INTERAGENCY STEERING COMMITTEE ON

RADIATION STANDARDS

1999 ANNUAL REPORT

CONTENTS

Foreword ...................................................................................................................................... iv

Historical Information ....................................................................................................................1

List of ISCORS Planned 1999 Activities .......................................................................................2

List of ISCORS Planned 2000 Activities .......................................................................................3

1999 and 2000 Subcommittee Activities and Summary of 1999 Accomplishments .....................4

ISCORS Member List .................................................................................................................13

Subcommittee Member List......................................................................................................... 16

Appendices

A. ISCORS Charter ............................................................................................................ XX

B. Institutional Controls Tables ........................................................................................... XX

C. Glossary......................................................................................................................... XX

FOREWORD

The Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) prepared this annual

report for ISCORS member agencies, to document ISCORS’ 1999 activities, and plans for the

year 2000. The report identifies both past accomplishments, and goals for the future that will be

a basis for assessing performance. We wish to thank the ISCORS members for their

participation and contributions to the many topics discussed over the past year regarding

radiation issues important to the public; Federal, State, and local agencies; and national and

international communities. In addition, we extend compliments to all the subcommittee chairs

and their members for significant support and accomplishments within the past year on

numerous radiation issues, and for developing useful information, examples of which are

attached in this report. The subcommittees have outlined an aggressive list of challenges for

2000 and the full committee looks forward to receiving subcommittee recommendations on the

specific topics each has identified.

The full ISCORS met in March, June, September, and December 1999. The June 1999

meeting was open to the public for observation. At each full committee meeting, the

subcommittees report on their yearly activities and progress. The full committee also reviews

special topics, some of which included the GAO report, “Low-Level Radioactive Wastes: States

Are Not Developing Disposal Facilities”; EPA’s proposed rule regulating radon in drinking water;

NRC’s program for the regulation of uranium recovery facilities; DOT’s regulations addressing

exempt quantities; and DOE’s program and draft agenda for fiscal years 1999 and 2000 Public

Health Activities.

Over the past two years, the full ISCORS committee has established a strong intragovernmental

working relationship that benefits each member agency and significantly aids in identifying topics

of interest to each agency. The annual report makes the process visible to member

representatives and the public. We appreciate any comments on the annual reports and expect

that they will be used as a ready reference for an overview of committee activities. You may

send comments on the report to Ms. Patricia A. Santiago, NRC, Mail Stop T-7J8, Washington,

DC 20555; or Mr. Behram Shroff, EPA, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J), 1200

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.

ISCORS Co-chairs:

Mr. John T. Greeves, Director

Division of Waste Management, Mail Stop T-7J8

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555

Mr. Frank Marcinowski, Director

Radiation Protection Division

Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

iv

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

INTERAGENCY STEERING COMMITTEE ON RADIATION STANDARDS

The Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) was formed in

response to October 27, 1994, letters from Senator John Glenn to the U. S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). In this letter, Senator Glenn charged the

EPA and the NRC, in coordination with the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research

and Policy Coordination (CIRRPC), to develop a plan for a “path forward” to address the

inconsistencies, gaps, and overlaps in current radiation protection standards. ISCORS is one

of the committees OSTP recommended for achieving the goals of the now defunct CIRRPC.

The objectives of the ISCORS include: (1) facilitating a consensus on acceptable levels of

radiation risk to the public and workers; (2) promoting consistent risk assessment and risk

management approaches in setting and implementing standards for occupational and public

protection from ionizing radiation; (3) promoting completeness and coherence of Federal

standards for radiation protection; and (4) identifying interagency issues and coordinating their

resolution.

Since its inception, the NRC and the EPA have co-chaired the ISCORS. The current cochairs are John T. Greeves, NRC, and Frank Marcinowski, EPA. In addition to the NRC and

the EPA, ISCORS membership also includes senior managers from the U.S. Department of

Defense; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); the U.S. Department of Transportation; and the

Department of Health and Human Services. Representatives of the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB), OSTP, and the States are observers at meetings.

Committee meetings involve pre-decisional intragovernmental discussions and, as such, are

not normally open for observation by members of the public or media. However, summary

meeting notes are available in NRC’s Public Document Room. The Committee does not act

as a decision-making body. Instead, it provides recommendations and summaries of its

activities on specific issues to both the heads of member agencies, and to OMB and OSTP,

via an annual report. The Committee meets approximately once each calendar quarter. It

held its first meeting on April 5, 1995.

The full ISCORS committee has established subcommittees, as needed, to conduct its

technical work (e.g., to address specific issues of concern or significant interest to it).

ISCORS has formed the following subcommittees: Clean-up; Mixed Waste; Recycle; Risk

Harmonization; Sewage Sludge; Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM); and

Federal Guidance. The subcommittee activity section of this report summarizes each

subcommittee’s activities. No new subcommittees were formed in 1999.

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 LIST OF ISCORS PLANNED 1999 ACTIVITIES

Clean-up Subcommittee (C.Trottier)

1. Participate in the review of NRC’s decommissioning regulatory guide.

2. Review clean-up codes in terms of assumptions and parameters.

3. Review and compile list of models.

Mixed Waste Subcommittee (A. Wallo)

4. Complete technical analyses of the DOE Radiological Control Criteria (RCC)

supporting documentation.

5. Provide input to resolving any RCC issues.

6. Provide input to Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) reviews

and workshops on RCC concept.

