ACR Responds to NRC Radiation Safety Proposed Rule

ACR^® filed comments regarding a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposed rule that would replace the agency’s longstanding “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) standard with a new graded approach to dose management. The proposal also would change nuclear medicine patient release criteria by allowing a consenting caregiver to receive a higher radiation dose than the general public per patient treatment regimen, among other revisions.

In its comments, ACR said that radiation safety is fundamental to the use of radiation in clinical practice, and that the medical community will continue to prioritize the health and safety of their patients by minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure. The College supported the NRC’s decision to maintain the current public and occupational annual dose limits and allow medical facilities to continue using existing radiation safety programs based on ALARA principles. Additionally, ACR offered several recommendations regarding the NRC’s proposed changes to the nuclear medicine patient release criteria.

The proposed rule is part of the NRC’s broader effort to revise its regulations to meet the requirements of a 2025 NRC reform executive order. For questions about ACR’s comments to the NRC, contact Lindsay Robbins, ACR Regulatory Policy Specialist.