Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents, 22257-22260 [2013-08666]

Download as PDF sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 72 / Monday, April 15, 2013 / Notices miscellaneous oil spill control agents. As of March, 2013, 112 products are listed on the Schedule. It is estimated that 11 products per year will be submitted to EPA for listing on the Schedule. Over the three-year period covered by this ICR, an estimated 33 products may be listed. Additionally, EPA estimates that approximately 10 manufacturers will submit information to obtain sorbent certifications. The annual public reporting burden will be 315 hours. The total annual cost (including labor and non-labor) to manufacturers under Subpart J is estimated to be $88,743. At 40 CFR 300.920(c), respondents are allowed to assert that certain information in the technical product data submissions is confidential business information. EPA will handle such claims pursuant to the provisions in 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. Such information must be submitted separately from non-confidential information, clearly identified, and clearly marked ‘‘Confidential Business Information.’’ If the applicant fails to make such a claim at the time of submittal, EPA may make the information available to the public without further notice. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: Respondents include, but are not limited to, manufacturers of bioremediation agents, dispersants, surface collecting agents, surface washing agents, miscellaneous oil spill control agents, and other chemical agents and biological additives used as countermeasures against oil spills. Affected private industries can be expected to fall within the following industrial classifications: • Manufacturers of industrial inorganic chemicals (SIC 281/NAICS 325188), • Manufacturers of industrial organic chemicals (SIC 286/NAICS 325199), and • Manufacturers of miscellaneous chemical products (SIC 289/NAICS 325988). Respondent’s obligation to respond: An oil spill mitigating agent does not have to be listed on the Product Schedule unless a manufacturer wants the product to be applied as part of an emergency response to an oil spill. If so, then certain mandatory product testing and information is required to be considered for listing on the Schedule. (The Schedule is required by section 311(d)(2)(G) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990). Estimated number of respondents: Eleven per year. There are 96 manufacturers and 112 products (26 VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:00 Apr 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 bioremediation agents, 18 dispersants, 14 miscellaneous agents, and 53 surface washing agents, 2 surface collecting agents) listed on the March, 2013 Schedule. EPA estimates that manufacturers will apply to list 11 products on the Schedule each year, including 2 bioremediation agents, 3 dispersants, 2 miscellaneous agents, 1 surface collecting agent, and 3 surface washing agents. Over a three-year period, EPA anticipates that manufacturers will apply to list a total of 6 bioremediation agents, 9 dispersants, 6 miscellaneous agents, 3 surface collecting agent, and 9 surface washing agents on the Schedule. Frequency of response: Each manufacturer responds one time per product submittal. Total estimated burden: 315 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $ 72,450 (per year). Changes in estimates: There is a decrease in burden hours and cost. All regulatory requirements are the same as in 2010. There is a decrease in total cost of $10,550 due to less manufacturers applying to list products (11 instead of 14 per year) on the Schedule even though laboratory pricing and labor rates have risen. Dana S. Tulis, Deputy Director, Office of Emergency Management. [FR Doc. 2013–08702 Filed 4–12–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0268; FRL–9707–2] Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of document availability for interim use and public comment. AGENCY: As part of its mission to protect human health and the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes protective action guides to help federal, state, local and tribal emergency response officials make radiation protection decisions during emergencies. EPA, in coordination with a multi-agency working group within the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC), is proposing updates to the 1992 Manual SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22257 of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents, referred to as ‘‘The 1992 PAG Manual’’ (EPA 400–R–92–001, May 1992). The updated guidance in this revised 2013 PAG Manual—Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents (‘‘2013 PAG Manual’’ hereafter) applies the PAGs to incidents other than just nuclear power plant accidents, updates the radiation dosimetry and dose calculations based on current science and incorporates late phase guidance. While there is no drinking water PAG provided in the proposal, the Agency continues to seek input on this. The newly proposed 2013 PAG Manual is available for interim use and review at www.regulations.gov. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2013. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2007–0268, by one of the following methods— • www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • Email: to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007– 0268. • Fax: (202) 566–1741 • Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW., Washington, DC 20460. Instructions: Direct your comments to Attn: Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2007–0268. The Agency’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 22258 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 72 / Monday, April 15, 2013 / Notices include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. [EPA–HQ–OAR– 2007–0268; FRL–9707–2]. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave NW., Washington, DC 20004. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744 and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566–1742. In accordance with EPA’s regulations at 40 CFR Part 2 and in accordance with normal EPA docket procedures, if copies of any docket materials are requested, a reasonable fee may be charged for photocopying. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara DeCair, Radiation Protection Division, Center for Radiological Emergency Management, Mail Code 6608J, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343–9108 ; fax number: (202) 343–2304; Email: decair.sara@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES A. What authority does EPA have to provide Protective Action Guidance? The historical and legal basis of EPA’s role in the 2013 PAG Manual begins with Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, in which the Administrator of EPA assumed all the functions of the Federal Radiation Council (FRC), including the charge to ‘‘* * * advise the President with respect to radiation matters, directly or indirectly affecting health, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:00 Apr 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 including guidance for all federal agencies in the formulation of radiation standards and in the establishment and execution of programs of cooperation with states.’’ (Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, sec. 2(a) (7), 6(a) (2); § 274.h of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 2021(h)). Recognizing this role, FEMA directed EPA in their Radiological Emergency Planning and Preparedness Regulations to ‘‘establish Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for all aspects of radiological emergency planning in coordination with appropriate federal agencies.’’ (44 CFR 351.22(a)). FEMA also tasked EPA with preparing ‘‘guidance for state and local governments on implementing PAGs, including recommendations on protective actions which can be taken to mitigate the potential radiation dose to the population.’’(44 CFR 351.22(b)). All of this information was to ‘‘be presented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ‘Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents.’’’(44 CFR 351.22(b)). Additionally, section 2021(h) charged the Administrator with performing ‘‘such other functions as the President may assign to him [or her] by Executive order.’’ Executive Order 12656 states that the Administrator shall ‘‘[d]evelop, for national security emergencies, guidance on acceptable emergency levels of nuclear radiation * * *.’’ (Executive Order No. 12656, sec.1601(2)). EPA’s role in PAGs development was reaffirmed by the National Response Framework, Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex of June 2008. B. What is the PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents? The 2013 PAG Manual provides federal, state and local emergency management officials with guidance for responding to radiological emergencies. A protective action guide (PAG) is the projected dose to an individual from a release of radioactive material at which a specific protective action to reduce or avoid that dose is recommended. Emergency management officials use PAGs for making decisions regarding actions to protect the public from exposure to radiation during an emergency. Such actions include, but are not limited to, evacuation, shelterin-place, temporary relocation, and food restrictions. Development of the PAGs was based on the following essential principles, which also apply to the selection of any protective action during an incident— • Prevent acute effects. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Balance protection with other important factors and ensure that actions result in more benefit than harm. • Reduce risk of chronic effects. The 2013 PAG Manual is not a legally binding regulation or standard and does not supersede any environmental laws; PAGs are not intended to define ‘‘safe’’ or ‘‘unsafe’’ levels of exposure or contamination. This guidance does not address or impact site cleanups occurring under other statutory authorities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund program, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) decommissioning program, or other federal or state cleanup programs. As indicated by the use of non-mandatory language such as ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘should’’ and ‘‘can,’’ the 2013 Manual only provides recommendations and does not confer any legal rights or impose any legally binding requirements upon any member of the public, states, or any other federal agency. Rather, the 2013 PAG Manual recommends projected radiation doses at which specific actions may be warranted in order to reduce or avoid that dose. The 2013 PAG Manual is designed to provide flexibility to be more or less restrictive as deemed appropriate by decision makers based on the unique characteristics of the incident and the local situation. C. What updates are in the 2013 PAG Manual? The draft updates to the 1992 PAG Manual were developed by a multiagency Subcommittee of the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) and are published by EPA with concurrence from the Department of Energy (DOE); the Department of Defense (DoD); the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and the Department of Labor (DOL). The 2013 PAG Manual focuses on the following key objectives— • Clarify that the 1992 PAGs and protective actions are useful for all radiological and nuclear scenarios of concern, based