Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-410. Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Virginia Agricultural Liming Materials Law (amending 2VAC5-410-40, 2VAC5-410-50).

Statutory Authority: § 3.2-3701 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 1, 2014.

Effective Date: January 16, 2014.

Agency Contact: Erin Williams, Policy and Planning Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 786-1308, FAX (804) 371-7479, TTY (800) 828-1120, or email erin.williams@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 3.2-109 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt regulations in accordance with Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia regarding agriculture, animal care, and food. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) administers the provisions of the Agriculture Liming Materials Act (Chapter 37 (§ 3.2-3700 et seq.) of Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia). Section 3.2-3701 of the Act authorizes the board to adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act.

Purpose: AOAC International is a provider and facilitator of the development, use, and harmonization of validated analytical methods and laboratory quality assurance programs and services. This regulation references AOAC International's official methods of analysis for the components of agricultural liming materials. AOAC International has not amended the substance of the official methods of analysis that are currently cited in 2VAC5-410-40; however, AOAC International has revised the numbering system it uses for its official methods of analysis. As such, the current regulation cites obsolete method numbers. The proposed amendments will update the method numbers to cite the 18th edition of the "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International."

This regulation assists in ensuring that agricultural liming material sold in Virginia will effectively neutralize soil acidity within the growing season of the crop being grown, thereby assisting in the protection of the welfare of Virginia’s agriculture industry.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: The proposed amendments update obsolete references and are not substantive amendments. As such, this rulemaking is expected to be noncontroversial.

Substance: The proposed amendments update obsolete references to (i) AOAC International, formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists; (ii) AOAC International's publication, "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International"; and (iii) the relevant methods of analysis included in AOAC International's publication. AOAC International has not amended the substance of official methods of analysis that are cited in 2VAC5-410-40; however, AOAC International has revised the numbering system it uses for its official methods of analysis, which makes it necessary to amend the relevant references in this regulation. The proposed amendments do not substantively alter the existing regulation.

Issues: The proposed amendments clarify for manufacturers of agricultural liming materials which methods of analysis VDACS uses in testing agricultural liming material. This regulation assists in ensuring that agricultural liming material sold in Virginia will effectively neutralize soil acidity within the growing season of the crop being grown, thereby assisting in the protection of the welfare of Virginia’s agriculture industry. This regulatory action poses no disadvantage to the public or the Commonwealth.

Small Business Impact Review Report of Findings: This fast-track rulemaking action serves as the report of the findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Regulation. The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Board) proposes to update obsolete references in its regulations for enforcement of the Virginia agriculture liming materials laws.

Result of Analysis. Benefits likely outweigh costs for this regulatory action.

Estimated Economic Impact. Current regulations contain references to an outdated test method manual and outdated test method numbers. Current regulations also contain old contact information for the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The Board now proposes to update all of this language so that all references are correct and current. No entity is likely to incur costs on account of these regulatory changes. Interested parties will benefit from having regulations that guide them to the correct manual and test method numbers and that contain the correct address for the AOAC.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ( VDACS) reports that distributers of liming materials are governed by these regulations and will be affected by these regulatory changes. There are 71 such distributors currently registered with VDACS.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality is likely to be particularly affected by these proposed regulations.

Projected Impact on Employment. Employment in the Commonwealth is unlikely to be affected by these proposed regulations.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. These propose regulations are unlikely to affect the value or use of property in the Commonwealth.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. No small businesses will incur costs on account of these proposed regulations.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. No small businesses will incur costs on account of these proposed regulations.

Real Estate Development Costs. These proposed regulations are unlikely to affect real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, a determination of the public benefit, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has an adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The agency concurs with the analysis of the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The amendments update references to (i) AOAC International, formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists; (ii) AOAC International's publication, "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International"; and (iii) the relevant methods of analysis included in AOAC International's publication.

2VAC5-410-40. Methods of analysis and sampling.

Test methods Methods of analysis shall be those published in the latest edition of the Association of Official Analytical Chemist "Book of Methods" by AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists) in "Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International," 18th Edition, 2005.

	AOAC Test Official Method
Sampling Procedures	§ 1. Method No. 1.001 924.01
Screen Analysis	§ 1. Method No. 1.002 924.02
Magnesium Analysis	§ 2. Method No. 2.109 Thru 2.113 965.09
Calcium Analysis	§ 1. Method No. 1.019 965.09
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent	§ 1. Method No. 1.004 and No. 1.005 955.01

Procedures used in sample preparation and analysis for enforcement of this chapter are available from:

AOAC International
481 North Frederick Avenue
Suite 500
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2417

2VAC5-410-50. Results of official agricultural liming materials analysis.

A. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall report the results of official samples to all registrants of agricultural liming materials annually.

NOTE: Procedures used in sample preparation and analysis for enforcement of this chapter are available from:

Association of Official Analytical Chemists

1111 North 29th Street

Suite 210

Arlington, Virginia 22209

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (2VAC5-410)

Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of AOAC International, 18th Edition, 2005, AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists), 481 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2417

Title of Regulation: 4VAC10-40. Reforestation of Timberlands Regulations (amending 4VAC10-40-10, 4VAC10-40-50, 4VAC10-40-70, 4VAC10-40-80, 4VAC10-40-170).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 1, 2014.

Effective Date: January 31, 2014.

Agency Contact: Ronald S. Jenkins, Administrative Officer, Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800, Charlottesville, VA 22903, telephone (434) 977-6555, FAX (434) 293-2768, or email ron.jenkins@dof.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia provides the Department of Forestry with the authority to promulgate regulations necessary or incidental to the performance of duties or execution of powers conferred under Chapter 11 (§ 10.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia. In addition, § 10.1-1103 of the Code of Virginia provides the Board of Forestry with authority to formulate recommendations to the State Forester concerning regulations and other matters applicable to Article 10 (§ 10.1-1170 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia, including types of equipment to be purchased, rental rates for equipment, and reforestation practices.

Purpose: The Department of Forestry conducted a periodic review of the Reforestation of Timberlands Regulations, which included a 30-day public comment period ending November 10, 2011. During this periodic review, the agency received no comments. However, the Department of Forestry requested review and received comments from its Board of Forestry and Reforestation of Timberlands Board. Comments from the members of these boards were incorporated into the regulations as proposed amendments. The proposed amendments will update the definitions and current forestry practices in Virginia from language that was originally designed in 1971 and updated in 1980. The amendments have no impact on public health, safety, or welfare.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: During the periodic review and other review of the Reforestation of Timberlands Regulations, the agency did not receive a single concern or proposal to amend the regulation except to bring the regulations current with definitions and current forestry practices. The reviewers included members of the industry and agency staff who are very familiar with all aspects of forestry and especially forestry incentives available through the Reforestation of Timberlands Regulations and Reforestation of Timberlands Act. During these reviews, there was no indication of controversy about the proposed amendments and the board members reached a unanimous agreement on them.

Substance: The amendments to the regulations:

1. In 4VAC10-40-10, delete the definition of "owner."

2. In 4VAC10-40-50, delete pond pine, Virginia pine, and tulip poplar tree species from nonqualifying type of land cover, which will allow land cover with these species to be eligible for reforestation incentive payments under the Reforestation of Timberlands Act.

3. In subdivision 1 of 4VAC10-40-70, delete "including release, by means of chemical, mechanical or hand methods, of seedlings from overtopping shade of trees, brush, or shrubs" and add subdivision 3 to provide that post-reforestation cultural treatments shall also be eligible for reforestation of timberlands incentives along with site preparation and reforestation.

4. In 4VAC10-40-170, delete current language in subsection B where incentive payments to landowners for approved projects are set at 60% of actual cost or $80 per acre, whichever is lesser and replace with language that sets incentive payments to landowners from approved projects at 75% of the total cost of the project or an annually determined maximum per acre agreed upon by the Board of Forestry and the State Forester, whichever is less.

Issues: The primary advantages associated with the proposed regulatory action include updating definitions to reflect current terminology used by forestry practitioners and updating forestry practices used by those persons engaged in forestry management. All amendments will reflect the types of forestry practices that are used in modern forest management and qualify for financial incentives to encourage reforestation. These regulations underpin the foundation for sustainable forest resources in Virginia well into the future. The amendments present no known disadvantages to the public.

Small Business Impact Review Report of Findings: This fast-track rulemaking action serves as the report of the findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Board of Forestry (Board) proposes to amend its reforestation regulations to reword some language, delete several types of trees from the list of ground cover that does not qualify for incentive payments, and change the formula for maximum repayment under the reforestation incentive program.

Result of Analysis. Benefits likely outweigh costs for these regulatory changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. Currently, regulations that govern the Commonwealth's reforestation and timberland incentive program include a list of ground cover plants that do not qualify for reforestation incentive payments. The Board proposes to remove pond pine, Virginia pine and tulip poplar from this list. This change will benefit private landowners who might plant these types of trees in the future as they will be eligible for incentive payments to cover part of their planting and maintenance costs. This program is funded through a tax on forest products and most of the money budgeted each year is expended each year.¹ This being the case, total expenditures on this program are unlikely to increase much on account of this change. It is more likely that the total amount spent on incentives will be approximately the same, but more individual landowners may apply for incentives. This may have the effect of driving down the amount of money that each applicant may get.

Current regulations set the amount of reimbursement under this program at 60% of land owner's actual costs or $80 per acre, whichever is less. The Board proposes to change reimbursement to 75% of actual costs or a maximum dollar amount per acre to be set annually by the Board of Forestry and the State Forester. This change will benefit individuals who are interested in availing themselves of this program as it will give them a much more realistic picture of how much reimbursement they might be eligible for. From 2005 to 2011, reimbursement rates have ranged between $22 and $37 (between 32% and 48% of actual costs). These payments are far below those indicated in current regulations as payments are also constrained by a maximum budget. The new regulatory language directs interested parties to getting information on actual yearly incentives from the Board staff who will be able to give them more accurate information.

Businesses and Entities Affected. Board staff reports that this regulatory action will affect all private forest landowners who seek financial incentives through the reforestation and timberland incentive program. DOF staff also reports that the number of individuals who have submitted applications for reimbursement from the incentive program have ranged between 900 and 1,500 over the past five years.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality will be particularly affected by these proposed regulations.

Projected Impact on Employment. This proposed regulatory action is unlikely to have any effect on employment in the Commonwealth.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. By incentivizing reforestation, these proposed regulatory changes will likely lead to affected private property forests being slightly more valuable than they otherwise would be. Since participation in this program is voluntary, individuals would be unlikely to participate unless they perceived that participation would lead to more valuable forestland than non-participation.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. No small business is likely to incur any additional expense on account of these regulatory changes.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. No small business is likely to incur any additional expense on account of these regulatory changes.

Real Estate Development Costs. This regulatory action will likely have little effect on real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, a determination of the public benefit, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has an adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

_____________________________________

¹ Between 2005 and 2011, the percentage of money budgeted from the tax on forestry products that was actually disbursed in incentive payments ranged between 80% and 96%.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Forestry concurs with the economic impact analysis.

Summary:

The amendments update language; remove pond pine, Virginia pine, and tulip poplar from the list of ground cover plants that do not qualify for reforestation incentive payments; and change the formula for maximum repayment under the reforestation incentive program to the lesser of (i) 75% of actual costs or (ii) a maximum dollar amount per acre set annually by the Board of Forestry and the State Forester.

Part I
Definitions

4VAC10-40-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this regulation shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Acre" means one or more acres or part of an acre or any combination of them.

"Board" means the Reforestation Board of Forestry.

"Department" means the Department of Forestry.

"Forest Products Tax Act" means the tax paid by every person engaged in the Commonwealth in business as a manufacturer or shipper of forest products for sale, profit, or commercial use (§ 58.1-1600 of the Code of Virginia).

"Owner" means individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association or any other business unit, device or arrangement owning land to which the Reforestation Act is applicable.

"Project" means the reforestation activity, completed or an approved portion of it, on a specific number of acres, in a specific location under one ownership.

"Reforestation Act" means Reforestation of Timberlands Act, Article 10 (§ 10.1-1170 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Reforestation assistance" means funds, material, personnel or other assistance made available to a landowner pursuant to § 10.1-1173 of the Reforestation Act and these Reforestation of Timberlands Regulations.

"State Forester" means the chief executive officer of the Department of Forestry.

"Tract" means specific acreage upon which a reforestation project is conducted.

4VAC10-40-50. Nonqualifying type of land cover.

In addition to those acres to which the Reforestation Act does not apply pursuant to the provisions of § 10.1-1171 of the Reforestation Act, reforestation assistance shall not be available with respect to the following:

1. Any acre on which there are present 400 or more well distributed and free-to-grow loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), short leaf pine (Pinus echinata), pond pine (Pinus serotina), white pine (Pinus strobus), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), of or pitch pine (Pinus rigida), stems or tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera) stems, singly or together, four feet or more in height, measured from ground level to tip of stem.

2. Any acre on which loblolly pine (Pinus Taeda), short leaf pine (Pinus echinata), pond pine (Pinus serotina), or white pine (Pinus strobus), singly or together, occur and exceed in number 50 live, thrifty trees of the above species six inches or more in diameter of the point of average thickness measured from outside of bark to outside of bark at a point on the trunk 10 inches above the general ground level.

4VAC10-40-70. Qualifying practices.

The type of forest practices qualifying for reforestation assistance shall include any method approved by the board and State Forester designed to:

1. Prepare land for reforestation, including release, by means of chemical, mechanical or hand methods, of seedlings from overtopping shade of trees, brush, or shrubs;.

2. Reforest land, either naturally or artificially, by sowing of seed and/or planting of seedlings.

3. Conduct post-reforestation cultural treatments.

Part IV
Seed Trees

4VAC10-40-80. Seed trees.

After expiration of the number of years that the eight pine and/or two tulip poplar seed trees are required, pursuant to the Seed Tree Trees Act (§ 10.1-1162 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), to be left standing following the date of cutting of the timber, and after release of the tract to the owner, reforestation assistance may be made available with respect to any acre on which seed trees were left standing and uncut as required by the Seed Tree Trees Act, provided such reforestation assistance is not prohibited by the provisions of 4VAC10-40-50.

Part XI
Incentive Payments

4VAC10-40-170. Incentive payments.

A. The department may from time to time and upon consultation with the board adjust the levels and manner of incentive payments to be offered to landowners for reforestation projects in accordance with the Reforestation Act. Those changes will be for one fiscal year and may not change within a fiscal year. Any such adjustments shall be announced and publicized as far in advance of their affective dates as practical.

B. Effective July 1, 1982, the incentive payments to landowners for approved projects are hereby set at 60% of actual cost or $80 per acre, whichever is the lesser. The incentive payments to landowners from approved projects are hereby set at 75% of the total cost of the project or an annually determined maximum amount per acre agreed upon by the Board of Forestry and the State Forester, whichever is less.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-270. Pertaining to Crabbing (amending 4VAC20-270-30, 4VAC20-270-40, 4VAC20-270-51, 4VAC20-270-55).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: November 21, 2013.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) extend the 2013 crab pot season for female and male crabs to December 15, 2013; (ii) establish a 2014 male and female blue crab peeler pot and crab pot season that begins March 17, 2014, and ends November 30, 2014; and (iii) establish 2014 conservation equivalency measures through crab pot, license-category specific, and daily harvest and possession bushel and barrel limits.

4VAC20-270-30. Daily time limits.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person licensed to catch and sell crabs taken by crab pot or peeler pot to take and harvest crabs from any crab pot or peeler pot, or to retrieve, bait, or set any crab pot or peeler pot, except during the lawful daily time periods described in this subsection or subsection C or D subsections A, B, C, and D of this section. The lawful daily time periods for the commercial harvesting of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot shall be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. from March 17 through April 30 and in 2013 and 2014, September 1 through December 15, 2012 2013, and September 1 through November 30, 2014, except as described in subsection subsections B and E, C, and D of this section, and. The lawful daily time periods for the commercial harvesting of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot shall be from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the months of May, June, July, and August in 2013 and 2014, except as specified in subsection subsections B, C or, and D of this section. Crab pots or peeler pots already on board a boat at the end of the lawful daily time period, as defined in this subsection or subsection subsections A, B, and C or D of this section, may be set during the period starting immediately following the end of lawful daily time period and ending to one hour after the lawful daily time period ends.

B. The lawful daily time periods for the commercial harvesting of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot in 2013 shall begin March 16 and end November 30, with the lawful daily time periods described in subsection A of this section in effect for March 16 through November 30, 2013.

C. B. Any licensed crab pot or peeler pot fisherman who provides an opinion and supporting documentation from an attending physician to the commissioner of an existing medical condition that prevents him from adhering to the daily time limit established in subsection A of this section may be permitted by the commissioner or his designee to take and harvest crabs from his crab pot or peeler pot, or to retrieve, bait, or set his crab pot or peeler pot during an alternate eight-hour daily time limit. That alternative eight-hour daily time limit will be prescribed by the commissioner or his designee in accordance with the medical condition that forms a basis for the exception to the daily time limit as described in subsection A of this section.

Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit any licensed crab pot or peeler pot fisherman, who has been granted an exception to the eight-hour work schedule, on a medical basis, from using another licensed crab pot or peeler pot fisherman as a mate; provided, however, during the designated alternate work hours, only the crab pots or peeler pots of the fisherman receiving the exception shall be fished. Further, it shall be unlawful for the licensed crab fisherman, who has been granted an exception, or his mate, who is a licensed crab pot or peeler pot fisherman, to fish, set, retrieve, or bait, during the alternate work hours, any crab pot or peeler pot that is not owned and licensed by the fisherman granted the exception.

D. C. Any licensed crab pot or peeler pot fisherman who requests and obtains an alternate eight-hour daily time limit permit shall be authorized to take and harvest crabs from his crab pot or peeler pot or to retrieve, bait, or set his crab pot or peeler pot one hour earlier than described in subsection A of this section, only for the months of June, July, August, and September. During the months of March, April, May, October, and November, and from December 1 through December 15, 2012 2013, the lawful daily time period described in subsection A of this section applies to any crab pot or peeler pot licensee. The alternate lawful daily time periods for the commercial harvesting of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot shall be from 4 a.m. to 12 noon from June 1 through August 31 and from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. from September 1 through September 30. Individuals must apply for this permit on an annual basis and shall adhere to the alternate daily time limit from the day the permit is issued through September 30, as well as subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection.

1. It shall be unlawful for two or more licensed crab pot or peeler pot fishermen, or their agents, to crab aboard the same vessel if their authorized eight-hour daily time limits are not identical.

2. After January 1, 2012, requests for an alternate eight-hour time limit permit shall be submitted to the Marine Resources Commission annually and prior to May 15. Requests submitted on or after May 15 will not be considered.

3. Once any legal crab pot or peeler pot licensee obtains an alternate eight-hour daily time limit permit, that permittee shall be legally bound by the alternate eight-hour daily time limit as described in this subsection.

E. D. The lawful daily time periods for the commercial harvest of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Marine Resources when he determines that a pending weather event is sufficient cause for the removal of crab pots from the tidal waters of the Commonwealth.

4VAC20-270-40. Season limits.

A. The lawful season seasons for the harvest of male crabs shall be March 17 through December 15, 2012 2013, and March 16 17 through November 30, 2013 2014. The lawful season seasons for the harvest of female crabs shall be March 17 through December 15, 2012 2013, and March 16 17 through November 20 30, 2013 2014.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest crabs or to possess crabs on board a vessel, except during the lawful season, as described in subsection A of this section.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to place, set, fish or leave any hard crab pot or peeler crab pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 16, 2012 2013, through March 15 16, 2013 2014.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to place, set, fish or leave any fish pot in any tidal waters from March 11 through March 15 16, 2013 2014, except as provided in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection.

1. It shall be lawful for any person to place, set, or fish any fish pot in those Virginia waters located upriver of the following boundary lines:

a. In the James River the boundary shall be a line connecting Hog Point and the downstream point at the mouth of College Creek.

b. In the York River the boundary lines shall be the Route 33 bridges at West Point.

c. In the Rappahannock River the boundary line shall be the Route 360 bridge at Tappahannock.

d. In the Potomac River the boundary line shall be the Route 301 bridge that extends from Newberg, Maryland to Dahlgren, Virginia.

2. This subsection shall not apply to lawful eel pots as described in 4VAC20-500-50.

4VAC20-270-51. Daily commercial harvester, vessel, and harvest and possession limits.

A. Any barrel used by a harvester to contain or possess any amount of crabs will be equivalent in volume to no more than 3 bushels of crabs.

B. From March 16, 2013, through November 30, 2013, any harvester Commercial Fisherman Registration Licensee legally licensed for a any crab pot license, as defined described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits shown below, for any of the following crab pot license categories:

1. 27 bushels, or 9 barrels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 85 crab pots.

2. 32 bushels, or 10 barrels and 2 bushels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 127 crab pots.

3. 38 bushels, or 12 barrels and 2 bushels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 170 crab pots.

4. 45 bushels, or 15 barrels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 255 crab pots.

5. 55 bushels, or 18 barrels and 1 bushel, of crabs, if licensed for up to 425 crab pots.

C. From December 1 through December 15, 2013, and March 17 through November 30, 2014, any Commercial Fisherman Registration Licensee legally licensed for any crab pot license, as described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits, for any of the following crab pot license categories:

1. 16 bushels, or 5 barrels and 1 bushel, of crabs, if licensed for up to 85 crab pots.

2. 21 bushels, or 7 barrels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 127 crab pots.

3. 27 bushels, or 9 barrels, of crabs, if licensed for up to 170 crab pots.

4. 43 bushels, or 14 barrels and 1 bushel, of crabs, if licensed for up to 255 crab pots.

5. 55 bushels, or 18 barrels and 1 bushel, of crabs, if licensed for up to 425 crab pots.

C. D. When a single harvester or multiple harvesters are on board any vessel, that vessel's daily harvest and possession limit shall be equal to only one daily harvest and possession limit, as described in 4VAC20-270-51 subsections B and C of this section, and that daily limit shall correspond to the highest harvest and possession limit of only one licensee on board that vessel.

D. E. When transporting or selling one or more legal crab pot licensee's crab harvest in bushels or barrels, any agent shall possess either the crab pot license of that one or more crab pot licensees or a bill of lading indicating each crab pot licensee's name, address, Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, date, and amount of bushels or barrels of crabs to be sold.

E. F. If any police officer finds crabs in excess of any lawful daily bushel, barrel, or vessel limit, as described in this section, that excess quantity of crabs shall be returned immediately to the water by the licensee or licensees who possess that excess over lawful daily harvest or possession limit. The refusal to return crabs, in excess of any lawful daily harvest or possession limit, to the water shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.

4VAC20-270-55. Minimum size limits.

A. From March 16 through July 15, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that measure less than 3-1/4 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes. From July 16 through December 15, 2012 2013, and July 16 through November 30, 2013 2014, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that measure less than 3-1/2 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes, except as described in subsections B and C of this section.

B. From July 16 through December 15, 2012 2013, and July 16 through November 30, 2013 2014, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that are harvested from waters on the ocean side of Accomack and Northampton counties and measure less than 3-1/4 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes, except as described in subsection C of this section.

C. In the enforcement of these peeler crab minimum size limits aboard a vessel, the marine police officer shall select a single container of peeler crabs of his choosing to determine if the contents of that container violate the minimum size and tolerance described in this section. If the officer determines the contents of the container are in violation, then the officer shall return all peeler crabs on board the vessel to the water alive.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, harvest, possess, sell or offer for sale, or to destroy in any manner, any soft crab that measures less than 3-1/2 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-610. Pertaining to Commercial Fishing and Mandatory Harvest Reporting (amending 4VAC20-610-30).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: December 1, 2013.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments establish a 2014 crab agent provision requiring certain crab licensees to submit a 2014 crab agent registration application to the commission by March 1, 2014, to be eligible for one of the 153 agent slots. If the number of applications by eligible licensees as of March 1 is less than the approved 153 agent slots, then any application for a crab agent will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, starting with those licensees who have registered prior to March 1, 2014.

4VAC20-610-30. Commercial Fisherman Registration License; exceptions and requirements of authorized agents.

A. In accordance with § 28.2-241 C of the Code of Virginia, only persons who hold a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License may sell, trade, or barter their harvest, or give their harvest to another, in order that it may be sold, traded, or bartered. Only these licensees may sell their harvests from Virginia tidal waters, regardless of the method or manner in which caught. Exceptions to the requirement to register as a commercial fisherman for selling harvest are authorized for the following persons or firms only:

1. Persons taking menhaden under the authority of licenses issued pursuant to § 28.2-402 of the Code of Virginia.

2. Persons independently harvesting and selling, trading, or bartering no more than three gallons of minnows per day who are not part of, hired by, or engaged in a continuing business enterprise.

a. Only minnow pots, a cast net or a minnow seine less than 25 feet in length may be used by persons independently harvesting minnows.

b. All other marine species taken during the process of harvesting minnows shall be returned to the water immediately.

B. Requirements of authorized agents.

1. No person whose Commercial Fisherman Registration License, fishing gear license, or fishing permit is currently revoked or rescinded by the Marine Resources Commission pursuant to § 28.2-232 of the Code of Virginia is authorized to possess the Commercial Fisherman Registration License, fishing gear license, or fishing permit of any other registered commercial fisherman in order to serve as an agent for fishing the commercial fisherman's gear or selling the harvest.

2. No registered commercial fisherman shall use more than one person as an agent at any time.

3. Any person serving as an agent shall possess the Commercial Fisherman Registration License and gear license of the commercial fisherman while fishing.

4. When transporting or selling a registered commercial fisherman's harvest, the agent shall possess either the Commercial Fisherman Registration License of that commercial fisherman or a bill of lading indicating that fisherman's name, address, Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, date and amount of product to be sold.

C. Requirements of authorized blue crab fishery agents.

1. Any person licensed to harvest blue crabs commercially shall not be eligible to also serve as an agent.

2. Any person serving as an agent to harvest blue crabs for another licensed fisherman shall be limited to the use of only one registered commercial fisherman's crab license; however, an agent may fish multiple crab traps licensed and owned by the same person.

3. There shall be no more than one person, per vessel, serving as an agent for a commercial crab licensee.

4. Prior to using an agent in any crab fishery, the licensee shall submit a crab agent registration application to the commission. Crab agent registration applications shall be approved by the commissioner, or his designee, for a crab fishery licensee according to the following guidelines:

a. Only 168 agents may participate in the 2013 2014 crab fishery, as described in subdivision 4 b of this subsection, unless the commissioner, or his designee, approves a request for agent use because of a non-economic hardship circumstance and

b. 153 of the 168 agents may be utilized by those crab fishery licensees who received approval for agent use in 2012 or who currently are licensed by a transferred crab fishery license from a licensee approved for agent use in 2012, except that should any of these licensees described in this subdivision fail to register for agent use by March 1, 2014, applications for agent use by other 2013 2014 licensees shall be approved on a first-come, first-serve first-served basis, starting with those licensees who have registered prior to the effective date of this regulation March 1, 2014.

D. Failure to abide by any of the provisions of this section, shall constitute a violation of this regulation.

E. In accordance with § 28.2-241 H of the Code of Virginia, only persons with a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License may purchase gear licenses. Beginning with licenses for the 1993 calendar year and for all years thereafter, gear licenses will be sold only upon presentation of evidence of a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

Exceptions to the prerequisite requirement are authorized for the following gears only and under the conditions described below:

1. Menhaden purse seine licenses issued pursuant to § 28.2-402 of the Code of Virginia may be purchased without holding a Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

2. Commercial gear licenses used for recreational purposes and issued pursuant to § 28.2-226.2 of the Code of Virginia may be purchased without holding a Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

F. Exceptions to the two-year delay may be granted by the commissioner if he finds any of the following:

1. The applicant for an exception (i) has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that the applicant has fished a significant quantity of commercial gear in Virginia waters during at least two of the previous five years; and (ii) can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that a significant hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the applicant's control has prevented the applicant from making timely application for registration. The commissioner may require the applicant to provide such documentation as he deems necessary to verify the existence of hardship.