7. Coordinate on EPA’s “Generally Applicable standard on Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) Mixed Waste Disposal.”

Recycle Subcommittee (J. Karhnak)

8. Discuss the need for the NRC and the EPA to develop a consistent set of normalized dose

tables for carbon steel.

9. Initiate discussions for normalized dose tables for aluminum and copper.

10. Review and participate in, as appropriate, NRC rulemaking for recycling of materials.

11. Monitor Department of State (DOS) initiative on source control.

Risk Harmonization Subcommittee (D. O’Connor)

12. Update Institutional Control Fact Sheets and provide a recommendation on whether to hold

a workshop on institutional controls.

13. Provide recommendations for Phase II of evaluating uniform risk standards after reviewing

the results of the Environmental Law Institute’s (ELI) risk workshop of June 1998.

Sewage Sludge Subcommittee (R. Bastian)

14. Complete final “Report on Survey Design and Test Sites” (including “Radiation Reference

Document”) for public release on the EPA home page website.

15. Complete Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal response.

16. American Metropolitan Sewerage Association/ Water Environmental Foundation (AMSA/

WEF) letter and guidance sent to candidate Publicly-owned Treatment Works (POTWs)

for survey effort.

17. Mail out full-survey questionnaire.

18. Issue updated “Joint NRC/EPA Guidance Document for POTWs.”

19. Initiate full-survey sample collection/analyses.

20. Continue activities of Dose Modeling Workgroup.

NORM Subcommittee (L. Setlow)

21. Provide Input for development of EPA NORM Strategy.

22. Review American Standards Institute (ANSI) proposed standards for NORM.

23. Review CRCPD proposed standards for NORM.

24. Evaluate need to update existing regulations/standards affecting mining TENORM, in

coordination with Federal Guidance Subcommittee.

25. Consider recommendation to OSHA to update its standard to adopt NRC 10 CFR 20.

Federal Guidance Subcommittee (J. Rosenberg)

26. Develop a ranked list of Federal Guidance projects to undertake (short- and long-term).

27. Maintain a process for communicating and coordinating on FG projects and activities.

28. Review comments on Federal Guidance Report 13 and provide summary to ISCORS.

2
LIST OF ISCORS PLANNED 2000 ACTIVITIES

Clean-up Subcommittee (C. Trottier)

1. Continue development of environmental modeling document.

Mixed Waste Subcommittee (G. Vazquez)

2. Hold discussions and exchanges on current mixed-waste initiatives and issues.

3. Provide input to resolving any RCC issues and complete any final review or analysis of the

RCC as needed.

4. Provide input to CRCPD reviews and workshops on RCC concept.

Recycle Subcommittee (R. Meck)

5. Monitor the status of clearance and import controls among national agencies and

international organizations.

6. Develop and finalize normalized dose tables for specific materials as needed.

Risk Harmonization Subcommittee (E. Regnier)

7. Narrative for institutional control tables.

8. Include Resources and Recovery Act (RCRA) on institutional control tables.

9. Optimization: develop a fact sheet examining statutory requirements.

10. Provide recommendations on the ELI/John Hopkins Phase II study as needed.

Sewage Sludge Subcommittee (R. Bastian/R. Hogan)

11. Issue updated “Joint NRC/EPA Guidance Document for POTWs,” for review /comment.

12. Complete peer review input on dose modeling effort.

13. Complete dose modeling effort.

14. Complete POTW sample collection and analysis.

15. Complete public review of second-draft of guidance document.

NORM Subcommittee (L. Setlow)

16. Discuss EPA’s report to Congress on response to the National Academy of Science’s study

of EPA’s TENORM guidances.

17. Review and comment on EPA’s technical report on uranium mining TENORM.

18. Coordinate activities with ISCORS Sewage Sludge Subcommittee.

19. Evaluate the need to update existing regulations/standards affecting TENORM in

coordination with the ISCORS Federal Guidance Subcommittee.

20. Consider a recommendation to OSHA to update its standard to adopt NRC 10CFR 20.

Federal Guidance Subcommittee (J. Rosenberg)

21. Protective Action Guides (PAG): Produce final revised PAG manual.

22. White Paper on New Dosimetric Methods.

23. Produce Federal Guidance for the General Public. Establish and implement process for

moving forward to developing an updated Federal Guidance for the General Public.

24. Develop a methodology of approximating the risk indicated by a dose assessment, in cases

where a full risk is not practicable.

3
1999 and 2000 SUBCOMMITTEE ACTIVITIES AND

SUMMARY OF 1999 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Clean-up Subcommittee Highlights

Subcommittee Chair: Cheryl Trottier, NRC (301-415-6232)

The Clean-up Subcommittee is evaluating radionuclide concentrations

for screening decommissioning sites.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

1. The Clean-up Subcommittee will participate in the review of NRC’s decommissioning

regulatory guide.

The draft Regulatory Guide (DG-4006) was provided to the subcommittee members for

their information.

2. The Clean-up Subcommittee will review clean-up codes in terms of assumptions and

parameters.

The subcommittee developed a draft document that will be useful to the model user and

model developer. The draft document is described below under activity number 3.

3. The Clean-up Subcommittee will review and compile a list of models.

During Calendar Year 1999, the Subcommittee developed a draft document that is

intended to provide support and guidance to users who need information on how to select

an environmental model. The document will eventually combine the information that has

been developed by each Agency regarding both model selection criteria and information

about specific models.

