Section 641.40.1. Purpose and scope.

         40.1(1) This chapter establishes standards for protection against ionizing radiation resulting from activities conducted pursuant to licenses or registrations issued by the agency. These rules are issued pursuant to the authority in Iowa Code section 136C.3 and 136C.4.

         40.1(2) The requirements of this chapter are designed to control the receipt, possession, use, transfer, and disposal of sources of radiation by any licensee or registrant so the total dose to an individual, including doses resulting from all sources of radiation other than background radiation, does not exceed the standards for protection against radiation prescribed in this chapter. However, nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting actions that may be necessary to protect health and safety.

         40.1(3) In addition to complying with the requirements set forth in this chapter, every reasonable effort should be made to maintain radiation exposures and releases of radioactive material in effluents to unrestricted areas as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA). The term “as low as is reasonably achievable” means as low as is reasonably achievable taking into account the state of technology and the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to the utilization of ionizing radiation in the public interest.

         40.1(4) Except as specifically provided in other parts of these rules, this chapter applies to persons licensed or registered by the agency to receive, possess, use, transfer, or dispose of sources of radiation. The limits in this chapter do not apply to doses due to background radiation, to exposure of patients to radiation for the purpose of medical diagnosis or therapy, or to voluntary participation in medical research programs.

         40.1(5) All references to any Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in this chapter are those in effect as of November 5, 2014.

         40.1(6) The provisions of Chapter 40 are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other applicable portions of 641—Chapters 38 to 45.

[ARC 8982B, IAB 8/11/10, effective 9/15/10; ARC 1639C, IAB 10/1/14, effective 11/5/14]