both on the 1991 symposium, ‘‘Implementation of Protective Actions for Radiological Incidents at Other Than Nuclear Power Reactors’’ and the 2008 interagency ‘‘Planning Guidance for Protection and E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 72 / Monday, April 15, 2013 / Notices Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents.’’ 1 • Refer the reader to DOE’s Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Assessment Manuals 2 for calculation methods and measurable derived response levels (DRLs) and other appropriate dose assessment methods so that PAGs are implemented using the latest science. • Refer users to the current Food PAGs published in FDA’s ‘‘Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies,’’ as issued in 1998.3 • Recommend a simplified PAG approach for administering potassium iodide (KI) as a supplementary protective action based on FDA guidance issued in 2001.4 • Provide basic planning guidance on reentry, cleanup and waste disposal. • Substantively incorporate the 2008 ‘‘Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents’’ particularly for late phase cleanup after a nationally significant radiological incident, like a disaster at a NPP, an RDD or an IND. The 2008 RDD–IND Planning Guidance will remain in effect until the PAG Manual, with public comments incorporated, is finalized for use. • Streamline the Manual to enhance usability, while retaining the 1992 PAG Manual in its entirety as a historical online reference. D. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA? 1. Submitting Confidential Business Information (CBI) sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is 1 Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents, DHS/ FEMA (73 FR 45029, Aug 1, 2008). 2 See: https://www.nv.doe.gov/nationalsecurity/ homelandsecurity/frmac/manuals.aspx. 3 Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies, FDA (63 FR 43402, Aug 13, 1998). 4 Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies, FDA (66 FR 64046, Dec. 11, 2001). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:00 Apr 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. 2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments When submitting comments, remember to— • Identify the rulemaking by docket number, subject heading, Federal Register date and page number. • Follow directions—EPA may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing the chapter number. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow it to be reproduced. • Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. E. What specific comments are being sought? While all comments regarding any aspect of the 2013 PAG Manual are welcome, comments on the following issues are specifically requested— Issues across the scope of the entire 2013 PAG Manual: • To implement the PAGs, the reader is referred to dose calculations in the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Assessment Manuals. The Assessment Manuals are updated with current International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dosimetry models (i.e., ICRP 60 series) and dose coefficients. The FRPCC also encourages the use of computational tools such as DOE’s Turbo FRMAC, RESRAD RDD and NRC’s RASCAL or other appropriate tools and methods to implement the PAGs. We request comment on the usefulness of this approach and seek feedback on how to facilitate implementation of these methods in emergency management plans. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22259 • The Agency recognizes a short-term emergency drinking water guide may be useful for public health protection in light of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, which impacted some Japanese drinking water supplies. Input on the appropriateness of, and possible values for, a drinking water PAG is being sought. • FDA’s 1998 food guidance is incorporated by reference. Since it is already final and published, comments are not requested on the Food PAGs. Chapter 2—Early Phase: • The most substantive PAG change in the Early Phase is the 2001 guidance from the FDA that lowers the threshold for administration of potassium iodide (KI) to the public from 25 rem projected adult thyroid dose to 5 rem projected child thyroid dose. Chapter 2 includes a streamlined implementation scheme based on FDA’s guidance. Please comment on the usefulness of this simplified guidance in the text of Chapter 2. • The skin and thyroid evacuation thresholds were removed to avoid confusion with the KI threshold. The skin and thyroid doses were 5 and 50 times higher, respectively, than the 1 to 5 rem whole-body dose guideline. Please comment specifically on the appropriateness of not retaining the skin and thyroid evacuation thresholds. Chapter 3—Intermediate Phase: • The most substantive PAG change in the Intermediate Phase is the removal of the 5 rem over 50 years relocation PAG which was potentially being confused with long term cleanup. Please comment on the appropriateness of this change. • As an extension of the PAGs, new guidance on reentry to relocation areas is provided to inform plans and procedures to protect workers and members of the public as the Intermediate Phase progresses. Please comment on the format and utility of this material. • Please comment on whether it would be useful to develop a new, combined Intermediate Phase PAG considering all exposure pathways to potentially simplify decision making. Chapter 4—Late Phase: • A brief planning guidance on the cleanup process is included. Please comment on the usefulness of this information, as well as how it might best be implemented in state, tribal and local plans. It should be noted that the extent and scope of contamination as a result of an NPP, RDD or IND incident may be at a much larger scale than a