2. The applicant is purchasing another commercial fisherman's gear, and the seller of the gear holds a Commercial Fisherman Registration License and the seller surrenders that license to the commission at the time the gear is sold.

3. An immediate member of the applicant's family, who holds a current registration, has died or is retiring from the commercial fishery and the applicant intends to continue in the fishery.

Any applicant denied an exception may appeal the decision to the commission. The applicant shall provide a request to appeal to the commission 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the commission will hear the request. The commission will hear requests at their March, June, September, and December meetings.

Under no circumstances will an exception be granted solely on the basis of economic hardship.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC50-70. Resource Management Plans (adding 4VAC50-70-10 through 4VAC50-70-150).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-104.8 of the Code of Virginia.

Notice is hereby given that on November 21, 2013, in accordance with §§ 2.2-4015 A 4 and 10.1-104.9 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board directed the suspension of the board's Resource Management Plans regulations (4VAC50-70). The regulations were set to become effective on December 6, 2013, as published in the Virginia Register of Regulations in 29:18 VA.R. 2198-2207 May 6, 2013. The effective date of the final regulations is suspended until the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board readopts a new effective date. The board indicated its intent to consider a new effective date for the regulations at the board's first regular meeting in 2014.

Agency Contact: David C. Dowling, Policy and Planning Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-2291, FAX (804) 786-6141, or email david.dowling@dcr.virginia.gov.

Title of Regulation: 6VAC15-26. Regulations for Human Subject Research (amending 6VAC15-26-10, 6VAC15-26-20, 6VAC15-26-30, 6VAC15-26-50, 6VAC15-26-120, 6VAC15-26-130; adding 6VAC15-26-61, 6VAC15-26-71, 6VAC15-26-81, 6VAC15-26-91, 6VAC15-26-101, 6VAC15-26-102; repealing 6VAC15-26-40, 6VAC15-26-60, 6VAC15-26-70, 6VAC15-26-80, 6VAC15-26-90, 6VAC15-26-100, 6VAC15-26-110, 6VAC15-26-140).

Statutory Authority: §§ 53.1-5 and 53.1-5.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2014.

Agency Contact: Jim Bruce, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Corrections, 6900 Atmore Drive, Richmond, VA 23225, telephone (804) 887-8215, FAX (804) 674-3017, or email james.bruce@vadoc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments update the regulations governing research to be conducted on human subjects within the Department of Corrections. The amendments define the proposed research project information submitted by the researcher, the review process for approval, the agreements and conditions required for conducting an approved research project, the consent required from research subjects, the security of data collected, and the use of research findings.

The amendments also reduce the number of Human Subject Research Review Committee (HSRRC) members from five to three and establish and define the HSRRC as the Department of Corrections' committee responsible for (i) reviewing all submitted research projects for completeness and compliance with the Regulations for Human Subject Research, with all applicable Department of Corrections' operating procedures, and with all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to human subject research; (ii) approving or denying submitted research proposals; (iii) monitoring all approved research projects for adherence to the approved scope of the research; and (iv) reporting on all research projects approved, all research projects denied, and the findings of all approved research projects.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: A summary of comments made by the public and the agency's response may be obtained from the promulgating agency or viewed at the office of the Registrar of Regulations.

Part I
General Provisions

6VAC15-26-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Board" means the Board of Corrections.

"Department" means the Department of Corrections.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Corrections.

"Human research" means any systematic investigation utilizing human subjects which may expose such human subjects to physical or psychological injury as a consequence of participation as subjects and which departs from the application of established and accepted therapeutic methods appropriate to meet the subjects' needs.

"Human Subject Research Review Committee" or "HSRRC" means the Department of Corrections committee responsible for (i) reviewing all submitted research projects for completeness and compliance, with the Regulations for Human Subject Research, with all applicable Department of Corrections operating procedures, and with all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to human subject research; (ii) approving or denying submitted research proposals; (iii) monitoring all approved research projects for adherence to the scope of the research that was approved; and (iv) reporting on all research projects approved, all research projects denied and the findings of all approved research projects. The composition of the HSRRC and its responsibilities shall be as stated in Part II (6VAC15-26-50 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Legally authorized representative" means (i) the parent or parents having custody of a prospective subject, (ii) the legal guardian of a prospective subject, or (iii) any person or judicial body authorized by law or regulation to consent on behalf of a prospective subject to such subject's participation in the particular human research. For the purposes of this definition, any person authorized by law or regulation to consent on behalf of a prospective participant to his participation in the particular human research shall include an attorney-in-fact appointed under a durable power of attorney, to the extent the power grants the authority to make such a decision. The attorney-in-fact shall not be employed by the person, organizational unit or agency conducting the human research and shall not be authorized to consent to nontherapeutic medical research. No official or employee of the organizational unit or agency conducting or authorizing the research shall be qualified to act as a legally authorized representative.

"Minimal risk" means that the risks of harm anticipated in the proposed research are not greater, considering probability and magnitude, than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

"Nontherapeutic research" means human research in which there is no reasonable expectation of direct benefit to the physical or mental condition of the human subject.

"Organizational work unit" means any unit, facility, office, or district within the Department of Corrections, such as prisons, correctional centers, correctional field units, correctional work centers, probation and parole districts or offices, detention centers, diversion centers, or units supervised by a manager who reports directly to [ the Deputy Director of Administration a deputy director ]. Each organizational work unit is managed by an organizational unit head such as a warden, superintendent, chief probation and parole officer, or manager.

"Participant" or "human participant" means a living individual whether personnel or inmate, probationer, or parolee employee or offender about whom an investigator a researcher (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (i) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (ii) identifiable private information. "Intervention" includes both physical procedures by which data are gathered and manipulations of the participant or participant's environment that are performed for research purposes. "Interaction" includes communication or interpersonal contact between investigator researcher and participant.

"Private information" includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public. Private information must be individually identifiable in order for obtaining the information to constitute research involving human participants.

"Research" means the systematic development of knowledge essential to effective planning and rational decision making. It involves the assessment of current knowledge on conceptual problems selected, statement of those problems in researchable format, design of methodologies appropriate to the problems, and the application of appropriate analytical techniques to the data. Research findings should provide valuable information to management for policy options.

"Research agreement" means the document signed by the principal researcher, research project supervisor, or advisor and the HSRRC indicating the principal researcher and research project supervisor or advisor agree to conduct their research project in the manner in which the research project was approved by the HSRRC, including compliance with this chapter, all applicable Department of Corrections' operating procedures, all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, the research project timeline, and any conditions imposed by the HSRRC. The research agreement is governed by and must comply with the provisions of this chapter.

"Researcher" means an individual who has professional standing in the pertinent field or is supervised directly by such an individual.

"Research project" means the systematic collection of information, analysis of data, and preparation of a report of findings.

"Research proposal" means the document or documents completed by the principal researcher outlining: (i) information about the researchers, including contact information, affiliations, and funding sources; (ii) the human research to be performed, including purpose, methodology, informed consent, time frame, and Department of Corrections resources required; and (iii) any endorsements. The research proposal must be submitted to and approved by the HSRRC. Research proposals are to be limited to [ twenty 20 ] pages (not including bibliographies, curriculum vitae, letters of endorsement, copies of surveys or instruments to be used, copies of external Institutional Review board approvals, and voluntary informed consent forms.) A suggested template for a research proposal is incorporated by reference with this chapter.

"Voluntary informed consent" means the knowing consent of an individual so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice without undue inducement or any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, or other form of constraint or coercion. Voluntary informed consent forms shall not include any language through which the human subject waives or appears to waive any of his legal rights, including any release of any individual, facility, agency, or agents thereof, from liability or negligence. The human participant shall sign all voluntary [ informed ] consent forms confirmed by an acceptable witness. With regard to the conduct of human research, the basic elements of information necessary to such voluntary informed consent shall include:

1. A fair explanation to the individual of any procedures to be followed and their purposes, including identification of any procedures which are experimental;

2. A description of any attendant discomforts and risks reasonably to be expected;

3. A description of any benefits reasonably to be expected;

4. A disclosure of any appropriate alternative procedures that might be advantageous for the individual;

5. An offer to answer any inquiries by the individual concerning the procedure; and

6. An instruction that the individual is free to withdraw [ his the individual's ] voluntary informed consent and to discontinue participation in the human research at any time without prejudice to him.

A copy of the Voluntary Informed Consent [ to Participate in Research ] form is incorporated by reference with this chapter.

6VAC15-26-20. Applicability.

This chapter shall apply to any individual, group, or agency conducting research which that uses human participants within the Virginia Department of Corrections, including any facility, program or organization owned, operated, funded, or licensed by the department.

6VAC15-26-30. Policy.

A. No human research may be conducted without informing the participant or his legally authorized representative in writing of the risks, procedures, and discomforts of the research. The voluntary informed consent of the participant or his legally authorized representative to participate in the research must be documented in writing and supported by signature of a witness not involved in the conduct of the research, except as provided in 6VAC15-26-90 F 6VAC15-26-102. Arrangements shall be made for those who need special assistance in understanding the consequences of participating in the research.

B. Each human research review activity shall be approved by a committee composed of representatives of varied backgrounds who shall assure the competent, complete and professional review of human research activities. No offender shall be subjected to experimentation or participation in research against his will.

C. Nontherapeutic research using institutionalized participants shall be is prohibited unless it is determined by the research review committee HSRRC that such nontherapeutic research will not present greater than minimal risk.

D. The individuals conducting the research shall be required to notify all participants of research of the risks caused by the research which are discovered after the research has concluded. Research involving known and substantive physical, mental, or emotional risk to the participants, including the withholding of any prescribed program or treatment, is specifically prohibited.

E. Department of Corrections studies, program evaluations, and routine data analyses for management purposes are exempt from this policy. Medical research shall only be conducted in accordance with Department of Corrections Operating Procedure 701.1, Health Services Administration, which is incorporated by reference with this chapter.

F. The burden of proof for review by any committee shall be with the principal researcher. Research shall not interfere with the rights of offenders or Department of Corrections' employees.

G. Proper precautions must be exercised for the protection of the research participants rights and for the overall safety and security of the public, the researcher, and the Department of Corrections.

H. Research shall not interfere significantly with ongoing programs or operations of the Department of Corrections.

I. The research findings shall not identify individual participants. The confidentiality and anonymity of all offenders and other parties engaged in the research will be maintained.

J. Researchers are required to notify all participants of risks caused by the research that are discovered after the research has concluded.

K. Each human research activity shall be reviewed and approved by the HSRRC.

L. No human research activity involving the Department of Corrections shall be initiated without a research proposal reviewed and approved by the HSRRC.

M. Each submitted research proposal must be accompanied by a research agreement signed by the principal researcher, or research project supervisor or advisor.

N. All research proposals, research agreements, and accompanying documentation must be submitted to the HSRRC electronically via email.

O. The burden of proof for review by the HSRRC shall be with the principal researcher.

P. Research shall not commence until all procedural and applicable human research reviews and approvals are completed and the [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ] or [ applicable deputy director designee ] signs an approval memorandum on behalf of the department. This approval memorandum and necessary information describing the project shall be sent to the appropriate Department of Corrections organizational unit head, regional [ director operations chief ], and principal researcher.

Q. This chapter does not apply to Department of Corrections studies, program evaluations, and routine data analyses for management purposes.

Part II
Human Research Review Committees

6VAC15-26-40. Certification process. (Repealed.)

A. Organizational units seeking to conduct or sponsor human research are required to submit statements to the department assuring that all human research activities will be reviewed and approved by a human research review committee. Organizational units shall report annually to the director giving assurance that a committee exists and is functioning. These reports should include a list of committee members, their qualifications for service on the committee, their organizational unit affiliation and a copy of the minutes of committee meetings.

B. Prior to the initiation of a human research project, organizational units shall also send to the director a one-page summary containing the following information:

1. Name, address, telephone numbers, and title and affiliation of principal researcher;

2. Name of person who will supervise the project, if different from the principal researcher;

3. Funding source, if any;

4. Date the proposal was submitted to the appropriate human research review committee;

5. Title of project;

6. An objectives statement of the proposed project with anticipated results;

7. Methodology describing in a concise manner the research design, sampling strategy, and analytical techniques to be used and indicating the effects of the research methodology, if any, on existing programs and organizational unit operations;

8. The voluntary informed consent statement;

9. Time frame indicating proposed beginning and ending dates;

10. Department resources required, including personnel, supplies and materials, equipment, workspaces, access to participants and files, and any other resources that the researcher will require from the department or its subsidiaries; and

11. Project endorsement for student research. Letters or other documents must be attached to indicate endorsement of the project by the academic advisor or other appropriate persons.

C. Each person engaged in the conduct of human research or proposing to conduct human research shall associate himself with any organizational unit having a committee, and such human research shall be subject to review and approval by the committee in the manner set forth in this section.

D. The director may inspect the records of the committee.

E. The chairman of the committee shall report as soon as possible to the head of the organizational unit and to the director any violation of the research protocol which led the committee to either suspend or terminate the research.

Part II
Human Subject Research Review Committee (HSRRC)

6VAC15-26-50. Composition [ of ] research review committees [ the HSRRC ].

A. Each committee The HSRRC shall have at least five three members, appointed by the organizational unit head [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ] or designee, with varying backgrounds to provide complete and adequate review of activities commonly conducted by the organizational unit researchers. The committee HSRRC shall be sufficiently qualified through the experience and diversity of its members, including consideration of race, gender and cultural background. In addition to possessing the professional competence necessary to review specific activities, the committee must be able to ascertain the acceptability of applications and proposals in terms of organizational unit commitments and regulations, if applicable by law; standards of professional conduct and practice; and community attitudes. If a committee regularly reviews research that has an impact on an institutionalized or other vulnerable category of participants, the committee shall have in its membership one or more individuals who are primarily concerned with the welfare of these participants and who have appropriate experience to serve in that capacity.

1. The HSRRC shall not be comprised entirely of men or of women.

2. The HSRRC shall not be comprised entirely of members from one organizational work unit.

3. The HSRRC shall have at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with the Department of Corrections and is not an immediate family member of a person who is affiliated with the department.

B. No committee shall consist entirely of men or women, or entirely of members of one profession. At least one member shall be an individual whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas (e.g., lawyers, ethicists, members of the clergy). At least three members shall be individuals who are not otherwise connected with the department. In addition to possessing the professional competence necessary to review research proposals, the HSRRC must be able to ascertain the acceptability of research proposals in terms of organizational work unit commitments, this chapter, applicable Department of Corrections [ ' ] operating procedures, any applicable state and federal law or regulation, standards of professional conduct and practice, and community attitudes.

C. Each committee shall include at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with the organizational unit and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the organizational unit.

D. C. No member of a committee the HSRRC shall participate in the committee's HSRRC's initial or continuing review of any research project in which the member has a conflict of interest (defined as having direct involvement in or department approval authority over the proposed human research or otherwise having a conflict of interest under applicable Virginia law). The committee HSRRC has responsibility for determining whether a member has a conflicting interest.

E. A committee D. The HSRRC may, at its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of complex issues which that require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the committee to the HSRRC. These individuals may not vote with the committee HSRRC.

F. E. A quorum of the committee HSRRC shall consist of a majority of its members including at least one member whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas. If a quorum cannot be established (or cannot meet within the established time frames) from the existing committee HSRRC, the organizational unit head director or designee may replace temporarily an active committee member with an alternate to the degree needed to establish a quorum.

G. One member of the committee shall be designated as secretary of the committee and shall take and prepare formal minutes of each meeting.

H. The committee and the organizational unit shall establish procedures and rules of operation necessary to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

6VAC15-26-60. Elements of each committee's review process. (Repealed.)

A. No human research shall be conducted or authorized by an organizational unit or agency unless such committee has reviewed and approved the proposed human research project giving consideration to:

1. The adequacy of the description of the potential benefits and risks involved and the adequacy of the methodology of the research;

2. The degree of the risk and, if the research is nontherapeutic, whether it presents greater than minimal risk;

3. Whether the rights and welfare of the participants are adequately protected;

4. Whether the risks to the participants are outweighed by the potential benefits to them;

5. Whether the voluntary informed consent is to be obtained by methods that are adequate and appropriate, and whether the written consent form is adequate and appropriate in both content and language for both the research and participants of the research;

6. Whether the persons proposing to supervise or conduct the particular human research are appropriately competent and qualified;

7. Whether criteria for selection of participants are equitable, especially in research regarding the future development of mental or physical illness;

8. Whether the research conforms with such other requirements as the board may establish; and

9. Whether appropriate studies in the nonhuman systems have been conducted prior to the involvement of human participants.

B. Each committee shall review and approve projects to ensure conformity with the approved proposal at least annually.

C. Research shall be approved by the committee which has jurisdiction over the participant. When cooperating organizational units conduct some or all of the research involving some or all of the participants, each cooperating organizational unit is responsible for safeguarding the rights and welfare of human participants and for complying with this chapter, except that in complying with this chapter organizational units may enter into joint review, rely upon the review of another qualified committee, or make similar arrangements aimed at avoiding duplication of effort. Such arrangements may be made by the committee chairperson with the approval of a majority of the members present at a meeting of the committee.

D. The committee shall consider completed research proposals within 60 days after submission to the committee's chairman. In order for the research to be approved, it shall receive the approval of a majority of those members present at a meeting in which a quorum exists. A committee shall notify investigators and the organizational unit in writing of its decision to approve or disapprove the proposed research activity, or of modifications required to secure committee approval.

E. The committee shall develop a written procedure to be followed by a participant who has a complaint about a research project in which he is participating or has participated.

F. Any participant who has a complaint about a research project in which he is participating or has participated shall be referred to the chairperson of the committee who shall refer it to the committee to determine if there has been a violation of the protocol.

G. The committee shall require periodic reports. The frequency of such reports should reflect the nature and degree of risk of each research project.

6VAC15-26-61. Duties and responsibilities.

A. The HSRRC shall establish procedures and rules of operation necessary to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.

B. The HSRRC shall review all submitted research proposals for the following:

1. Completeness, including:

a. Researcher information.

(1) Name of principal researcher

(2) Affiliation

(3) Mailing address

(4) Telephone number

(5) Email address

(6) Names of all other researchers participating in the research project

(7) Name of research project supervisor or advisor, if different from [ subdivision 1 a (1) of this subsection principal researcher ]

(a) Telephone number

(b) Email address

(8) Funding source

(9) Curriculum vitae of principal researcher, all persons named as researchers and research project supervisor or advisor

b. Research proposal information.

(1) Date research proposal submitted to HSRRC

(2) Title of research proposal

(3) Purpose of research proposal

(4) Methodology

(a) Research design

(b) Sampling methods

(c) Methods of analysis

(5) Discussion of the research proposal in the context of relevant literature

(6) Discussion of the benefits to the Department of Corrections as well as the field of study

(7) Copies of any surveys or instruments to be used

(8) Voluntary informed consent forms

(9) Timeline for the research project

(10) Department of Corrections resources required (including personnel, supplies, materials, equipment, workspace, access to participants and files, etc.)

(11) External Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval (including academic IRBs, research group IRBs, and government IRBs); all external IRB approvals must be received before the HSRRC will initiate review of a submitted research proposal

c. Letters of endorsement.

2. Compliance with this chapter [ , all applicable Department of Corrections operating procedures, ] and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Compliance includes, but is not limited to:

a. The researchers' ability to obtain the appropriate security clearances to enter an organizational work unit.

b. The researchers' adherence to an organizational work unit's standards for appropriate attire, including dress or wardrobe, jewelry, hair, grooming, body piercings and tattoos.

c. The researchers' ability to pass an organizational work unit's security screening process for contraband, including weapons of any kind, alcohol, drugs of any kind, cellular phones, other electronic devices, tobacco products (including lighters and matches), and any other items deemed as potentially adversely impacting the safety and security of the Department of Corrections, organizational work unit, department staff, research participants or other offenders, the researchers, or the general public.

3. Adherence to basic research standards, including:

a. Credentials. The principal researcher shall have academic or professional standing in the pertinent field or job-related experience in the areas of study or be directly supervised by such a person.

b. Ethics. The research shall conform to the appropriate standards of ethics of professional societies such as the American Psychological Association, the American Sociological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, or other equivalent society.

c. Protection of rights. The principal researcher is responsible for the conduct of his staff and assumes responsibility for the protection of the rights of participants involved in the research project.

d. Confidentiality or anonymity. Research project information given by participants to the researcher or researchers shall be confidential or anonymous depending on the study design. This does not preclude the reporting of results in aggregated form that protects the identity of individuals, or the giving of raw data to the Department of Corrections for further analysis. The confidentiality of any such raw data shall be monitored by the department. Persons who breach confidentiality or anonymity shall be subject to sanctions in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

e. Participant incentives. The opportunity to participate in research is considered sufficient incentive for participation. The offering of additional incentives is prohibited without specific written approval from the [ applicable Director of the ] Department of Corrections [ deputy director or designee ]. Sentence reduction or pecuniary compensation are always prohibited as incentives.

4. Determination if the research proposal is subject to the human research review requirements of §§ 32.1-162.16 through 32.1-162.20 of the Code of Virginia.

5. Agreement with Department of Corrections research procedures.

a. The principal researcher and research project supervisor or advisor must submit a separate, signed written research agreement when submitting their research proposal indicating that the principal researcher, research project supervisor or advisor, and all other researchers and staff under their supervision who are associated with the research project have read, understand, and agree to abide by Department of Corrections research procedures.

b. The research agreement shall establish a timeline for the research project and the specific date when the principal researcher shall submit the final report to the HSRRC.

c. In the case of student research, the student's academic advisor must sign the research agreement indicating endorsement of the research project.

C. After reviewing each submitted, complete research proposal, research agreement and accompanying documentation, the HSRCC will vote to approve or deny the research proposal.

D. A research proposal shall be approved by the HSRRC when a majority of the quorum of the HSRRC votes to approve the research proposal.

E. [ In the event that If ] a research proposal is denied, the HSRRC shall notify the principal researcher of the reason or reasons for denial and any requested clarifications, edits, updates, or additions that can be made to the research proposal. The principal researcher may resubmit a revised research proposal with these requested clarifications, edits, updates, or additions. The HSRRC will then review the resubmitted revised, complete research proposal in accordance with 6VAC15-26-50 B.

F. Upon approval of a research proposal by the HSRRC, the HSRRC shall prepare a research brief summarizing the research proposal with any comments. The research brief will be provided to the [ director or the appropriate deputy director Director of the Department of Corrections or designee ] for review and approval.

G. Upon approval of the research brief by the [ director or the appropriate deputy director Director of the Department of Corrections or designee ], the HSRRC shall provide an approval memorandum and necessary information describing the research project to the organizational work unit head, regional [ director operations chief ], and principal researcher.

H. The HSRRC shall retain a separate electronic file for each submitted research proposal. Each electronic file shall contain:

1. The original submitted research proposal.

2. The research agreement.

3. Any accompanying documentation.

4. Any resubmitted revised research proposals.

5. The research brief.

6. The approval memorandum.

7. Any progress reports.

8. The final report.

9. All communication between the HSRRC, principal researcher, research project supervisor or advisor, the [ Director of the ] Department of Corrections [ Director, and the applicable deputy director or designee ], regional [ director operations chief ], and organizational unit head pertaining to the research project.

I. At the time the research agreement is signed, the HSRRC shall establish due dates for progress reports to be provided by the principal researcher. These progress reports will inform the HSRRC of the status of the research project and any difficulties encountered that might delay or preclude completion of the research project.

J. The HSRRC shall establish research priorities consistent with the needs of the Department of Corrections.

K. The HSRRC shall regulate the number and timetable of research projects so as to not disrupt the normal functioning of any Department of Corrections operational work unit.

L. Upon receipt of a complaint from an organizational unit head or participant, the HSRRC will investigate to determine if there has been a violation of these regulations, Department of Corrections operating procedures, the research proposal, the research agreement or any applicable state or federal laws or regulations.

M. If the HSRRC determines that a principal researcher, researcher, research project supervisor or advisor, or staff supervised by them has violated any provisions of this chapter, Department of Corrections operating procedures, the research proposal, the research agreement, or any applicable state or federal laws or regulations, the HSRRC may terminate the research project at any time.

N. The HSRRC shall submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ] or [ his ] designee [ , ] at least annually [ , ] a report on the human research projects reviewed and approved by the HSRRC, including any significant deviations from the approved research projects.

6VAC15-26-70. Kinds of research exempt from committee review. (Repealed.)

Research activities in which the only involvement of human participants will be in one or more of the following categories are exempt from this chapter unless the research is covered by other sections of this chapter:

1. Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving commonly used educational practices, such as:

a. Research on regular and special education instructional strategies; or

b. Research on the effectiveness of, or the comparison among, instructional techniques, curriculum or classroom management methods.

2. Research involving solely the use and analysis of the results of standardized psychological, educational, diagnostic, aptitude, or achievement tests, if information taken from these sources is recorded in such a manner that participants cannot be reasonably identified directly or through identifiers linked to the participants.

3. Research involving survey or interview procedures, unless responses are recorded in such a manner that participants can be identified directly or through identifiers linked to the participants, and either:

a. The participants' responses, if they became known outside the research, could reasonably place the participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the participants' financial standing, employability, or reputation; or

b. The research deals with sensitive aspects of the participant's own behavior, such as sexual behavior, drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, or family planning.

4. Research involving solely the observation (including observation by participants) of public behavior, unless observations are recorded in such a manner that participants can be identified directly or through identifiers linked to the participants, and either:

a. The observations recorded about the individual, if they became known outside the research, could reasonably place the participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the participant's financial standing, employability, or reputation; or

b. The research deals with sensitive aspects of the participant's own behavior such as sexual behavior, drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, or family planning.

5. Research involving solely the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, or pathological or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information taken from these sources is recorded in such a manner that participants cannot be identified directly or through identifiers linked to the participants.

6. Research involving solely a combination of any of the activities described in this section.

6VAC15-26-71. Reports.

A. The principal researcher must submit progress reports to the HSRRC by the dates agreed upon in the research agreement. These progress reports must be submitted electronically via email.

B. The principal researcher must submit a final report to the HSRRC. The final report must be submitted electronically via email.

C. The HSRRC reserves the right to reproduce the final report for official Department of Corrections use only.

6VAC15-26-80. Expedited review procedures for certain kinds of research involving no more than minimal risk. (Repealed.)

A. The committee may conduct an expedited review of a human research project which involves no more than minimal risk to the participants if (i) another institution's or agency's human research review committee has reviewed and approved the project or (ii) the review involves only minor changes in previously approved research and the changes occur during the approved project period. Under an expedited review procedure, the review may be carried out by the committee chairperson or one or more experienced reviewers designated by the chairperson from among members of the committee. In reviewing the research, the reviewers may exercise all of the authorities of the committee except that the reviewers may not disapprove the research. A research activity may be disapproved only after review in accordance with the nonexpedited procedure set forth in 6VAC15-26-60.

B. Each committee which uses an expedited review procedure shall adopt a method for keeping all members advised of research proposals which have been approved under the procedure.

C. Research activities involving no more than minimal risk and in which the involvement of human participants will only be in one or more of the following categories (carried out through standard methods) may be reviewed by the research review committee through the expedited review procedure.

1. The study of existing data in the form of records on department personnel or inmates, probationers, or parolees, automated or other records.

2. Research on individual or group behavior or characteristics of individuals, such as studies of perception, attitudes or interaction patterns, where the investigator does not manipulate participants' behavior and the research will not involve stress to participants.

6VAC15-26-81. Records maintenance.

A. The principal researcher shall maintain records adequate to enable the Department of Corrections to ascertain the status of the research project at any given time.

B. The principal researcher shall maintain completed voluntary informed consent forms in a secure location for at least three years.

6VAC15-26-90. Informed consent. (Repealed.)

A. No human research may be conducted in the absence of voluntary informed consent subscribed to in writing by the participant or by the participant's legally authorized representative except as provided for in subsection F of this section. If the participant is a minor otherwise capable of rendering voluntary informed consent, the consent shall be subscribed to by both the minor and his legally authorized representative. An investigator shall seek such consent only under circumstances that (i) provide the prospective participant or the representative sufficient opportunity to consider whether or not to participate and (ii) minimize the possibility of coercion or undue influence. The information that is given to the participant or the representative shall be in understandable language.

B. No individual shall participate in research unless subsection A of this section is met for each individual. The consent by a legally authorized representative shall be subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section. No voluntary informed consent shall include any language through which the participant waives or appears to waive any of his legal rights, including any release of any individual, institution, agency or any agents thereof from liability for negligence. Notwithstanding consent by a legally authorized representative, no person shall be forced to participate in any research project. Each participant shall be given a copy of the signed consent form required by 6VAC15-26-30 A except as provided for in subsection F of this section.

C. No legally authorized representative may consent to nontherapeutic research unless it is determined by the committee that such nontherapeutic research will present no more than a minor increase over minimal risk to the participant. No nontherapeutic research shall be performed without the consent of the participant.

D. The committee may approve a consent procedure which omits or alters some or all of the elements of informed consent set forth in 6VAC15-26-10, or waives the requirement to obtain informed consent provided the committee finds and documents that:

1. The research involves no more than minimal risk to the participants;

2. The omission, alteration or waiver will not adversely affect the rights and welfare of the participants;

3. The research could not practicably be performed without the omission, alteration or waiver; and

4. Whenever appropriate, the participants will be provided with additional pertinent information after participation.

E. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, the consent form may be either of the following:

1. A written consent document that embodies the elements of informed consent required by 6VAC15-26-10. This form may be read to the participant or the participant's legally authorized representative, but in any event, the investigator shall give either the participant or the representative adequate opportunity to read it before it is signed; or

2. A short form written consent document stating that the elements of informed consent required by 6VAC15-26-10 have been presented orally to the participant or the participant's legally authorized representative. When this method is used, there shall be a witness to the oral presentation. Also, the committee shall approve a written summary of what is to be said to the participant or the representative. Only the short form itself is to be signed by the participant or the representative. However, the witness shall sign both the short form and a copy of the summary, and the person actually obtaining consent shall sign a copy of the summary. A copy of the summary shall be given to the participant or the representative in addition to a copy of the short form.

F. The committee may waive the requirement for the investigator to obtain a signed consent form for some or all participants if it finds that the only record linking the participant and the research would be the consent document and that the principal risk would be potentially harmful resulting from a breach of confidentiality. Each participant will be asked whether he wants documentation linking him to the research, and the participant's wishes will govern. In cases where the documentation requirement is waived, the committee may require the investigator to provide participants with a written statement explaining the research.

6VAC15-26-91. Publication rights.

A. Researchers are not permitted to publish beyond the approved research proposal without further review and approval from the HSRRC.

B. The researcher shall furnish the HSRRC with an electronic copy of the published research findings.

C. The Department of Corrections shall be permitted to use the data collected in the research project and to reproduce the materials as they are published.

D. Without the explicit written approval of the researcher, the Department of Corrections should not publicly distribute any dissertation or thesis material that the researcher has not published or presented publicly or professionally.

E. Without prior approval from the HSRRC, research conducted by employees or agents (including but not limited to interns, volunteers, contractors, and vendors) of the [ department Department of Corrections ] is the property of the department and cannot be published without the approval of the [ director or the appropriate deputy director Director of the Department of Corrections or designee ].

6VAC15-26-100. Committee records. (Repealed.)

A. Documentation of all committee activities shall be prepared and maintained and shall include the following:

1. Copies of all research proposals reviewed, evaluations that may accompany the proposals, approved sample consent documents, progress reports submitted by researchers, reports of injuries to participants, and correspondence related to the research;

2. Minutes of committee meetings which shall be in sufficient detail to show attendance at the meetings; actions taken by the committee; the vote on these actions, including the number of members voting for, against, and abstaining; the basis for requiring changes in or for disapproving research; and a written summary of the discussion of controversial issues and their resolution;

3. Records of continuing review activities;

4. Copies of all correspondence between the committee and the investigators;

5. A list of committee members;

6. Written procedures for the committee; and

7. Statements of significant new findings provided to the participants.

B. The records required by this chapter shall be retained for at least three years, and records relating to research which is conducted shall be retained for at least three years after completion of the research. All records shall be accessible for inspection and copying by authorized employees or agents of the department at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner.

6VAC15-26-101. Research exempt from HSRRC review.

The following are exempt from HSRRC review:

1. Department of Corrections' studies, program evaluations and routine data analyses for management purposes.

2. Research conducted by the Department of Corrections, Division of Education in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving commonly used educational practices, such as:

a. Research on regular and special education instructional strategies.

b. Research on the effectiveness of, or the comparison among, instructional techniques, curriculum or classroom management methods.

3. Research involving required agency survey procedures, unless responses are recorded in such a manner that participants can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the participants, and either:

a. The participants' responses, if they become known outside the research, could reasonably place a participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to a participant's financial standing, employability, or reputation; or

b. The research deals with sensitive aspects of a participant's own behavior, such as sexual behavior, drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, or family planning.

4. Research involving solely the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, or pathological or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publically available or if the information taken from these sources is recorded in such a manner that participants [ connot cannot ] be identified, either directly or through identifiers linked to the participants.

6VAC15-26-102. Waiver of signed voluntary informed consent form.

A. The HSRRC may waive the requirement for the researcher to obtain a signed voluntary informed consent form for some or all participants in a research project if it finds that the only record linking the participant and the research would be the consent form and that the principal risk would be potentially harmful resulting from a breach of confidentiality.

B. Each participant will be asked whether he wants documentation linking him to the research, and the participant's wishes will govern.

C. In cases where the documentation requirement is waived, the HSRRC shall require the researcher to provide participants with a written statement explaining the research.

6VAC15-26-110. Mandatory reporting. (Repealed.)

Each research review committee shall submit to the governor, the General Assembly, and the director or his designee at least annually a report on the human research projects reviewed and approved by the committee, including significant deviations from the proposals as approved.

Part III
Role of the Department, Director, and the Board

6VAC15-26-120. Role of the department, director, and the board.

A. The [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ], or [ his ] designee, shall establish and maintain records of organizational unit the HSRRC assurances, annual reports, and summary descriptions of research projects to be reviewed by the board.

B. The [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ], or [ his ] designee, shall review communications from committees the HSRRC reporting violations of research protocols which led to suspension or termination of the research to ensure that appropriate steps have been taken for the protection of rights of human research participants. The board shall be kept informed.

C. The [ director Director of the Department of Corrections ] shall arrange for the printing and dissemination of copies of this chapter.

Part IV
Applicability of State and Federal Policies

6VAC15-26-130. Applicability of state and federal policies.

A. No statement in this chapter shall be construed as limiting in any way the rights of participants in research under regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to §§ 53.1-5 and 53.1-5.1 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Human research that is subject to policies and regulations for the protection of human participants promulgated by any agency of the federal government shall be exempted from this chapter. Annual certification shall be made [ to the Director of the Department of Corrections and the Board of Corrections ] that exempted projects have complied with the policies and regulations of federal agencies [ to the director and the board ].

6VAC15-26-140. Applicability of federal policies. (Repealed.)

Human research which is subject to policies and regulations for the protection of human participants promulgated by any agency of the federal government shall be exempted from this chapter. Annual certification shall be made to the director and the board that exempted projects have complied with the policies and regulations of federal agencies.

FORMS (6VAC15-26)

[ Research Proposal - Sample (Operating Procedure 020.1), Attachment 1, effective April 1, 2010 (rev. 1/10).

Research Agreement (Operating Procedure 020.1), Attachment 2, effective April 1, 2010 (rev. 1/10).

Voluntary Informed Consent to Participate in Research (Operating Procedure 020.1), Attachment 3, effective April 1, 2010 (rev. 1/10).

Research Agreement, 020_F2_2-13, (rev. 3/13)

Research Proposal - Sample (Operating Procedure 020.1), Attachment 1, effective May 1, 2013 (rev. 3/13)

Voluntary Informed Consent to Participate in Research, 020_F3_2-13, (rev. 3/13) ]

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (6VAC15-26)

Operating Procedure 701.1 - Health Services Administration, Effective Date January 1, 2012, Amended March 29, 2012, Virginia Department of Corrections

Title of Regulation: 6VAC40-20. Regulations for Breath Alcohol Testing (amending 6VAC40-20-140, 6VAC40-20-160).

Statutory Authority: § 9.1-1110 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 2, 2014.

Effective Date: January 17, 2014.

Agency Contact: Stephanie Merritt, Department Counsel, Department of Forensic Science, 700 North Fifth Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-2281, FAX (804) 786-6857, or email stephanie.merritt@dfs.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 18.2-267 B of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Forensic Science to determine the proper method and equipment to be used in analyzing breath samples taken pursuant to § 18.2-267 and to advise the respective police and sheriff's departments of the same. Additionally, § 18.2-268.9 of the Code of Virginia requires the department to establish a training program for all individuals who are to administer the breath tests and, upon a person's successful completion of the training program, the department may license him to conduct breath test analyses. This regulation describes the process for approval of breath test devices, general methods of conducting breath tests, training and licensing procedures for operators, and the use of preliminary breath test devices. Section 9.1-1110 A 1 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Forensic Science Board to adopt regulations, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), for the administration of Chapter 11 (§ 9.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or §§ 18.2-268.6, 18.2-268.9, 19.2-188.1, and 19.2-310.5 of the Code of Virginia and for any provisions of the Code of Virginia as they relate to the responsibilities of the Department of Forensic Science.

Purpose: The regulations, which describe the process for approval of breath test devices, general methods of conducting breath tests, training and licensing procedures for operators, and the use of preliminary breath test devices, facilitate the protection of the health and safety of the public from the perils of individuals who drive while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: The amendments involving a mail delivery method, striking language regarding a checklist that is no longer applicable to the instruments used the Commonwealth, and updating information about the availability of a form relevant to the current breath instrumentation are minor and do not change any existing, substantive procedures. In September 2012, the department conducted a periodic review of this regulation and received no public comment. Likewise, the Forensic Science Board discussed and voted to adopt these amendments at its January 2013 public meeting, and no member of the public offered a comment. Given these facts, the department does not expect the amendments to be controversial.

Substance: The amendments to 6VAC40-20 make two minor changes to the existing regulations. First, the amendments add the term "or equivalent delivery method" to 6VAC40-20-140. This amendment allows the Department of Forensic Science to deliver notice of the revocation of certain licenses or certificates via certified U.S.P.S. mail as well as other equivalent delivery methods such as signature required Federal Express or UPS delivery. The use of the private carriers for mail delivery is, at times, more cost effective than U.S.P.S. mail. This change will allow the department to utilize the least expensive mail delivery option. Second, the amendments to 6VAC40-20-160 strike language about the preventive maintenance checklist, which was applicable to a breath instrument no longer used in the Commonwealth, and replaces this language with information about the availability of breath test worksheets relevant to the instruments currently in use.

Issues: The amendments are advantageous to the Department of Forensic Science and the Commonwealth to the extent that multiple mail delivery options allow the department to choose the most cost-effective delivery method for certain mailings. Furthermore, the amendments clarify the current availability of the breath test worksheet to law-enforcement agencies and eliminate reference to a worksheet that is no longer in use. The department expects these changes will enhance its user agencies' understanding of the regulations. There is no other anticipated public impact and no known disadvantage.

Small Business Impact Report of Findings: This regulatory action serves as the report of findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Department of Forensic Science (DFS) proposes to amend its Regulations for Breath Alcohol Testing to: 1) allow DFS to deliver notice of license or certificate revocation to breath instrument operators or instructors by certified USPS mail or by equivalent signature required UPS or Federal Express, 2) remove obsolete language that refers to DFS providing preventative maintenance checklists and requires that a copy of this checklist be filled out for every breath test devise assigned to affected agencies and 3) add language that informs agencies that breath test worksheets relevant to instruments currently in use are provided to agencies but may also be accessed and printed from DFS's website.

Result of Analysis. Benefits likely outweigh costs for these proposed regulatory changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. Current regulations require that DFS deliver notice of revocation to breath test instructor licensees and breath test operators certificate holders by certified USPS mail. In other areas of practice, however, DFS has found that sending mail by signature required UPS or Federal Express mail tends to be less expensive and also offers the benefit of nearly instant verification that mail has been delivered. Because of this, DFS now proposes to amend these regulations so that mail service that is equivalent to certified mail (in that it requires the recipient to sign for it) may be used to mail notice of revocation to individuals who are losing their department issued licenses or certifications. This change will benefit DFS, and taxpayers who fund DFS, because DFS will have the ability to choose the least costly equivalent mailing service rather than being constrained to only using certified USPS mail. No entity is likely to incur costs on account of this regulatory change.

DFS also proposes to remove language from these regulations that references testing of equipment that is no longer in use in the Commonwealth and to add language that informs localities of breath test worksheets (in use with newer breath test equipment) that will be distributed by DFS and that are also available for download on the departments website. No entity is likely to incur costs on account of these changes. Licensees and certificate holders, as well as other interested parties will likely benefit from changes that remove obsolete language and clarify current practice.

Businesses and Entities Affected. DFS reports that there are 5,000 breath instrument operators and 35 breath instrument instructors all of whom will be affected by these regulatory changes. DFS additionally reports that there are 168 breath instruments that are operated in 165 localities throughout the Commonwealth.

Localities Particularly Affected. No localities will be particularly affected by these proposed regulations.

Projected Impact on Employment. This proposed regulatory action is unlikely to have any effect on employment in the Commonwealth.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. These proposed regulatory changes are unlikely to affect the use or value of private property in the Commonwealth.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. No small business is likely to incur any additional expense on account of these regulatory changes.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. No small business is likely to incur any additional expense on account of these regulatory changes.

Real Estate Development Costs. This regulatory action will likely have no effect on real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, a determination of the public benefit, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has an adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Forensic Science concurs with the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The amendments (i) allow the Department of Forensic Science to deliver notice of license or certificate revocation to breath instrument operators or instructors by certified USPS mail or by equivalent signature-required delivery service, (ii) remove obsolete language that (a) refers to the department providing preventative maintenance checklists and (b) requires that a copy of this checklist be filled out for every breath test device assigned to affected agencies, and (iii) add language that informs agencies that breath test worksheets relevant to instruments currently in use are provided to agencies but may also be accessed and printed from the department's website.

6VAC40-20-140. Revocation.

Any revocation of a license or instructor certificate shall be by notice sent by registered or certified mail or equivalent delivery method from the department to the licensee or instructor.

6VAC40-20-160. Checklist.

A preventive maintenance checklist, if applicable, shall be provided by the department and completed at least once each month for each breath test device assigned to an agency. A copy of this preventive maintenance checklist shall be submitted to the department to be kept on file for at least three years. Breath test worksheets are provided to an agency by the department but may also be accessed and printed from the department's website.

FORMS (6VAC40-20)

Intoxilyzer 5000 Monthly Preventive Maintenance/Simulator Solution Change Checklist, DFS-70-036A (rev. 7/05).

Operational Checklist for Intoxilyzer 5000, DFS-70-037 (rev. 8/97).

EC/IR II Breath Test Worksheet, DFS Document 250-F115 (eff. 10/08)

Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-71. Regulations Governing Virginia Newborn Screening Services (amending 12VAC5-71-10, 12VAC5-71-30, 12VAC5-71-70 through 12VAC5-71-100, 12VAC5-71-120 through 12VAC5-71-190; repealing 12VAC5-71-20).

Statutory Authority: §§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-67 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 1, 2014.

Effective Date: January 24, 2014.

Agency Contact: Susan Tlusty, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-7686, FAX (804) 864-7647, or email susan.tlusty@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: The State Board of Health is authorized to make, adopt, promulgate, and enforce regulations by § 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia. Section 32.1-65 of the Code of Virginia requires newborn screening to be conducted on every infant born in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Section 32.1-67 of the Code of Virginia requires the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement newborn screening services. The regulations are required to include a list of newborn screening tests pursuant to § 32.1-65.

Purpose: The regulation needs to be amended as the result of a periodic review conducted pursuant to Executive Order 14 (2010). The regulation is essential to protect the health of citizens as conditions identified through newborn screening can lead to death or permanent disability if left unidentified or untreated.

The regulation provides oversight for the Virginia Newborn Screening Program. The benefits of newborn screening are to identify rare genetic and heritable disorders at birth in order to reduce infant mortality and permanent disabilities that can result from unidentified and untreated disease. The amendments update names and references to programs, state regulations, and federal recommendation entities.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: The fast-track rulemaking process is being utilized as the changes to the regulation update names and references to programs, state regulations, and federal recommendation entities. These changes are not expected to be controversial.

Substance: Definitions in 12VAC5-71-10 for "certified nurse midwife," "child," "hospital," "parent," "pool of funds," and "preterm infants" are updated to be consistent with other regulations or to provide more clarity to the definition. References to Virginia Newborn Screening Services or newborn screening services are changed to reflect the current program name, Virginia Newborn Screening Program, throughout the regulation. In 12VAC5-71-30, the reference to the federal newborn screening recommended screening panel is updated, and standardized nomenclature for newborn screening condition names and abbreviations is incorporated into the list of conditions. In 12VAC5-71-70, the term from the hospital is added to the term at the time of discharge for clarity. 12VAC5-71-80 and 12VAC5-71-120 are restructured to be formatted in correct style. In 12VAC5-71-90, the phrase "information relative to" is stricken to clarify what information must be recorded in the record. The reference to the federal regulation for laboratories is clarified in 12VAC5-71-100. In 12VAC5-71-160, the word "protocol" is substituted for "procedure" and the term "resident adults" is added to clarify that persons ages 19 and 20 are covered.

Issues: The primary advantage to the public is that infants in Virginia will continue to be screened for conditions as recommended by the federal government. There are no disadvantages related to the proposed changes.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The State Board of Health (Board) proposes to amend these regulations to: 1) update multiple condition names and abbreviations using national standardized nomenclature, 2) update citations, 3) update definitions, 4) make grammatical changes, and 5) add clarifying language.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. None of the proposed amendments change requirements or have any impact beyond improving clarity.

Businesses and Entities Affected. These regulations affect newborns and their families, as well as hospitals and their staff.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed amendments do not disproportionately affect particular localities.

Projected Impact on Employment. Since the proposed amendments do not have any impact beyond improving clarity, employment will not be significantly affected.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. Since the proposed amendments do not have any impact beyond improving clarity, the use and value of private property will not be significantly affected.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposal amendments do not significantly affect costs.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed amendments do not adversely affect small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed amendments do not affect real estate development costs.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Health concurs with the economic impact analysis conducted by the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The amendments update condition names and abbreviations, names and references to programs, citations to state regulations, and names of federal recommendation entities.

12VAC5-71-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this regulation shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Attending physician" means the physician in charge of the infant's care.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Business days" means Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding federal and state holidays.

"Care Connection for Children" means a statewide network of centers of excellence for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) that provides leadership in the enhancement of specialty medical services, care coordination, medical insurance benefits evaluation and coordination, management of the CSHCN Pool pool of Funds funds, information and referral to CSHCN resources, family-to-family support, and training and consultation with community providers on CSHCN issues.

"Care coordination" means a process that links individuals and their families to services and resources in a coordinated effort to maximize their potential and provide them with optimal health care.

"Certified nurse midwife" means a person licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 54.1-2957 of the Code of Virginia and in accordance with Part II (18VAC90-30-60 et seq.) of 18VAC90-30 and 18VAC90-30-120 and 18VAC90-30-121, subject to 18VAC90-30-160.

"Chief executive officer" means a job descriptive term used to identify the individual appointed by the governing body to act in its behalf in the overall management of the hospital. Job titles may include administrator, superintendent, director, executive director, president, vice-president, and executive vice-president.

"Child" means a person less than 18 years of age and includes a biological or an adopted child, and as well as a child placed for adoption or foster care unless otherwise treated as a separate unit for the purposes of determining eligibility and charges under these regulations.

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner, his duly designated officer, or agent.

"Confirmatory testing" means a test or a panel of tests performed following a screened-abnormal result to verify a diagnosis.

"Core panel conditions" means those heritable disorders and genetic diseases considered appropriate for newborn screening. The conditions in the core panel are similar in that they have (i) specific and sensitive screening tests, (iii) a sufficiently well understood natural history, and (iii) available and efficacious treatments.

"Department" means the state Department of Health.

"Dried-blood-spot specimen" means a clinical blood sample collected from an infant by heel stick method and placed directly onto specially manufactured absorbent specimen collection (filter) paper.

"Guardian" means a parent-appointed, court-appointed, or clerk-appointed guardian of the person.

"Healthcare provider" means a person who is licensed to provide health care as part of his job responsibilities and who has the authority to order newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests.

"Heritable disorders and genetic diseases" means pathological conditions (i.e., interruption, cessation or disorder of body functions, systems, or organs) that are caused by an absent or defective gene or gene product, or by a chromosomal aberration.

"Hospital" means a medical care facility licensed as a hospital by the Virginia Department of Health any facility as defined in § 32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia.

"Infant" means a child less than 12 months of age.

"Low protein modified foods" means foods that are (i) specially formulated to have less than one gram of protein per serving, (ii) intended to be used under the direction of a physician for the dietary treatment of an inherited metabolic disease, (iii) not natural foods that are naturally low in protein, and (iv) prescribed as medically necessary for the therapeutic treatment of inherited metabolic diseases.

"Metabolic formula" means nutritional substances that are (i) prescribed by a health professional with appropriate prescriptive authority; (ii) specifically designed and formulated to be consumed or administered internally under the supervision of such health professional; (iii) specifically designed, processed, or formulated to be distinct in one or more nutrients that are present in natural food; and (iv) intended for the medical and nutritional management of patients with limited capacity to metabolize ordinary foodstuffs or limited capacity to metabolize certain nutrients contained in ordinary foodstuffs.

"Metabolic supplements" means certain dietary or nutritional substances intended to be used under the direction of a physician for the nutritional management of inherited metabolic diseases.

"Midwife" means a person licensed as a nurse practitioner in the category of certified nurse midwife by the Boards of Nursing and Medicine or licensed as a midwife by the Board of Medicine.

"Newborn" means an infant who is 28 days old or less.

"Nurse" means a person holding a current license as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse by the Virginia Board of Nursing or a current multistate licensure privilege to practice in Virginia as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.

"Parent" means a biological parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent.

"Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network" means a statewide network of clinics that are located in major medical centers and provide comprehensive medical and support services for newborns and children living with sickle cell disease and other genetically related hemoglobinopathies.

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 29 (§ 54.1-2900 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Pool of funds" means funds designated for payment of direct health care services. Access to the pool is not an entitlement and is subject to availability of funds and guidelines that govern its eligibility and coverage of services. Pool of funds is a mix of federal Title V funds and state match matching funds.

"Population-based" means preventive interventions and personal health services developed and available for the entire infant and child health population of the Commonwealth rather than for individuals in a one-on-one situation.

"Preterm infant" means a neonate an infant whose birth occurs through by the end of the last day of the 36th week following the onset of the last menstrual period.

"Repeat specimen" means an additional newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen submitted to the testing laboratory voluntarily or by request.

"Resident" means an individual who resides within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth.

"Satisfactory specimen" means a newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen that has been determined to be acceptable for laboratory analyses by the testing laboratory.

"Screened-abnormal" means a newborn dried-blood-spot screening test result that is outside the established normal range or normal value for that test method.

"Testing laboratory" means the laboratory that has been selected by the department to perform newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests services.

"Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)" or "TPN" means giving nutrients through a vein for babies who cannot be fed by mouth.

"Treatment" means appropriate management including genetic counseling, medical consultation, and pharmacological and dietary management for infants diagnosed with a disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D.

"Unsatisfactory specimen" means a newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen that is inadequate for performing an accurate analysis.

"Virginia Genetics Advisory Committee" means a formal group that advises the department on issues pertaining to access to clinical genetics services across the Commonwealth and the provision of genetic awareness, quality services, and education for consumers and providers.

"Virginia Newborn Screening System" means a coordinated and comprehensive group of services, including education, screening, follow up, diagnosis, treatment and management, and program evaluation, managed by the department's Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program and Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program for safeguarding the health of children born in Virginia.

"Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program" means a statewide program for the education and screening of individuals for the disease of sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait and for such other genetically related hemoglobinopathies.

12VAC5-71-20. Administration of chapter. (Repealed.)

This chapter is administered by the commissioner.

The commissioner may issue a guidance document that interprets these regulations and provides guidance for their implementation. Such a document shall be reviewed and revised whenever the regulations of this chapter are reviewed and may also be amended or revised as needed to meet changing circumstances.

Guidance documents shall include procedures for accessing program services including available assistance when not otherwise addressed in these regulations or the Code of Virginia.

12VAC5-71-30. Core panel of heritable disorders and genetic diseases.

A. The Virginia Newborn Screening System, which includes Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program and the Virginia Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program, shall ensure that the core panel of heritable disorders and genetic diseases for which newborn screening is conducted is consistent with but not necessarily identical to the recommendations for screening by the American College of Medical Genetics in its 2005 report "Newborn Screening: Toward a Uniform Screening Panel and System." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary's Recommended Uniform Screening Panel.

B. The department shall review, at least biennially, national recommendations and guidelines and may propose changes to the core panel of heritable disorders and genetic diseases for which newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests are conducted.

C. The Virginia Genetics Advisory Committee may be consulted and provide advice to the commissioner on proposed changes to the core panel of heritable disorders and genetic diseases for which newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests are conducted.

D. Infants under six months of age who are born in Virginia shall be screened in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter for the following heritable disorders and genetic diseases, which are identified through newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests:

1. Argininosuccinic acidemia aciduria (ASA);

2. Beta-ketothiolase Beta-Ketothiolase deficiency (±KT) (BKT);

3. Biotinidase deficiency (BIOT);

4. Carnitine uptake defect (CUD);

5. Classical galactosemia (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency) (GALT);

5. 6. Citrullinemia (CIT) type I (CIT-I);

6. 7. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH);

7. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH);

8. Cystic fibrosis (CF);

9. Galactosemia (GALT);

10. 9. Glutaric acidemia type I (GA I);

11. Hemoglobin Sickle/Beta-thalassemia (Hb S/±Th) 10. Hb S beta-thalassemia (Hb F,S,A);

12. Hemoglobin Sickle/C disease (Hb S/C) 11. Hb SC-disease (Hb F,S,C);

12. Hb SS-disease (sickle cell anemia) (Hb F, S);

13. Homocystinuria (HCY);

14. Isovaleric acidemia (IVA);

15. Long chain hydroxyacyl-CoA L-3-Hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHAD);

16. Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD);

17. Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD);

18. Methylmalonic acidemia (mutase deficiency) (Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiency) (MUT);

19. Methylmalonic acidemia (Cbl A,B) (Adenosylcobalamin synthesis deficiency) (CBL A, CBL B);

20. Multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD);

21. Phenylketonuria (PKU);

22. Primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH);

22. 23. Propionic acidemia (PROP);

23. Sickle cell anemia (Hb SS disease) (Hb SS);

24. Tyrosinemia type I (TYR I);

25. Trifunctional protein deficiency (TFP);

26. Very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD);

27. 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaric aciduria (HMG); and

28. 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency (3MCC) (3-MCC).

E. Infants born in Virginia shall be screened for hearing loss in accordance with provisions set forth in §§ 32.1-64.1 and 32.1-64.2 of the Code of Virginia and as governed by 12VAC5-80.

12VAC5-71-70. Newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection, specimen submission, and notification for hospital deliveries.

A. Newborn dried-blood-spot specimen collection and submission shall be done in accordance with requirements that are determined by the department's designated testing laboratory.

B. Newborn dried-blood-spot specimen collection shall occur after 24 hours of age or immediately before the newborn's discharge from the hospital, whichever comes first.

C. If the initial newborn dried-blood-spot specimen is collected before 24 hours of age, a repeat specimen shall be collected at the time of discharge from the hospital or no later than 14 days of age, regardless of earlier test results.

D. If the newborn is a preterm infant, the newborn dried-blood-spot specimen shall be collected at seven days of age or at the time of discharge from the hospital, whichever occurs first.

E. If the newborn requires a blood transfusion or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or if the newborn is suspected of having a heritable disorder or genetic disease that is listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D:

1. The newborn dried-blood-spot specimen may be collected before 24 hours of age and subsequently submitted; and

2. A repeat newborn dried-blood-spot specimen shall be collected at the time of discharge from the hospital or no later than 14 days of age, regardless of earlier test results, and subsequently submitted.

F. On notification by the hospital that the infant was discharged before a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen was collected, the healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care or his designee shall:

1. Notify the infant's parent that the infant was discharged before a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen was collected;

2. Cause the collection of a specimen within 48 hours of that parental notification; and

3. Cause the submission of the specimen.

G. If the newborn is to be transferred to another hospital and is less than 24 hours of age:

1. The physician or certified nurse midwife in charge of the infant's care at the hospital of birth shall:

a. Cause the collection of a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen before the newborn is transferred to another hospital;

b. Cause the submission of the specimen; and

c. Notify the receiving physician or healthcare provider that a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen was collected before 24 hours of age.

2. The receiving physician or healthcare provider shall:

a. Cause the collection of a repeat specimen at the time of discharge or no later than 14 days of age, regardless of earlier test results; and

b. Cause the submission of the specimen.

H. If the infant is transferred to another hospital and is 24 hours of age or older, the physician in charge of the infant's care at the hospital of birth shall:

1. Cause the initial collection and submission of a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen for the infant who is being transferred;

2. Notify the receiving physician or physician of record on transfer that the infant's specimen has been collected; and

3. Notify the receiving physician or physician of record if a newborn dried-blood-spot specimen needs to be repeated or if confirmatory testing is required.

I. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice from the testing laboratory that the infant's newborn dried-blood-spot specimen is unsatisfactory, shall:

1. Cause the collection of a repeat specimen as soon as possible but no later than two business days after notice; and

2. Cause the submission of the specimen.

J. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice of the results of the infant's newborn dried-blood-spot screening test, shall place or cause to be placed the results in the infant's medical record and cause parental notification of test results.

K. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice of the infant's screened-abnormal result, shall:

1. Cause the collection of a repeat newborn dried-blood-spot specimen for repeat or confirmatory testing as soon as possible but no later than two business days after notice;

2. Cause the submission of the specimen; and

3. Take immediate action, as instructed, when notified of a critically abnormal screening result.

12VAC5-71-80. Newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection, specimen submission, and notification for deliveries outside of the hospital.

A. In the event that the infant is born outside of a hospital, the attending physician or midwife shall ensure that:

1. Newborn dried-blood-spot specimen collection and submission is done in accordance with requirements that are determined by the department's designated testing laboratory.

2. Newborn dried-blood-spot specimen collection occurs after 24 hours of age.

3. If the initial newborn dried-blood-spot specimen is collected before 24 hours of age, a repeat specimen shall be collected no later than 14 days of age, regardless of earlier test results.

4. If the newborn is hospitalized, the infant's healthcare provider shall cause the newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection and submission in accordance with 12VAC5-71-70.

B. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice of the results of the infant's newborn dried-blood-spot screening test, shall place or cause to be placed the results in the infant's medical record and cause parental notification of test results.

C. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice from the testing laboratory that the infant's newborn dried-blood-spot specimen is unsatisfactory, shall:

1. Cause the collection of a repeat specimen as soon as possible but no later than two business days after notice; and

2. Cause the submission of the specimen.

D. The healthcare provider in charge of the infant's care, on receiving notice of the infant's screened-abnormal result, shall:

1. Cause the collection of a repeat newborn dried-blood-spot specimen for repeat or confirmatory testing as soon as possible but no later than two business days after notice;

2. Cause the submission of the specimen; and

3. Take immediate action, as instructed, when notified of a critically abnormal screening result.

E. If a licensed midwife has ordered the newborn dried-blood-spot screening test and is notified that the results are unsatisfactory or abnormal, the infant shall be immediately referred to a physician or health care facility for repeat collection and submission and for care and treatment as necessary.

F. The licensed midwife shall cause the collection and submission of a repeat newborn dried-blood-spot specimen if the specimen is unsatisfactory and referring the infant to a physician or health care facility for repeat collection will result in a delay of more than two business days.

12VAC5-71-90. Responsibilities of the chief executive officer.

The chief executive officer shall assure that the hospital providing birthing services develops and implements policies and procedures to make certain that the following steps take place:

1. Collection of newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimens shall occur after 24 hours of birth, and collection and submission of the specimens shall meet the standards required by the testing laboratory;

2. Notification of the newborn's physician of record or designee shall occur within one business day in the event that the infant is discharged before the newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen has been collected;

3. Communication of the newborn dried-blood-spot screening test results to the newborn's physician of record or designee shall occur so that test results may become part of the infant's medical record on file with the physician;

4. Information relative to The newborn screening dried-blood-spot results and treatment shall be recorded in the patient's medical record, and retention of the information shall comply with applicable medical record retention requirements; and

5. Training of staff on newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection and submission and parental notification shall be implemented in a way that ensures an adequately trained and knowledgeable workforce is maintained for implementing specimen collection and submission and parental notification according to standards required by the testing laboratory and guidance from the department.

12VAC5-71-100. Responsibilities of the testing laboratory providing newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests.

A. Newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests shall be performed by the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other laboratory the department has contracted with to provide this service in accordance § 32.1-65 of the Code of Virginia.

B. The testing laboratory shall maintain accreditation under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments regulations as defined in 42 CFR Part 493.

C. The testing laboratory shall perform required initial and secondary tests using validated analytical test methods and establish normal ranges and notification protocols as defined in the contract with the department. The testing laboratory may seek the advice of the Newborn Screening Subcommittee of the Virginia Genetics Advisory Committee.

D. On completion of newborn dried-blood-spot screening tests for the infant, the testing laboratory shall provide the completed test results to the submitting facility and to the infant's healthcare provider, as indicated on the newborn screening sample.

E. The testing laboratory shall provide the department's newborn screening services program with the newborn dried-blood-spot screening test data that are necessary to carry out follow-up services.

F. The testing laboratory shall manage the distribution of newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection kits.

G. The testing laboratory is authorized to set the fee charged to birthing hospitals and physicians for purchase of newborn dried-blood-spot screening specimen collection kits in consultation with the department and in accordance with applicable state statutes and regulations.

H. The testing laboratory shall maintain an information management system capable of electronic data exchange between the laboratory and the department's newborn screening services program.

12VAC5-71-120. Scope and content of Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program.

A. The mission of Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program is to prevent mental retardation intellectual disability, permanent disability, or death through early identification and treatment of infants who are affected by those heritable disorders and genetic diseases listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D.

B. The scope of the newborn screening services program shall include the following:

1. Ensure that infants born in the Commonwealth receive newborn dried-blood-spot screening, confirmatory testing, and follow-up services for selected heritable disorders or genetic diseases;

2. Locate and track infants with screened-abnormal results or unsatisfactory results, a short-term process of ensuring that the identified healthcare provider is informed of results, in a timely matter, by at least six months of age, to determine if the infant has a selected heritable disorder or genetic disease;

3. Ensure that the department receives all diagnostic test results, both normal and screened-abnormal results, from healthcare providers;

4. Ensure that appropriate diagnostic data are collected, stored, and organized in a secure data management information system that allows for efficient extraction of appropriate data from the testing laboratory to newborn screening services in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations;

5. Assess and evaluate the newborn screening services program follow-up activities by collecting and reporting data required annually for Title V national performance measures that address how well the system functions;

6. Educate healthcare providers, parents, and the general public by electronic or written materials and educational sessions, as deemed necessary by the department;

7. Facilitate the entry of infants with screened-abnormal results into medical and dietary management services as needed upon receiving notification from the contracted lab of such results;

8. Ensure that residents of the Commonwealth who are diagnosed with selected heritable disorders or genetic diseases identified through the newborn screening services program are referred to the Care Connection for Children network for care coordination services; and

9. Provide information to residents of the Commonwealth who are diagnosed with selected heritable disorders or genetic diseases identified through the newborn screening services program regarding available assistance for obtaining metabolic formula, low protein modified foods, and metabolic supplements that are medically necessary to manage their diagnosed heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D.

C. To ensure full implementation of the newborn screening services program, the department may establish contracts with, but not be limited to, the following entities, and the established contracts shall comply with all federal assurances:

1. A designated testing laboratory;

2. Medical facilities to provide metabolic treatment and genetic services; and

3. Other entities as needed.

D. The Title V national performance measures, as required by the federal Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA; Public Law 103-62), shall be used to establish the newborn screening services program goals. The following goals shall change as needed to be consistent with applicable Title V national performance measures:

1. All infants who are born in the Commonwealth and who are residents of Virginia will receive appropriate newborn dried-blood-spot screening, confirmatory testing, and follow-up services.

2. All infants who are born in the Commonwealth and who are not residents of Virginia will receive appropriate newborn dried-blood-spot screening and be referred to their state of residence for confirmatory testing and follow-up services.

12VAC5-71-130. Responsibilities of the Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network.

A. Upon notification by the Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program of an infant diagnosed with sickle cell disease, the Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program shall track infants identified with sickle cell disease and related hemoglobinopathies to ensure that they receive care and refer the infants to the Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network.

B. The Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network shall provide the following services:

1. Consultation on screened-abnormal results to primary care providers and parents;

2. Family counseling and support;

3. Regularly scheduled clinics, which meet the needs of the population served; and

4. Referral to appropriate inpatient care facilities.

C. The Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network shall provide data as needed by the department's newborn screening services program.

12VAC5-71-140. Responsibilities of metabolic treatment and genetic centers facilities.

A. The department's contracted metabolic treatment and genetic centers facilities shall collaborate with a specialized testing laboratory or laboratories for performing diagnostic testing on infants referred by the department's newborn screening services program in accordance with § 32.1-65 of the Code of Virginia.

B. The department's contracted metabolic treatment and genetic centers facilities shall provide the following clinical services:

1. Consultation on screened-abnormal results to healthcare providers;

2. Family counseling and support;

3. Regularly scheduled clinics;

4. Appropriate inpatient care facilities;

5. Clinical genetic services; and

6. Nutritional counseling and support.

C. The department's contracted metabolic treatment and genetic centers facilities shall provide written diagnostic and other related case information to the department's newborn screening services program.

12VAC5-71-150. Responsibilities of the Care Connection for Children network.

A. The Care Connection for Children network shall provide the following services:

1. Care coordination services for residents of the Commonwealth who are diagnosed with selected heritable disorders or genetic diseases and are referred to the network by the Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program.

2. Other network services for eligible individuals in accordance with the § 32.1-77 of the Code of Virginia and applicable regulations.

B. The Care Connection for Children network shall provide data as needed by the department's newborn screening services program.

12VAC5-71-160. Availability of assistance for obtaining metabolic formula, low protein modified foods, and metabolic supplements.

A. The department shall maintain a procedure protocol to assist eligible persons in obtaining metabolic formula, low protein modified foods, and metabolic supplements.

B. Expenditures shall be limited to available funding.

C. Resident children and resident adults under the age of 21 who have a diagnosis of a heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D and meet financial eligibility criteria for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program pool of funds in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Medical Care Services to Individuals (12VAC5-200) may qualify to receive metabolic formula at no cost. Applicants who qualify must demonstrate that they are not eligible for available state and federal medical assistance programs and must demonstrate that they do not have insurance coverage for metabolic formula.

D. Resident children and resident adults under the age of 21 who have a diagnosis of a heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D and do not meet financial eligibility criteria for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program pool of funds in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Medical Care Services to Individuals (12VAC5-200) may be eligible to purchase metabolic formula through the Virginia Department of Health.

E. Resident adults ages 21 or older who have a diagnosis of a heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D and who have a gross family income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Medical Care Services to Individuals (12VAC5-200) may qualify to receive metabolic formula at no cost. Applicants who qualify must demonstrate that they are not eligible for available state and federal medical assistance programs and must demonstrate that they do not have current insurance coverage for metabolic formula.

F. Resident adults ages 21 or older who have a diagnosis of a heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D and who do not meet financial criteria or other eligibility criteria in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Medical Care Services to Individuals (12VAC5-200) may qualify to purchase metabolic formula through the Virginia Department of Health.

G. Residents who have a diagnosis of a heritable disorder or genetic disease listed in 12VAC5-71-30 D and who have a gross family income at or below of 300% of the federal poverty level in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Medical Care Services to Individuals (12VAC5-200) may be eligible to receive reimbursement from the department up to $1,500 per year for purchase of low protein modified foods and metabolic supplements. Applicants who qualify must demonstrate that they are not eligible for available state and federal medical assistance programs and must demonstrate that they do not have current insurance coverage for low protein modified foods or metabolic supplements for which they are seeking reimbursement.

12VAC5-71-170. Emergency suspension of assistance.

The commissioner may suspend any portion of the assistance plan to ensure the financial integrity of the Virginia Newborn Screening Services Program. The commissioner shall report any action taken under the provisions of this section to the State Board of Health at its next scheduled meeting.

12VAC5-71-180. Use of federal, state, or other resources.

A. The commissioner or his designee may seek, receive, and expend federal, state general, or other nongeneral funds for the department necessary to administer the newborn screening services program.

B. Federal Title V funds received for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, authorized by § 32.1-77 of the Code of Virginia, may be used to support the department's newborn screening services program, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

12VAC5-71-190. Confidentiality of information.

The department's newborn screening services program and its contractors shall maintain, store, and safeguard client records from unauthorized access as required by law.

Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-105. Rabies Regulations (adding 12VAC5-105-10 through 12VAC5-105-40).

Statutory Authority: §§ 32.1-12 and 3.2-6521 of the Code of Virginia; Chapter 834 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 31, 2014.

Agency Contact: Julia Murphy, DVM, State Epidemiological Veterinarian, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, 5th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-8113, FAX (804) 864-8131, or email julia.murphy@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the State Board of Health to make, adopt, promulgate, and enforce such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia and other laws of the Commonwealth administered by it, the Commissioner of Health, or the Department of Health. Chapter 834 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly clarifies the procedures and responsibilities among the Department of Health, localities, and other entities to prevent and control rabies and the second enactment of Chapter 834 requires the Board of Health to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of the act. Section 3.2-6521 of the Code of Virginia requires the Board of Health to provide, by regulation, an exemption to the requirement that an owner of a dog or cat must have his animal vaccinated for rabies if the veterinarian determines that the dog or cat has an underlying medical condition that is likely to result in a life-threatening condition in response to the vaccination.

Purpose: These regulations are necessary for the protection of public health. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal in mammals and is highly endemic in the Commonwealth. It is very important that human and animal exposures are addressed promptly and correctly. Greater detail than is appropriate for the Code of Virginia is articulated in these regulations to support the implementation of rabies-related sections of the Code of Virginia modified and introduced during the 2010 Session of the General Assembly. In addition, the Board of Health has been specifically instructed to develop regulations addressing rabies exemptions and a model rabies response plan. Goals of the proposed language include (i) defining commonly used terms in the rabies-related sections of the Code of Virginia to increase the likelihood that these terms are interpreted and applied in a consistent way, (ii) improving the recordkeeping associated with rabies clinics to increase the likelihood that an animal's vaccinations status can be verified in response to a rabies exposure, (iii) outlining the procedure a veterinarian must use to apply for a rabies vaccination exemption and the role of local authorities in that process, and (iv) offering a model rabies response plan that localities may use to comply with § 3.2-6562.1 of the Code of Virginia. The proposed language has been developed in cooperation with stakeholders from potentially affected groups such as local health departments, animal control agencies, veterinary associations, humane groups, wildlife agencies, agriculture agencies, the Board of Veterinary Medicine, and local government associations. These stakeholders have been engaged to discuss issues such as the entity that grants rabies exemptions and restrictions placed on animals that are exempt as well as the authority local health directors now have to direct animal control officers in the pursuit of their duties in certain circumstances. This participatory approach was intended to result in proposed language that is clearly written, understandable, and functional for all those involved in rabies prevention, control, and response efforts.

Substance: The provisions in these new regulations address commonly used terms in the rabies-related sections of the Code of Virginia, the health department's recordkeeping responsibilities associated with rabies clinics, a mechanism whereby dogs and cats may be granted a rabies vaccination exemption, and fulfill the requirement, as put forward by the 2010 General Assembly, for the Board of Health to develop a model plan that may be used by localities to comply with the requirements of § 3.2-6562.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Issues: The main issues associated with the proposed regulatory action include defining common terms used in the Code of Virginia, rabies vaccination exemptions, recordkeeping associated with rabies clinics, and the development of a model rabies response plan. The primary advantages of these regulations for individual private citizens, veterinarians in private practice, and the Commonwealth include (i) increasing the likelihood that the terms used in the rabies-related sections of the Code of Virginia will be applied and interpreted in a consistent way in all health districts; (ii) increasing the likelihood that the rabies vaccination status of an animal that was vaccinated as part of a rabies clinic can be verified; (iii) providing a mechanism for granting rabies vaccination exemptions that will allow for a dog or cat owner whose animal is likely to have a life-threatening reaction in response to vaccination to be in compliance with local licensing laws, but also contains provisions that will assist local authorities with protecting public health; and (iv) improving coordination and communication among local government authorities in response to a rabies exposure event to ensure that residents living in a locality and their animals receive timely and accurate guidance about rabies by creating a model rabies response plan that can be used by local health departments. A potential disadvantage of these regulations includes the time and effort veterinarians in private practice may need to complete the application for vaccination exemption.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. Pursuant to Chapters 182 and 834 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly, the proposed regulations 1) establish a procedure for issuing exemptions for rabies vaccination, and 2) require localities to have a response plan to rabies exposure.

Result of Analysis. There is insufficient data to accurately compare the magnitude of the benefits versus the costs. Detailed analysis of the benefits and costs can be found in the next section.

Estimated Economic Impact. Chapter 182 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly requires the Board of Health to provide an exemption for rabies vaccination if the vaccination would endanger the animal's life. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), some animals may develop life threatening allergic reaction to the rabies vaccination. The proposed regulations will allow a veterinarian to apply to the local health director for an exemption if the animal has a history of severe allergic reaction to the vaccination.¹ Based on data from a neighboring state, on an annual basis, approximately 130 applications may be expected and approximately 100 exemptions may be issued in Virginia.

The main benefit of the proposed change is avoidance of a potentially life threatening allergic reaction the animal may develop. The main cost is the added chances of animal being infected with rabies because it is not vaccinated.

In addition, if an exemption is issued, the owner would not have to incur the cost of the vaccination and realize some savings. Each vaccination is estimated to cost approximately $15 - $20. However, VDH estimates a veterinarian would have to spend approximately 1 to 2 hours to gather necessary information to complete an exemption application. If a veterinarian chooses to charge for his or her additional time, the owners compliance costs may increase.

Finally, the local health director would be required to spend some time in reviewing exemption applications.

Another proposed change, pursuant to Chapter 834 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly, requires localities to have a response plan to rabies exposure. VDH estimates that most localities already have a plan to respond to rabies exposure. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations also provide a model plan localities may choose to use in part or in total. This proposed change is expected mainly to improve coordination and communication among local government authorities in responding to rabies exposure.

All of the remaining changes appear to be clarifications of current requirements and are not anticipated to create any significant economic impact.

Businesses and Entities Affected. There are 134 local governments, approximately 130 dog or cat owners who are estimated to apply for an exemption, and over 700 full service veterinary hospitals in Virginia.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed regulations apply throughout the Commonwealth.

Projected Impact on Employment. Approximately 1 to 2 hours may be required to gather necessary information to complete an exemption application. Also, the local health director would be required to spend some time in reviewing exemption applications. Thus, a small increase in demand for labor may be expected.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposed regulations are not anticipated to have a direct impact on the use and value of private property.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The vast majority, if not all, of over 700 full-service veterinary hospitals are believed to be small businesses. As discussed, the proposed exemption may require veterinarians to spend approximately 1 to 2 hours of their time to gather information. Veterinarians will choose whether or not to charge for this additional time.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. There is no known alternative that has no effect on veterinarians while accomplishing the same goals.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed regulations have no effect on real estate development costs.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

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¹ The proposed exemption is for licensing purposes only in that if the animal is exposed to rabies, euthanasia or 6-month strict isolation will still be required.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Virginia Department of Health has reviewed and agrees with the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget's economic impact analysis.

Summary:

The proposed regulations (i) establish a procedure for issuing exemptions for rabies vaccination, (ii) require localities to have a response plan to rabies exposure, and (iii) establish requirements for recordkeeping associated with rabies clinics.

CHAPTER 105
RABIES REGULATIONS

12VAC5-105-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Currently vaccinated" means the animal was (i) vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises and (ii) the animal was vaccinated and revaccinated in accordance with the current National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian's Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control or as described on the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved vaccine label. For the purposes of rabies exposure response and § 3.2-6522 of the Code of Virginia, an animal will not be considered currently vaccinated until it has been at least 28 days since the initial vaccination and then immediately after every subsequent vaccination.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Health.

"Rabid animal" means an animal that has had the diagnosis of rabies confirmed by the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Fairfax Health Department Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rabies Laboratory, or a laboratory in any state that is recognized by that state to perform rabies testing for public health purposes. Any suspected rabid animal that has exposed a companion or agricultural animal or a person and is not available for laboratory testing should be presumed to be rabid.

"Rabies exposure" or "exposed to rabies" means any circumstance where saliva or central nervous system tissue from a rabid or suspected rabid animal entered or could have entered a fresh, open wound or come in contact with a mucous membrane of a person or susceptible species of companion or agricultural animal. For the purposes of companion and agricultural animal exposure, the actual witnessing of a bite or attack by a rabid or suspected rabid animal is not necessary to define an exposure; however, a rabid or suspected rabid animal needs to have been witnessed in close proximity to the exposed animal and where, in the judgment of the local health director or his designee, it is reasonable to assume that the rabid or suspected rabid animal could have exposed the susceptible companion or agricultural animal. The department should notify the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services when agricultural animals meet exposure criteria and coordinate exposure response with that agency. This definition notwithstanding, decisions regarding the disposition of animals housed or maintained with an agricultural animal that is diagnosed with rabies shall be at the discretion of the local health director.

"Rabies vaccination certificate" means a document provided by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary establishment indicating a specific animal has been vaccinated or revaccinated in accordance with the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian's Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control or as described on the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved vaccine label and includes at least, but is not limited to, the following: signature of the veterinarian, the animal owner's name and address, the locality where the animal resides, the species of the animal, the sex, whether or not the animal is spayed or neutered, the age, the color, the primary breed, the certificate expiration date, and the vaccination number, also known as the serial lot number. In lieu of individual certificates, a herd certificate can be issued for livestock other than horses that includes at least the signature of the veterinarian, the owner's name and address, the species of animal, the sex, the approximate age, the primary breed, date of vaccination, the rabies vaccine product name, the vaccination number, identifying information for each animal such as ear tag number, tattoo or other permanent identification, and the name and contact information of the veterinarian who administered the vaccine. In lieu of individual certificates, a certificate of veterinary inspection for use in shipping equine may be generated for horses that includes at least the signature of the veterinarian, the owner's name and address, the sex, the approximate age, the date of vaccination, the rabies vaccine product name, the vaccination number, identifying information for each horse such as name, color, markings, tattoo or brand, and the name and contact information for the veterinarian who administered the vaccine.

"Suspected rabid animal" means any animal that has not been tested for rabies and that the department considers to be a species at high risk for acquiring or transmitting rabies whether or not the animal is exhibiting clinical signs compatible with rabies and any animal the department considers at low risk for acquiring or transmitting rabies that is exhibiting clinical signs compatible with rabies. At the discretion of the local health director, any animal to which an observation period will be applied that may have bitten a person shall be considered a suspected rabid animal until the end of the observation period. The status of animals for which an observation period will not be applied or that the department has not identified as either high or low risk for acquiring or transmitting rabies shall be at the discretion of the local health director.

12VAC5-105-20. Rabies clinics.

The local health department (LHD) will maintain and provide upon request the following information about rabies clinics that it and the local governing body have approved within the previous 48 months:

1. Date.

2. Clinic site.

3. Name of sponsoring organization.

4. Name, address, and phone number of attending veterinarian.

12VAC5-105-30. Rabies vaccine exemptions.

A. The local health director, in consultation with the state public health veterinarian, may grant an exemption to the requirement for rabies vaccination as articulated in § 3.2-6521 of the Code of Virginia if a vaccination would likely endanger the animal's life due to a previously diagnosed disease or other previously documented medical considerations as documented by a licensed veterinarian.

B. Such exemption may be granted for an individual animal only after the veterinarian has (i) consulted with the local health director and completed and submitted to the LHD an application for exemption from rabies vaccination on a form approved by the department and (ii) submitted other documents or medical records as may be requested by the LHD. After approval of such exemption, the LHD shall issue a rabies vaccination exemption certificate, copies of which shall be provided to the veterinarian, the owner of the dog or cat exempted from rabies vaccination, and the animal control office of the municipality in which the owner of the dog or cat resides. Certification that a dog or cat is exempt from rabies vaccination may be presented in lieu of a rabies vaccination certificate for the purposes of veterinary inspection by designated local authorities and for the purposes of licensing by the locality where the animal resides. Certification that a dog or cat is exempt from rabies vaccination shall be valid for one year, after which time the animal shall be vaccinated against rabies or the application for exemption shall be renewed.

C. The governing body of any locality may require that an exempted animal be confined on the owner's property or kept on a leash, or both, or otherwise restrained if it is thought necessary to protect public health and safety. The governing body of any locality may require that a form of unique identification is associated with an exempted animal. An exempted animal shall be considered unvaccinated by the department in the event of the animal's exposure to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal. Any requirement to vaccinate an exempted animal for rabies in the event of that animal's exposure to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal shall be at the discretion of the local health director.

12VAC5-105-40. Model plan for localities.

A. Localities are required to have a rabies exposure response plan by § 3.2-6562.1 of the Code of Virginia. Pursuant to the second enactment of Chapter 834 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly, the department has developed a model plan that localities may use in part or in total to fulfill this requirement. In addition, localities may want to consider including information that will assist the plan's users with assessing rabies exposure and making post-exposure prophylactic (PEP) recommendations, communication with local authorities involved in rabies exposure response, documenting information associated with rabies exposure, and any other duties associated with response.

