NRC Issues Report on FY2017 Abnormal Occurrences
An accident or event is considered an abnormal occurrence if it involves a major reduction in the degree of protection of public health and safety, according to the agency.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released to Congress its report on abnormal occurrences during fiscal year 2017. This is an annual report for the NRC, and it details the evaluation of each incident by the agency, state agencies, and licensees, and steps taken to ensure the incidents aren't repeated.
This year's report lists 11 medical events involving radioactive materials. Five happened at NRC licensees during FY2017, and "all were medical events involving misadministration of radioactive material during cancer detection or treatment," according to the agency. Six others happened in what are called Agreement States -- the NRC has agreements in place with 37 states under which the states regulate industrial and medical uses of radioactive materials. These six also were medical events.
Two of the 11 events occurred in previous fiscal years, but they're included in the report because the agency finished its evaluation of them in FY2017.
An accident or event is considered an abnormal occurrence if it involves a major reduction in the degree of protection of public health and safety, according to the agency.
It was sent to Congress on June 8.