site or facility decommissioning or remedial cleanup normally experienced under established regulatory frameworks. E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 22260 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 72 / Monday, April 15, 2013 / Notices Lesser radiological incidents may be well addressed under existing emergency response and environmental cleanup programs. • A suggested process and organization for approaching the late phase cleanup is provided from the 2008 RDD-IND Planning Guidance. Please comment on the merging of that guidance with the 2013 PAG Manual. • Basic planning guidance on approaching radioactive waste disposal is included. Please comment on this material and how it should be implemented in emergency response and recovery plans at all levels of government. After considering public comments as appropriate, EPA intends to issue a final PAG Manual which will supersede the 1992 PAG Manual and the 2008 RDD– IND Planning Guidance. Dated: April 5, 2013. Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator. Public Participation: The meeting will be open to public participation and the last 10 minutes will be set aside for oral questions or comments. Members of the public may also file written statement(s) before or after the meeting. If you plan to attend, a photo ID must be presented at the guard’s desk as part of the clearance process into the building and you may contact Exa Richards to be placed on an attendee list. If any person wishes auxiliary aids (such as a sign language interpreter) or other special accommodations, please contact, prior to April 22, 2013, Exa Richards, 811 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20571, (202) 565–3455. FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information, contact Exa Richards, 811 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20571, (202) 565–3455. Sharon Whitt, Director, Information Quality and Records Management. [FR Doc. 2013–08776 Filed 4–12–13; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2013–08666 Filed 4–12–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–P BILLING CODE 6560–50–P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank); Notice of Open Special Meeting Information Collection Being Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval The Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee was established by Public Law 105–121, November 26, 1997, to advise the Board of Directors on the development and implementation of policies and programs designed to support the expansion of the Bank’s financial commitments in Sub-Saharan Africa under the loan, guarantee, and insurance programs of the Bank. Further, the Committee shall make recommendations on how the Bank can facilitate greater support by U.S. commercial banks for trade with SubSaharan Africa. Time and Place: Tuesday, April 30, 2013, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. A break for lunch will be at the expense of the attendee. Security processing will be necessary for reentry into the building. The meeting will be held at Ex-Im Bank in the Main Conference Room 326, 811 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20571. Agenda: Presentation on recent developments in Sub-Saharan Africa markets by Ex-Im Bank staff; an update on the Bank’s on-going business development initiatives in the region; and Committee discussion of current challenges and opportunities for U.S. exporters. sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:00 Apr 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– 3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid OMB control number. Written Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) comments should be submitted on or before May 15, 2013. If you anticipate that you will be submitting PRA comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the FCC contact listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Submit your PRA comments to Nicholas A. Fraser, Office of Management and Budget, via fax at 202– 395–5167 or via Internet at Nicholas_A._Fraser@omb.eop.gov and to Benish Shah, Federal Communications Commission, via the Internet at Benish.Shah@fcc.gov. To submit your PRA comments by email send them to: PRA@fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benish Shah, Office of Managing Director, (202) 418–7866. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control No.: 3060–0953. Title: Sections 95.1111 and 95.1113, Frequency Coordination/Coordinator, Wireless Medical Telemetry Service. Form No.: N/A. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Business or other forprofit and not-for-profit institutions. Number of Respondents: 3,000 respondents; 3,000 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 1–4 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, third party disclosure requirement and recordkeeping requirement. Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Total Annual Burden: 12,000 hours. Total Annual Cost: $600,000. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A. Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: No information is requested that would require assurance of confidentiality. Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection to OMB as an extension (there has been an adjustment in the reporting, recordkeeping requirements and/or third party disclosure requirements, the number of respondents/operators increased from 2,728 to 3,000, therefore, the annual burden and cost has also increased) after this 60 day comment period to obtain the full three-year clearance from them. DATES: E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22257-22260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08666]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268; FRL-9707-2]


Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action 
Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of document availability for interim use and public 
comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its mission to protect human health and the 
environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes 
protective action guides to help federal, state, local and tribal 
emergency response officials make radiation protection decisions during 
emergencies. EPA, in coordination with a multi-agency working group 
within the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee 
(FRPCC), is proposing updates to the 1992 Manual of Protective Action 
Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents, referred to as 
``The 1992 PAG Manual'' (EPA 400-R-92-001, May 1992).
    The updated guidance in this revised 2013 PAG Manual--Protective 
Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents (``2013 
PAG Manual'' hereafter) applies the PAGs to incidents other than just 
nuclear power plant accidents, updates the radiation dosimetry and dose 
calculations based on current science and incorporates late phase 
guidance.
    While there is no drinking water PAG provided in the proposal, the 
Agency continues to seek input on this. The newly proposed 2013 PAG 
Manual is available for interim use and review at www.regulations.gov.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0268, by one of the following methods--
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0268.
     Fax: (202) 566-1741
     Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Attn: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0268. The Agency's policy is that all comments received will 
be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without 
going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you

[[Page 22258]]

include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. [EPA-
HQ-OAR-2007-0268; FRL-9707-2]. Publicly available docket materials are 
available either electronically through www.regulations.gov or in hard 
copy at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) 
EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave NW., Washington, DC 20004. 
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744 and the 
telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742. In 
accordance with EPA's regulations at 40 CFR Part 2 and in accordance 
with normal EPA docket procedures, if copies of any docket materials 
are requested, a reasonable fee may be charged for photocopying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara DeCair, Radiation Protection 
Division, Center for Radiological Emergency Management, Mail Code 
6608J, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9108 ; fax 
number: (202) 343-2304; Email: decair.sara@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. What authority does EPA have to provide Protective Action Guidance?

    The historical and legal basis of EPA's role in the 2013 PAG Manual 
begins with Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, in which the 
Administrator of EPA assumed all the functions of the Federal Radiation 
Council (FRC), including the charge to ``* * * advise the President 
with respect to radiation matters, directly or indirectly affecting 
health, including guidance for all federal agencies in the formulation 
of radiation standards and in the establishment and execution of 
programs of cooperation with states.'' (Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, sec. 
2(a) (7), 6(a) (2); Sec.  274.h of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended (AEA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 2021(h)). Recognizing this role, 
FEMA directed EPA in their Radiological Emergency Planning and 
Preparedness Regulations to ``establish Protective Action Guides (PAGs) 
for all aspects of radiological emergency planning in coordination with 
appropriate federal agencies.'' (44 CFR 351.22(a)). FEMA also tasked 
EPA with preparing ``guidance for state and local governments on 
implementing PAGs, including recommendations on protective actions 
which can be taken to mitigate the potential radiation dose to the 
population.''(44 CFR 351.22(b)). All of this information was to ``be 
presented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) `Manual of 
Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear 
Incidents.'''(44 CFR 351.22(b)).
    Additionally, section 2021(h) charged the Administrator with 
performing ``such other functions as the President may assign to him 
[or her] by Executive order.'' Executive Order 12656 states that the 
Administrator shall ``[d]evelop, for national security emergencies, 
guidance on acceptable emergency levels of nuclear radiation * * *.'' 
(Executive Order No. 12656, sec.1601(2)). EPA's role in PAGs 
development was reaffirmed by the National Response Framework, Nuclear/
Radiological Incident Annex of June 2008.