B. Model plan.

Title: Human and Companion Animal Rabies Exposure Protocol.

Section I. Purpose. The purpose of this plan is to:

A. Ensure the prompt capture, confinement, isolation, or euthanasia of any animal that has exposed, or poses a risk of exposing, a person or companion animal to rabies by standardizing procedures associated with investigating such incidents.

B. Identify the authority and responsibility of the LHD, law-enforcement officers, animal control officers, and any other persons with a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure.

C. Establish consistent communication and reporting of possible rabies exposure incidents to ensure residents living in the locality receive appropriate guidance and residents and their animals receive protection against rabies infection by including them within the scope of the LHD epidemiology staff, LHD environmental health, LHD nursing staff, and locality animal control staff or any personnel acting in the capacity of a locality animal control officer and locality law enforcement. Officials who have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the LHD agree to employ standard written guidelines in response to possible human and animal rabies exposures.

D. Establish a plan to control the risk of rabies exposure and ensure prompt response to rabies-related incidents in order to minimize companion animal and human morbidity and mortality in the locality.

Section II. Locality Employees to Whom Policy Applies. This policy applies to positions assigned to the LHD environmental health staff, LHD nursing staff, LHD epidemiology staff, and any LHD or locality animal control staff employee who receives an initial report of an animal bite/possible rabies exposure. Further, this policy outlines the roles of locality animal control staff and any personnel who may be acting in the capacity of a locality animal control officer and any locality law-enforcement officials who have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the LHD for this purpose and shall herein be referred to as "locality animal control services."

Section III. Legal Authority. Authority for the local health director to develop a local authority and responsibility plan that shall provide for those within the locality with a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure and to be directed by the local health director for such purposes is articulated in § 3.2-6562.1 of the Code of Virginia (included below).

§ 3.2-6562.1. Rabies exposure; local authority and responsibility plan.

The local health director, in conjunction with the governing body of the locality, shall adopt a plan to control and respond to the risk of rabies exposure to persons and companion animals. Such plan shall set forth a procedure that promptly ensures the capture, confinement, isolation, or euthanasia of any animal that has exposed, or poses a risk of exposing, a person or companion animal to rabies. The plan shall identify the authority and responsibility of the local health department, law-enforcement officers, animal control officers, and any other persons with a duty to control or respond to a risk of rabies exposure. The plan shall provide for law-enforcement officers, animal control officers, and other persons to report to and be directed by the local health director for such purposes.

Section IV. Maintenance. This plan is a working document. In an effort to maintain a current rabies response plan, which addresses emergent issues and changing knowledge, the plan will be reviewed and supplemented as needed as a result of lessons learned during investigations or to comply with updated guidance and legislative requirements.

Section V. Disclaimer. This plan is meant to be used as a guide. No single set of guidelines applies to all situations involving rabies or can provide all of the information needed. The contents of the plan are meant to offer a framework for response as well as support and complement appropriate, practical public health knowledge and experience.

Section VI. Responsibility of Locality Animal Control Services. As directed by the local health director, it shall be the duty of locality animal control services to capture, confine, isolate, or euthanize any animal that has exposed, or poses a risk of exposing, a person or companion animal to rabies. If such personnel is unable to capture, confine, isolate, or euthanize a companion animal that (i) is reasonably suspected to be rabid and (ii) has exposed, or poses an immediate risk of exposing, a person or companion animal to rabies, such personnel shall ensure the humane destruction of such animal.

A. Companion Animal Response. Locality animal control services shall within 24 hours of receiving information about a companion animal exposure:

1. Investigate reports of susceptible companion animals exposed to rabies.

2. Determine if the companion animal has or may have been exposed to a rabid animal, and if the companion animal is currently vaccinated.

3. Evaluate the exposure of the companion animal and prescribe the appropriate action according to state and local regulations.

4. Ensure that exposed, currently vaccinated companion animals receive a booster vaccination.

5. Notify the LHD about any unvaccinated, exposed companion animals, or exposed companion animals with an expired vaccination status in order to relay details of the exposure, vaccination history if applicable, and discussion with the owner concerning the potential options.

6. Notify the LHD about any exposed companion animals that are not dogs, cats, or ferrets.

7. Immediately notify the LHD about any illness associated with any animal in confinement or isolation.

8. Facilitate the submission of the head of any animal that may have exposed a companion animal to rabies as directed by the LHD.

9. Carry out euthanasia or humane destruction of companion animals and suspected rabid animals that may have exposed companion animals as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species.

10. Submit reports associated with any companion animal exposures to the LHD.

B. Human Exposure Response. In regard to situations involving human exposure, locality animal control services shall:

1. Upon receiving information about a human exposure immediately report the exposure to the LHD by the fastest means possible.

2. Not disclose the identity of any victim of an animal bite or rabies exposure except to a health care provider or official of the LHD.

3. If possible, secure any animal that may have exposed a person, pending advice from the LHD as to how to proceed with either observation or testing.

4. Carry out euthanasia or humane destruction of companion animals and suspected rabid animals that may have exposed a person as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species.

5. Facilitate the submission of the head of any animal that may have exposed a person to rabies as directed by the LHD.

Section VII. Responsibility of the LHD. As directed by the local health director, it shall be the duty of LHD environmental health staff, LHD nursing staff, and LHD epidemiology staff to respond to human and companion animal rabies exposures as detailed below. Any LHD employee who receives a report associated with a companion animal or human rabies exposure shall notify a member of the LHD environmental health staff, LHD nursing staff, or LHD epidemiology staff within 24 hours of receiving the report.

A. LHD Environmental Health Staff. Environmental health staff members are primarily responsible for the following activities in regard to companion animal and human rabies exposure response:

1. Interfacing with locality animal control services and ensuring that any animals involved in a possible rabies exposure incident are appropriately managed to control the spread of rabies viral infection.

2. Initiating contact with a human exposure victim and coordinating contact with a companion animal owner with locality animal control services when necessary by phone or site visit within two hours of receiving an exposure report.

3. Conducting a site visit to investigate a human exposure and coordinating a site visit with a companion animal owner with locality animal control services when necessary within 24 hours of the report.

4. Notifying the LHD nursing staff and the local health director within 24 hours of receiving a report of a human exposure victim.

5. Coordinating with locality animal control services to locate, and contain or retrieve animals, and collect clinical animal specimens as necessary.

6. Coordinating the submission of rabies samples to a laboratory that has been designated by the Commonwealth for rabies testing.

7. Maintaining a record of human and companion animal exposures as well as test results associated with rabies sample submissions.

8. Immediately notifying LHD nursing staff and the local health director of any positive results associated with human exposures.

9. Notifying any human exposure victims of positive results within two hours of receiving the result and refering the victim to the LHD nursing staff in regard to PEP treatment options.

10. Coordinating with locality animal control services the notification of owners of positive results associated with exposed companion animals within 24 hours of receiving the result.

11. Coordinating with locality animal control services the response to exposed companion animals and owner follow up to evaluate the situation for any human exposures.

12. Notifying the local health director, LHD nursing staff, and LHD epidemiology staff within 24 hours of any negative results associated with rabies sample submissions.

13. Notifying the LHD epidemiology staff with 24 hours of any positive results associated with rabies sample submissions.

14. Notifying the local health director, LHD nursing staff, and locality animal control services within 24 hours of any companion animal that has been placed in isolation or confinement that is manifesting clinical signs that could be compatible with rabies.

15. Notifying locality animal control services within 24 hours of a companion animal for which rabies vaccination is required that is not vaccinated or has an expired status.

16. Developing and maintaining a human and companion animal rabies exposure communication plan that is shared with locality animal control services.

17. In coordination with the local health director, LHD nursing staff, and LHD epidemiology staff, developing and maintaining a training program that can be used to review locality rabies control and response procedures with locality animal control services on an as needed basis and/or as new staff are hired.

B. LHD Nursing Staff. LHD nursing staff members are primarily responsible for the following activities in regard to companion animal and human rabies exposure response:

1. Ensuring that any humans involved in a possible rabies exposure incident are appropriately counseled/treated to control the risk of rabies viral infection.

2. Notifying the environmental health staff of a human or companion animal exposure within two hours of receiving a report if the report did not originate with environmental health staff.

3. Coordinating human exposure follow up with environmental health staff and assisting with human exposure assessment interviews within 24 hours of receiving a report of an exposure.

4. Coordinating the notifying of human exposure victims with environmental health staff immediately after receiving a positive test result.

5. Coordinating the notifying of human exposure victims with environmental health staff within 24 hours of receiving a negative test result.

6. Discussing PEP treatment options within the locality with human exposure victim(s).

7. Discussing medical conditions and history with human exposure victims that may affect PEP treatment.

8. Maintaining a record of medical information associated with all human exposure victims interviewed and counseled, including the exposure victim's decision concerning PEP treatment and if treatment was completed.

9. Notifying the LHD epidemiology staff when a human exposure victim initiates PEP treatment and providing any information about the situation necessary for statistical purposes.

10. Coordinating follow up with exposure victims if PEP treatment recommendations are not followed.

11. Coordinating the notification of human exposure victims with environmental health staff in regard to confinement release results within 24 hours after the confinement period.

C. Locality Epidemiology Staff. Locality epidemiology staff members are primarily responsible for the following activities in regard to companion animal and human rabies exposure response:

1. Collecting and maintaining the following data in coordination/consultation with the environmental health staff and nursing staff for animal exposures/bites, animal bites to humans, and other human exposures:

2. Demographics of person exposed;

3. Information about the animal and its owner;

4. Details of exposure;

5. PEP recommendations and actions;

6. Animal euthanasia secondary to suspect rabies; and

7. Animal quarantine or confinement

D. Local Health Director. The local health director is primarily responsible for the following activities in regard to companion animal and human rabies exposure response:

1. Developing memoranda of understanding with locality animal control services for the purpose of organizing an integrated response to human and companion animal exposures within the locality and acknowledging the need for locality animal control services to be directed by the local health director in certain rabies related situations.

2. Overseeing companion animal and human exposure response within the locality.

3. Providing medical advice and consultation in regard to human exposure victims to environmental health staff, nursing staff, and human exposure victims within the locality.

4. Providing medical advice and consultation about rabies and rabies PEP treatment with health care providers within the locality.

5. Developing a guidance document for locality animal control services that contains examples of rabies response and control situations requiring locality animal control services staff to be specifically directed by the local health director.

FORMS (12VAC5-105)

Request for Rabies Vaccination Exemption for Licensing and Inspection Purposes (eff. 3/12)

Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-191. State Plan for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (amending 12VAC5-191-10, 12VAC5-191-40, 12VAC5-191-80, 12VAC5-191-90, 12VAC5-191-210, 12VAC5-191-250).

Statutory Authority: §§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-77 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 1, 2014.

Effective Date: January 24, 2014.

Agency Contact: Emily McClellan, Manager, Survey and Analysis Unit, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-7249, FAX (804) 864-7647, or email emily.mclellan@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the State Board of Health to make, adopt, promulgate and enforce regulations. Section 32.1-77 of the Code of Virginia (i) authorizes the board to prepare, amend, and submit state plans for maternal and child health services and children's specialty services pursuant to Title V of the United States Social Security Act to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and (ii) authorizes the State Health Commissioner to administer the plan and to receive and expend federal funds for the administration of the plan in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

Section 32.1-64.1 of the Code of Virginia mandates the commissioner to establish and maintain the Virginia Hearing Impairment Identification and Monitoring System for the purpose of identifying and monitoring infants with hearing impairment to ensure that such infants receive appropriate early intervention through treatment, therapy, and education; § 32.1-64.1 D mandates the board to establish regulations for the screening, and § 32.1-64.1 F authorizes the board to promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement this identification and monitoring system.

Section 32.1-65 of the Code of Virginia mandates certain newborn screening testing of all infants, except for those exempted from testing by law, for specified disorders.

Section 32.1-66 of the Code of Virginia mandates the commissioner to notify the attending physician of any newborn screening test results that indicate a suspicion of a disorder and to perform or provide for any additional testing required to confirm or disprove the diagnosis of the specified disorders.

Section 32.1-67 of the Code of Virginia mandates the board to recommend procedures for the treatment of disorders identified by a newborn screening test.

Section 32.1-68 of the Code of Virginia mandates the commissioner, in cooperation with local health directors, to establish a voluntary program for the screening of individuals for the disease of sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait and for such other genetically related diseases and genetic traits and inborn errors of metabolism as the board may deem necessary. The board shall review the program from time to time to determine the appropriate age and the method of screening for such conditions or traits in the light of technological changes. The screening program shall include provisions for education concerning the nature and treatment of sickle cell anemia, other genetically related diseases, and inborn errors of metabolism and provisions for a post-screening counseling program for the treatment of any person determined to have such a condition. The program may include the provision of laboratory testing.

Section 32.1-69.1 of the Code of Virginia mandates the commissioner to establish and maintain a Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System using data from birth certificates filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records and data obtained from hospital medical records. The chief administrative officer of every hospital, as defined in § 32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia, shall make or cause to be made a report to the commissioner of any person under two years of age diagnosed as having a congenital anomaly. Section 32.1-123 B mandates the board to promulgate regulations as may be necessary to implement this reporting and education system. These regulations may include scope of information to be collected and relationships between the reporting and education system and other agencies.

Section 32.1-89 of the Code of Virginia mandates the board to establish a program for the care and treatment of persons suffering from hemophilia and other related bleeding diseases who cannot pay for the entire cost of their needed medical care. Section 32.1-89 B authorizes the board to provide services through cooperative agreements with medical facilities or other appropriate means. This subsection also states that charges for persons receiving care shall be determined by the board.

All of these authorized and mandated programs serve children with special health care needs. Separate regulations 12VAC5-71, Regulations Governing Virginia Newborn Screening Services, and 12VAC5-80, Regulations for Administration of the Virginia Hearing Impairment Identification and Monitoring System, exist for these programs. Relationships among the programs are addressed in 12VAC5-191.

Purpose: A periodic review of 12VAC5-191 was conducted starting on April 6, 2011. The public comment period ended on May 30, 2011. An ad hoc regulatory workgroup met on June 2, 2011, to review the regulation and public comments.

The workgroup recommended amending the regulation through the fast-track rulemaking process to correct references to other regulations, laws, and organizational entities that have changed since the regulation went into effect in 2007.

This regulation is essential to outline program services for children with special health care needs that are made available to eligible residents within available appropriations and to help those residents qualify for federal Title V and other available funds for plan administration. Although the program is neither an entitlement nor a federal, state, or local public benefit, the program does offer certain services and assistance, contingent upon adequate funding, which may affect the rights of individuals.

Other state-mandated initiatives, such as the Virginia Newborn Screening System, Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System, Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program, and Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network also identify and serve children with special health care needs. These programs, several of which have separate regulations, are now referenced in this regulation as well.

The amended regulation serves to protect the health and welfare of children with special health care needs.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: Executive Order 14 (2010) allows state agencies to use a fast-track rulemaking process to expedite regulatory changes that are expected to be noncontroversial. The amendments to 12VAC5-191-10, 12VAC5-191-40, 12VAC5-191-80, and 12VAC5-191-210 are not substantive changes. These amendments will update certain terms and references to other regulations, laws, and organizational entities that have changed since 2007. The amendments to 12VAC 5-191-90 and 12VAC 5-191-250 are substantive but are not expected to be controversial.

Substance: The amendments to 12VAC5-191-90 remove multiple specific citations to privacy and confidentiality laws and substitute the term "all applicable federal and state laws and regulations." The amendments to 12VAC5-191-250 reflect changes in organizational structure and functions due to changes in grant funding and activities. Otherwise the amendments are for clarification and to update citations.

Issues: The primary advantage of amending this regulation is to keep references within the regulation current and up to date. There are no primary disadvantages.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The State Board of Health proposes to update references to other regulations, laws, and organizational entities. The proposed changes also reflect the updated functions of genetics and newborn screening services stemming from changes in grant funding.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The State Board of Health proposes to update references to other regulations, laws, and organizational entities. The proposed changes also reflect the updated functions of genetics and newborn screening services stemming from changes in grant funding.

None of the proposed regulations will have an impact on the current practices followed by Virginia Department of Health. Thus, the proposed changes are not expected to have any significant direct economic impact other than improving the clarity and accuracy of the regulatory language.

Businesses and Entities Affected. Currently, approximately 9,900 children under age 21 are served by the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed regulations apply throughout the Commonwealth.

Projected Impact on Employment. No significant impact on employment is expected.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. No significant impact on the use and value of private property is expected.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. No significant costs or other effects on small businesses are expected.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed regulations are not anticipated to have an adverse impact on small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. No significant effect on real estate development costs is expected.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Virginia Department of Health has reviewed the economic impact analysis pertaining to this regulatory action and concurs with its findings.

Summary:

The amendments (i) update references to other regulations and laws and (ii) modify references where organizational structures, names, or functions have changed since the regulation was promulgated in 2007.

12VAC5-191-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this regulation shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Appeal" means the client's right to seek relief from an unfavorable decision in obtaining services or assistance included in the plan.

"Applicant" means an individual who applies for the services under this regulation. An application may be filed for or on behalf of a minor or person under a legal disability by a parent, legal guardian, and attorney in fact, or an attorney at law.

"Bleeding disorders" means inherited problems in coagulation caused by missing or poorly functioning proteins in the blood such as hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Care coordination" means a process that links individuals and their families to services and resources in a coordinated effort to maximize their potential and provide them with optimal health care.

"Center" means a unit providing Care Connection for Children services.

"CCC" means Care Connection for Children.

"Children and youth with special health care needs" means individuals who are ages birth to their twenty-first birthday and have, or are at increased risk for, a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.

"Client" means an individual who meets all the eligibility criteria for a program and has been accepted for services.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health.

"Community-based" means a framework within which a variety of programs work together to meet the many, varied needs of children, youth, and families in communities.

"CSHCN" means children with special health care needs.

"Culturally-competent" means the ability to provide services to clients that honor different cultural beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes and behaviors and the use of multicultural staff in the policy development, administration, and provision of those services.

"Department" means the state Virginia Department of Health and includes the central office, regional offices, health districts, and local health departments.

"Developmental disorder" means a delay(s) in maturation or deviant maturation of physical, language, sensory, motor, cognitive, social, learning or self-help capabilities to the extent that there is a negative impact on a child's ability to adapt to or cope with the typical environmental demands as expected for chronological age.

"Direct health care services" means medically necessary services for the treatment and monitoring of a condition(s) covered by the program. The services are generally delivered one-on-one between a health care professional and a client in an office, home, clinic, outpatient department, or hospital.

"Director" means the Director, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

"Division" means the Division of Child and Adolescent Family Health.

"Enabling services" means support services that allow or provide for access to and the receipt of benefits from an array of basic health care services.

"Family" means the client and other such household members who together constitute one economic unit. An economic unit is one or more individuals who generally reside together and share income.

"Family-centered care" means an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care whose cornerstone is active participation between families and professionals. Family-centered care recognizes that families are the ultimate decision makers for their children, with children gradually taking on more and more of this decision-making themselves.

"Family-to-family support" means the provision of information and peer support among families having experience with family members having special health care needs.

"Guardian" means a court-appointed guardian of the person.

"Information and referral services" means assisting clients and their families to find available services, responding to inquiries from the general public, and disseminating information for accessing specific services.

"MCH" means maternal and child health.

"Medical home" means a concept in which the child has an ongoing source of health care from a primary care physician who works together with the family to ensure that the child has accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective medical care.

"Parent" means a biological or adoptive parent or a stepparent.

"Plan" means the State Plan for the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program prepared pursuant to Title V of the United States Social Security Act, as amended.

"Pool of funds" means funds designated for payment of direct health care services. Access to the pool is not an entitlement and is subject to availability of funds and guidelines that govern its eligibility and coverage of services.

"Population-based services" means preventive interventions and personal health services developed and available for the entire MCH population of the Commonwealth rather than for individuals in a one-on-one situation.

"Program" means the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

"Provider" means an individual or agency that provides a service under an agreement between the individual or agency and the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program or its contractors.

"Resident" means an individual who resides within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth.

"Services" means those activities provided or arranged by the various programs within the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

"Sickle cell disease" means any inherited hemoglobin pattern with a predominance of hemoglobin (S) in absence of, or greater than normal hemoglobin (A); or hemoglobin S with another hemoglobin variant such as C, D, or E or beta thalassemia.

"Sickle Cell Program Manager" means an employee of the Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network who is designated to be responsible for the administration of the statewide Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network.

"Transition services" means assisting the client and his family in the process of making necessary changes from life as a youth with special health care needs to life as an adult with special health care needs. Aspects to be addressed include health and wellness; education, vocation, and employment; mobility, transportation, and recreation; and legal, insurance, disability benefits, and housing.

"Underinsured" means having medically necessary service needs that exceed an individual's health insurance coverage limits.

"Uninsured" means having no private health insurance or state or federal medical assistance coverage.

12VAC5-191-40. Scope and content of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program.

A. Mission. The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program promotes the optimal health and development of individuals living in the Commonwealth with special health care needs by working in partnership with families, service providers, and communities.

B. Scope. The scope of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program includes the following:

1. Direct health care services.

2. Enabling services.

3. Population-based services.

4. Assessment of community health status and available resources.

5. Policy development to support and encourage better health.

C. Networks and Services. The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program administers the following networks and services:

1. Care Connection for Children.

2. Child Development Services.

3. Virginia Bleeding Disorders Program.

4. Pediatric Screening and Genetics Services Genetics and Newborn Screening Services.

a. Virginia Newborn Screening System.

b. Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System.

5. Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program.

6. Pediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Network.

C. D. Target population. The target population to receive services from the networks and programs within the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program are the following:

1. Residents of the Commonwealth.

2. Individuals between the ages of birth and their twenty-first birthday except that the Virginia Bleeding Disorders Program and the Virginia Sickle Cell Awareness Program serve individuals of all ages.

3. Individuals diagnosed as having, or are at increased risk for having, a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.

Each network and program within the CSHCN Program has its own specific eligibility criteria.

D. E. Goals. The Title V national performance measures, as required by the federal Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA-Pub. L. 103-62), are used to establish the program goals.

12VAC5-191-80. Appeal process.

A. An applicant for or client in receipt of services or assistance, as defined in this plan, may appeal the following actions:

1. Denial of services or assistance.

2. Termination of services or assistance.

3. Adverse determination regarding financial eligibility.

There are no further rights of appeal except as set forth in this section. Applicants or clients have no right of appeal of a denial of services or assistance because of a lack of funds.

B. The applicant or client has the right to receive a written statement of the reasons for denial and be informed in writing of the appeal process, including time limits.

C. If a client already receiving services or assistance is denied those services or assistance, a written notice of termination including the reason of denial shall be given 30 days in advance of discontinuing services.

D. First level of appeal: An individual or his representative may make a written or oral appeal to the employee designated to be responsible for the administration of the different programs (the Care Connection for Children Program Director, Administrative Director for the Child Development Services, Bleeding Disorders Program Coordinator, or Sickle Cell Program Manager) within 30 days of the denial of service. The respective program director, administrative director, program coordinator, or program manager shall review and make a written decision to the individual or his representative within 15 days from the date of receipt of the appeal.

E. Second level of appeal: If the individual is not satisfied with the decision provided at the first level of appeal, the individual may appeal the decision in writing to the Director of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program within 30 days of the denial from the individual program.

F. Upon receipt of the appeal, the director shall review and make written recommendations to the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, within 15 days. The director shall consider all written information and may confer, as deemed necessary, with the department's adjudication officer in the Office of Family Health Services or other relevant experts.

G. Within 45 days following the date on which an appeal is filed, the commissioner, or commissioner's designee, shall make a final decision.

12VAC5-191-90. Privacy.

A. The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and program subcontractors shall protect the privacy of the client's personal health information and the confidentiality of medical records in accordance with §§ 2.2-3700 through 2.2-3705.1, 2.2-3705.5, 2.2-3800 through 2.2-3809, 32.1-40, 32.1-41, 32.1-64.2, 32.1-67.1, 32.1-69, 32.1-69.2, 32.1-127.1:03, and 32.1-127.1:04 of the Code of Virginia; the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 USC §§ 1320 d et seq. and 45 CFR Part 164); and Title V of the Social Security Act (42 USC §§ 701-710, Subchapter V, Chapter 7 and 42 CFR 51a.6) all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

B. Access to minor's minors' health records and the authority to consent to surgical and medical treatment for certain minors shall be administered in accordance with §§ 20-124.6 and 54.1-2969 of the Code of Virginia, respectively.

C. Surveillance and investigation shall be consistent with §§ 32.1-39, 32.1-40, 32.1-41 and 32.1-66 of the Code of Virginia.

D. The department's children Children with special health care needs program Special Health Care Needs Program and its contractors shall maintain security and confidentiality of databases in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

12VAC5-191-210. Score Scope and content of the Child Development Services Program.

A. Mission. The Child Development Services Program promotes the optimal physical, language, cognitive, social, learning, self-help, behavioral, and emotional development and well-being of children.

B. Scope of services. The child development clinics provide pediatric services in the specialty area of developmental and behavioral pediatrics. This health care field specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of developmental and psychosocial aspects of pediatric health care including developmental disorders and emotional, behavioral, and psychosomatic problems.

Services offered at each clinic location may vary according to the needs of the community, expertise of the professional staff, and the overall goals and objectives for the current program.

The Child Development Services network provides the following direct health care services and enabling services:

1. Interdisciplinary evaluations that may include a pediatric medical examination, nurse evaluation, psychosocial history, psychological assessment, and educational evaluation.

2. Treatment planning that may include the evaluation team developing a written report that integrates their findings, establishes diagnoses, and formulates recommendations for each client.

3. Care coordination.

4. Consultation.

5. Screenings for early identification of persons with developmental disorders.

6. Screening services to assist other agencies in their program implementation as may be described in a contract or memorandum of agreement.

7. Information and referral.

8. Intervention services that may include medical, psychosocial, educational, or interdisciplinary treatment services.

9. Training and technical assistance for community providers.

C. Criteria to receive services from Child Development Services. Children and youth are eligible to receive services from Child Development Services if they are:

1. Residents of the Commonwealth.

2. Between the ages of birth and their twenty-first birthday.

3. Suspected to have or diagnosed with developmental, emotional or behavioral disorder or presence of severe or multiple risk factors for these conditions.

No financial eligibility criteria are required for clients to receive the enabling services. However, clients who meet the above criteria must also meet the financial requirements to receive direct health care services based on a sliding scale charge schedule. The amount of the required charge shall be in accordance with the State Board of Health Regulation Regulations Governing Eligibility Standards and Charges for Health Medical Care Services to Individuals, 12VAC5-200.

D. Goals. The Title V national performance measures, as required by the federal Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA-Pub. L. 103-62), are used to establish the program goals. The following goals shall change as needed to be consistent with the Title V national performance measures:

1. Children who are at greatest risk for developmental, emotional and behavioral disorders and in need of related services will receive early screening, diagnosis, and assistance in finding and accessing needed services.

2. Other state and local agencies will receive assistance in providing effective coordinated services for persons with special health care needs.

12VAC5-191-250. Pediatric Screening and Genetics Services Genetics and Newborn Screening Services.

The Pediatric Screening and Genetics Services unit Genetics and Newborn Screening Services works to improve the health of children and families by preventing birth defects and developmental disabilities, promoting optimal child development, and promoting health and wellness among children and adolescents living with disabilities.

Pediatric Screening and Genetics Services include several programs, services, and projects, two of which are Genetics and Newborn Screening Services includes the Virginia Newborn Screening System and the Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System.

Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-481. Virginia Radiation Protection Regulations (amending 12VAC5-481-10, 12VAC5-481-290, 12VAC5-481-340, 12VAC5-481-350, 12VAC5-481-2110, 12VAC5-481-3410; adding 12VAC5-481-1581, 12VAC5-481-1591, 12VAC5-481-1601, 12VAC5-481-1611, 12VAC5-481-1621, 12VAC5-481-1631, 12VAC5-481-1641, 12VAC5-481-1651, 12VAC5-481-1653, 12VAC5-481-1655, 12VAC5-481-1657; repealing 12VAC5-481-1580, 12VAC5-481-1590, 12VAC5-481-1600, 12VAC5-481-1610, 12VAC5-481-1620, 12VAC5-481-1630, 12VAC5-481-1640, 12VAC5-481-1650).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 31, 2014.

Agency Contact: Steve Harrison, Acting Director, Division of Radiological Health, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-7001, FAX (804) 864-7022, or email steve.harrison@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the State Board of Health to require the licensure and inspection of radioactive materials facilities, and mandates inspections of mammography facilities. Section 32.1-229.1 of the Code of Virginia requires the board to promulgate regulations (i) for the registration, inspection, and certification of x-ray machines and (ii) to set the criteria for private inspectors.

Purpose: During the 2006 revision of the Virginia Radiation Protection Regulations, and in order for Virginia to become an Agreement State, some definitions were deleted to comply with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's rules (10 CFR). Some of these definitions, however, were used by the x-ray program. The proposed amendments will reinsert these definitions and update their verbiage such that they would apply only to X-ray registrants.

The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) has Suggested State Regulations (SSR) upon which individual states may base their regulations. 12VAC5-481 was based upon the SSRs in 2006.

The sections in Part VI were repealed and new sections were inserted that include the 2009 revised CRCPD SSRs to ensure that Virginia's regulations conform to the most recent SSRs.

Substance: The CRCPD SSRs were updated in 2009 to reflect current practices and devices used in the x-ray field. Virginia's x-ray regulations were last updated to conform to the CRCPD SSRs in 2006. 12VAC5-481 is amended to reflect and conform to the current practices and to include regulations that govern all devices used in the x-ray field.

Issues: The advantage of the proposed regulation is that businesses regulated by both federal agencies and the department will operate under identical standards, which will eliminate some confusion, particularly with respect to occupational worker standards and x-ray machine performance standards. Another advantage for health care professionals and patients is that regulations governing the application of radiation will meet nationally recognized performance standards, which will promote quality of care. The proposed amendments include definitions that were removed in 2006 that pertain to the x-ray program. There are no disadvantages to the public in promulgating the proposed regulation.

The advantage of the proposed regulation to the agency is that fewer interpretations of the regulation will be needed for new radiation machines or materials that were developed since the promulgation of the existing regulation and not addressed. Another advantage is that agency staff will no longer need to take additional time to explain regulatory differences to facilities that are dually regulated by a federal agency. There are no disadvantages to the agency in promulgating the proposed regulation.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The State Board of Health (Board) proposes to amend these regulations to: 1) reflect changes to federal regulations, 2) reflect new X-ray modalities in the medical field, 3) reduce the frequency of required inspections for lower-risk equipment, 4) update definitions, and 5) update formatting and style to meet the current Virginia Register Form, Style, and Procedure Manual.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The proposed amendments that reflect federal regulations will not change requirements for the regulated community since they are already required to follow federal rules. Amending the state regulations to reflect the federal rules will be beneficial in that it will improve clarity.

The Board proposes to permit the use of portable hand-held x-ray dental equipment under specified requirements. Currently these are not permitted. The devices are considered safe and are known to be in demand. Thus this proposal should produce a net benefit.

The Board also proposes to change the frequency of the radiation survey requirement for analytical x-ray systems from once every year to once every five years. Due to the nature of the equipment, safety is not expected to be adversely affected. Private inspectors charge approximately $250 per unit inspection.¹ There are approximately 1250 units in the Commonwealth.² Thus, there would be approximately $250,000 savings annually.³

Businesses and Entities Affected. Currently, the X-ray program registers approximately 7,500 entities, including medical offices, hospitals, laboratories, courts, etc. Approximately 7,000 of these entities meet the small business criteria.⁴ Also, the proposal to permit the use of portable hand-held x-ray dental equipment under specified requirements will affect the manufacturers and sellers of these devices.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed amendments do not disproportionately affect particular localities.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposed amendments are unlikely to significantly affect employment.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposal to change the frequency of the radiation survey requirement for analytical x-ray systems from once every year to once every five years would save private users of analytical x-ray systems $200 per unit average over each five-year period.⁵ The proposal to permit the use of portable hand-held x-ray dental equipment under specified requirements will increase the use of these devices and likely increase profits for the manufacturers and sellers of the devices.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposal to change the frequency of the radiation survey requirement for analytical x-ray systems from once every year to once every five years would save small businesses that use analytical x-ray systems $200 per unit average over each five-year period.⁶

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed regulations do not adversely affect small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed amendments are unlikely to significantly affect real estate development costs.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

__________________________________

¹ Source: Interview with a Virginia private inspector

² Source: Virginia Department of Health

³ $250 x 1250 x 4/5 = $250,000

⁴ Source: Virginia Department of Health

⁵ $250 x 4/5 = $250

⁶ Ibid

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Division of Radiological Health has reviewed the economic impact analysis prepared by the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget dated March 17, 2012. The division has the following comments:

1. In the Estimated Economic Impact section on Page 1, it states private inspectors charge approximately $250 per unit inspection. According to footnote 1 it states source: interview with a Virginia private inspector. The division recommends the sentence be changed to: One private inspector charges approximately $250 per unit inspection.

2. The next sentence states that there are approximately 1250 units in the Commonwealth. Thus, there would be approximately $250,000 savings annually. These units are not required to be inspected; thus, this statement is not accurate. DPB's sentence should be amended to include if the units are required to be inspected. This analysis is based upon 12VAC5-481-2110 which states that radiation surveys as required by 12VAC5-481-750. The regulation in 12VAC5-481-750 is a radiation survey and not an inspection. The division will begin to develop a new regulatory action to address this.

3. The division recommends that a statement be included in the Small Businesses section that this is based upon one private inspector's cost and if the unit was required to be inspected under 12VAC5-481. Currently the regulations for analytical X-ray equipment under Part VIII are not required to be inspected. The division will begin to develop a new regulatory action to address this.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) reflect changes to federal regulations, (ii) reflect new x-ray modalities in the medical field, (iii) reduce the frequency of required inspections for lower-risk equipment, (iv) update definitions, and (v) make minor grammatical and clarifying changes.

Part I
General Provisions

12VAC5-481-10. Definitions.

As used in these regulations, these terms have the definitions set forth below.

"A₁" means the maximum activity of special form radioactive material permitted in a Type A package. This value is listed in Table 1 of 12VAC5-481-3770.

"A₂" means the maximum activity of radioactive material, other than special form radioactive material, LSA, and SCO material, permitted in a Type A package. This value is listed in Table 1 of 12VAC5-481-3770.

"Absorbed dose" means the energy imparted by ionizing radiation per unit mass of irradiated material. The units of absorbed dose are the gray (Gy) and the rad.

"Absorbed dose rate" means absorbed dose per unit time, for machines with timers, or dose monitor unit per unit time for linear accelerators.

"Accelerator" means any machine capable of accelerating electrons, protons, deuterons, or other charged particles in a vacuum and of discharging the resultant particulate or other radiation into a medium at energies usually in excess of one MeV. For purposes of this definition, "particle accelerator" is an equivalent term.

"Accelerator-produced material" means any material made radioactive by a particle accelerator.

"Accessible surface" means the external surface of the enclosure or housing of the radiation producing machine as provided by the manufacturer. It also means surface of equipment or of an equipment part that can be easily or accidentally touched by persons without the use of a tool.

"Act" means §§ 32.1-227 through 32.1-238 of the Code of Virginia.

"Active maintenance" means any significant activity needed during the period of institutional control to maintain a reasonable assurance that the performance objectives in 12VAC5-481-2490 and 12VAC5-481-2500 are met. Such active maintenance includes ongoing activities such as the pumping and treatment of water from a disposal unit or one-time measures such as replacement of a disposal unit cover. Active maintenance does not include custodial activities such as repair of fencing, repair or replacement of monitoring equipment, revegetation, minor additions to soil cover, minor repair of disposal unit covers, and general disposal site upkeep such as mowing grass.

"Activity" means the rate of disintegration or transformation or decay of radioactive material. The units of activity are the becquerel (Bq) and the curie (Ci).

"Acute" means a single radiation dose or chemical exposure event or multiple radiation dose or chemical exposure events occurring within a short time (24 hours or less).

"Added filtration" means any filtration that is in addition to the inherent filtration.

"Address of use" means the building or buildings that are identified on the license and where radioactive material may be produced, prepared, received, used, or stored.

"Adult" means an individual 18 or more years of age.

"Agency" means the Radiological Health Program of the Virginia Department of Health.

"Agreement state" means any state with which the NRC or the Atomic Energy Commission has entered into an effective agreement under subsection 274b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (73 Stat. 689).

"Airborne radioactive material" means any radioactive material dispersed in the air in the form of dusts, fumes, particulates, mists, vapors, or gases.

"Airborne radioactivity area" means a room, enclosure, or area in which airborne radioactive materials composed wholly or partly of licensed material exist in concentrations:

1. In excess of the derived air concentrations (DACs) specified in 12VAC5-481-3690; or

2. To such a degree that an individual present in the area without respiratory protective equipment could exceed, during the hours an individual is present in a week, an intake of 0.6% of the annual limit on intake (ALI) or 12 DAC-hours.

"Air kerma (K)" or "K" means the kinetic energy released in air by ionizing radiation. Kerma is determined as the quotient of De by Dm, where De is the sum of the initial kinetic energies of all the charged ionizing particles liberated by uncharged ionizing particles in air of mass Dm. The SI unit of air kerma is joule per kilogram and the special name for the unit of kerma is the gray (Gy) kerma in air (see definition of "kerma").

"Air kerma rate" or "AKR" means the air kerma per unit time.

"Air-purifying respirator" means a respirator with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air-purifying element.

"Alert" means events may occur, are in progress, or have occurred that could lead to a release of radioactive material but that the release is not expected to require a response by offsite response organizations to protect persons offsite.

"Aluminum equivalent" means the thickness of type 1100 aluminum alloy affording the same attenuation, under specified conditions, as the material in question. The nominal chemical composition of type 100 aluminum is 99.00% minimum aluminum, 0.12% copper.

"Analytical X-ray x-ray equipment" means equipment used for X-ray x-ray diffraction or fluorescence analysis.

"Analytical X-ray x-ray system" means a group of components utilizing x-rays or gamma-rays to determine the elemental composition or to examine the microstructure of materials.

"Annual limit on intake" (ALI) or "ALI" means the derived limit for the amount of radioactive material taken into the body of an adult worker by inhalation or ingestion in a year. ALI is the smaller value of intake of a given radionuclide in a year by the reference man that would result in a committed effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem) or a committed dose equivalent of 0.5 Sv (50 rem) to any individual organ or tissue. ALI values for intake by ingestion and by inhalation of selected radionuclides are given in Tables 1 and 2 in 12VAC5-481-3690.

"Annual refresher safety training" means a review conducted or provided by the licensee or registrant for its employees on radiation safety aspects of industrial radiography. The review shall include, as a minimum, any results of internal inspections, new procedures or equipment, new or revised regulations, and accidents or errors that have been observed. The review shall also provide opportunities for employees to ask safety questions.

"Annually" means at intervals not to exceed one year.

"ANSI" means the American National Standards Institute.

"Area of use" means a portion of a physical structure that has been set aside for the purpose of producing, preparing, receiving, using, or storing radioactive material.

"Assigned protection factor (APF)" or "APF" means the expected workplace level of respiratory protection that would be provided by a properly functioning respirator or a class of respirators to properly fitted and trained users. Operationally, the inhaled concentration can be estimated by dividing the ambient airborne concentration by the APF.

"As low as is reasonably achievable" (ALARA) or "ALARA" means making every reasonable effort to maintain exposures to radiation as far below the dose limits in these regulations as is practical, consistent with the purpose for which the licensed or registered activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to state of technology, the economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed or registered sources of radiation in the public interest.

"Articulated joint" means a joint between two separate sections of a tabletop that provides the capacity for one of the sections to pivot on the line segment along which the sections join.

"Assembler" means any person engaged in the business of assembling, replacing, or installing one or more components into an X-ray x-ray system or subsystem. The term includes the owner of an X-ray x-ray system or his or her employee or agent who assembles components into an X-ray x-ray system that is subsequently used to provide professional or commercial services.

"Associated equipment" means equipment that is used in conjunction with a radiographic exposure device to make radiographic exposures that drive, guide, or come in contact with the source.

"Atmosphere-supplying respirator" means a respirator that supplies the respirator user with breathing air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere, and includes supplied-air respirators (SARs) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

"Attenuation block" means a block or stack, having dimensions 20 centimeters by 20 centimeters by 3.8 centimeters, of type 1100 aluminum alloy or other materials having equivalent attenuation. The nominal chemical composition of type 100 aluminum is 99.00% minimum aluminum, 0.12% copper.

"Authorized medical physicist" means an individual who:

1. Meets the requirements in 12VAC5-481-1760 and 12VAC5-481-1790; or

2. Is identified as an authorized medical physicist or teletherapy physicist on:

a. A specific medical use license issued by the NRC or another agreement state;

b. A medical use permit issued by an NRC master material licensee;

c. A permit issued by an NRC or another agreement state broad scope medical use licensee; or

d. A permit issued by an NRC master material license broad scope medical use permittee.

"Authorized nuclear pharmacist" means a pharmacist who:

1. Meets the requirements in 12VAC5-481-1770 and 12VAC5-481-1790;

2. Is identified as an authorized nuclear pharmacist on:

a. A specific license issued by the NRC or another agreement state that authorizes medical use or the practice of nuclear pharmacy;

b. A permit issued by an NRC master material licensee that authorizes medical use or the practice of nuclear pharmacy;

c. A permit issued by an NRC or another agreement state broad scope medical use licensee that authorizes medical use or the practice of nuclear pharmacy; or

d. A permit issued by an NRC master material license broad scope medical use permittee that authorizes medical use or the practice of nuclear pharmacy;

3. Is identified as an authorized nuclear pharmacist by a commercial nuclear pharmacy that has been authorized to identify authorized nuclear pharmacists; or

4. Is designated as an authorized nuclear pharmacist in accordance with 12VAC5-481-440 I 2.

"Authorized user" means a practitioner of the healing arts who:

1. Meets the requirements in 12VAC5-481-1790 and any of the following:

a. 12VAC5-481-1910;

b. 12VAC5-481-1940;

c. 12VAC5-481-1980;

d. 12VAC5-481-1990;

e. 12VAC5-481-2000;

f. 12VAC5-481-2010;

g. 12VAC5-481-2030;

h. 12VAC5-481-2040; or

2. Is identified as an authorized user on:

a. A specific license issued by the NRC or another agreement state that authorizes medical use;

b. A permit issued by an NRC master material licensee that authorizes medical use;

c. A permit issued by an NRC or another agreement state broad scope medical use licensee that authorizes medical use; or

d. A permit issued by an NRC master material license broad scope medical use permittee that authorizes medical use.

"Automatic exposure control (AEC)" or "AEC" means a device that automatically controls one or more technique factors in order to obtain, at a preselected location(s), a required quantity of radiation (includes devices such as phototimers and ion chambers).

"Background radiation" means radiation from cosmic sources, naturally occurring radioactive materials, that have not been technologically enhanced, including radon, except as a decay product of source or special nuclear material, and including global fallout as it exists in the environment from the testing of nuclear explosive devices, or from past nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl that contribute to background radiation and are not under the control of the licensee or registrant. "Background radiation" does not include sources of radiation from radioactive materials regulated by the agency.

"Barrier" (See "Protective barrier").

"Beam axis" means a line from the source through the centers of the X-ray x-ray fields.

"Beam-limiting device" means a device that provides a means to restrict the dimensions of the X-ray x-ray field.

"Beam monitoring system" means a system designed and installed in the radiation head to detect and measure the radiation present in the useful beam.

"Beam scattering foil" means a thin piece of material (usually metallic) placed in the beam to scatter a beam of electrons in order to provide a more uniform electron distribution in the useful beam.

"Becquerel" (Bq) or "Bq" means the SI unit of activity. One becquerel is equal to one disintegration or transformation per second (dps or tps).

"Beneficial attribute" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, the radioactivity of the product necessary to the use of the product.

"Beneficial to the product" see "Beneficial attribute."

"Bent beam linear accelerator" means a linear accelerator geometry in which the accelerated electron beam must change direction by passing through a bending magnet.

"Bioassay" means the determination of kinds, quantities or concentrations, and, in some cases, the locations of radioactive material in the human body, whether by direct measurement, in-vivo counting, or by analysis and evaluation of materials excreted or removed from the human body. For purposes of these regulations, "radiobioassay" is an equivalent term.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Brachytherapy" means a method of radiation therapy in which sealed sources are utilized to deliver a radiation dose at a distance of up to a few centimeters, by surface, intracavitary, or interstitial application.

"Buffer zone" means a portion of the disposal site that is controlled by the licensee and that lies under the disposal units and between the disposal units and the boundary of the site.

"Byproduct material" means:

1. Any radioactive material (except special nuclear material) yielded in, or made radioactive by, exposure to the radiation incident to the process of producing or using special nuclear material;

2. The tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium from ore processed primarily for its source material content, including discrete surface wastes resulting from uranium solution extraction processes. Underground ore bodies depleted by these solution extraction operations do not constitute "byproduct material" within this definition;

3. a. Any discrete source of radium-226 that is produced, extracted, or converted after extraction, before, on, or after August 8, 2005, for use for a commercial, medical, or research activity; or

b. Any material that:

(1) Has been made radioactive by use of a particle accelerator; and

(2) Is produced, extracted, or converted after extraction, before, on, or after August 8, 2005, for use for a commercial, medical, or research activity; and

4. Any discrete source of naturally occurring radioactive material, other than source material, that:

a. The NRC, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the head of any other appropriate federal agency, determines would pose a threat similar to the threat posed by a discrete source of radium-226 to the public health and safety or the common defense and security; and

b. Before, on, or after August 8, 2005, is extracted or converted after extraction for use in a commercial, medical, or research activity.

"C-arm X-ray system fluoroscope" means an X-ray x-ray system in which the image receptor and X-ray x-ray tube housing assembly are connected by a common mechanical support system in order to maintain a desired spatial relationship. This system is designed to allow a change in the projection of the beam through the patient without a change in the position of the patient.

"Cabinet radiography" means industrial radiography conducted in an enclosure or cabinet so shielded that every location on the exterior meets the dose limits for individual members of the public as specified in 12VAC5-481-720.

"Cabinet X-ray x-ray system" means an X-ray x-ray system with the X-ray x-ray tube installed in an enclosure independent of existing architectural structures except the floor on which it may be placed. The cabinet X-ray x-ray system is intended to contain at least that portion of a material being irradiated, provide radiation attenuation, and exclude personnel from its interior during generation of radiation. Included are all X-ray x-ray systems designed primarily for the inspection of carry-on baggage at airline, railroad, and bus terminals, and in similar facilities. An X-ray x-ray tube used within a shielded part of a building, or X-ray x-ray equipment that may temporarily or occasionally incorporate portable shielding, is not considered a cabinet X-ray x-ray system.

"Calendar quarter" means not less than 12 consecutive weeks nor more than 14 consecutive weeks. The first calendar quarter of each year shall begin in January and subsequent calendar quarters shall be so arranged such that no day is included in more than one calendar quarter and no day in any one year is omitted from inclusion within a calendar quarter. The method observed by the licensee or registrant for determining calendar quarters shall only be changed at the beginning of a year.

"Calibration" means the determination of (i) the response or reading of an instrument relative to a series of known radiation values over the range of the instrument or (ii) the strength of a source of radiation relative to a standard.

"Camera" (See "Radiographic exposure device").

"Carrier" means a person engaged in the transportation of passengers or property by land or water as a common, contract, or private carrier, or by civil aircraft.

"Cassette holder" means a device, other than a spot-film device, that supports or fixes the position of an x-ray film (imaging) cassette during an x-ray exposure.

"Cephalometric device" means a device intended for the radiographic visualization and measurement of the dimensions of the human head.

"Certifiable cabinet X-ray x-ray system" means an existing uncertified X-ray x-ray system that has been modified to meet the certification requirements specified in 21 CFR 1020.40.

"Certificate holder" means a person who has been issued a certificate of compliance or other package approval by the NRC.

"Certificate of compliance (CoC)" or "COC" means the certificate issued by the NRC that approves the design of a package for the transportation of radioactive material.

"Certified cabinet X-ray x-ray system" means an X-ray x-ray system that has been certified in accordance with 21 CFR 1010.2 as being manufactured and assembled pursuant to the provisions of 21 CFR 1020.40.

"Certified components" means components of X-ray x-ray systems that are subject to regulations promulgated under Pub.L. 90-602, the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968 of the Food and Drug Administration.

"Certified system" means any X-ray system which has one or more certified component(s).

"Certifying entity" means an independent certifying organization meeting the agency's requirements for documenting applicant's training in topics set forth in 12VAC5-481-1320 or equivalent state or NRC regulations.

"CFR" means Code of Federal Regulations.

"Changeable filters" means any filter, exclusive of inherent filtration, that can be removed from the useful beam through any electronic, mechanical, or physical process.

"Chelating agent" means amine polycarboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, gluconic acid, and polycarboxylic acids.

"Chemical description" means a description of the principal chemical characteristics of a low-level radioactive waste.

"Class" means a classification scheme for inhaled material according to its rate of clearance from the pulmonary region of the lung. Materials are classified as D, W, or Y, which applies to a range of clearance half-times: for Class D, Days, of less than 10 days; for Class W, Weeks, from 10 to 100 days; and for Class Y, Years, of greater than 100 days. For purposes of these regulations, "lung class" and "inhalation class" are equivalent terms.

"Closed transport vehicle" means a transport vehicle equipped with a securely attached exterior enclosure that during normal transportation restricts the access of unauthorized persons to the cargo space containing the radioactive material. The enclosure may be either temporary or permanent but shall limit access from top, sides, and ends. In the case of packaged materials, it may be of the "see-through" type.

"cm" means centimeters.

"Coefficient of variation (C)" or "C" means the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean value of a set population of observations. It is estimated using the following equation:

where:

s = Standard deviation of the observed values;

X̅ = Mean value of observations in sample;

x_i = i_th observation in sample;

n = Number of observations in sample.

"Collective dose" means the sum of the individual doses received in a given period of time by a specified population from exposure to a specified source of radiation.

"Collimator" means a device used to limit the size, shape, and direction of the primary radiation beam. For industrial radiography it means a radiation shield that is placed on the end of the guide tube or directly onto a radiographic exposure device to restrict the size of the radiation beam when the sealed source is cranked into position to make a radiographic exposure.

"Commencement of construction" means any clearing of land, excavation, or other substantial action that would adversely affect the environment of a land disposal facility. The term does not mean disposal site exploration, necessary roads for disposal site exploration, borings to determine foundation conditions, or other preconstruction monitoring or testing to establish background information related to the suitability of the disposal site or the protection of environmental values.

"Committed dose equivalent" (H_T,50) or "H_T,50" means the dose equivalent to organs or tissues of reference (T) that will be received from an intake of radioactive material by an individual during the 50-year period following the intake.

"Committed effective dose equivalent" (H_{E, 50}) or "H_{E, 50}" is the sum of the products of the weighting factors (w_T) applicable to each of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated and the committed dose equivalent to each of these organs or tissues (H_E,50 = Σ (w_T H_T,50)).

"Computed tomography" means the production of a tomogram by the acquisition and computer processing of X-ray x-ray transmission data.

"Computed tomography dose index" means the integral from -7T to +7T of the dose profile along a line perpendicular to the tomographic plane divided by the product of the nominal tomographic section thickness and the number of tomograms produced in a single scan, that is:

where:

z = Position along a line perpendicular to the tomographic plane;

D(z) = Dose at position z;

T = Nominal tomographic section thickness;

n = Number of tomograms produced in a single scan.

This definition assumes that the dose profile is centered around z = 0 and that, for a multiple tomogram system, the scan increment between adjacent scans is nT.

"Computer-readable medium" means that the regulatory agency's computer can transfer the information from the medium into its memory.

"Consignee" means the designated receiver of the shipment of low-level radioactive waste.

"Consignment" means each shipment of a package or groups of packages or load of radioactive material offered by a shipper for transport.

"Consortium" means an association of medical use licensees and a PET radionuclide production facility in the same geographical area that jointly own or share in the operation and maintenance cost of the PET radionuclide production facility that produces PET radionuclides for use in producing radioactive drugs within the consortium for noncommercial distributions among its associated members for medical use. The PET radionuclide production facility within the consortium must be located at an educational institution or a federal facility or a medical facility.

"Constraint" means each shipment of a package or groups of packages or load of radioactive material offered by a shipper for transport.

"Constraint (dose constraint)" or "dose constraint" means a value above which specified licensee actions are required.

"Contact therapy system" means a therapeutic radiation machine with a short target to skin distance (TSD), usually less than five centimeters.

"Contrast scale" means the change in the linear attenuation coefficient per CTN relative to water, that is:

where:

μ_w = Linear attenuation coefficient of the material of interest;

μ_x = Linear attenuation coefficient of water;

= of the material of interest;

= of water.

"Control (drive) cable" or "drive" means the cable that is connected to the source assembly and used to drive the source to and from the exposure location.

"Control drive mechanism" means a device that enables the source assembly to be moved into and out of the exposure device.

"Control panel" means that part of the X-ray x-ray control upon which are mounted the switches, knobs, pushbuttons, and other hardware necessary for manually setting the technique factors.

"Control tube" means a protective sheath for guiding the control cable. The control tube connects the control drive mechanism to the radiographic exposure device.

"Controlled area" means an area, outside of a restricted area but inside the site boundary, access to which can be limited by the licensee for any reason.

"Conveyance" means:

1. For transport by public highway or rail any transport vehicle or large freight container;

2. For transport by water any vessel, or any hold, compartment, or defined deck area of a vessel including any transport vehicle on board the vessel; and

3. For transport by any aircraft.

"Cooling curve" means the graphical relationship between heat units stored and cooling time.

"Cradle" means either:

1. A removable device that supports and may restrain a patient above an x-ray table; or

2. A device:

a. Whose patient support structure is interposed between the patient and the image receptor during normal use;

b. Which is equipped with means for patient restraint; and

c. Which is capable of rotation about its long (longitudinal) axis.

"Critical group" means the group of individuals reasonably expected to receive the greatest exposure to residual radioactivity for any applicable set of circumstances.

"Criticality safety index (CSI)" or "CSI" means the dimensionless number (rounded up to the next tenth) assigned to and placed on the label of a fissile material package, to designate the degree of control of accumulation of packages containing fissile material during transportation. Determination of the criticality safety index is described in Part XIII (12VAC5-481-2950 et seq.).

"CS" (See "Contrast scale").

"CT" (See "Computed tomography").

"CT conditions of operation" means all selectable parameters governing the operation of a CT X-ray x-ray system including, but not limited to, nominal tomographic section thickness, filtration, and the technique factors as defined in these regulations.

"CTDI" (See "Computed tomography dose index").

