About the Implementation Guidance - Occupational Radiation Protection


November 1994


On January 21, 1994, the Office of Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
(EH-41) issued for comment 12 implementation guides (IGs) designed to
assist Department of Energy (DOE) contractors in developing radiation
protection programs as required by 10 CFR 835.  Comments concerning
these guides have been addressed and incorporated as necessary, and the
guides are now being distributed for use.

As previously stated, "these IGs no not establish any new requirements."
Instead, each guide identifies the requirements of 10 CFR 835 that
relate to a specific major topical area and provide guidance on the
characteristics of a radiation protection program that the Department
considers sufficient to comply with regulatory requirements.  For
completeness, the IGs also identify related requirements and
recommendations from DOE orders, the Radiological Control Manual, and
secondary documents (American National Standards Institute, etc.)
invoked by primary documents.

Since the IGs were written to specific topical areas, there was an
unavoidable amount of duplication among them; this was, in fact, part of
their design.  One of the goals in developing the IGs was to include
sufficient detail so a single IG would provide enough guidance that the
user would be able to develop and operate a program for that topical
area that would comply with DOE requirements without having to refer to
other guides.

The final IGs are part of the Department's formal directives system.
However, to keep the guides current with respect to changes in orders,
rulemakings, and field practices, they will be periodically updated.
Comments concerning changes to an IG should be submitted on the form
provided on the last page of each guide.  Informal comments may be
directed to Mr. Steven Zobel on (301) 903-2305 regarding the overall IG
program.


Paul J. Seligman, M.D., M.P.H.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health