The document will have two major sections, allowing it to be useful to both the model user

and model developer. The first section will include a list of questions that users need to

answer to select the appropriate model for their specific situation. The information will be

presented as a series of questions, as well as a simple checklist. The second section will

be oriented toward model developers and anyone who is interested in specific details for a

particular model. Information for individual models will include responses to all of the

questions in section 1. The information will be organized in a standard template to make it

easier to compare different models and to ensure that the same information is supplied for

every model. An attachment to this second section will be a series of completed

templates, initially for models that were included in NUREG/CP-0163, “Proceedings of the

Workshop on Review of Dose Modeling Methods for Demonstration of Compliance With

the Radiological Criteria for License Termination,” and the EPA model RAGS/HHEM. The

Subcommittee intends to post an electronic version of the document on the ISCORS

Internet web site.

The Subcommittee also developed a mission statement and strategic and tactical objectives:

Mission Statement

To provide a forum for exchanging information and promoting partnerships on the

development and application of radiation clean-up standards and guidance.

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Strategic Objective

To foster inter-agency cooperation and consistency when discussing and resolving issues

encountered in the development and application of clean-up standards, guidance, and

dose/risk modeling tools that support site cleanup assessments and decisions.

Tactical Objective

To develop an internet-accessible tool that will be of value to users who need help in

selecting environmental dose or risk assessment models to support site clean-up

activities. The tool will provide users with: (1) a list of questions that users should consider

to select a model for a site clean-up assessment; and (2) information on specific dose or

risk models, including model capabilities and intended applications, that provide answers

to the list of user questions identified in number (1) above.

2000 Planned Activities:

1. Complete the environmental modeling document and post it on the subcommittee

web site. A methodology will be developed for keeping the document up to date,

and incorporating information about other environmental models.

Mixed Waste Subcommittee Highlights

Subcommittee Chair: Gus Vazquez, DOE (202-586-7629)

The Mixed Waste Subcommittee is a forum for exchanging information on mixed waste.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

4. Complete technical analyses of DOE RCC supporting documentation.

The Subcommittee received briefings regarding progress on DOE’s RCC for hazardous

waste. In 2000, the subcommittee will continue to receive briefings and complete any final

review or analysis as needed.

5. Provide input to resolving any RCC issues.

The subcommittee will continue to provide input to assist in resolving any RCC issues. No

specific input was needed in 1999.

6. Provide input to CRCPD reviews and workshops on RCC concept.

The Subcommittee was briefed with an overview of State CRCPD issues and comments

on the potential waste disposal approach. In 2000, members will have the opportunity to

participate in a liaison role in the on-going CRCPD review of the RCC approach.

7. Coordinate on EPA’s “Generally Applicable standard on RCRA Mixed Waste Disposal.”

This activity is continued into 2000.

5
In addition, during the course of the year, Subcommittee members shared information on the

status of their various agency initiatives. The subcommittee provided this information to

ISCORS at its quarterly meetings. Major agency mixed waste initiatives that the subcommittee

discussed included: (1) EPA’s storage and disposal of commercial mixed waste rulemaking,

and its extension of the policy of lower enforcement priority for storage of untreatable mixed

waste; and (2) EPA’s low activity mixed waste initiative—in addition to briefings on plans and

status of the initiative, the members provided insights and technical suggestions to the EPA and

shared related technical information.

2000 Planned Activities:

2. Hold discussions and exchanges on current mixed waste initiatives and issues.

3. Provide input to resolving any RCC issues and complete any final review or

analysis of the RCC as needed.

4. Provide input to CRCPD reviews and workshops on RCC concept.

Recycle Subcommittee Highlights

1999 Subcommittee Chair: John Karhnak, EPA

2000 Subcommittee Chair: Robert A. Meck, NRC (301-415-6205)

The Recycle Subcommittee reviews issues on radiological control of materials.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

8. Discuss the need for the NRC and the EPA to develop a consistent set of normalized dose

tables for carbon steel.

The subcommittee determined that there was a need for a carbon steel table and will

continue to discuss and finalize development of the normalized dose tables in 2000.

9. Initiate discussions for normalized dose tables for aluminum and copper.

In 1999, discussions were held on normalized dose tables for aluminum and copper and

the work has been initiated.

10. Review and participate in, as appropriate, NRC rulemaking for recycling of materials.

As a result of the continued efforts to harmonize dose assessments for clearance of

materials, the normalized dose factors for the EPA and the NRC can be brought within a

factor of 3 for all radionuclides. A factor of 3 is well within the resolution of the modeling

assessments, and is thus virtual agreement. The Subcommittee has also coordinated

U.S. input to the parallel development of clearance levels at the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA). This latter effort has also improved harmonization of the dose

assessments. The DOE and the EPA participated in the NRC public meetings to scope

the alternatives of a potential rulemaking on the control of solid materials.

11. Monitor DOS initiative on source control.

The DOS and the EPA co-sponsored several meetings on the import of radioactively

contaminated materials, with a focus on orphan sources.

6
In addition, the Subcommittee has broadened its scope to include issues relating to the release

of materials and equipment from radiological control (clearance) and the interception of

unlicensed imported goods that require radiological control. In 2000, the Subcommittee will

actively recruit new members to ensure that the multiple aspects of clearance and interception

issues are adequately represented.