"CT gantry" means the tube housing assemblies, beam-limiting devices, detectors, and the supporting structures and frames which hold these components.

"CTN" (See "CT number").

"CT Number" number" means the number used to represent the X-ray x-ray attenuation associated with each elemental area of the CT image.

where:

= A constant, a normal value of 1,000 when the Houndsfield scale of CTN is used;

= Linear attenuation coefficient of the material of interest;

= Linear attenuation coefficient of water.

"Cumulative air kerma" means the total air kerma accrued from the beginning of an examination or procedure and includes all contribution from fluoroscopic and radiographic irradiation.

"Curie" means a unit of quantity of activity. One curie (Ci) is that quantity of radioactive material that decays at the rate of 3.7E+10 disintegrations or transformations per second (dps or tps).

"Custodial agency" means an agency of the government designated to act on behalf of the government owner of the disposal site.

"Dead-man switch" means a switch so constructed that a circuit closing contact can be maintained only by continuous pressure on the switch by the operator.

"Declared pregnant woman" means a woman who has voluntarily informed the licensee, in writing, of her pregnancy and the estimated date of conception. The declaration remains in effect until the declared pregnant woman withdraws the declaration in writing or is no longer pregnant.

"Decommission" means to remove a facility or site safely from service and reduce residual radioactivity to a level that permits release of the property for unrestricted use and termination of the license or release of the property under restricted conditions and termination of the license.

"Decontamination facility" means a facility operating under a Commission or Agreement State license whose principal purpose is decontamination of equipment or materials to accomplish recycle, reuse, or other waste management objectives, and, for purposes of this part, is not considered to be a consignee for LLW shipments.

"Dedicated check source" means a radioactive source that is used to assure the constant operation of a radiation detection or measurement device over several months or years. This source may also be used for other purposes.

"Deep dose equivalent" (H_d), or "H_d," which applies to external whole body exposure, means the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of one centimeter (1000 mg/cm²).

"Demand respirator" means an atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece only when a negative pressure is created inside the facepiece by inhalation.

"Department of Energy" means the Department of Energy established by Pub. L. 95-91, August 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 565, 42 USC § 7101 et seq., to the extent that the Department exercises functions formerly vested in the Atomic Energy Commission, its Chairman, members, officers, and components and transferred to the Energy Research and Development Administration and to the Administrator thereof pursuant to sections 104(b), (c) and (d) of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-438, October 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1233 at 1237, 42 USC § 5814, effective January 19, 1975) and retransferred to the Secretary of Energy pursuant to section 301(a) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, August 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 565 at 577-578, 42 USC § 7151, effective October 1, 1977.)

"Depleted uranium" means the source material uranium in which the isotope uranium-235 is less than 0.711 weight percentage of the total uranium present. Depleted uranium does not include special nuclear material.

"Derived air concentration" (DAC) or "DAC" means the concentration of a given radionuclide in air which, if breathed by the reference man for a working year of 2,000 hours under conditions of light work, results in an intake of one ALI. For purposes of these regulations, the condition of light work is an inhalation rate of 1.2 cubic meters of air per hour for 2,000 hours in a year. DAC values are given in 12VAC5-481-3690.

"Derived air concentration-hour" (DAC-hour) or "DAC hour" means the product of the concentration of radioactive material in air, expressed as a fraction or multiple of the derived air concentration for each radionuclide, and the time of exposure to that radionuclide, in hours. A licensee or registrant may take 2,000 DAC-hours to represent one ALI, equivalent to a committed effective dose equivalent of 0.05 Sv (5 rem).

"Detector" (See "Radiation detector").

"Deuterium" means, for the purposes of Part XIII (12VAC5-481-2950 et seq.) deuterium and any deuterium compounds, including heavy water, in which the ratio of deuterium atoms to hydrogen atoms exceeds 1:5000.

"Diagnostic clinical procedures manual" means a collection of written procedures that describes each method (and other instructions and precautions) by which the licensee performs diagnostic clinical procedures, where each diagnostic clinical procedure has been approved by the authorized user and includes the radiopharmaceutical, dosage, and route of administration.

"Diagnostic source assembly" means the tube housing assembly with a beam-limiting device attached.

"Diagnostic X-ray x-ray system" means an X-ray x-ray system designed for irradiation of any part of the human or animal body for the purpose of diagnosis or visualization.

"Diagnostic X-ray imaging system" means an assemblage of components for the generation, emission and reception of X-rays and the transformation, storage and visual display of the resultant X-ray image.

"Direct scattered radiation" means that scattered radiation that has been deviated in direction only by materials irradiated by the useful beam (See "Scattered radiation").

"Discrete source" means a radionuclide that has been processed so that its concentration within a material has been purposely increased for use for commercial, medical, or research activities.

"Disposable respirator" means a respirator for which maintenance is not intended and that is designed to be discarded after excessive breathing resistance, sorbent exhaustion, physical damage, or end-of-service-life renders it unsuitable for use. Examples of this type of respirator are a disposable half-mask respirator or a disposable escape-only self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

"Disposal" means the isolation of wastes from the biosphere inhabited by man and his food chains by emplacement in a land disposal facility.

"Disposal container" means a container principally used to confine low-level radioactive waste during disposal operations at a land disposal facility (also see "high integrity container"). Note that for some shipments, the disposal container may be the transport package.

"Disposal site" means that portion of a land disposal facility that is used for disposal of waste. It consists of disposal units and a buffer zone.

"Disposal unit" means a discrete portion of the disposal site into which waste is placed for disposal. For near-surface disposal, the unit is usually a trench.

"Distinguishable from background" means that the detectable concentration of a radionuclide is statistically different from the background concentration of that radionuclide in the vicinity of the site or, in the case of structures, in similar materials using adequate measurement technology, survey, and statistical techniques.

"Dose" is a generic term that means absorbed dose, dose equivalent, effective dose equivalent, committed dose equivalent, committed effective dose equivalent, total organ dose equivalent, or total effective dose equivalent. For purposes of these regulations, "radiation dose" is an equivalent term.

"Dose commitment" means the total radiation dose to a part of the body that will result from retention in the body of radioactive material. For purposes of estimating the dose commitment, it is assumed that from the time of intake the period of exposure to retained material will not exceed 50 years.

"Dose equivalent (H_T)" or "H_T" means the product of the absorbed dose in tissue, quality factor, and all other necessary modifying factors at the location of interest. The units of dose equivalent are the sievert (Sv) and rem.

"Dose limits" means the permissible upper bounds of radiation doses established in accordance with these regulations. For purposes of these regulations, "limits" is an equivalent term.

"Dose monitor unit (DMU)" or "DMU" means a unit response from the beam monitoring system from which the absorbed dose can be calculated.

"Dose profile" means the dose as a function of position along a line.

"Dosimetry processor" means an individual or an organization that processes and evaluates individual monitoring devices in order to determine the radiation dose delivered to the monitoring devices.

"Doubly encapsulated sealed source" means a sealed source in which the radioactive material is sealed within an inner capsule and that capsule is sealed within an outer capsule.

"Drive cable" (See "Control cable").

"Effective dose equivalent (H_E)" or "H_E" means the sum of the products of the dose equivalent (H_T) to each organ or tissue and the weighting factor (w_T) applicable to each of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated (H_E = Σ w_TH_T).

"Elemental area" means the smallest area within a tomogram for which the X-ray x-ray attenuation properties of a body are depicted. (See also "Picture element").

"Embryo/fetus" means the developing human organism from conception until the time of birth.

"Energy compensation source (ECS)" or "ECS" means a small sealed source, with an activity not exceeding 3.7 MBq (100 μCi), used within a logging tool, or other tool components, to provide a reference standard to maintain the tool's calibration when in use.

"Engineered barrier" means a manmade structure or device that is intended to improve the land disposal facility's ability to meet the performance objectives in these regulations.

"Enriched uranium" (See "Uranium – natural, depleted, enriched").

"Entrance exposure rate" means the exposure free in air per unit time at the point where the center of the useful beam enters the patient.

"Entrance or access point" means any opening through which an individual or extremity of an individual could gain access to radiation areas or to licensed or registered radioactive materials. This includes entry or exit portals of sufficient size to permit human entry, irrespective of their intended use.

"EPA identification number" means the number received by a transporter following application to the Administrator of EPA as required by 40 CFR Part 263.

"Equipment" (See "X-ray equipment").

"Exclusive use" means the sole use by a single consignor of a conveyance for which all initial, intermediate, and final loading and unloading are carried out in accordance with the direction of the consignor or consignee. The consignor and the carrier must ensure that any loading or unloading is performed by personnel having radiological training and resources appropriate for safe handling of the consignment. The consignor must issue specific instructions, in writing, for maintenance of exclusive use shipment controls, and include them with the shipping paper information provided to the carrier by the consignor.

"Explosive material" means any chemical compound, mixture, or device that produces a substantial instantaneous release of gas and heat spontaneously or by contact with sparks or flame.

"Exposure" means being exposed to ionizing radiation or to radioactive material.

"Exposure head" means a device that locates the gamma radiography sealed source in the selected working position.

"Exposure rate" means the exposure per unit of time, such as roentgen per minute and milliroentgen per hour.

"External beam radiation therapy" means therapeutic irradiation in which the source of radiation is at a distance from the body.

"External dose" means that portion of the dose equivalent received from any source of radiation outside the body.

"Extremity" means hand, elbow, arm below the elbow, foot, knee, and leg below the knee.

"Facility" means the location, building, vehicle, or complex under one administrative control, at which one or more radiation machines are installed, located and/or used.

"Fail-safe characteristics" mean a design feature that causes beam port shutters to close, or otherwise prevents emergence of the primary beam, upon the failure of a safety or warning device.

"Field emission equipment" means equipment that uses an X-ray x-ray tube in which electron emission from the cathode is due solely to the action of an electric field.

"Field-flattening filter" means a filter used to homogenize the absorbed dose rate over the radiation field.

"Field station" means a facility where radioactive sources may be stored or used and from which equipment is dispatched to temporary jobsites.

"Filter" means material placed in the useful beam to preferentially absorb selected radiations. It also means material placed in the useful beam to change beam quality in therapeutic radiation machines subject to Part XV (12VAC5-481-3380 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Filtering facepiece (dusk mask)" or "dusk mask" means a negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium, not equipped with elastomeric sealing surfaces and adjustable straps.

"Fissile material" means the radionuclides uranium-233, uranium-235, plutonium-239, and plutonium-241, or any combination of these radionuclides. "Fissile material" means the fissile nuclides themselves, not material containing fissile nuclides. Unirradiated natural uranium and depleted uranium and natural uranium or depleted uranium, that has been irradiated in thermal reactors only, are not included in this definition. Certain exclusions from fissile material controls are provided in 10 CFR 71.15.

1. Fissile Class I: A package that may be transported in unlimited numbers and in any arrangement, and that requires no nuclear criticality safety controls during transportation. A transport index is not assigned for purposes of nuclear criticality safety but may be required because of external radiation levels.

2. Fissile Class II: A package that may be transported together with other packages in any arrangement but, for criticality control, in numbers that do not exceed an aggregate transport index of 50. These shipments require no other nuclear criticality safety control during transportation. Individual packages may have a transport index not less than 0.1 and not more than 10.

"Fissile material package" means a fissile material packaging together with its fissile material contents.

"Fit factor" means a quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual, and typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn.

"Fit test" means the use of a protocol to qualitatively or quantitatively evaluate the fit of a respirator on an individual.

"Fluoroscopic imaging assembly" means a subsystem in which X-ray x-ray photons produce a visible image set of fluoroscopic images or radiographic images recorded from the fluoroscopic image receptor. It includes the image receptor(s) such as the image intensifier and spot-film device receptors, electrical interlocks, if any, and structural material providing linkage between the image receptor and diagnostic source assembly.

"Fluoroscopic irradiation time" means the cumulative duration during an examination or procedure of operator-applied continuous pressure to the device, enabling x-ray tube activation in any fluoroscopic mode of operation.

"Fluoroscopy" means a technique for generating x-ray images and presenting them simultaneously and continuously as visible images. This term has the same meaning as the term "radioscopy" in the standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission.

"Focal spot (actual)" or "actual" means the area projected on the anode of the X-ray x-ray tube bombarded by the electrons accelerated from the cathode and from which the useful beam originates.

"Former Atomic Energy Commission or NRC licensed facilities" means nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, uranium enrichment plants, or critical mass experimental facilities where Atomic Energy Commission or NRC licenses have been terminated.

"Gantry" means that part of a radiation therapy system supporting and allowing movements of the radiation head about a center of rotation.

"Generally applicable environmental radiation standards" means standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, that impose limits on radiation exposures or levels, or concentrations or quantities of radioactive material, in the general environment outside the boundaries of locations under the control of persons possessing or using radioactive material.

"General environment" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, the total terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic environments outside the site boundary within which any activity, operation, or process authorized by a general or specific license issued under Part XVI, is performed.

"General purpose radiographic X-ray x-ray system" means any radiographic X-ray x-ray system which, by design, is not limited to radiographic examination of specific anatomical regions.

"Generator" means a licensee who (i) is a waste generator as defined in this chapter, or (ii) is the licensee to whom waste can be attributed within the context of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985 (e.g., waste generated as a result of decontamination or recycle activities).

"Gonad shield" means a protective barrier for the testes or ovaries.

"Gray (Gy)" means the SI unit of absorbed dose. One gray is equal to an absorbed dose of one joule per kilogram (100 rad).

"Guide tube (protection sheath)" means a flexible or rigid tube, or "J" tube, for guiding the source assembly and the attached control cable from the exposure device to the exposure head. The guide tube may also include the connections necessary for attachment to the exposure device and to the exposure head.

"Half-value layer (HVL)" or "HVL" means the thickness of a specified material that attenuates X-radiation or gamma radiation to an extent such that the air kerma rate, exposure rate or absorbed dose rate is reduced to one-half of the value measured without the material at the same point the beam of radiation to an extent that the AKR is reduced by one-half of its original value. In this definition, the contribution of all scattered radiation, other than any which might be present initially in the beam concerned, is deemed to be excluded.

"Hand-held radiographic unit" means x-ray equipment that is designed to be hand-held during operation.

"Hands-on experience" means experience in all of those areas considered to be directly involved in the radiography process, and includes taking radiographs, calibration of survey instruments, operational and performance testing of survey instruments and devices, film development, posting of radiation areas, transportation of radiography equipment, posting of records and radiation area surveillance, etc., as applicable. Excessive time spent in only one or two of these areas, such as film development or radiation area surveillance, should not be counted toward the 2,000 hours of hands-on experience required for a radiation safety officer in 12VAC5-481-1310 A 2 or the hands-on experience for a radiographer as required by 12VAC5-481-1320 A.

"Hazardous waste" means those wastes designated as hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency regulations in 40 CFR Part 261.

"Healing arts" means the art or science or group of arts or sciences dealing with the prevention and cure or alleviation of ailments, diseases or infirmities, and has the same meaning as "medicine" when the latter term is used in its comprehensive sense.

"Healing arts screening" means the testing of human beings using X-ray x-ray machines for the detection or evaluation of health indications when such tests are not specifically and individually ordered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts legally authorized to prescribe such X-ray x-ray tests for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment.

"Heat unit" means a unit of energy equal to the product of the peak kilovoltage, milliamperes, and seconds, such as (kVp) times (mA) times (seconds).

"Helmet" means a rigid respiratory inlet covering that also provides head protection against impact and penetration.

"High integrity container (HIC)" or "HIC" means a container commonly designed to meet the structural stability requirements of 12VAC5-481-2572 and to meet U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for a Type A package.

"High radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels from radiation sources external to the body could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of one mSv (0.1 rem) in one hour at 30 centimeters from any source of radiation or 30 centimeters from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

"Hood" means a respiratory inlet covering that completely covers the head and neck and may also cover portions of the shoulders and torso.

"Human use" means the internal or external administration of radiation or radioactive material to human beings.

"HVL" (See "Half-value layer").

"Hydrogeologic unit" means any soil or rock unit or zone which by virtue of its porosity or permeability, or lack thereof, has a distinct influence on the storage or movement of groundwater.

"Image intensifier" means a device, installed in its housing, that instantaneously converts an X-ray x-ray pattern into a corresponding light image of higher intensity.

"Image receptor" means any device, such as a fluorescent screen or, radiographic film, x-ray image intensifier tube, solid-state detector, or gaseous detector that transforms incident X-ray x-ray photons either into a visible image or into another form that can be made into a visible image by further transformations. In those cases where means are provided to preselect a portion of the image receptor, the term "image receptor" shall mean the preselected portion of the device.

"Image receptor support device" means, for mammographic systems, that part of the system designed to support the image receptor during mammography mammographic examination and to provide a primary protective barrier.

"Inadvertent intruder" means a person who might occupy the disposal site after closure and engage in normal activities, such as agriculture, dwelling construction, or other pursuits in which an individual might be unknowingly exposed to radiation from the waste.

"Independent certifying organization" means an independent organization that meets the agency's criteria for documenting applicant's training in topics set forth in 12VAC5-481-1320 or equivalent agreement state or NRC regulations.

"Individual" means any human being.

"Individual monitoring" means the assessment of:

1. Dose equivalent (i) by the use of individual monitoring devices or (ii) by the use of survey data; or

2. Committed effective dose equivalent (i) by bioassay or (ii) by determination of the time-weighted air concentrations to which an individual has been exposed, that is, DAC-hours. (See the definition of DAC)

"Individual monitoring devices" means devices designed to be worn by a single individual for the assessment of dose equivalent. For purposes of these regulations, "personnel dosimeter" and "dosimeter" are equivalent terms. Examples of individual monitoring devices are film badges, thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), pocket ionization chambers, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters and personal air sampling devices.

"Industrial radiography" means an examination of the structure of materials by the nondestructive method of utilizing ionizing radiation to make radiographic images.

"Inhalation class" (See "Class").

"Inherent filtration" means the filtration of the useful beam provided by the permanently installed components of the tube housing assembly.

"Injection tool" means a device used for controlled subsurface injection of radioactive tracer material.

"Inspection" means an official examination or observation including, but not limited to, tests, surveys, and monitoring to determine compliance with rules, regulations, orders, requirements, and conditions of the agency.

"Institutional controls" means: (i) permanent markers placed at a disposal site, (ii) public records and archives, (iii) government ownership and regulations regarding land or resource use, and (iv) other methods of preserving knowledge about the location, design, and contents of a disposal system.

"Instrument traceability" (for ionizing radiation measurements) means the ability to show that an instrument has been calibrated at specified time intervals using a national standard or a transfer standard. If a transfer standard is used, the calibration must be at a laboratory accredited by a program that requires continuing participation in measurement quality assurance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology or other equivalent national or international program.

"Interlock" means a device arranged or connected such that the occurrence of an event or condition is required before a second event or condition can occur or continue to occur.

"Internal dose" means that portion of the dose equivalent received from radioactive material taken into the body.

"Interruption of irradiation" means the stopping of irradiation with the possibility of continuing irradiation without resetting of operating conditions at the control panel.

"Intruder barrier" means a sufficient depth of cover over the waste that inhibits contact with waste and helps to ensure that radiation exposures to an inadvertent intruder will meet the performance objectives set forth in these regulations, or engineered structures that provide equivalent protection to the inadvertent intruder.

"Irradiation" means the exposure of matter to ionizing radiation.

"Irradiator" means a facility that uses radioactive sealed sources for the irradiation of objects or materials and in which radiation dose rates exceeding five grays (500 rads) per hour exist at one meter from the sealed radioactive sources in air or water, as applicable for the irradiator type, but does not include irradiators in which both the sealed source and the area subject to irradiation are contained within a device and are not accessible to personnel.

"Irradiator operator" means an individual who has successfully completed the training and testing described in 12VAC5-481-2830 and is authorized by the terms of the license to operate the irradiator without a supervisor present.

"Irradiator operator supervisor" means an individual who meets the requirements for an irradiator operator and who physically oversees operation of the irradiator by an individual who is currently receiving training and testing described in 12VAC5-481-2830.

"Isocenter" means the center of the smallest sphere through which the useful beam axis passes while the gantry moves through its full range of motions when the equipment moves through a full range of rotations about its common center.

"kBq" means kilabecquerels.

"Kerma" or "K" means the quantity defined by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. The kerma is the quotient of dEtr by dm, where dEtr is the sum of the initial kinetic energies of all charged particles liberated by uncharged particles in a mass dm of materials; thus K=dEtr/dm, in units of J/kg, where the special name for the units of kerma is gray (Gy). When the materials is air, the quantity is referred to as "air kerma."

"Kilovolt (kV) (kilo electron volt (keV))" or "kV" means the energy equal to that acquired by a particle with one electron charge in passing through a potential difference of 1,000 volts in a vacuum. Current convention is to use kV for photons and keV for electrons.

"Kilovolts peak" (See "Peak tube potential").

"kV" means kilovolts.

"kVp" (See "Peak tube potential").

"kWs" means kilowatt second.

"Land disposal facility" means the land, buildings, structures and equipment that is intended to be used for the disposal of wastes into the subsurface of the land. For purposes of this chapter, a "geologic repository" as defined in 10 CFR Part 60 or 10 CFR Part 63 is not considered a land disposal facility.

"Last image hold radiograph" or "LIH" means an image obtained either by retaining one or more fluoroscopic images, which may be temporarily integrated, at the end of a fluoroscopic exposure or by initiating a separate and distinct radiographic exposure automatically and immediately in conjunction with termination of the fluoroscopic exposure.

"Lay-barge radiography" means industrial radiography performed on any water vessel used for laying pipe.

"Lead equivalent" means the thickness of the material in question affording the same attenuation, under specified conditions, as lead.

"Leakage radiation" means radiation emanating from the diagnostic source assembly except for:

1. The useful beam; and

2. Radiation produced when the exposure switch or timer is not activated.

"Leakage technique factors" means the technique factors associated with the diagnostic source assembly that are used in measuring leakage radiation. They are defined as follows:

1. For diagnostic source assemblies intended for capacitor energy storage equipment, the maximum-rated peak tube potential and the maximum-rated number of exposures in an hour for operation at the maximum-rated peak tube potential with the quantity of charge per exposure being 10 millicoulombs, i.e., 10 milliampere seconds (10 mAs), or the minimum obtainable from the unit, whichever is larger;

2. For diagnostic source assemblies intended for field emission equipment rated for pulsed operation, the maximum-rated peak tube potential and the maximum-rated number of X-ray x-ray pulses in an hour for operation at the maximum-rated peak tube potential; or

3. For all other diagnostic source assemblies, the maximum-rated peak tube potential and the maximum-rated continuous tube current for the maximum-rated peak tube potential.

"Lens dose equivalent (LDE)" or "LDE" applies to the external exposure of the lens of the eye and is taken as the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.3 cm (300 mg/cm²).

"License" means a license issued by the agency in accordance with the regulations adopted by the board.

"Licensed material" means radioactive material received, possessed, used, transferred or disposed of under a general or specific license issued by the agency.

"Licensee" means any person who is licensed by the agency in accordance with these regulations and the Act.

"Light field" means that area of the intersection of the light beam from the beam-limiting device and one of the set of planes parallel to and including the plane of the image receptor, whose perimeter is the locus of points at which the illumination is one-fourth of the maximum in the intersection.

"Limits" (See "Dose limits").

"Line-voltage regulation" means the difference between the no-load and the load line potentials expressed as a percentage percent of the load line potential. It is calculated using the following equation as follows:

Percent line-voltage regulation = 100 (V_n-V_l)/V_l

where:

V_n = No-load line potential; and

V_l = Load line potential.

"Lixiscope" means a portable light-intensified imaging device using a sealed source.

"Local components" mean part of an analytical X-ray x-ray system and include areas that are struck by X-rays x-rays such as radiation source housings, port and shutter assemblies, collimators, sample holders, cameras, goniometers, detectors, and shielding, but do not include power supplies, transformers, amplifiers, readout devices, and control panels.

"Logging assistant" means any individual who, under the personal supervision of a logging supervisor, handles sealed sources or tracers that are not in logging tools or shipping containers or who performs surveys required by Part XIV (12VAC5-481-3140 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Logging supervisor" means the individual who uses licensed material or provides personal supervision in the use of licensed material at a temporary jobsite and who is responsible to the licensee for assuring compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the conditions of the license.

"Logging tool" means a device used subsurface to perform well-logging.

"Loose-fitting facepiece" means a respiratory inlet covering that is designed to form a partial seal with the face.

"Lost or missing licensed material" means licensed (or registered) source of radiation whose location is unknown. This definition includes, but is not limited to, radioactive material that has been shipped but has not reached its planned destination and whose location cannot be readily traced in the transportation system.

"Lot tolerance percent defective" means, expressed in percent defective, the poorest quality in an individual inspection lot that should be accepted.

"Low specific activity (LSA) material" or "LSA" means radioactive material with limited specific activity that is nonfissile or is excepted under 12VAC5-481-2970 C, and that satisfies the descriptions and limits set forth below. Shielding materials surrounding the LSA material may not be considered in determining the estimated average specific activity of the package contents. LSA material must be in one of three groups:

1. LSA-I

a. Uranium and thorium ores, concentrates of uranium and thorium ores, and other ores containing naturally occurring radioactive radionuclide that are not intended to be processed for the use of these radionuclides;

b. Solid unirradiated natural uranium or depleted uranium or natural thorium or their solid or liquid compounds or mixtures;

c. Radioactive material, for which the A₂ value is unlimited; or

d. Other radioactive material in which the activity is distributed throughout and the estimated average specific activity does not exceed 30 times the value for exempt material activity concentration determined in accordance with 12VAC5-481-3720.

2. LSA-II

a. Water with tritium concentration up to 0.8 terabecquerel per liter (20.0 Ci/L); or

b. Other material in which the activity is distributed throughout, and the average specific activity does not exceed 1.0 E-04 A₂/g for solids and gases, and 1.0 E-05 A₂/g for liquids.

3. LSA-III

Solids (e.g., consolidated wastes, activated materials), excluding powders, that satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 71.77) in which:

a. The radioactive material is distributed throughout a solid or a collection of solid objects, or is essentially uniformly distributed in a solid compact binding agent (for example: concrete, bitumen, or ceramic);

b. The radioactive material is relatively insoluble, or it is intrinsically contained in a relatively insoluble material, so that, even under loss of packaging, the loss of radioactive material per package by leaching, when placed in water for seven days, would not exceed 0.1 A₂; and

c. The estimated average specific activity of the solid does not exceed 2.0 E-03 A₂/g.

"Low toxicity alpha emitters" means natural uranium, depleted uranium, natural thorium; uranium-235, uranium-238, thorium-232, thorium-228 or thorium-230 when contained in ores or physical or chemical concentrates or tailings; or alpha emitters with a half-life of less than 10 days.

"Lung class" (See "Class").

"mA" means milliampere.

"mAs" means milliampere second.

"Major processor" means a user processing, handling, or manufacturing radioactive material exceeding Type A quantities as unsealed sources or material, or exceeding four times Type B quantities as sealed sources, but does not include nuclear medicine programs, universities, industrial radiographers, or small industrial programs. Type A and B quantities are defined in this section.

"Maximum line current" means the root-mean-square current in the supply line of an X-ray machine operating at its maximum rating.

"Management" means the chief executive officer or that individual's designee.

"MBq" means megabecquerels.

"Medical event" means an event that meets the criteria in 12VAC5-481-2080.

"Medical institution" means an organization in which several medical disciplines are practiced.

"Medical use" means the intentional internal or external administration of radioactive material or the radiation from radioactive material to patients or human research subjects under the supervision of an authorized user.

