1. Radiation Protection Programs to Assume Enforcement Activities
2.Robert Dabb and Darus Greathouse Retire with Over Sixty Years of Combined Service
3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Meets with the Bureau of Nuclear Engineering (BNE) to Discuss Oyster Creek License Renewal Status
4. NRC Holds Public Meeting to discuss Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Oyster Creek License Renewal
5. Radon Program Administration Fee Increase

1. Radiation Protection Programs to Assume Enforcement Activities

On June 6, 2006 representatives from the Bureaus of Radiological Health, Environmental Radiation, Enforcement Services and Information Resources Management met to discuss the status of various projects related to Radiation Protection Programs (RPP) assumption from the Bureau of Enforcement Services of enforcement related activities, including enforcement document processing, penalty invoicing and enforcement case management. This project requires the use of the Department’s NJEMS database to produce enforcement documents and penalty assessment invoices. The database tools needed to perform these functions in NJEMS are in various stages of completion with all critical components to be completed by the end of this month. Tentative schedules for RPP staff training as well as a target date of July 24, 2006 for assumption of the above functions was established.

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2. Robert Dabb and Darus Greathouse Retire with Over Sixty Years of Combined Service

On June 22, 2006 the Bureau of Radiological Health (BRH) hosted a retirement luncheon for two of its veteran inspectors. Robert Dabb completed a thirty-four year career at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), all within BRH. Robert, in addition to his inspector duties, participated for many years as a member of the nuclear emergency response team and was an assistant supervisor for the machine source section. Darus Greathouse completed a twenty-nine year career at DEP, all with the BRH. Darus also participated for many years as a member of the nuclear emergency response team. Darus will be mostly remembered for his strong desire to educate facilities about radiation safety protection and for taking additional time to help those facilities interested in improving their radiography practices. It will be very difficult to replace the skills and knowledge of these two individuals and their presence will be missed! Good luck to both for a happy and healthy retirement!

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3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Meets with the Bureau of Nuclear Engineering (BNE) to Discuss Oyster Creek License Renewal Status

Senior management from the NRC visited the BNE offices on June 12, 2006 to discus the status of the NRC’s review of the Oyster Creek License Renewal Application. The NRC’s Director of the Division of License Renewals, the Branch Chief responsible for the Oyster Creek License Renewal Application review, and the Regional Administrator for the Region I office attended.

The attendees discussed interaction between the BNE and the NRC audit and inspection personnel during recent NRC inspections. The BNE was able to get a better understanding of the status of the NRC’s review, and the publications under development, such as the audit report and the draft Safety Evaluation Report. At the meeting the BNE learned that the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Oyster Creek license renewal was published ahead of schedule. The BNE and the NRC discussed the process for determining which commitments made by Exelon would become license conditions.

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4. NRC Holds Public Meeting to discuss Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Oyster Creek License Renewal

On July 12, 2006 the NRC held two identical (afternoon and evening) public sessions, at the Toms River Quality Inn, to discuss the Draft SEIS for Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The draft SEIS, issued on June 9, 2006 includes the NRC staff’s analysis that considers the environmental impacts of the proposed re-licensing action, the environmental impacts of alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigation measures available for reducing or avoiding adverse impacts. The draft SEIS also includes the NRC staff’s preliminary recommendation regarding the proposed action. A copy of the entire draft SEIS can be obtained through the NRC’s website at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/oystercreek.html

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5. Radon Program Administration Fee Increase

On June 15. 2006 a letter was sent to all certified measurement and mitigation businesses informing them that the Program Administration Fees were being increased. These fees are assessed semi-annually as specified in N.J.A.C. 7:28-27(d) and (e) and are increased according to the footnote to New Jersey Fee Schedule B and New Jersey Fee Schedule C which states:

The (Program Administration Fee) figures will be adjusted up or down annually by the previous twelve month inflation factor. The inflation factor is based upon the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics data published in the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) Detailed Report. The data will be taken from the most recent report available on July 1 each year the actual percentage used will be the past year percent change from the U.S. city average, all items, all urban consumers.

The CPI report that was released on June 15, 2006 indicated a 4.2% increase between May 2005 and May 2006. Each certified business was sent revised fee schedules. These increases will be reflected in billings for measurements and mitigations performed during the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.

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