys wireless router/access point, broadcasting on a frequency of 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz). At the time of the survey, at least one portable computer was utilizing the system. Radiation levels around both the computer and the router's broadcasting antennas were comparable, with the highest reading being 6.76 volts 2/meter 2(V 2/m 2), about 6 inches from the sources. These spot readings are far below the whole body exposure limit of 20,000 V 2/m 2 for radiation for frequencies between 1.5 GHz and 100 GHz as set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:28-42, Radio Frequency Radiation.

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