DEC accepting public comments through June 5, 2017, and a public hearing will take place on May 25, 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that it is proposing amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 380, Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Radioactive Materials, to incorporate federal rule changes and clarify and improve the existing regulations.

The proposed amendments to Part 380 will strengthen the regulations to protect the state's natural resources and residents from radiation exposure from the discharge and release of radioactive material.

The proposed amendments include:

• Requiring permit applications to include additional information to assist DEC in the thorough review of all required permits. Expanding specific categories of wastes to include animal bedding that meets certain criteria, to simplify waste management practices, and eliminate the need to treat animal bedding as radioactive waste.
  
  
• Clarifying that certain types of radioactive materials are not subject to Part 380, such as household waste containing excreted residues of radiopharmaceuticals, intact smoke detectors, and other naturally occurring radioactive material.
  
  
• Clarifying that sites containing buried radioactive waste are subject to Part 380.
  
  
• Updating airborne emissions reporting requirements.

DEC is holding a legislative public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed amendments to Part 380. 

Date:               Thursday, May 25, 2017
Time:              1:00 PM
Location:        NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Room 129, Albany 

A public availability session will be held prior to the hearing from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the same location.

Written and oral comments are given equal weight and will be accepted at the hearing. Registration is recommended. Visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/106149.html to register.

The public is invited to submit written comments on these proposed amendments to Part 380 through Monday, June 5, 2017. Written comments can be submitted by:

(1) Email to Radiation@dec.ny.gov and please write “Comments on Proposed Part 380” in the subject line of the email; or

(2) Mail to Sandra Hinkel, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Remediation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7255.

Details about this proposed rule-making, including the proposed amendments to Part 380 and supporting rule making documents, are available on DEC’s web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/106149.html.