United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20555

Phone 301-415-8200 Fax 301-415-2234

Internet:opa@nrc.gov

No. 99-85 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Friday, April 23, 1999)

NRC PROPOSES REVISIONS TO ITS REGULATIONS ON

USE OF POTASSIUM IODIDE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to revise a section of its emergency

preparedness regulations to include the possible use of potassium iodide as a supplemental

protection for the public in case of a severe nuclear power plant accident.

This proposed rule also includes a modification of an earlier Commission statement as

to NRC funding of potassium iodide stockpiles.

Potassium iodide, if taken in time, blocks the thyroid gland’s uptake of radioactive iodine

and thus could help prevent thyroid cancers and others diseases that might otherwise be

caused by exposure to airborne radioactive iodine that could be dispersed in a nuclear accident.

Nuclear power plant emergency plans already provide for distribution of the drug to emergency

workers and certain specialized populations, such as hospital patients.

The proposed rule change would add potassium iodide to the range of protective actions

which must be considered in nuclear power plant emergency plans. It would accomplish this by

adding this sentence to Part 50.47(b) (10) of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations: “In

developing this range of actions, consideration has been given to evacuation, sheltering, and as

a supplement to these, the prophylactic use of potassium iodide (KI), as appropriate.”

NRC is moving to amend this regulation as the result of a rulemaking petition filed by

Peter G. Crane, an NRC staff attorney who acted as a private citizen. The NRC staff also is

preparing guidance that will be used to in determining whether stockpiling potassium iodide is a

“reasonable and prudent’ measure.

The Commission has determined that - notwithstanding its June 1997 statement that

“most likely the NRC” would fund the purchase of state stockpiles of KI - the NRC budget,

which continues to decrease, offers little margin for the Commission to divert resources to new

initiatives. Historically, funding for nuclear power plant emergency response planning has been

the responsibility of state and local governments, which usually work with licensees.

The Commission has directed the NRC staff to work with the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and maintain regional KI stockpiles. The

Commission supports the position that the federal government should fund the purchase of KI

for federal stockpiles at appropriately located regional centers. The Commission also supports
NRC funding of the initial purchase and resupply of KI to the extent that it cannot be covered by

FEMA.

If FEMA decides after working with the states to request funds from Congress for a

program of federally funded grants for state KI stockpiles, the Commission said the staff should

assist FEMA in developing its funding request.

The proposed rule will be published for public comment in an upcoming edition of the

Federal Register. It also will be available on the NRC Homepage at

www.nrc.gov/NRC/rule.html.

Comments should be filed within 90 days after publication. They should be sent to:

Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001. ATTN:

Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. Comments may also be filed electronically as described

in the Federal Register notice.

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