[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 62648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30778]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Management of Radioactive Material Safety Programs at Medical 
Facilities: Availability of NUREG

AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is announcing the 
availability of NUREG-1516: ``Management of Radioactive Material Safety 
Programs at Medical Facilities,'' dated May 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of NUREG-1516 may be obtained by writing to the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 
37082, Washington, DC 20402-9328. Copies are also available from the 
National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, 
Springfield, Virginia 22161. A copy of the document is also available 
for inspection and/or copying for a fee in the NRC Public Document 
Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susanne Woods, Mail Stop TWFN 8-F5, 
Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555. Telephone: (301) 415-7267.

DESCRIPTION AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 13, 1995 (60 FR 
8259), NRC announced the availability of Draft NUREG-1516: ``Management 
of Radioactive Material Safety Programs at Medical Facilities,'' dated 
January 1995, and requested comments on the document. During 
preparation of the final NUREG report, the staff considered all the 
comments, to improve the document.
    The final version of NUREG-1516 is now available for use by license 
applicants, licensees, and NRC staff. The report represents the 
collective work of a number of staff, with input from two 
representatives from Agreement States. During various stages of 
development, the authors received additional input from professional 
organizations and the Agreement States through presentation and peer 
review.
    NUREG-1516 represents guidance on mechanisms and tools for managing 
radiation safety programs at medical facilities licensed by either NRC 
or Agreement States. The guidance describes a systematic approach for 
effectively managing radiation safety programs by defining the roles of 
an institution's executive management, radiation safety officer (RSO), 
and radiation safety committee, if required. Various aspects of program 
management are discussed and guidance is offered in the following 
areas: selecting an RSO; determining adequate program resources; using 
contractual services such as consultants and service companies; 
conducting program audits; and clarifying the roles of both physician 
authorized users and supervised individuals.
    Current NRC reporting and notification requirements are outlined 
and a general description is given for how NRC licensing, inspection, 
and enforcement programs are presently conducted. The NUREG does not 
describe new or proposed regulations, and licensees are not required to 
adhere to the principles presented in the document. Rather, this should 
be viewed as a practical guide to present a management approach and 
describe management tools that regulatory agencies have observed to be 
effective for managing a radiation safety program at a medical 
facility, using current regulatory requirements. The radiation safety 
principles and practices in NUREG-1516 are specifically directed toward 
the safe use of byproduct radioactive material; however, the universal 
applicability of these principles and practices may be helpful to 
individuals, managing the safe uses of radiation in medicine, who are 
not mentioned in the NUREG.

Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    In accordance with the Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, the NRC has determined that this action is not a 
major rule and has verified this determination with the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and 
Budget.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of November, 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Larry W. Camper,
Chief, Medical, Academic and Commercial Use Safety Branch, Division of 
Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 97-30778 Filed 11-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P