Radiological Health Advisory Board Meeting

November 4, 2009

Welcome and introduction Welcome and introduction –– Les Les Foldesi, MS, CHP, Director, Division Foldesi, MS, CHP, Director, Division of Radiological Healthof Radiological Health

Approval of agendaApproval of agenda Approval of minutes for May 6, Approval of minutes for May 6,

2009 meeting2009 meeting Report from the chairReport from the chair

AgendaAgenda

Agenda (cont)Agenda (cont)

Old businessOld business Opportunity for public commentsOpportunity for public comments New businessNew business Next meeting Next meeting AdjournmentAdjournment

Two major program activities for radioactive Two major program activities for radioactive materials and X-ray machine are funded materials and X-ray machine are funded entirely from special funds, i.e. Feesentirely from special funds, i.e. Fees

General Fund (GF) reduction anticipated for General Fund (GF) reduction anticipated for GF used to support X-ray program ($49,167)GF used to support X-ray program ($49,167)

New GF target is $442,774 used to support New GF target is $442,774 used to support other radiological issues, such as other radiological issues, such as emergency preparedness, non ionizing emergency preparedness, non ionizing radiation (tanning beds, lasers etc) radiation (tanning beds, lasers etc)

Mammography contract renewed for FFY Mammography contract renewed for FFY ($126,600)($126,600)

State Budget for SFY2010

Radioactive Materials Radioactive Materials

Currently we have about 430 active Currently we have about 430 active specific licensesspecific licenses

We have converted about half of the NRC We have converted about half of the NRC licenses to State licenses.licenses to State licenses.

VDH has taken possession of orphan VDH has taken possession of orphan sources for proper disposal. Note: Navy sources for proper disposal. Note: Navy picked up their sources in October.picked up their sources in October.

Duty Officers trained to access licensee Duty Officers trained to access licensee database to respond to US Customs’ database to respond to US Customs’ inquiries regarding shipments of inquiries regarding shipments of radioactive materials.radioactive materials.

Radioactive Materials (cont) Radioactive Materials (cont)

From our initial billing, we have concluded From our initial billing, we have concluded that more of our licensees had qualified that more of our licensees had qualified for the small business fee under the NRC for the small business fee under the NRC than was projected during rulemaking for than was projected during rulemaking for our fee schedule.our fee schedule.

VDH also received several complaints from VDH also received several complaints from licensees that are small businesses licensees that are small businesses concerning higher fees.concerning higher fees.

Radioactive Materials (cont) Radioactive Materials (cont)

VDH staff proposed a fee schedule to VDH staff proposed a fee schedule to significantly reduce fees so that only about significantly reduce fees so that only about a dozen or so licensees will have a higher a dozen or so licensees will have a higher fee rather than 60.fee rather than 60.

VDH also received a petition that VDH also received a petition that requested the agency reconsider its fee requested the agency reconsider its fee scheduleschedule

Staff anticipate the State Health Staff anticipate the State Health Commissioner will take action on these Commissioner will take action on these two items in the coming weeks.two items in the coming weeks.

In recruitment is a wage position- In recruitment is a wage position- inspector, unable to recruit qualified inspector, unable to recruit qualified individual.individual.

Mammography contract renewed for the Mammography contract renewed for the next FFY.next FFY.

VDH notified CT facilities and PIs serving VDH notified CT facilities and PIs serving CT facilities of overexposure to patients CT facilities of overexposure to patients during brain perfusion studies using CT at during brain perfusion studies using CT at an unnamed facility. an unnamed facility.

Staff will visit the Hampton University Staff will visit the Hampton University Proton Beam Therapy Facility in January.Proton Beam Therapy Facility in January.

X-ray Machine Program

Plume Phase evaluated exercise for Plume Phase evaluated exercise for Surry Nuclear Power Station on August Surry Nuclear Power Station on August 4, 20094, 2009

Staff provided support to Dominion for Staff provided support to Dominion for other exercises including a security other exercises including a security exercise.exercise.

Staff are reviewing a draft of the State Staff are reviewing a draft of the State Plan.Plan.

