Success Stories

ORAU Helping to Mitigate Radiological Exposure Risks Through Nuclear Regulatory Guide Updates

As the nuclear power industry prepares for a resurgence due to the increasing need for clean alternative energy, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) realized that a large number of its regulatory guides had become outdated. Some of the regulatory guides originated in the early 1970s. With hundreds of guides still referenced by health physicists and nuclear industry professionals, providing complete, accurate and up-to-date guidance presented a considerable challenge.

Because of Oak Ridge Associated Universities' (ORAU) involvement in the NRC's Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS), and radiation protection experience at light water reactors, the Commission relied on ORAU's health physics experts to develop technical approaches for the update of several Division 8 regulatory guides related to occupational radiation exposures.

ORAU provided extensive recommendations in radiological training and the "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) philosophy, which establishes guidance to minimize the sustained risk of radioactive exposure to individuals working in the presence of radioactive materials. Each technical approach was then used as a basis by NRC staff in the preparation of each updated regulatory guide.

ORAU's recommendations supported the NRC's goal to equip industry professionals with updated guidance concerning the reduction of occupational radiation exposures. The technical approaches will enable the NRC to update existing guidance on how to mitigate radiological exposure risks in the nuclear power industry, and will exist as a valuable reference as new power plants are established across the United States.

Learn more about ORAU's regulatory guide update contributions