2000 Planned Activities:

5. Actively monitor the status of clearance and import controls among Federal

agencies and international organizations to promote broadly informed and

coordinated actions.

6. Develop and finalize normalized dose tables for specific materials as needed.

Risk Harmonization Subcommittee Highlights

1999 Subcommittee Chair: Dennis O’Connor, EPA (202-5564-9486)

2000 Subcommittee Chair: Edward Regnier, DOE

The Risk Harmonization Subcommittee was initiated to review similarities and

differences between NRC and EPA risk assessment and risk management approaches.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

12. Update institutional Control Fact Sheets and Summary Table and provide a

recommendation on whether to hold a workshop on institutional controls.

The Institutional Control Work Group of the Subcommittee prepared a summary of

institutional control requirements in EPA, DOE, and NRC programs for radioactive waste

disposal and site remediation. In addition to describing institutional controls, the tables

also summarize the other risk management techniques that are used in each program,

such as the use of engineered barriers and site characteristics, so that the contribution of

institutional controls to risk reduction is put into context. The results of this work were

presented in poster sessions at two major conferences—the IAEA “International

Symposium on Restoration of Environments with Radioactive Residues” in Arlington,

Virginia, November 29–December 3, 1999, and Waste Management 2000 in Tucson,

Arizona, February 27–March 2, 2000.

The Institutional Control Work members were Jacolyn Dziuban, EPA; Gary Roles, DOE;

and James Kennedy, NRC. In the next year, the group will add RCRA disposal facilities to

the summary, and provide a narrative description of the information in the tables.

Appendix B contains the tables as presented at the conferences.

13. Provide recommendations for Phase II of evaluating uniform risk standards after reviewing

the results of the Environmental Law Institute (ELI)/Johns Hopkins’s chemical and

radiation risk management workshop of June 1998.

The Phase II was not complete in 1999 and the subcommittee will follow its progress in

2000 to determine any recommendations needed.

7
2000 Planned Activities

7. Make narrative for institutional control tables.

8. Include RCRA on institutional control tables.

9. Optimization: develop a fact sheet examining statutory requirements.

10. Provide recommendations on the ELI/John Hopkins Phase II study as needed.

Sewage Sludge Subcommittee Highlights

Subcommittee Co-chairs: Bob Bastian, EPA (202-260-7378) Rosemary Hogan, NRC (301-415-7484)

The Sewage Sludge Subcommittee is assisting in the development of

an NRC/EPA sewage survey and a sewage guidance document.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

14. Complete final “Report on Survey Design and Test Sites” (including “Radiation Reference

Document”) for public release on the EPA home page website.

The subcommittee published the final Joint NRC/EPA Sewage Sludge Radiological

Survey: Survey Design and Test Site Results Report (EPA 832-R-99-900; May 1999).

The report was also made available on the internet, through EPA’s TENORM web page

(URL: http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/tenorm/pubs.htm).

15. Complete the FOIA appeal response.

The original FOIA request asked for information on the nine test sites survey. At the time

of the request, work on the test sites survey was still in progress. When the work on the

test sites survey was complete, the joint NRC/EPA report (see above) was provided to the

requester, to complete the response to the FOIA appeal.

16. Sent Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies/Water Environment Foundation

(AMSA/WEF) letter and guidance to candidate POTWs for survey effort.

The AMSA/WEF guidance document was intended to assist pretreatment coordinators

and biosolids managers in understanding and addressing various aspects of radioactivity

within the wastewater industry. AMSA/WEF sent the guidance to publicly owned treatment

works (POTWs) that were selected to participate in the NRC/EPA survey. Then, the

package that the NRC and the EPA sent to the POTWs, asking for participation in the

NRC/EPA survey, included an AMSA/WEF letter, which expressed support for

participation in the survey.

17. Mail out full survey questionnaire.

The EPA and the NRC jointly mailed out the survey questionnaires (July 1999). The

subcommittee sent out 631 and received 377 completed survey questionnaires from

POTWs. We believe the good response of about 60 percent was because of the joint

8
AMSA/WEF letter. The Subcommittee developed a database for tracking survey

questionnaire information and sample analysis results, to be used to help automate

selection of which POTWs are to be sampled.

18. Issue updated “Joint NRC/EPA Guidance Document for POTWs.”

The “Joint NRC/EPA Guidance Document for POTWs,” responding to comments received

on the May 1997 draft, was still undergoing revisions. The Subcommittee developed

responses to comments received from States and others on the May 1997 draft. A

revised draft document was received from EPA’s contractor for Subcommittee review.

The process of finalizing revisions to the revised draft document continued through 1999.

This activity is now planned for completion in Summer 2000.

19. Initiate full-survey sample collection/analyses.

The Subcommittee initiated the full-survey sample collection/analysis effort. The

Subcommittee identified the first three groups of 25 POTWs to receive sampling kits.

Sampling kits were mailed out in October, November, and December. Most of the

samples were received and have had preliminary analyses completed. The Subcommittee

also approved the Quality Assurance Project Plan for the survey effort.

20. Continue activities of Dose Modeling Workgroup.

The Dose Modeling Workgroup of the Subcommittee continued its activities. The

workgroup developed an initial draft of the dose modeling protocol document. This

document is currently being reviewed by the full Subcommittee before presenting it to the

full ISCORS Committee in Spring 2000.