B. What is the PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning 
Guidance for Radiological Incidents?

    The 2013 PAG Manual provides federal, state and local emergency 
management officials with guidance for responding to radiological 
emergencies. A protective action guide (PAG) is the projected dose to 
an individual from a release of radioactive material at which a 
specific protective action to reduce or avoid that dose is recommended. 
Emergency management officials use PAGs for making decisions regarding 
actions to protect the public from exposure to radiation during an 
emergency. Such actions include, but are not limited to, evacuation, 
shelter-in-place, temporary relocation, and food restrictions.
    Development of the PAGs was based on the following essential 
principles, which also apply to the selection of any protective action 
during an incident--
     Prevent acute effects.
     Balance protection with other important factors and ensure 
that actions result in more benefit than harm.
     Reduce risk of chronic effects.
    The 2013 PAG Manual is not a legally binding regulation or standard 
and does not supersede any environmental laws; PAGs are not intended to 
define ``safe'' or ``unsafe'' levels of exposure or contamination. This 
guidance does not address or impact site cleanups occurring under other 
statutory authorities such as the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program, the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission's (NRC) decommissioning program, or other federal or state 
cleanup programs. As indicated by the use of non-mandatory language 
such as ``may,'' ``should'' and ``can,'' the 2013 Manual only provides 
recommendations and does not confer any legal rights or impose any 
legally binding requirements upon any member of the public, states, or 
any other federal agency. Rather, the 2013 PAG Manual recommends 
projected radiation doses at which specific actions may be warranted in 
order to reduce or avoid that dose. The 2013 PAG Manual is designed to 
provide flexibility to be more or less restrictive as deemed 
appropriate by decision makers based on the unique characteristics of 
the incident and the local situation.

C. What updates are in the 2013 PAG Manual?

    The draft updates to the 1992 PAG Manual were developed by a multi-
agency Subcommittee of the Federal Radiological Preparedness 
Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) and are published by EPA with 
concurrence from the Department of Energy (DOE); the Department of 
Defense (DoD); the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission; the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
including both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA); the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); 
and the Department of Labor (DOL).
    The 2013 PAG Manual focuses on the following key objectives--
     Clarify that the 1992 PAGs and protective actions are 
useful for all radiological and nuclear scenarios of concern, based 
both on the 1991 symposium, ``Implementation of Protective Actions for 
Radiological Incidents at Other Than Nuclear Power Reactors'' and the 
2008 interagency ``Planning Guidance for Protection and

[[Page 22259]]

Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised 
Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents.'' \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following 
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device 
(IND) Incidents, DHS/FEMA (73 FR 45029, Aug 1, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Refer the reader to DOE's Federal Radiological Monitoring 
and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Assessment Manuals \2\ for calculation 
methods and measurable derived response levels (DRLs) and other 
appropriate dose assessment methods so that PAGs are implemented using 
the latest science.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See: https://www.nv.doe.gov/nationalsecurity/homelandsecurity/frmac/manuals.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Refer users to the current Food PAGs published in FDA's 
``Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and Animal Feeds: 
Recommendations for State and Local Agencies,'' as issued in 1998.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and 
Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies, FDA (63 
FR 43402, Aug 13, 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Recommend a simplified PAG approach for administering 
potassium iodide (KI) as a supplementary protective action based on FDA 
guidance issued in 2001.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in 
Radiation Emergencies, FDA (66 FR 64046, Dec. 11, 2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Provide basic planning guidance on reentry, cleanup and 
waste disposal.
     Substantively incorporate the 2008 ``Planning Guidance for 
Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) 
and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents'' particularly for late 
phase cleanup after a nationally significant radiological incident, 
like a disaster at a NPP, an RDD or an IND. The 2008 RDD-IND Planning 
Guidance will remain in effect until the PAG Manual, with public 
comments incorporated, is finalized for use.
     Streamline the Manual to enhance usability, while 
retaining the 1992 PAG Manual in its entirety as a historical online 
reference.

D. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

1. Submitting Confidential Business Information (CBI)

    Do not submit this information to EPA through www.regulations.gov 
or email. Clearly mark all of the information that you claim to be CBI. 
For CBI information in a disk or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the 
outside of the disk or CD ROM as CBI and then identify electronically 
within the disk or CD ROM the specific information that is claimed as 
CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 
information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain 
the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the 
public docket. Information marked as CBI will not be disclosed except 
in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments

    When submitting comments, remember to--
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number, subject heading, 
Federal Register date and page number.
     Follow directions--EPA may ask you to respond to specific 
questions or organize comments by referencing the chapter number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow it to be 
reproduced.
     Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

E. What specific comments are being sought?

    While all comments regarding any aspect of the 2013 PAG Manual are 
welcome, comments on the following issues are specifically requested--
    Issues across the scope of the entire 2013 PAG Manual:
     To implement the PAGs, the reader is referred to dose 
calculations in the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment 
Center (FRMAC) Assessment Manuals. The Assessment Manuals are updated 
with current International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 
dosimetry models (i.e., ICRP 60 series) and dose coefficients. The 
FRPCC also encourages the use of computational tools such as DOE's 
Turbo FRMAC, RESRAD RDD and NRC's RASCAL or other appropriate tools and 
methods to implement the PAGs. We request comment on the usefulness of 
this approach and seek feedback on how to facilitate implementation of 
these methods in emergency management plans.
     The Agency recognizes a short-term emergency drinking 
water guide may be useful for public health protection in light of the 
Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, which impacted some Japanese 
drinking water supplies. Input on the appropriateness of, and possible 
values for, a drinking water PAG is being sought.
     FDA's 1998 food guidance is incorporated by reference. 
Since it is already final and published, comments are not requested on 
the Food PAGs.
    Chapter 2--Early Phase:
     The most substantive PAG change in the Early Phase is the 
2001 guidance from the FDA that lowers the threshold for administration 
of potassium iodide (KI) to the public from 25 rem projected adult 
thyroid dose to 5 rem projected child thyroid dose. Chapter 2 includes 
a streamlined implementation scheme based on FDA's guidance. Please 
comment on the usefulness of this simplified guidance in the text of 
Chapter 2.
     The skin and thyroid evacuation thresholds were removed to 
avoid confusion with the KI threshold. The skin and thyroid doses were 
5 and 50 times higher, respectively, than the 1 to 5 rem whole-body 
dose guideline. Please comment specifically on the appropriateness of 
not retaining the skin and thyroid evacuation thresholds.
    Chapter 3--Intermediate Phase:
     The most substantive PAG change in the Intermediate Phase 
is the removal of the 5 rem over 50 years relocation PAG which was 
potentially being confused with long term cleanup. Please comment on 
the appropriateness of this change.
     As an extension of the PAGs, new guidance on reentry to 
relocation areas is provided to inform plans and procedures to protect 
workers and members of the public as the Intermediate Phase progresses. 
Please comment on the format and utility of this material.
     Please comment on whether it would be useful to develop a 
new, combined Intermediate Phase PAG considering all exposure pathways 
to potentially simplify decision making.
    Chapter 4--Late Phase:
     A brief planning guidance on the cleanup process is 
included. Please comment on the usefulness of this information, as well 
as how it might best be implemented in state, tribal and local plans. 
It should be noted that the extent and scope of contamination as a 
result of an NPP, RDD or IND incident may be at a much larger scale 
than a site or facility decommissioning or remedial cleanup normally 
experienced under established regulatory frameworks.

[[Page 22260]]

Lesser radiological incidents may be well addressed under existing 
emergency response and environmental cleanup programs.
     A suggested process and organization for approaching the 
late phase cleanup is provided from the 2008 RDD-IND Planning Guidance. 
Please comment on the merging of that guidance with the 2013 PAG 
Manual.
     Basic planning guidance on approaching radioactive waste 
disposal is included. Please comment on this material and how it should 
be implemented in emergency response and recovery plans at all levels 
of government.
    After considering public comments as appropriate, EPA intends to 
issue a final PAG Manual which will supersede the 1992 PAG Manual and 
the 2008 RDD-IND Planning Guidance.

    Dated: April 5, 2013.
Bob Perciasepe,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-08666 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.