Summary Minutes September 19, 2006 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and Site Profile Review

 The Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction 

 and Site Profile Review of the 

 Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

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 Summary Minutes of the Twelfth Meeting 

 September 19, 2006 

 

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The Twelfth Meeting of the Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and 

Site Profile Review (the subcommittee) of the Advisory Board on 

Radiation and Worker Health (ABRWH or the Board) was held at the Westin 

Casuarina Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 19, 2006. The 

meeting was called to order by Dr. Paul Ziemer, Chair of the Board and 

of the subcommittee, and by Dr. Lewis Wade, the Designated Federal 

Official, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National 

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These summary 

minutes, as well as a verbatim transcript certified by a court 

reporter, are available on the internet on the web site of the 

NIOSH/Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) located at 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. Those present included the following: 

Subcommittee Members: Dr. Paul Ziemer, Chair; Mr. Brad Clawson, Mr. 

Michael Gibson (via telephone), Mr. Mark Griffon, Ms. Wanda Munn, Dr. 

John Poston, Mr. Robert Presley, and Dr. Genevieve Roessler. 

Designated Federal Official: Dr. Lewis Wade, Executive Secretary 

Federal Agency Attendees:

Department of Health and Human Services: Mr. Stuart Hinnefeld, Ms. Liz 

Homoki-Titus (via telephone). 

Contractors:

Sanford Cohen & Associates: Dr. Hans Behling and Ms. Kathy Behling 

(via telephone), Dr. John Mauro. 

Public Attendees: See Registration 
 Summary Minutes September 19, 2006 

 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and Site Profile Review

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 WELCOME, OPENING COMMENTS

Dr. Paul Ziemer, subcommittee chairman, called the meeting to order and 

reminded attendees that it was a subcommittee meeting. The full Board 

is to meet in the afternoon. He further pointed out that the 

subcommittee would recess at 10:00 a.m. to allow members of the 

subcommittee with specific clearances to convene at a secure location. 

 There they will consider issues with classified information that 

relate to deliberations of the Board. The full Board will then convene 

after lunch. Dr. Ziemer directed attention to the agenda and called on 

Dr. Lewis Wade, Designated Federal Official, for comments. 

Dr. Wade noted that cleared members of the SC&A team, the Board's 

contractor, will accompany subcommittee members to the secure site to 

join in the deliberations of classified matters. 

Dr. Wade clarified that the current subcommittee examines both dose 

reconstructions and site profile reviews, and is made up of all members 

of the Board. Later in the meeting the Board will discuss redirecting 

the subcommittee to focus only on dose reconstructions and limit its 

membership. 

Dr. Wade then explained the Board's task organization of subcommittees 

and workgroups. He emphasized the importance of the attendees who 

represent the public. 

 * * * * *

 SUBCOMMITTEE CHARTER AND MEMBERSHIP

Dr. Paul Ziemer

Dr. Ziemer explained to the assembly that reorganization of the 

subcommittee was proposed during the telephone Board meeting of August 

8, and a draft of the reorganization had been prepared and e-mailed to 

all Board members. He noted there are two significant changes in the 

proposed subcommittee charter language. First, the original 

subcommittee has the responsibility to review dose reconstructions and 

site profiles. Because site profile reviews are conducted by a number 

of working groups, the proposal suggests the subcommittee no longer be 

responsible for that task. 

Secondly, Dr. Ziemer pointed out the subcommittee membership originally 

included the membership of the entire Board. The proposal suggests 

that specific members be named to the subcommittee: a Chair, three 

members and two alternates. 
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When this was discussed during the teleconference there was some 

question about the membership status of Ms. Wanda Munn. With that 

issue now resolved, the following members are proposed to comprise the 

new subcommittee: 

 Mr. Mark Griffon, Chairman 

 Mr. Michael Gibson 

 Dr. John Poston 

 Ms. Wanda Munn 

 Mr. Robert Presley (Alternate 1) 

 Mr. Brad Clawson (Alternate 2) 

 Dr. Lewis Wade (Designated Federal Official)

Dr. Genevieve Roessler's status on the subcommittee was discussed among 

Mr. Griffon, Dr. Ziemer, Ms. Munn, Dr. Wade and Dr. Roessler. The 

above list was settled upon as the proposed subcommittee membership. 