In addition, the Subcommittee prepared and presented a paper on the status of the survey and

guidance document at the CRCPD meeting in Louisville, KY. The subcommittee also

responded to a request for participation on the Subcommittee by the radioactive materials users

industry. The Subcommittee held a noticed, open public meeting to discuss Subcommittee

activities.

2000 Planned Activities:

11. Issue updated “Joint NRC/EPA Guidance Document for POTWs” for review/

comment.

12. Complete peer review input on dose modeling effort.

13. Complete dose modeling effort.

14. Complete POTW sample collection and analysis.

15. Complete public review of second draft of the guidance document.

9
NORM Subcommittee Highlights

Subcommittee Chair: Loren Setlow, EPA (202-564-9445)

The NORM subcommittee’s mission is to ensure effective communication and

coordination among member agencies involved with regulatory, oversight, and disposal

issues for NORM wastes, and products containing NORM.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

21. Provide input to development of EPA’s NORM Strategy.

The Subcommittee provided member agencies with information on EPA’s proposed

approach to the technologically-enhanced naturally-occurring radioactive material

(TENORM) policy and field study efforts.

22. Review of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) proposed standards for NORM.

At its November 1999 meeting, the Subcommittee was briefed by the Chairman of the

Health Physics Society committee which was preparing a draft ANSI Standard “Guide for

Control and Release of Technologically-Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive

Materials.” Members of the subcommittee could respond directly to that committee

chairman with comments.

23. Review CRCPD proposed standards for NORM.

The Subcommittee gave member agencies first-hand opportunities to be briefed by

principals on the CRCPD model regulation “Part N–Regulation and Licensing of

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM).”

24. Evaluate need to update existing regulations/standards affecting TENORM (in

coordination with the Federal Guidance Subcommittee).

The Subcommittee held discussions with the NRC on its proposed program and regulation

changes for in-situ leaching, uranium mine licensing and operations oversight, byproduct

classification, and use of mill site impoundments for waste disposal of materials other than

11e.(2) byproduct material. Agency member comments on the proposals were provided to

the NRC by the Subcommittee on November 30. The Subcommittee also discussed the

Department of Transportation’s future plans to update transport regulations in

consideration of revised international radiation standards.

This activity will be continued in 2000.

25. Consider recommendation to OSHA to update its standard to adopt NRC Part 20.

The Subcommittee is still considering this issue.

In addition, the Subcommittee held three meetings during 1999, with members from seven

Federal and one State agency. This provided a forum for exchanging information on current

agency activities, proposed regulations and new reports, as well as planned international

meetings at which NORM issues were to be discussed. A representative of the DOE’s Energy

Information Administration briefed the Subcommittee on a project by the international Nuclear

Energy Agency (NEA) to develop a compendium of world-wide reclamation costs for closed

uranium mines and uranium recovery facilities.

10
2000 Planned Activities:

16. Discuss EPA’s report to Congress on response to the National Academy of

Science’s study of EPA’s TENORM guidances.

17. Review and comment on EPA’s technical report on uranium mining TENORM.

18. Coordinate activities with ISCORS Sewage Sludge Subcommittee.

19. Evaluate the need to update existing regulations/standards affecting TENORM in

coordination with the ISCORS Federal Guidance Subcommittee.

20. Consider a recommendation to OSHA to update its standard to adopt NRC 10 CFR 20.

Federal Guidance Subcommittee Highlights

Subcommittee Chair: Julie Rosenberg, EPA (202-564-9154)

This Subcommittee works with the EPA to produce Federal Guidance -- including

Presidential Guidance and Technical Reports -- that supports the development of

consistent national radiation protection standards and implementing guidance.

The Subcommittee serves as the forum for coordination among Federal and State

Government agencies interested in any or all aspects of Federal Guidance, to ensure

that all agencies have opportunities for input before and during development of

Federal Guidance.

1999 Planned Activities and Accomplishments:

26. Develop a ranked list of Federal Guidance projects to undertake — both short- and long-term.

The Subcommittee made this task the focus of its work in 1999. The Subcommittee

reviewed an initial list of potential Federal Guidance projects, and developed a shortened

list of potential projects to be ranked. The Subcommittee used three ranking criteria: (1)

the project fills a regulatory gap involving several Federal and State agencies; (2) the

project provides increased or more cost- effective health or environmental protection; and

(3) the project promotes consistency with new and existing laws, executive orders, and

other guidance, while addressing the needs of the constituencies. The Subcommittee

then ranked the potential projects, and decided to focus on the top three projects during

the next 2 to 5 years: (1) Federal Guidance for the general public; (2) Protective Action

Guides (PAGs); and (3) a White Paper on new dosimetric methods. A second tier of

potential projects, which could be worked on if the subcommittee has time available,

includes development of NORM guidance; an update to Federal Guidance for

occupational exposure; updates to Federal Guidance (technical) Reports 11 and 12;

guidance for ecological risk assessment; and standardization of exposure parameters and

models for fate and transport assessments.

11
27. Maintain a process for communicating and coordinating on Federal Guidance projects and

activities.

