NEA/ICRP Forum on the Evolution of the System of Radiation Protection, Washington DC, 28-29 August 2006

Background

New ICRP recommendations
In recent years, the ICRP has launched an open process to broaden, elaborate, and consolidate the current set of radiological protection recommendations. The ICRP is presenting new draft proposals and recommendations to the broad radiological protection community, and seeking a dialogue with all interested parties or stakeholders. The objective of this open process is to arrive at a new generation of ICRP recommendations that are broadly understood and accepted, so they can be effectively and efficiently implemented. The publication of these new recommendations is foreseen in the 2007 time frame.

The preliminary focus of the ICRP development has been on new general recommendations which will replace Publication 60. As part of this process, the ICRP has also identified a need to clarify and update its views on the radiological protection of non-human species. Both of these areas are of great interest to the member countries of the NEA.

CRPPH initiatives
As an international committee made up of nationally nominated radiation protection authorities and technical experts, the NEA CRPPH has for most of its history actively followed the work of the ICRP. This interest continues as the ICRP develops its new recommendations.

Shortly after the ICRP began to develop its new ideas, with Roger Clarke's Journal of Radiological Protection article on controllable dose (Journal of Radiological Protection 19 No 2, June 1999), the CRPPH began focusing on how the system of radiological protection could be made more responsive to decision makers, regulators, practitioners and the public. Through a series of expert groups, topical session discussions with the ICRP Chair, and broad stakeholder dialogue fora, the CRPPH has developed a comprehensive series of documents discussing relevant issues, and proposing possible directions to move forward effectively. Since the appearance of the new ICRP ideas in 1999, the CRPPH has developed and published 12 reports specifically concerning development of a new system, all of which are available from the NEA's website.

ISCORS
The Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) is comprised of U.S. Federal agencies who facilitate consensus on acceptable levels of radiation risk to the public and workers and promote consistent risk approaches in setting and implementing standards for protection from ionizing radiation. Membership includes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense , the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security. Observer agencies include the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and States. ISCORS has served as a forum through which U.S. Federal Agency consensus comments have been developed and provided to ICRP on the draft radiation protection recommendations and foundation documents. ISCORS also hosted a public workshop in September, 2004 during the previous public consultation of the ICRP draft recommendations. Additional information can be obtained from the ISCORS website, www.iscors.org.

Forum objectives

Evaluate and discuss the latest draft ICRP recommendations.
Discuss how proposed ICRP recommendations can best meet the health and safety needs of national and international radiological protection.
Continue the open and broad dialogue between stakeholders to reach a common level of understanding of the issues at stake, and
Contribute in a positive and cons tructive manner to the evolution of new ICRP recommendations.

Forum format
Attendance at the forum was open to the public, but was limited to 150 participants. Forum discussions were organised in two ways: through invited presentations, and through moderated panel discussions. This format was designed to favour the participation of the audience, and to promote dialogue between speakers, panel members and meeting participants.

Panel discussions
Panel discussions involved brief presentations of key issues by each of the invited panel members, followed by a moderated discussion between the panel members and the workshop participants. Invitations Panel participation are has been developed intended to provide a range of views for each of the topics of discussion.

Forum organisation
This forum was hosted by the US ISCORS, and organised by the NEA CRPPH in co-operation with the ICRP.

Working language
The working language of the Forum was English.

Forum proceedings
Proceedings and a synthesis report will be provided to the ICRP, and will be published by the NEA following the Forum. A Forum rapporteur will also be preparing a condensed summary for publication.

Forum secretariat

The NEA provided the Scientific Secretariat for the Conference. Local Secretariat services were provided by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Programme Committee

Jacques Lochard (CRPPH Chair)

Lars-Erik Holm (ICRP Chair)

Sigurdur Magunsson (RASSC Chair)

Donald Cool ( US NRC)

Andy Wallo ( US DOE)

Bonnie Gitland ( US EPA)

Christopher Clement (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission)

Jack Cornett (Health Canada )

Hermenegildo Maldonado Mercado (Mexican Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards)