Is it time for this half-century-old radiation standard to finally split? (E&E News)
Since the mid-1970s, nuclear power plants have been required to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). To pinpoint this limit, the NRC weighs the costs of reducing radiation exposure versus the estimated dollar value of the health benefits.
The kicker: Only 3% of surveyed radiation protection experts think this model is accurate. This means the ALARA has saddled nuclear with billions in costs for negligible health benefits, critics say.
A draft rule would replace ALARA with hard dose limits and a risk-scaled “graded approach,” covering all 54 operating US plants, 11 fuel cycle facilities, and thousands of medical and industrial licensees. But as the administration barrels toward 4X nuclear output, some warn it's a risky time to loosen protections.