The Subcommittee continued to address outreach and communication issues. The

Subcommittee met quarterly to: (1) update members on the status of ongoing activities;

and (2) establish the method for evaluating and selecting the list of Federal Guidance

projects it would undertake. An internet link between the DOE and the EPA Federal

Guidance Home Page was established, and work on additional internet cross-links

continued. The Subcommittee distributed information related to Federal Guidance

activities, including a joint EPA and DOE meeting on ecological risk assessment.

28. Review public comments on Federal Guidance Report 13, and provide a summary to

ISCORS.

The Subcommittee exchanged information about and was kept up to date on EPA’s

progress on issuing Federal Guidance Report No. 13. The final report was published in

September 1999. After EPA Science Advisory Board review and after receiving public

comments (including those from Federal and State agencies), the EPA made several

changes to the interim version. Risk coefficients for additional radionuclides were added

to the report. An uncertainty annex, which discusses the sources of uncertainty in the risk

coefficients, and a table giving examples of uncertainty analysis results, were major

additions to the document. Over 1,000 copies had been distributed by the end of 1999,

not including downloads from the EPA’s internet site. Copies of the final document and

the “Response to Comments” document were mailed to all ISCORS representatives.

2000 Planned Activities:

21. PAG: distribute draft revised PAG manual for review.

22. “White Paper on New Dosimetric Methods”: complete within the year.

23. “Federal Guidance for General Public”: 1) review issues from 1960 and 1994

(proposal) versions, to identify areas of agreement and disagreement; and 2) draft

a report, available for discussion at the September ISCORS meeting, that will

include: a) potential areas of common agreement that could serve as the “Federal

Guidance for the General Public” policy statement, and b) issues that the

Subcommittee agrees need to be elevated to be resolved through another path.

24. Develop a methodology for approximately the risk indicated by a dose assessment,

in cases where a full risk assessment is not practicable.

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ISCORS MEMBER LIST

EPA

Mr. Stephen Page, Director 202-564-9340

Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

401 M Street, S.W Washington, DC 20460

Mr. Frank Marcinowski, Acting Director (ISCORS Co-chair) 202-564-9290

Radiation Protection Division fax - 565-2065

Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6602J) Marcinowski.Frank@epa.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

F. James Cumberland (1999 ISCORS coordinator) 202-564-2266

Behram Shroff (2000 ISCORS coordinator) 202-564-9707

ORIA (6608J) fax - 565-2065

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW shroff.behram@epa.gov

Washington, D.C. 20460

NRC

Dr. Carl Paperiello, Deputy Executive Director for Materials, 301-415-1705

Research and State Programs

Office of the Executive Director for Operations, Mail Stop O-16E15

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555

Mr. John T. Greeves, Director (ISCORS Co-chair) 301-415-7437

Division of Waste Management (DWM), Mail Stop T-7J8 fax - 5397

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards JTG1@nrc.gov

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555

Patricia A. Santiago (ISCORS coordinator) 301-415-7269

Division of Waste Management (DWM), Mail Stop T-7J8 fax - 5397

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards PAS2@nrc.gov

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555

13
DOD

Mr. D. Michael Schaeffer 703-325-2407

Defense Threat Reduction Agency/NSSN fax - 2951

6801 Telegraph Road dennis.schaeffer@dtra.mil

Alexandria, VA 22310-3398

COL Robert Cherry (alternate) 703-601-2413

HQDA (DACS-SF) robert.cherry@hqda.army.mil

200 Army Pentagon

Washington, DC 20310-0200

DOE

Andy Wallo, EH-41 (ISCORS contact) 202-586-4996

Director, Air, Water and Radiation Division fax - 3915

U.S. Department of Energy andrew.wallo@eh.doe.gov

Washington, DC 20585

Colleen Ostrowski (DOE ISCORS Coordinator) 202-586-4997

colleen.ostrowski@eh.doe.gov

Gus Vazquez 202-586-7629

DOL/OSHA

Dr. Adam Finkel, Director

Health Standards Programs, N-3718

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20210

Chia Chen, Industrial Hygienist (ISCORS contact) 202-693-2090

fax - 1678

chia.chen@osha-no.osha.gov

DOT

Mr. Alan Roberts 202-366-4469

Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety fax - 5713

Department of Transportation, Room 8422

400 Seventh Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20590

cc: Rick Boyle, Room 8430 (ISCORS Contact) 202-366-4545

fax - 3753

rick.boyle@rspa.dot.gov

14
DHHS

Dr. Bruce Wachholz, Chief 301-496-9326

Radiation Effects Branch fax - 1224

National Cancer Institute bw36i@nih.gov

Executive Plaza North, Suite 530

Bethesda, MD 20892

OMB

Dr. Art Fraas 202-395-3086

Office of Management and Budget fax - 7285

Room 10202 day_l@a1.eop.gov

New Executive Office Building

Washington, DC 20503

Erik Godwin, Room 10202 202-395-3087

erik_k._godwin@omb.eop.gov

OBSERVER MEMBERS

OSTP*

Patrick Gallagher 202-456-6133

Office of Science and Technology Policy fax - 6027

17th & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. pgallagh@ostp.eop.gov

Washington, DC 20500

cc: Robert Marianelli 202-456-6134

Office of Science and Technology Policy fax - 6027

17th & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. rmariane@ostp.eop.gov

Washington, DC 20500

*Office of Science and Technology Policy

States (observer)

Dr. Jill Lipoti, Assistant Director 609-984-5636

for Radiation Protection Programs fax - 7513

Division of Environmental Safety, Health JLipoti@dep.state.nj.us

and Analytical Programs

Department of Environmental Protection

CN 415

Trenton, NJ 08625-0415

Steve Collins 217-785-6982

Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety FAX: 217-782-1328

Office of Radiation Safety Collins@idns.state.il.us

1035 Outer Park Drive

Springfield, IL 62704

15
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER LIST

CLEANUP SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

NRC Cheryl Trottier, Chair 301-415-6232

Christine Daily

EPA Subijoy Dutta

Ben Hull

Phillip Newkirk

Stuart Walker

Tony Wolbarst

DOD COL Robert Cherry

DOE Andy Wallo

Stephen Domotor

DOL/OSHA Chia Chen

States Debra McBaugh, Washington

MIXED WASTE SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

DOE Gus Vazquez, Chair 202-586-7629

Jerry Coalgate

Ed Regnier

Jim Antizzo

EPA Nancy Hunt

Dan Schultheisz

David Levenstein

NRC Nick Orlando

DOD Kelly Crooks

DOT Fred Ferate

States Paul Merges, New York

RECYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

NRC Robert Meck, Chair 301-415-6205

Doug Broaddus

EPA Neil Naraine

Deborah Kopsick

DOD CAPT Dave Farrand, MSC, USN

DOE Jud Lilly

Lee Bishop

DOL/OSHA Chia Chen

States Steve Collins, Illinois

16
RISK HARMONIZATION SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

DOE Edward Regnier, Chair 202-586-5027

Colleen Ostrowski

EPA Mike Boyd

Ernie Brown

David Pawel

Stewart Walker

NRC Vince Holahan

James Kennedy

DOD Michael Schaeffer

DOL/OSHA Chia Chen

DOT Fred Ferate

States Jill Lipoti, New Jersey

Institutional Controls Workgroup

NRC James Kennedy

EPA Jacolyn Dziuban

DOE Gary Roles

SEWAGE SLUDGE SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

EPA Bob Bastian, Co-Chair 202-260-7378

Mark Doehnert

Alan Rubin

Loren Setlow

Behram Shroff

Anthony Wolbarst

NRC Rosemary Hogan, Co-Chair 301-415-7484

Lee Abramson

Duane Schmidt

Tom O’Brien

DOD Roy Lovett

DOE James Bachmaier

Judy Odoulamy

EPA/NAREL David Saunders

Scott Telofski

Mary Wisdom

States Jill Lipoti, New Jersey

Local Government Kevin Aiello, MCUA*

Authorities Tom Lenhart, NEORSD**

* Middlesex County Utilities Authority

** Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

17
NORM SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

EPA Loren Setlow, Chair 202-564-9445

Mike Boyd

Alan Rubin

Mark Schuknecht

NRC James Kennedy

Nick Orlando

DOE William Murphie

Alexander Williams

Bill Hochheiser

DOT Wendell Carriker

Rick Boyle

OSHA/DOL Chia Chen

DOD CAPT David Farrand

Captain Julie Coleman

HHS Commander Shawn Googins

States Thomas Hill, Georgia

FEDERAL GUIDANCE SUBCOMMITTEE

ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS

EPA Julie Rosenberg, Chair 202-564-9154

Mike Boyd

LaDonya Christopher

Cheryl Malina

Chris Nelson

Phillip Newkirk

Jerry Puskin

Lowell Ralston

Loren Setlow

Stuart Walker

NRC Ron Zelac

Roger Pederson

DOE Steve Domotor

Diane Larsen

Hal Peterson

Andy Wallo

DOT Rick Boyle

HHS Bruce Wachholz

OSHA/DOL Chia Chen

DOD Mike Shaeffer

States Cynthia Cardwell, Texas

18
APPENDIX A

ISCORS Charter

19
20
Charter for Interagency Steering Committee

on Radiation Standards

Purpose of Committee

The purpose of this committee is to foster early resolution and coordination of regulatory issues

associated with radiation standards.

MEMBERSHIP

1. Agencies represented on the committee include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of

Defense, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health an Human

Services, and any successor agencies.

2. The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget

will be invited as observers at meetings because of their responsibilities for coordination of

science policy and regulation policy, respectively.

3. The committee will be co-chaired by the EPA and NRC representatives for the first two

years, after which the committee will determine whether the chairmanship should be

rotated among additional agencies, or whether the chairmanship should be held by a single

agency.

4. Other departments and agencies will be invited to participate in forming consensus for

specific issues as voting members when their interests and responsibilities are involved.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the committee include the following:

1. Facilitate a consensus on allowable levels of radiation risk to the public and workers.

2. Promote consistent and scientifically sound risk assessment and risk management

approaches in setting and implementing standards for occupational and public protection

from ionizing radiation.

3. Promote completeness and coherence of Federal standards for radiation protection.

4. Identify interagency radiation protection issues and coordinate their resolution

IMPLEMENTATION

The committee will conduct its activities in accordance with the attached understandings and

procedures.

21
Understandings and Procedures for the Interagency

Steering Committee on Radiation Standards

PARTICIPATION

1. Various offices and agencies within each agency may participate in the committee

meetings. Each agency will develop a unified position and present that position at

committee meetings. Each agency representative is responsible for developing their

coordinated agency position in preparation for reaching committee consensus.

2. Agencies will be represented at the meetings by senior level, career government

employees, who are engaged in policy matters for the agency.

