HIGHLIGHTS:
MULTI-AGENCY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ESTABLISHES CENTER FOR RADIATION PROTECTION KNOWLEDGE AT ORNL

Keith Eckerman and Rich Leggett of the Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group of ESD have been successful in leading the establishment of a new center at ORNL for the preservation of expertise in radiation dosimetry. In January 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The center, which will be housed at ORNL, is called the Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge.

Under the MOU, the Center would serve as a common resource to assist the participating agencies in the development and application of radiation dosimetry and risk assessment methodologies that are based on the best available scientific information. The Center would be responsive to the participating agencies and administered by DOE. This MOU is intended to help maintain and preserve U.S. expertise in radiation dosimetry and to ensure that Federal radiation programs are based on the best available information and applied in a consistent manner. Previously, there had been no coordinated support by Federal agencies of the ORNL dosimetry program. The MOU rectifies this situation.

For further information, contact:

Keith Eckerman
Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37831-6495
Phone:  (865) 574-6251
e-mail:  eckermankf@ornl.gov
or
Richard Leggett
Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37831-6495
Phone:  (865) 576-2079
e-mail:  leggettrw@ornl.gov