Dr. Ziemer suggested the organization as outlined above be considered a 

motion before the subcommittee, and be recommended to the full Board. 

At this point Mr. Clawson requested clarification of a phrase in the 

Purpose paragraph of the draft Establishment of Subcommittee. It was 

determined the confusion is the result of a typo, which will be 

corrected. 

Dr. Wade noted that new procedures for establishing or abolishing a 

subcommittee requires a decision by the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services. He indicated he would take the actions of the Board to the 

Secretary and explain the rationale -- that a smaller group will be 

more efficient dealing with the detailed work of the subcommittee -- 

for the proposed restructuring. He said he expects the Secretary will 

approve the proposal. 

Dr. Ziemer agreed with Dr. Wade's explanation and rationale. He noted 

it will expedite meetings with other agencies such as NIOSH and 

contractors. He added that all subcommittee meetings will continue to 

be open to the public. 

Since the restructuring had met with agreement of the full Board during 

their teleconference, the subcommittee needed only approval of the 

proposed charter draft in order to recommend it to the full Board later 

in its meeting. 

By vote, the draft charter received unanimous approval.

 * * * * *

 INDIVIDUAL DOSE RECONSTRUCTION REVIEWS
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 Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and Site Profile Review

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Closure on Second and Third Sets of Cases

Mr. Mark Griffon

Mr. Griffon referred to a letter from the Board to the Secretary of 

Health and Human Services first discussed during the August 

teleconference. It summarizes the findings for the second and third 

sets of case reviews, case numbers 21 through 60. The only change from 

the original letter is one based on a review by Mr. Stu Hinnefeld of 

NIOSH, and Mr. Griffon described the change. He added that Mr. 

Hinnefeld also provided a table identifying the cases reviewed which 

will be included with the letter. 

Dr. Ziemer proposed the subcommittee act on the letter as a report to 

the Secretary. There will be four attachments, as follows: 

Attachment 1: Cases Reviewed in Second and Third Sets of Dose 

Reconstruction Reviews. 

Attachment 2: The SC&A Table Enumerating Findings. 

Attachment 3: The Dose Reconstruction Matrix. 

Attachment 4: The Methodology for Categorizing and Ranking Dose 

Reconstruction Case Review Findings. 

It was suggested the subcommittee prepare a recommendation for the 

Board and have the letter report on the Board's agenda for later during 

their meeting. It was noted Board members should have complete copies 

of all related documents prior to their vote. 

Dr. Poston expressed some concern that it was difficult at times to 

know how some of the information received by e-mail fits into the 

overall picture. Dr. Ziemer agreed, suggesting that if the group 

agreed on the letter report, he would accept it as a motion before the 

subcommittee. 

Ms. Munn suggested modifying the Summary of Findings Impacting 

Estimates of Individual Doses paragraph of the basic letter by changing 

the third line to add the words on either the individual POC or more 

extensive applications. A prolonged discussion of the phrase more 

extensive applications among Dr. Ziemer, Ms. Munn and Mr. Griffon

resulted in excluding that phrase from the suggested change, since 

findings with a wider impact are discussed in the paragraph following 

Summary of Findings, etc. 

Mr. Griffon commented that this issue has been raised previously with 

SC&A and the phrase with likely little or no effect on the overall dose
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was settled upon. He cautioned that the wording should be consistent 

with other reports. 

Dr. John Mauro from SC&A emphasized they were trying to be careful not 

to go into the POC area and limit their observations, findings and 

scoring toward the dose as it applied to a particular case, whether it 

was important to the individual case or might be applied more 

generally. Dr. Mauro continued that they were dealing with dose, but 

if there is a low score, it is only for that particular case and does 

not have a substantial or significant effect on changing the dose in 

any particular way. It reflects a quality issue and indicates that 

procedures were not followed as laid out. 

Mr. Griffon noted that the phrase significant effect on the 

individual's dose reconstruction might express the intent of the 

sentence. Ms. Munn offered with little or no effect on the 

individual's evaluation. Dr. Ziemer suggested individual dose 

evaluation and Mr. Presley contributed individual case evaluation. Mr. 

