NRC Seeks Input by June 27, Following Public Meeting on Radioactive Iodine and Patients' Needs Before and After RAI

On May 23, 2017, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a public meeting on radioactive iodine and patient release. The meeting followed up on the 2016 NRC meeting on the same topic. It focused on two major issues: 

• Where patients should go after receiving RAI (Patient Release: home, hospital, or outpatient medical setting), and 
• What discussion and information patients need before they receive radioactive iodine. 

ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc. was represented at this important meeting, as well as the 2016 meeting. Many of our readers also planned to attend via the live webcast or telephone connection. However, technical difficulties prevented these from being available. 

Public Meeting Feedback form.

Submit comments by June 27, 2017.  Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. 

You may submit comments by any of the following methods: 

• Federal Rulemaking Web Site:  Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0094. 
• Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone:  301-415-3463; e-mail: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. 
• Mail comments to:  Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, Mail Stop:  OWFN-12H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 

The 6 Questions Discussed at NRC’s Public Meeting on May 23, 2017 

These questions were published on April 11, 2017, in the Federal Register, “Patient Release Program.” (NRC-2017-0094) 

A. “Should NRC require an activity-based patient release threshold under which patients would be required to be maintained in a clinic-sponsored facility (e.g., a medical facility or facility under the licensee’s control) until the standard for release is met.” 

B. “Should the NRC amend the regulations to clarify the time frame for the current dose limit in 10 CFR 35.75(a) for releasing Individuals? 

C. “Should the NRC continue to apply the same dose criteria of 5 mSv (0.5 rem), to all members of the general public, including family members, young children, pregnant women, caregivers, hotel workers, and other members of the public when considering the release of patients?” 

D. “Should the NRC include a specific requirement for the release of a patient who is likely to expose young children or pregnant women to doses above the public dose limit?” 

E. “Should the NRC have a specific requirement for the licensee to have a patient isolation discussion with patients in sufficient time prior to the administration to provide the patient time to make isolation arrangements or the licensee to make plans to hold the patient, if the patient cannot be immediately released?”” 

F. “Should the NRC explicitly include the time frame for providing instructions in the regulations (e.g., the instructions should be given prior to the procedure)?” 

ThyCa Follow-Up 

ThyCa is following up on the NRC meeting. If a transcript or archived webinar become available, we will post the URL in ThyCa’s weekly Bulletin and on our website. If you have comments or questions for ThyCa, e-mail to thyca@thyca.org.