Emergency Preparedness Program

Docket FEMA-2008-0022 public Docket FEMA-2008-0022 public comment period closed in August 2009. comment period closed in August 2009. Combines all FEMA guidance REP14 and Combines all FEMA guidance REP14 and 15 Also revision of NUREG 0654, 15 Also revision of NUREG 0654, Supplement 4 (security drills)Supplement 4 (security drills)

EPA issued three guidance documents EPA issued three guidance documents for radiation laboratoriesfor radiation laboratories

VDH is scheduled to participate in an VDH is scheduled to participate in an exercise for radiation laboratories using exercise for radiation laboratories using spiked samplesspiked samples

EMP (cont)

Although funding for this activity has been Although funding for this activity has been eliminated, VDH staff continues to respond eliminated, VDH staff continues to respond to citizen inquires regarding this issue.to citizen inquires regarding this issue.

Volunteer, Brian Kessler, is answering Volunteer, Brian Kessler, is answering radon calls.radon calls.

Radon

VDH is continuing to replace old air VDH is continuing to replace old air sampling equipment.sampling equipment.

Sign of the times- EA Terrell Dairy went out Sign of the times- EA Terrell Dairy went out of business. This dairy provided milk of business. This dairy provided milk samples to represent the North Anna samples to represent the North Anna environment.environment.

Environmental Monitoring Program

Les Foldesi attended meeting of the Southeast Les Foldesi attended meeting of the Southeast Compact Commission on June 16 and 17 in St. Compact Commission on June 16 and 17 in St. Petersburg, FL. Topics covered:Petersburg, FL. Topics covered:

NW Compact lost suit in federal district court re: NW Compact lost suit in federal district court re: private site not under Compact’s regulations.private site not under Compact’s regulations.

SE Compact will have its suit against NC heard in SE Compact will have its suit against NC heard in this session of the US Supreme Court. Master’s this session of the US Supreme Court. Master’s Brief is not favorable to SE Compact.Brief is not favorable to SE Compact.

Amicus brief by other Compacts filed on behalf of Amicus brief by other Compacts filed on behalf of SE Compact.SE Compact.

Radioactive Low-Level Waste

Other LLW issuesOther LLW issues Federal legislation pending to strip NRC Federal legislation pending to strip NRC

of its authority to accept foreign LLW of its authority to accept foreign LLW into the country.into the country.

Federal legislation concerning the Federal legislation concerning the blending of LLW to allow re-blending of LLW to allow re-classification to lower class of LLW classification to lower class of LLW which has a disposal option.which has a disposal option.

Radioactive Low-Level Waste

Virginia Coal and Energy Commission Virginia Coal and Energy Commission subcommittee intends to contract with subcommittee intends to contract with the National Research Council (NRC) to the National Research Council (NRC) to conduct a study.conduct a study.

The NRC Executive Committee meets The NRC Executive Committee meets this week in closed session to discuss this week in closed session to discuss the proposed scope of the study. the proposed scope of the study.

Uranium Mining in VA

Major supplier for Northern Hemisphere is Major supplier for Northern Hemisphere is Canada’s Chalk River reactor, 50 yrs and Canada’s Chalk River reactor, 50 yrs and failing.failing.

Replacement reactors Maple I and II have Replacement reactors Maple I and II have major design problem.major design problem.

This reactor uses HEU from USA which This reactor uses HEU from USA which presents diplomatic and home land security presents diplomatic and home land security concerns.concerns.

LEU is encouraged in future reactorsLEU is encouraged in future reactors Obama administration is providing funds for Obama administration is providing funds for

replacement reactor in USA.replacement reactor in USA.

Medical Isotope Shortage

Dominion’s third reactor at North AnnaDominion’s third reactor at North Anna Mining and milling uranium in Pittsylvania Mining and milling uranium in Pittsylvania

CountyCounty AREVA teaming up with Northrop Grumman to AREVA teaming up with Northrop Grumman to

build reactor componentsbuild reactor components BWXT designing and building a medical isotope BWXT designing and building a medical isotope

production reactor (Lynchburg or St. Louis- production reactor (Lynchburg or St. Louis- Mallinckrodt???)Mallinckrodt???)

Hampton University Proton Beam Therapy Hampton University Proton Beam Therapy Facility- August 2010 patient treatments beginFacility- August 2010 patient treatments begin

New Nuclear Engineering Programs- VCU, New Nuclear Engineering Programs- VCU, corporate sponsored programscorporate sponsored programs

Nuclear Renaissance??Virginia’s Perspective

Proton Beam Accelerator

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Old BusinessOld Business Public Comments (5 minutes each)Public Comments (5 minutes each) New BusinessNew Business Next meeting?Next meeting? AdjournAdjourn