Griffon concurred with the last suggestion. All others agreed with Mr. 

Presley's suggestion and it was accepted as a friendly amendment. 

Dr. Ziemer called for a vote to present the amended letter to the Board 

later in the week for action. The motion carried with no opposition. 

For the record, Dr. Wade noted Mr. Gibson had been unable to vote due 

to communication difficulties and his vote should be taken before 

accepting the document with the amendment. 

 * * *

Update on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Sets of Cases

Mr. Griffon explained that SC&A has delivered a report on the next 40 

cases (4th and 5th sets). The teams have met with SC&A, usually by 

telephone. Following the six-step process, they have discussed the 

cases with SC&A who then develops a matrix with the findings. The 

findings are then provided to NIOSH. A complete NIOSH response is not 

yet available. 

Mr. Hinnefeld confirmed the initial work was done. Some initial 

responses have been drafted, but additional work is needed to be 

prepared for the next step, which is a meeting between workgroups and 

SC&A to review the responses and resolve disagreements. Mr. Griffon

observed that the restructured subcommittee will be responsible to 

accomplish the outlined task. 

Dr. Mauro reported that the 5th set of 20 cases is complete, and Dr. 

Hans Behling and Ms. Kathy Behling are not present because they are 
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preparing the final product for delivery to the Board shortly. 

Dr. Mauro then inquired whether the one-on-one discussion of the cases 

with members of the Board would be required before delivery of the full 

package. If that requirement were waived, the 2006 deliverables would 

be completed by the end of the month. Otherwise, the 5th set will not 

be delivered until mid-October. 

Dr. Ziemer canvassed the members present to ascertain their preference. 

Mr. Presley, Ms. Munn, Mr. Griffon and Mr. Clawson all expressed 

preference for the one-on-one before the package is delivered. Dr. 

Wade interjected that the later date would present no problem with the 

contract. 

Dr. Mauro then queried members as to their preference in receiving the 

package. It was agreed members would receive the report on their 

individual cases within a set rather than the entire package. 

Dr. Wade inquired of Dr. Mauro when SC&A would need to have the 7th set 

of cases identified for analysis. Dr. Mauro indicated November would 

be fine, but if they are received as late as December, that would be 

satisfactory. Mr. Griffon reminded the members that blind reviews had 

been discussed and perhaps should be applied to the 7th set of cases. 

 * * * * *

 PROCEDURES REVIEW

Before receiving a workgroup report, Dr. Wade remarked that the Board 

should instruct SC&A on the procedures to be reviewed in next year's 

work. He noted that Dr. Mauro had provided a list of procedures not 

yet reviewed by SC&A, and this list should be the basis for the Board 

to recommend procedures to be reviewed next year. Dr. Mauro reported 

SC&A was in a position to accept additional work at this time. 

Dr. Wade reminded members that there is an item on the full Board 

agenda to be discussed later in the day concerning this issue. The 

implication was that the later discussion could lead to identifying 

procedures to be reviewed in the next fiscal year. 

 * * *

Workgroup Report 

Mr. Mark Griffon, Chair

Mr. Griffon reported he has created a matrix from the first set of 

procedures review, but has drafted no letter to support it. However, 
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his discussions with Dr. Ziemer indicated perhaps a report should be 

prepared. While there is no action required, a year of work has gone 

into the effort and it should be reported to the Secretary. 

Dr. Wade concurred with that determination. Dr. Ziemer suggested 

perfecting the record by drafting a one-page letter from the Board to 

the Secretary outlining the work that has been done toward meeting the 

Board's responsibilities. 

 * * * * * 

With time drawing near when the Q-cleared members of the subcommittee 

must leave to meet on classified issues, Dr. Ziemer suggested the 

reports from Chairs of the various working groups be made a part of the 

full Board meeting. 

With no further business to come before the Subcommittee, the 

meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. 

 End of Summary Minutes 

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

I hereby confirm these Summary Minutes are 

accurate, to the best of my knowledge. 

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Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D., Chair 

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Date