NRC holds public meeting for proposed rule eliminating ALARA

[Marlin]

NRC holds public meeting for proposed rule eliminating ALARA

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-08-11/article-8284/nrc-holds-public-meeting-for-proposed-rule-eliminating-alara/

[Core Content]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a public meeting regarding a proposed rule that would eliminate the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle. The agency aims to replace this standard with a graded approach while maintaining current linear no-threshold models. Public comments on the proposal are being accepted through August 31.

This shift represents a change in how licensees manage radiation protection and effluent reporting. While baseline dose limits for workers remain unchanged, the proposal introduces a caregiver concept to provide flexibility for medical patients. Industry observers are monitoring how these regulatory adjustments will impact site operations, reporting requirements, and the long-standing application of radiation safety standards in the field.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a change to how it will approach standards for radiation protections, notably including the elimination of the "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA) principle. The proposed change was published in the Federal Register on July 15, and yesterday the agency held a public meeting on the topic.

In the meeting, Mike Franovich, director of the NRC's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, gave a presentation summarizing the changes, and NRC staff answered questions from participants. The meeting facilitator, Lance Rakovan, described it as a "very popular meeting," drawing more than 550 participants, and the NRC staff was unable to address all questions in the scheduled time.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-08-11/article-8284/nrc-holds-public-meeting-for-proposed-rule-eliminating-alara/