3. Official agency representatives will be identified in writing to the co-chairpersons by the

Assistant Administrator, Secretary, or Commissioner, as appropriate.

4. Committee meetings involve pre-decisional intragovernmental discussions and, as such, are

not open for observation by members of the public or media.

5. The committee may, from time to time, revise the charter based on the consensus views of

the committee, including such items as membership, responsibility for chairing the

committee, and objectives.

DECISIONS

1. The committee has not been delegated any authorities established by law, regulation,

Executive Order, or other administrative mechanism to act in lieu of formal agency action.

The objectives of the committee are described in the committee charter.

2. The committee will make every effort to base decisions on consensus. Consensus reflects

acceptance among the voting agencies.

3. Each agency will have a single vote in reaching consensus on specific issues. If a

consensus cannot be reached, committee recommendations will reflect the lack thereof and

include the opportunity for agencies to attach minority views to any documentation of the

recommendations.

4. Recommendations on specific issues will be provided to the heads of member agencies,

OMB, and OSTP.

MEETINGS

1. Responsibility for hosting the meetings will rotate among the agencies. The host agency is

responsible for developing a mutually agreeable meeting date and time, informing the

agencies at least two weeks in advance of the meeting date, distributing a draft agenda for

the meeting, arranging for a meeting facility, and documenting and distributing summary

meeting notes.

2. Summary meeting notes will be provided by the host agency to designated representatives

of each of the member agencies, OMB, OSTP, and, as appropriate, Congressional contacts

and other groups. The host agency will distribute draft notes within one week of the

committee meeting and final meeting notes at least two weeks before the next committee.

NRC will also place a copy of the summary meeting notes in the Public Document Room.

22
3. The committee will establish a plan for approximately a six-month period. Specific agendas

will be developed for each meeting based on the general plan.

4. The committee will meet approximately once each calendar quarter, with more frequent

meetings, as needed to address specific issues.

SUBCOMMITTEES

1. The committee may create subcommittees to focus on specific issues or activities (e.g.,

recycling criteria, risk harmonization, cleanup standards). Subcommittees will follow the

same understandings and procedures as the full committee.

2. Subcommittees will meet at a frequency and location as determined necessary by the

subcommittee.

For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Hugh L. Thompson, Jr. Date

Deputy Executive Director for

Nuclear Materials Safety, Safeguards and Operations Support

For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Mary Nichols Date

Assistant Administrator

Office of Air and Radiation

For the U.S. Department of Energy

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Tara O’Toole, M.D., M.P.H. Date

Assistant Secretary for

Environment, Safety and Health

23

12-18-95

1-16-96

2-4-96
For the U.S. Department of Defense

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Paul G. Kaminski Date

Under Secretary of Defense

(Acquisition & Technology)

For the U.S. Department of Transportation

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Dr. Dharmendra K. Sharma Date

Administrator

Research and Special Programs Administration

For the U.S. Department of Labor

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Greg Watchman Date

Acting Assistant Secretary for

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

For the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources

__________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Jo Ivey Bouford, M.D. Date

Acting Assistant Secretary for Health

24

5-16-97

5-2-97

7-12-96

10-24-96
APPENDIX B

Institutional Controls Tables

25
26
Federal Institutional Control Requirements for

Radioactive Waste

and

Restricted Release of Property Containing

Radioactive Material

Jacolyn Dziuban James Kennedy G.W. Roles

U.S. Environmental U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Department

Protection Agency Commission of Energy

Washington, DC Washington, DC Washington, DC

The Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) was established in 1994 to facilitate

U.S. Federal agency coordination in the development of a consistent approach for setting national radiation

protection standards. Membership includes participants from all Federal agencies with radiation protection

responsibilities. The Risk Harmonization Subcommittee of the ISCORS was tasked with evaluating the

similarities and differences in risk assessment and risk management approaches developed by the different

Federal agencies. One of the specific tasks of this subcommittee is to evaluate the use of institutional controls

in standards, regulations, and licensing criteria developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

Department of Energy (DOE), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The attached four tables describe

the regulatory requirements for disposal of radioactive waste and restricted release of sites containing

radioactive material, set forth by these U.S. Federal organizations, with an emphasis on institutional controls.

The four tables address:

• High-level and transuranic radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel;

• Low-level radioactive waste;

• Uranium and thorium mill tailings; and

• Property released under restricted use conditions.

27
Comparison Table

Disposal of High-Level and TRU Wastes and Spent Nuclear F

Disposal requirements for spent nuclear fuel (SNF), high-level waste (HLW) and transuranic 

SNF is fuel withdrawn from a nuclear reactor. HLW is highly radioactive material from the proce

TRU contains high levels of alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides and usually has bee

from defense activities.

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This is the First Page of the Comparison Tables
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APPENDIX C

Glossary

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52
Glossary

Acronym List

AMSA/WEF American Metropolitan Sewage Association/ Water Environmental Federation

ANSI American National Standards Institute

CIRRPC Committee for Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination

CRCPD Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors

DOE Department of Energy

DOS Department of State

ELI Environmental Law Institute

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FOIA Freedom of Information Act

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

ISCORS Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards

NORM Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

PAG Protective Action Guides

POTW Publicly-Owned Treatment Works

RCC Radiological Control Criteria

RCRA Resources Conservation and Recovery Act

TENORM Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

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