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. 97-102 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Tuesday, July, 1, 1997)

NRC REVISES POSITION ON USE OF POTASSIUM IODIDE

IN CASE OF ACCIDENT AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to modify its

position regarding the use of potassium iodide as a protective

measure for the general public in case of a severe nuclear

reactor accident. The agency has decided to endorse the Federal

Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee's (FRPCC)

recommended policy to federally fund the purchase of potassium

iodide for states at their request, and the NRC will provide the

funding.

The Commission noted that the federal government recently

began stockpiling potassium iodide near major metropolitan areas

for use in mitigating the consequences of potential terrorist use

of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. The potassium iodide

would be available to any state for any type of radiological

emergency at any time.

If a state wishes to have its source of potassium iodide

close at hand for use in a possible nuclear reactor accident, the

federal government would fund the purchase, under the

Commission's revised position.

Potassium iodide, if taken in time, blocks the thyroid

gland's uptake of radioactive iodine and thus could help reduce

thyroid diseases that might otherwise be caused by exposure to

airborne radioactive iodine that could be dispersed in a nuclear

accident.

Under the NRC's revised position, the federal government

would purchase potassium iodide, but interested state and local

governments would be responsible for maintenance, distribution

and subsequent costs. NRC licensees would, as part of their

emergency response planning, discuss this matter with state and

local governments who make decisions on protective measures as

part of their planning for responses to potential emergencies.

If finalized by the FRPCC, the proposed new policy will be

published in the Federal Register. NRC will work with the

Federal Emergency Management Agency to prepare the final policy
statement and to develop implementation details, including

criteria for evaluating a state's request for funding for

potassium iodide.

The current federal policy was published in the Federal

Register in 1985. It recommends that potassium iodide be

stockpiled and distributed to emergency workers and

institutionalized persons during radiological emergencies, but

does not recommend requiring pre-distribution or stockpiling for

the general public.

The best technical information indicates that prompt

evacuation and in-place sheltering are the preferred protective

actions for the general public. However, the state (or in some

cases, the local government) bears ultimately responsibility for

the protection of its citizens. Therefore, the decision for

local stockpiling and use of potassium iodide as a protective

measure for the general public is left to the discretion of the

state or local government.

Currently two states (Tennessee and Alabama) include in

their emergency planning the use of potassium iodide as a

protective measure for the general public.

In 1995 the White House issued Presidential Decision

Directive 39 on "U.S. Policy on Counterterrorism." It directed

federal agencies to take a number of measures to reduce

vulnerability to the potential use by terrorists of nuclear,

biological and chemical weapons.

A report was prepared by a group chaired by the Federal

Emergency Management Agency, with representatives from the NRC

and other federal agencies. The report recommended that the

federal government purchase and stockpile chemical nerve gas

antidotes, vaccines for anthrax, antibiotics, potassium iodide

and other medicines for use by the general public in the event of

a terrorist attack. Currently there are three national

stockpiles of medical supplies that include potassium iodide.

Additionally, there will be 26 Metropolitan Medical Strike Teams,

each with a full set of medical supplies, including potassium

iodide. Two of the teams have been established, and the

remaining 24 are in the process of being established. Thus the

size and number of locations of federal stockpiles of potassium

iodide are expected to increase. Potassium iodide from these

resources could be used as a protective measure for the general

public in the event of a severe nuclear accident.

This report was presented to the President and approved for

distribution in May. Thus potassium iodide is already available

nationally as part of emergency response preparedness for

terrorism involving nuclear, biological and chemical agents.

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