United States nuclear industry perspective on useful improvements to radiation protection principles

The current radiation protection framework provides an adequate basis for protecting workers, the public and the environment. Nevertheless, international and national radiation protection organizations are presently engaged in updating, clarifying and enhancing radiation protection principles-and rightly so, given our culture of pursuing excellence in radiation safety through a process of continuous improvement. Accordingly, the nuclear energy industry appreciates the opportunity to provide its perspective on this effort. The nuclear energy industry's perspective is shaped in several ways-as an operator, we carry out a primary responsibility for protecting human health and safety and the environment; as a licensee, we are responsible for complying with government regulations; and as an energy producer, we are responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic generation of electricity for consumers. Our objective in regard to improving radiation protection principles is to help promote an outcome that has a clearly articulated basis in science, is flexible in regard to how it might be applied to a very wide range of current and future regulated activities, and is practical and cost-effective in terms of how it can be implemented and maintained.