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Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.

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CRCPD RESOLUTION
[April 26, 1997]

Relating to: Risk-Based Decision Making.

WHEREAS: Various radiation sources that are typically regulated by state and federal government exhibit a wide range of potential risks to public health and safety and the environment; and

WHEREAS: Public perception and political concerns create pressures that tend to skew the priority setting process and disregard the real risk of radiation sources; and

WHEREAS: The resources needed to control these sources of radiation are becoming more limited and need to be better allocated to those sources that provide a greater return in risk avoided per dollar spent; and

WHEREAS: Risk assessment has proven to be a very effective tool for comparing options for radiation source control that can easily be incorporated into a risk-based decision model for establishing priorities and allocating resources; and

WHEREAS: Large amounts of resources are typically required to control radiation sources that may have small risks, such as many contaminated site remediation projects. There usually are a variety of other radiation sources in affected communities that can be more effectively controlled to reduce overall risk. Innovative policies such as open market risk trading can improve public awareness of these issues and help to properly allocate resources and lead to an overall reduction in radiation risk to the public;

NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Federal, state, and local agencies that have radiation control responsibilities are encouraged to apply risk-based methodologies for assigning priorities and allocating resources in the implementation of programs for the control of radiation exposure to workers and the general public. Agencies such as U.S. EPA that have cross media responsibilities are encouraged to apply risk-based decision making beyond the narrow spectrum of radiation sources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: In so far as it may be beneficial, agencies are encouraged to endorse and utilize innovative policies, such as open market risk trading for meeting the objective of net reduction in radiation risk. Entities such as U. S. DOE that are responsible for the cleanup of major nuclear facilities are especially encouraged to consider this policy.

Accepted by CRCPD Membership April 26, 1997
Signed by William P. Dornsife, Chairperson, CRCPD