PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Registration of certain generally licensed radioactive devices.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.98.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule under consideration is necessary to conform state regulations to the national standards for radiation protection by requiring the registration of certain generally licensed radioactive devices. This rule covers a federal rule change which has been deemed "a matter of compatibility" for agreement states by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Washington, as an agreement state, is required to adopt the federal rule change in order to maintain a state program that is compatible with that of the NRC. The NRC has amended its basic radiation protection standards with respect to generally licensed radioactive devices. For national uniformity, all states are required to have the same regulation.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agencies regulate this subject. This rule making will provide the required coordination between the NRC and the state of Washington.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department will notify interested parties of the intent to develop rules on this subject and to solicit participation in the rule-making process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Terry C. Frazee, Radiation Protection Program, P.O. Box 47827, Olympia, WA 98504-7827, (360) 236-3213, terry.frazee@doh.wa.gov.
August 11, 2003
M. C. Selecky
Secretary