COMMISSION ON RADIATION PROTECTION NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Minutes of a regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Large Conference Room, 25 Arctic Parkway, Ewing, NJ

The following Commission members were present in person: Robert J. Tokarz, Paul Baldauf, Sue Dupre, Anthony Valente and Julie Timins, MD, Commission Chair Member present via conference call: Mary Moore and Alfonso Gandica Absent member(s): John Mauro and Jeffrey J. Winegar Also present were Staff Members: Jenny Goodman, Arthur Robinson, Bill Klimik, Al Orlandi, Doris Heffner, Betty Sigafoos, and DAG Jacobine Dru. Members of the public: Dorothy Powell ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call to Order Dr. Timins called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. Notice was published in the Courier Post, Trenton Times and Bergen Record. Notice was filed by the Secretary of State and was mailed to twenty interested parties and posted in at least one place reserved for such or similar announcements. Roll Call A quorum was met with seven CORP members. Minutes The minutes from the May 27, 2015 meeting were presented for approval. Ms. Dupre made a motion to accept the minutes and Mr. Baldauf seconded. Approval votes were submitted by Ms. Moore, Mr. Baldauf, Ms. Dupre and Mr. Tokarz. One vote is needed of the members who were present at the May meeting to approve the May minutes. The minutes from the February 18, 2015 meeting were presented for approval. Ms. Dupre made the motion to approve the minutes, Mr. Valente seconded. Ms. Dupre, Mr. Valente, Dr. Timins, Mr. Baldauf and Ms. Moore voted approval. Dr. Timins accepted the February minutes for approval.

Report of Commission Members Betty Sigafoos was presented a resolution of distinguished service for providing administrative support to the Commission on Radiation Protection since 1989. Dr. Julie Timins asked for information regarding an incident that was reported in the Element’s March monthly report involving Radium 226 at a gas station in Middlesex, NJ. Staff provided a summary of the events that have taken place to date in order to properly characterize the extent of contamination and identify a responsible party to remediate the site.

Paul Baldauf provided an update regarding an investigation at Hope Creek involving tritium. Dr. Timins had questions regarding an incident reported in the January monthly report on fish dying off near the discharge canal at Oyster Creek. Staff provided more information regarding the event. Old Business N.J.A.C. 7:28 Updates

Jenny Goodman stated that the proposed rule amendments that incorporate federal rules on 10 CFR Part 37 “Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material” and also includes provisions for a new license category that permits nuclear medicine technologists to perform fusion imaging medical procedures is still under Department review. It is the goal of the program to adopt these pending amendments by March 2016.

Agreement State Update

Jenny Goodman reported that if the Part 37 rule is not adopted by the federal deadline for agreement states to implement the new rule, March 19, 2016, that the NRC has approved the continued use of license conditions in order to ensure safeguards for affected materials. The state of Wisconsin previously had license conditions approved by the NRC. If necessary, New Jersey would modify the Wisconsin conditions to meet New Jersey requirements while it seeks to adopt the Part 37 rule.

Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Field Observations and Violation Report Art Robinson presented a spreadsheet on the CBCT Field Observations and Violations Report as of June 10, 2015. This update was requested by Commission member Bob Tokarz at the Commission’s May 27, 2015 meeting. The report detailed Bureau statistics such as: CBCT

facilities registered, MPQC surveys received, inspections completed, and non-compliance found. Future updates will be provided to the Commission. CBCT Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) Measurement by Manufacturer and Medical Physicist A discussion on the various methods to measure and report on patient radiation dose from dental CBCT followed the presentation of the above spreadsheet. The Bureau stated that it has reached out to many manufacturers in an effort to identify appropriate ways to measure and report patient radiation dose from dental CBCT equipment. Commissioner Tokarz offered that he has done some work in this area and offered to reach out to the medical physicist community on the feasibility of standardizing a dose reference to be used by medical physicists for dental CBCT. The Bureau and Commissioner Tokarz will report at a future meeting any updates in this area. Follow-Up Discussion on Non-ionizing Radiation At the May 27, 2015 Commission meeting, Ms. Dorothy Powell, a member of the public, raised concerns regarding non-ionizing radiation emanating from the Lockheed Martin and US Navy Sites in Moorestown, NJ. Many years ago, Ms. Powell had complained about these facilities. The Commission stated that they would have staff research the activities that were previously performed and provide an update at the next Commission meeting. At this meeting, Ms. Jenny Goodman provided an update that summarized the Department’s previous investigation into this matter. The Department conducted investigations in 1984 and 1985 that included measurements near the facilities and at Ms. Powel’s residence. All measurements were within Department regulations. In 2001, the Department solicited assistance from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The FCC investigation into the matter determined no exceedances of federal limits and closed the case in September 2001. The Department requested and was ultimately provided with a draft copy of the report. There was much discussion from Commission members and Department staff about the results of the investigations, limitations in the measuring equipment, limitations in jurisdiction over the sites in question and the fact that many of the operations conducted at these sites are government classified. Ms. Debbie Wenke joined the meeting and shared with Commission members details about her previous investigations.

Ms. Dorothy Powell joined the meeting at 10:45a.m. Ms. Powell stated that she understood the Department’s previous efforts in investigating her complaints and is not looking for the Department to re-open its investigation. Ms. Powell asked for guidance in how she could follow up regarding these issues that she stated have had serious effects on her health and quality of life. Commission member, Ms. Sue Dupre, suggested to Ms. Powell that she consider contacting a consultant or university professor whose research specializes in electromagnetic frequency radiation. New Business Proposed Legislation on X-ray Scanners in Prison Systems-A3950 & S2832 Paul Baldauf gave an update regarding legislation that is being considered that would permit the use of x-ray body scanners in the prison system. The proposed legislation would give authority to the Corrections Commissioner to craft regulations on the use of the equipment and training requirements for operators. The Bill passed in the Assembly in January 2015 and passed in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee in May 2015. Should this Bill become law, the DEP will offer to assist Corrections in crafting regulations to address the radiation concerns. Closed Session if Deemed Necessary No closed session was necessary. Public Comment Dorothy Powell made comments about her ill effects resulting from non-ionizing radiation. Ms. Powell made copies of letters she received from the EPA to distribute to the Commissioners. Ms. Powell stated that she has seen several doctors on this issue and nobody will help her. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2015. A taped transcript of the meeting is available for review. In addition, copies of the abbreviated minutes are available by contacting Doris Heffner at 609-984-5890. Respectfully submitted, Original signed by: Paul Baldauf, P.E. Commission Secretary