The Radiation Safety Section is requesting comments on:

• Whether or not Michigan’s Ionizing Radiation Rules Governing the Use of Radiation Machines should be updated, and
• An informal, in-house, rough draft revision of the Rules showing possible future changes for consideration. A PDF version of the rough draft is now available on our website at the following link: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_27654_27659-115323--,00.html

Background:

Over the years, the Radiation Safety Section has received a number of comments that Michigan’s Ionizing Radiation Rules Governing the Use of Radiation Machines should be updated to better reflect modern national radiation standards and provide related technical improvements. These Rules, other than the addition of a mammography part in 1993, have not been updated since December 2, 1975.

As a first step to address the possibility of updating the Rules, we have prepared an informal, in-house, rough draft revision of the Rules showing possible changes that we have identified for consideration. This has been a long, slow process that actually began many years ago.

Request for Comments:

Prior to our recommending to the Department that any Rules promulgation efforts begin, we are seeking opinions and comments on whether the current Ionizing Radiation Rules Governing the Use of Radiation Machines should be amended, and if so, what changes should be considered during that amendment process. The comments received can be considered by the Department in deciding whether or not to proceed with a formal effort to update the Rules by means of a Rule promulgation process that would follow the steps set forth in the Administrative Procedures Act. If such a formal process were to be used in the future, that process would include official provisions to ensure public input. Furthermore, we are asking for your early input and comments now on the rough draft that we have prepared for consideration.

Comments should be forwarded within 90 days to: