Radiation Protection and Release Prevention

Radiation Protection & Release Prevention Program
Monthly Highlights
January 2008

If you would like a hard copy of the full monthly report, including appendices, please E-mail Betty Sigafoos.

1. Bureau of Radiological Health (Bureau) Mid-Year 2008 Work Plans Progress Report

The Bureau has inspected 3299 (59%) of the 5601 machines and 1365 (53%) of the 2594 facilities targeted for inspection in FY 2008. These numbers are remarkable considering recent staff events that reduced our available Full Time Employees (FTE) by 972 hours or 0.65 FTE. Bureau staff deserves recognition for these achievements during very difficult times. One third of Federal MQSA inspections have been completed as of December 31, 2007. The mammography inspection year closes in August and all 240 federally certified mammography facilities will be inspected by July 2008. In addition, the Bureau successfully proposed new radiologic technology regulations in October 2007. Technologist Certification staff has reviewed the public hearing testimony and written responses and is in the process of preparing the adoption documents. An adoption launch meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2008. The Bureau also recently finished the second draft of new veterinary radiation protection regulations which have been sent to the rule committee for review and comment. The veterinary rule committee will meet on February 20, 2008 to discuss the second draft.

On January 18, 2008 a letter was mailed from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to all electrical sub code officials in the State, apprising them of the existence of Subchapter 41, Mercury Vapor Lamps, and its requirements. The Nonionizing Section staff prompted DCA to send the letter after discovering numerous violations of Subchapter 41. The letter was a joint effort and both agencies had a hand in crafting its contents.

The construction industry does not seem to be aware of these regulations as over 50% of all facilities inspected are in violation. Improper use of mercury vapor or metal halide lamps can result in severe skin and eye burns.

On December 18, 2007 a three judge panel of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) issued their decision related to a contention raised by a coalition of citizens’ groups on the adequacy of ultrasonic thickness (UT) measurements of the Oyster Creek drywell. The ASLB hearing was conducted on September 24, 25, 2007. The ASLB decision found in favor of AmerGen. The decision stated “we find that AmerGen has demonstrated that the frequency of its planned UT measurements, in combination with the other elements of its aging management program, provides reasonable assurance that the sand bed region of the drywell shell will maintain the necessary safety margin during the period of extended operation” of Oyster Creek.

Any appeal of the coalition of citizens’ groups was submitted to the NRC Commissioners on January 14, 2008.

On January 29, 2008 representatives of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Section attended a hostile threat tabletop exercise at the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management. This drill was attended by the FBI, AmerGen emergency response and security personnel, State Police Office of Emergency Management, National Guard, Ocean and Lacey Township police departments, and the Ocean County Sherriff’s Department. The purpose of the exercise was to practice coordination between each agency and to discuss specific response roles with regard to National Incident Management System (NIMS), to a hostile threat at Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

The drill also included presentations on the overview of nuclear plant safety and security, field operations, equipment and resources, protective action decisions, communication between responders with the command structure and dissemination of information to the public. It also served to evaluate operating procedures and to identify additional equipment, staffing and resource needs to improve the overall response.