"Megavolt (MV) (mega electron volt (MeV))" or "MV" means the energy equal to that acquired by a particle with one electron charge in passing through a potential difference of one million volts in a vacuum. (Note: current convention is to use MV for photons and MeV for electrons.)

"Member of the public" means an individual except when that individual is receiving an occupational dose.

"Mineral logging" means any logging performed for the purpose of mineral exploration other than oil or gas.

"Minor" means an individual less than 18 years of age.

"Misadministration" means either:

1. An x-ray teletherapy radiation dose:

a. Involving the wrong patient;

b. Involving the wrong mode of treatment;

c. Involving the wrong treatment site;

d. Where the calculated total administered dose differs from the total prescribed dose by more than 10% when the treatment consists of three or fewer fractions;

e. Where the calculated weekly administered dose differs from the weekly prescribed dose by 30%; or

f. Where the calculated total administered dose differs from the total prescribed dose by more than 20%; or

2. An x-ray brachytherapy radiation dose:

a. Involving the wrong patient;

b, Involving the wrong treatment site; or

c. Where the calculated administered dose differs from the prescribed dose by more than 20%.

"mm" means millimeters.

"Mobile nuclear medicine service" means the transportation and medical use of radioactive material.

"Mobile X-ray x-ray equipment" (See "X-ray equipment").

"Mode of operation" means, for fluoroscopy systems, a distinct method of fluoroscopy or radiography provided by the manufacturer and selected with a set of several technique factors or other control settings uniquely associated with the mode. The set of distinct technique factors and control settings for the mode may be selected by the operation of a single control. Examples of distinct modes of operation include normal fluoroscopy (analog or digital), high-level control fluoroscopy, cineradiography (analog and digital), digital subtraction angiography, electronic radiography using the fluoroscopic image receptor, and photospot recording. In a specific mode of operation, certain system variables affecting kerma, AKR, or image quality, such as image magnification, x-ray field size, pulse rate, pulse duration, number of pulses, source-image receptor distance (SID), or optical aperture, may be adjustable or may vary; their variation per se does not comprise a mode of operation different from the one that has been selected.

"Monitor unit (MU)" or "MU" (See "Dose monitor unit").

"Monitoring" means the measurement of radiation, radioactive material concentrations, surface area activities or quantities of radioactive material and the use of the results of these measurements to evaluate potential exposures and doses. For purposes of these regulations, "radiation monitoring" and "radiation protection monitoring" are equivalent terms. For Part XI (12VAC5-481-2330 et seq.) of this chapter, it means observing and making measurements to provide data to evaluate the performance and characteristics of the disposal site.

"Moving beam radiation therapy" means radiation therapy with any planned displacement of radiation field or patient relative to each other, or with any planned change of absorbed dose distribution. It includes arc, skip, conformal, intensity modulation and rotational therapy.

"Multiple tomogram system" means a computed tomography X-ray x-ray system that obtains X-ray x-ray transmission data simultaneously during a single scan to produce more than one tomogram.

"NARM" means any naturally occurring or accelerator-produced radioactive material. It does not include byproduct, source, or special nuclear material.

"National Sealed Source and Device Registry" or "SSDR" means the national registry that contains the registration certificates, maintained by the NRC, that summarize the radiation safety information for sealed sources and devices, and describes the licensing and use conditions approved for the product.

"Nationally tracked source" means a sealed source containing a quantity equal to or greater than Category 1 or Category 2 levels of any radioactive material listed in 12VAC5-481-3780. In this context a sealed source is defined as radioactive material that is sealed in a capsule or closely bonded, in a solid form and that is not exempt from regulatory control. It does not mean material encapsulated solely for disposal, or nuclear material contained in any fuel assembly, subassembly, fuel rod, or fuel pellet. Category 1 nationally tracked sources are those containing radioactive material at a quantity equal to or greater than the Category 1 threshold. Category 2 nationally tracked sources are those containing radioactive material at a quantity equal to or greater than the Category 2 threshold but less than the Category 1 threshold.

"Natural radioactivity" means radioactivity of naturally occurring nuclides.

"Natural thorium" means thorium with the naturally occurring distribution of thorium isotopes, which is essentially 100 weight percent thorium-232.

"Natural uranium" (See "Uranium – natural, depleted, enriched").

"Near-surface disposal facility" means a land disposal facility in which waste is disposed of within approximately the upper 30 meters of the earth's surface.

"Negative pressure respirator (tight fitting)" or "tight fitting" means a respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

"Noise" means the standard deviation of the fluctuations in CTN expressed as a percentage of the attenuation coefficient of water. Its estimate (S_n) is calculated using the following expression:

where:

= Linear attenuation coefficient of the material of interest.

= Linear attenuation coefficient of water.

= Standard deviation of the CTN of picture elements in a specified area of the CT image.

"Nominal tomographic section thickness" means the full width at half-maximum of the sensitivity profile taken at the center of the cross-sectional volume over which X-ray x-ray transmission data are collected.

"Non-image-intensified fluoroscopy" means fluoroscopy using only a fluorescent screen.

"Nonstochastic effect" means a health effect, the severity of which varies with the dose and for which a threshold is believed to exist. Radiation-induced cataract formation is an example of a nonstochastic effect. For purposes of these regulations, "deterministic effect" is an equivalent term.

"NORM" means any naturally occurring radioactive material. It does not include accelerator produced, byproduct, source, or special nuclear material.

"Normal form radioactive material" means radioactive material that has not been demonstrated to qualify as special form radioactive material.

"Normal operating procedures" mean step-by-step instructions necessary to accomplish the analysis. These procedures shall include sample insertion and manipulation, equipment alignment, routine maintenance by the registrant (or licensee), and data recording procedures, which are related to radiation safety.

"Nominal treatment distance" means:

1. For electron irradiation, the distance from the scattering foil, virtual source, or exit window of the electron beam to the entrance surface of the irradiated object along the central axis of the useful beam.

2. For X-ray x-ray irradiation, the virtual source or target to isocenter distance along the central axis of the useful beam. For nonisocentric equipment, this distance shall be that specified by the manufacturer.

"NRC Forms 540, 540A, 541, 541A, 542, and 542 542A" means official NRC forms referenced in this chapter. Licensees need not use originals of these NRC Forms as long as any substitute forms are equivalent to the original documentation in respect to content, clarity, size, and location of information. Upon agreement between the shipper and consignee, NRC Forms 541 (and 541A) and NRC Forms 542 (and 542A) may be completed, transmitted, and stored in electronic media. The electronic media must have the capability for producing legible, accurate, and complete records in the format of the uniform manifest.

"Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)" or "NRC" means the NRC or its duly authorized representatives.

"Nuclear waste" means a quantity of source, byproduct or special nuclear material (the definition of nuclear waste in this part is used in the same way as in 49 CFR 173.403) required to be in NRC-approved specification packaging while transported to, through or across a state boundary to a disposal site, or to a collection point for transport to a disposal site.

"Occupational dose" means the dose received by an individual in the course of employment in which the individual's assigned duties for the licensee or registrant involve exposure to sources of radiation, whether or not the sources of radiation are in the possession of the licensee, registrant, or other person. Occupational dose does not include doses received from background radiation, from any medical administration the individual has received, from exposure to individuals administered radioactive material and released in accordance with 12VAC5-481-1870, from voluntary participation in medical research programs, or as a member of the public.

"Offshore platform radiography" means industrial radiography conducted from a platform over a body of water.

"Offshore waters" means that area of land and water, beyond the Commonwealth of Virginia's jurisdiction, on or above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

"Open-beam configuration" means an analytical X-ray x-ray system in which an individual could accidentally place some part of his body in the primary beam path during normal operation.

"Output" means the exposure rate, dose rate, or a quantity related in a known manner to these rates from a teletherapy unit for a specified set of exposure conditions.

"Package" means the packaging together with its radioactive contents as presented for transport.

1. Fissile material package or Type AF package, Type BF package, Type B(U)F package, or Type B(M)F package means a fissile material packaging together with its fissile material contents.

2. Type A package means a Type A packaging together with its radioactive contents. A Type A package is defined and must comply with the DOT regulations in 49 CFR Part 173.

3. Type B package means a Type B packaging together with its radioactive contents. On approval, a Type B package design is designated by NRC as B(U) unless the package has a maximum normal operating pressure of more than 700 kPa (100 lbs/in²) gauge or a pressure relief device that would allow the release of radioactive material to the environment under the tests specified in 10 CFR 71.73 (hypothetical accident conditions), in which case it will receive a designation B(M). B(U) refers to the need for unilateral approval of international shipments; B(M) refers to the need for multilateral approval of international shipments. There is no distinction made in how packages with these designations may be used in domestic transportation. To determine their distinction for international transportation, see DOT regulations in 49 CFR Part 173. A Type B package approved before September 6, 1983, was designated only as Type B. Limitations on its use are specified in 10 CFR 71.19.

"Packaging" means the assembly of components necessary to ensure compliance with the packaging requirements of these regulations. It may consist of one or more receptacles, absorbent materials, spacing structures, thermal insulation, radiation shielding, and devices for cooling or absorbing mechanical shocks. The vehicle, tie-down system, and auxiliary equipment may be designated as part of the packaging.

"Panoramic dry-source-storage irradiator" means an irradiator in which the irradiations occur in air in areas potentially accessible to personnel and in which the sources are stored in shields made of solid materials. The term includes beam-type dry-source-storage irradiators in which only a narrow beam of radiation is produced for performing irradiations.

"Panoramic irradiator" means an irradiator in which the irradiations are done in air in areas potentially accessible to personnel. The term includes beam-type irradiators.

"Panoramic wet-source-storage irradiator" means an irradiator in which the irradiations occur in air in areas potentially accessible to personnel and in which the sources are stored under water in a storage pool.

"Particle accelerator" (See "Accelerator").

"Patient" means an individual or animal subjected to healing arts examination, diagnosis, or treatment.

"PBL" (See "Positive beam limitation").

"Peak tube potential" means the maximum value of the potential difference across the X-ray x-ray tube during an exposure.

"Periodic quality assurance check" means a procedure that is performed to ensure that a previous calibration continues to be valid.

"Permanent radiographic installation" means an enclosed shielded room, cell, or vault, not located at a temporary jobsite, in which radiography is performed.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, department of the Commonwealth other than the Department of Health, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, any other state or political subdivision or department thereof, and any legal successor, representative, agent, or department of the foregoing, but not including federal government agencies.

"Personal supervision" means guidance and instruction by the supervisor who is physically present at the jobsite and watching the performance of the operation in such proximity that contact can be maintained and immediate assistance given as required. In radiography it means guidance and instruction provided to a radiographer trainee by a radiographer instructor who is present at the site, in visual contact with the trainee while the trainee is using sources of radiation, and in such proximity that immediate assistance can be given if required.

"Personnel monitoring equipment" (See "Individual monitoring devices").

"Phantom" means a volume of material behaving in a manner similar to tissue with respect to the attenuation and scattering of radiation. This requires that both the atomic number (Z) and the density of the material be similar to that of tissue.

"Physical description" means the items called for on NRC Form 541 to describe a low-level radioactive waste.

"Pool irradiator" means any irradiator at which the sources are stored or used in a pool of water including panoramic wet-source-storage irradiators and underwater irradiators.

"Pharmacist" means an individual licensed by this state to compound and dispense drugs, prescriptions, and poisons.

"Physician" means an individual licensed by this state to prescribe drugs in the practice of medicine.

"Picture element" means an elemental area of a tomogram.

"PID" (See "Position indicating device").

"Pigtail" (See "Source assembly").

"Pill" (See "Sealed source").

"Planned special exposure" means an infrequent exposure to radiation, separate from and in addition to the annual occupational dose limits.

"Portable X-ray x-ray equipment" (See "X-ray equipment").

"Position indicating device" means a device on dental X-ray x-ray equipment used to indicate the beam position and to establish a definite source-surface (skin) distance. It may or may not incorporate or serve as a beam-limiting device.

"Positive beam limitation" means the automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of an X-ray x-ray beam to the size of the selected image receptor, whereby exposures cannot be made without such adjustment.

"Positive emission tomography (PET) radionuclide production facility" or "PET" means a facility operating a cyclotron or accelerator for the purpose of producing PET radionuclides.

"Positive pressure respirator" means a respirator in which the pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

"Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)" or "PAPR" means an air-purifying respirator that uses a blower to force the ambient air through air-purifying elements to the inlet covering.

"Practical examination" means a demonstration through application of the safety rules and principles in industrial radiography including use of all procedures and equipment to be used by radiographic personnel.

"Practical range of electrons" corresponds to classical electron range where the only remaining contribution to dose is from bremsstrahlung X-rays x-rays. A further explanation may be found in "Clinical Electron Beam Dosimetry: Report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 25" (Medical Physics 18(1): 73-109, Jan/Feb. 1991) and ICRU Report 35, "Radiation Dosimetry: Electron Beams with Energies Between 1 and 50 MeV", International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, September 15, 1984.

"Preceptor" means an individual who provides, directs, or verifies training and experience required for an individual to become an authorized user, an authorized medical physicist, an authorized nuclear pharmacist, or a radiation safety officer.

"Prescribed dosage" means the quantity of radiopharmaceutical activity as documented:

1. In a written directive; or

2. Either in the diagnostic clinical procedures manual or in any appropriate record in accordance with the directions of the authorized user for diagnostic procedures.

"Prescribed dose" means:

1. For gamma stereotactic radiosurgery, the total dose as documented in the written directive; or

2. For teletherapy, the total dose and dose per fraction as documented in the written directive; or

3. For brachytherapy, either the total source strength and exposure time, or the total dose, as documented in the written directive.

"Pressure demand respirator" means a positive pressure atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece when the positive pressure is reduced inside the facepiece by inhalation.

"Primary beam" means radiation that passes through an aperture of the source housing by a direct path from the X-ray x-ray tube or a radioactive source located in the radiation source housing.

"Primary dose monitoring system" means a system that will monitor the useful beam during irradiation and that will terminate irradiation when a preselected number of dose monitor units have been delivered.

"Primary protective barrier" (See "Protective barrier") means the material, excluding filters, placed in the useful beam to reduce the radiation exposure (beyond the patient and cassette holder) for protection barriers.

"Principal activities," as used in this chapter, means activities authorized by the license that are essential to achieving the purpose(s) for which the license was issued or amended. Storage during which no licensed material is accessed for use or disposal and activities incidental to decontamination or decommissioning are not principal activities.

"Private inspector" means an individual who meets the requirements set forth in 12VAC5-481-340 and who has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the agency that such individual possesses the knowledge, training and experience to measure ionizing radiation, to evaluate safety techniques, and to advise regarding radiation protection needs.

"Product" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, something produced, made, manufactured, refined, or benefited.

"Product conveyor system" means a system for moving the product to be irradiated to, from, and within the area where irradiation takes place.

"Projection sheath" (See "Guide tube").

"Projector" (See "Radiographic exposure device").

"Protective apron" means an apron made of radiation-attenuating or absorbing materials used to reduce exposure to radiation.

"Protective barrier" means a barrier of radiation absorbing material(s) used to reduce radiation exposure. The types of protective barriers are as follows:

1. "Primary protective barrier" means the material, excluding filters, placed in the useful beam;

2. "Secondary protective barrier" means the material that attenuates stray radiation.

"Protective glove" means a glove made of radiation absorbing materials used to reduce radiation exposure.

"Public dose" means the dose received by a member of the public from exposure to sources of radiation released by the licensee or registrant, or to any other source of radiation under the control of the licensee or registrant. Public dose does not include occupational dose, or doses received from background radiation, from any medical administration the individual has received, from exposure to individuals administered radioactive material and released in accordance with 12VAC5-481-1870, or from voluntary participation in medical research programs.

"Pulsed mode" means operation of the x-ray system such that the x-ray tube is pulsed by the x-ray control to produce one or more exposure intervals of duration less than one-half second.

"Pyrophoric material" means any liquid that ignites spontaneously in dry or moist air at or below 130°F (54.4°C) or any solid material, other than one classed as an explosive, which under normal conditions is liable to cause fires through friction, retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or that can be ignited readily and, when ignited, burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious transportation, handling, or disposal hazard. Included are spontaneously combustible and water-reactive materials.

"Qualitative fit test (QLFT)" or "QLFT" means a pass/fail fit test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test agent.

"Quality factor" (Q) or "Q" means the modifying factor, that is referenced in 12VAC5-481-240, that is used to derive dose equivalent from absorbed dose.

"Quantitative fit test (QNFT)" or "QNFT" means an assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator.

"Quarter" means a period of time equal to one-fourth of the year observed by the licensee, approximately 13 consecutive weeks, providing that the beginning of the first quarter in a year coincides with the starting date of the year and that no day is omitted or duplicated in consecutive quarters.

"Rad" means the special unit of absorbed dose. One rad is equal to an absorbed dose of 100 erg per gram or 0.01 joule per kilogram (0.01 gray).

"Radiation" means alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, X-rays x-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, and other particles capable of producing ions. For purposes of these regulations, ionizing radiation is an equivalent term. Radiation, as used in these regulations, does not include nonionizing radiation, such as radiowaves or microwaves, visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light.

"Radiation area" means any area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 0.05 mSv (0.005 rem) in one hour at 30 centimeters from the source of radiation or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

"Radiation dose" (See "Dose").

"Radiation field" (See "Useful beam").

"Radiation head" means the structure from which the useful beam emerges.

"Radiation machine" means any device capable of producing radiation except those devices with radioactive material as the only source of radiation.

"Radiation room" means a shielded room in which irradiations take place. Underwater irradiators do not have radiation rooms.

"Radiation safety officer (RSO)" or "RSO" means an individual who has the knowledge and responsibility to apply appropriate radiation protection regulations and has been assigned such responsibility by the licensee or registrant.

"Radiation safety officer for industrial radiography" means an individual with the responsibility for the overall radiation safety program on behalf of the licensee or registrant and who meets the requirements of 12VAC5-481-1310.

"Radiation safety officer for medical" means an individual who meets the requirements of 12VAC5-481-1750 and 12VAC5-481-1790 or is identified as an RSO on: a medical use license issued by the agency, NRC or another agreement state, or a medical use permit issued by an NRC masters material licensee.

"Radiation therapy physicist" means an individual qualified in accordance with 12VAC5-481-340.

"Radiation therapy simulation system" means a radiographic or fluoroscopic X-ray x-ray system intended for localizing the volume to be exposed during radiation therapy and confirming the position and size of the therapeutic irradiation field.

"Radioactive material" means any solid, liquid, or gas which emits radiation spontaneously.

"Radioactive marker" means radioactive material placed subsurface or on a structure intended for subsurface use for the purpose of depth determination or direction orientation.

"Radioactivity" means the transformation of unstable atomic nuclei by the emission of radiation.

"Radiobioassay" (See "Bioassay").

"Radiograph" means an image receptor on which the image is created directly or indirectly by an X-ray x-ray pattern and results in a permanent record.

"Radiographer" means any individual who performs or who, in attendance at the site where the sources of radiation are being used, personally supervises industrial radiographic operations and who is responsible to the licensee or registrant for assuring compliance with the requirements of the agency's regulations and the conditions of the license or registration.

"Radiographer certification" means written approval received from a certifying entity stating that an individual has satisfactorily met the radiation safety, testing, and experience criteria in 12VAC5-481-1320.

"Radiographer instructor" means any radiographer who has been authorized by the agency to provide on-the-job training to radiographer trainees in accordance with Part V (12VAC5-481-1170 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Radiographer trainee" means any individual who, under the personal supervision of a radiographer instructor, uses sources of radiation, related handling tools, or radiation survey instruments during the course of his instruction.

"Radiographer's assistant" means any individual who under the direct supervision of a radiographer, uses radiographic exposure devices, sources of radiation, related handling tools, or radiation survey instruments in industrial radiography.

"Radiographic exposure device" means any instrument containing a sealed source fastened or contained therein, in which the sealed source or shielding thereof may be moved, or otherwise changed, from a shielded to unshielded position for purposes of making a radiographic exposure.

"Radiographic imaging system" means any system whereby a permanent or semi-permanent image is recorded on an image receptor by the action of ionizing radiation.

"Radiographic operations" means all activities performed with a radiographic exposure device, or with a radiation machine. Activities include using, transporting except by common or contract carriers, or storing at a temporary job site, performing surveys to confirm the adequacy of boundaries, setting up equipment, and any activity inside restricted area boundaries. Transporting a radiation machine is not considered a radiographic operation.

"Radiographic personnel" means any radiographer, radiographer instructor, or radiographer trainee.

"Radiography" (See "Industrial radiography") means:

1. For radioactive materials: See "Industrial radiography."

2. For x-ray: A technique for generating and recording an x-ray pattern for the purpose of providing the user with an image after termination of the exposure.

"Rating" means the operating limits as specified by the component manufacturer.

"Reasonably maximally exposed individual" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, a representative of a population who is exposed to TENORM at the maximum TENORM concentration measured in environmental media found at a site along with reasonable maximum case exposure assumptions. The exposure is determined by using maximum values for one or more of the most sensitive parameters affecting exposure, based on cautious but reasonable assumptions, while leaving the others at their mean value.

"Recording" means producing a permanent retrievable form of an image resulting from X-ray x-ray photons.

"Redundant beam monitoring system" means a combination of two dose monitoring systems in which each system is designed to terminate irradiation in accordance with a preselected number of dose monitor units.

"Reference man" means a hypothetical aggregation of human physical and physiological characteristics determined by international consensus. These characteristics may be used by researchers and public health employees to standardize results of experiments and to relate biological insult to a common base. A description of the reference man is contained in the International Commission on Radiological Protection report, ICRP Publication 23, "Report of the Task Group on Reference Man."

"Reference plane" means a plane that is displaced from and parallel to the tomographic plane.

"Registrant" means any person who is registered with the agency and is legally obligated to register with the agency pursuant to these regulations and the Act.

"Registration" means registration with the agency in accordance with the regulations adopted by the agency.

"Regulations of the United States Department of Transportation" means the regulations in 49 CFR Parts 100-189.

"Rem" means the special unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in rems is equal to the absorbed dose in rad multiplied by the quality factor (1 rem = 0.01 Sv).

"Reportable event" means the administration of either:

1. A diagnostic x-ray exposure where an actual or suspected acute or long-term functional damage to an organ or a physiological system has occurred. Exempt from this reporting requirement is any event when any functional damage to a patient organ or a physiological system that was an expected outcome when the causative procedures were prescribed;

2. A procedure where the patient or operator is injured as a result of a mechanical injury;

3. A teletherapy x-ray dose where the calculated weekly administered dose differs from the weekly prescribed dose by 15% or more; or

4. A brachytherapy x-ray dose where the calculated administered dose differs from the prescribed dose by 10% or more.

"Research and development" means (i) theoretical analysis, exploration, or experimentation; or (ii) the extension of investigative findings and theories of a scientific or technical nature into practical application for experimental and demonstrative purposes, including the experimental production and testing of models, devices, equipment, materials, and processes. Research and development does not include the internal or external administration of radiation or radioactive material to human beings.

"Residential location" means any area where structures in which people lodge or live are located, and the grounds on which such structures are located including, but not limited to, houses, apartments, condominiums, and garages.

"Residual radioactive material" means (i) waste (that the U.S. Secretary of Energy determines to be radioactive) in the form of tailings resulting from the processing of ores for the extraction of uranium and other valuable constituents of the ores and (ii) other waste (that the U.S. Secretary of Energy determines to be radioactive) at a processing site that relates to such processing, including any residual stock of unprocessed ores or low-grade materials. This term is used only with respect to materials at sites subject to remediation under Title I of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, as amended.

"Residual radioactivity" means radioactivity in structures, materials, soils, groundwater, and other media at a site resulting from activities under the licensee's control. This includes radioactivity from all licensed and unlicensed sources used by the licensee, but excludes background radiation. It also includes radioactive materials remaining at the site as a result of routine or accidental releases of radioactive materials at the site and previous burials at the site, even if those burials were made in accordance with the provisions of Part IV (12VAC5-481-600 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Residual waste" means low-level radioactive waste resulting from processing or decontamination activities that cannot be easily separated into distinct batches attributable to specific waste generators. This waste is attributable to the processor or decontamination facility, as applicable.

"Respiratory protective device" means an apparatus, such as a respirator, used to reduce an individual's intake of airborne radioactive materials.

"Restricted area" means an area, access to which is limited by the licensee or registrant for the purpose of protecting individuals against undue risks from exposure to radiation and radioactive materials. Restricted area does not include areas used as residential quarters, but separate rooms in a residential building may be set apart as a restricted area.

"Roentgen" means the special unit of exposure. One roentgen (R) equals 2.58E-4 coulombs per kilogram of air (see "Exposure" and 12VAC5-481-240).

"S-tube" means a tube through which the radioactive source travels when inside a radiographic exposure device.

"Sanitary sewerage" means a system of public sewers for carrying off waste water and refuse, but excluding sewage treatment facilities, septic tanks, and leach fields owned or operated by the licensee or registrant.

"Scan" means the complete process of collecting X-ray x-ray transmission data for the production of a tomogram. Data can be collected simultaneously during a single scan for the production of one or more tomograms.

"Scan increment" means the amount of relative displacement of the patient with respect to the CT X-ray x-ray system between successive scans measured along the direction of such displacement.

"Scan sequence" means a preselected set of two or more scans performed consecutively under preselected CT conditions of operation.

"Scan time" means the period of time between the beginning and end of X-ray x-ray transmission data accumulation for a single scan.

"Scattered radiation" means ionizing radiation emitted by interaction of ionizing radiation with matter, the interaction being accompanied by a change in direction of the radiation. Scattered primary radiation means that scattered radiation which has been deviated in direction only by materials irradiated by the useful beam.

"Sealed source" means any radioactive material that is encased in a capsule designed to prevent leakage or escape of any radioactive material.

"Sealed Source and Device Registry (SSD)" means the national registry that contains the registration certificates, maintained by the NRC, that summarize the radiation safety information for sealed sources and devices, and describes the licensing and use conditions approved for the product.

"Secondary dose monitoring system" means a system which will terminate irradiation in the event of failure of the primary dose monitoring system.

"Secondary protective barrier" (See "Protective barrier").

"Seismic area" means any area where the probability of a horizontal acceleration in rock of more than 0.3 times the acceleration of gravity in 250 years is greater than 10%, as designated by the United States Geological Survey.

"Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)" or "SCBA" means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the breathing air source is designed to be carried by the user.

"Shadow tray" means a device attached to the radiation head to support auxiliary beam blocking material.

"Shallow dose equivalent (H_s)," or "H_s" which applies to the external exposure of the skin or an extremity, means the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.007 centimeter (7 mg/cm2).

"Shielded position" means the location within the radiographic exposure device or storage container which, by manufacturer's design, is the proper location for storage of the sealed source.

"Shielded-room radiography" means industrial radiography conducted in a room shielded so that radiation levels at every location on the exterior meet the limitations specified in 12VAC5-481-640.

"Shipper" means the licensed entity (i.e., the waste generator, waste collector, or waste processor) who offers low-level radioactive waste for transportation, typically consigning this type of waste to a licensed waste collector, waste processor, or land disposal facility operator.

"Shipping paper" means NRC Form 540 and, if required, NRC Form 540A, which includes the information required by DOT the U.S. Department of Transportation in 49 CFR Part 172.

"Shutter" means a device attached to the tube housing assembly which can intercept the entire cross sectional area of the useful beam and which has a lead equivalency not less than that of the tube housing assembly.

"SI" means the abbreviation for the International System of Units.

"SID" (See "Source-image receptor distance").

"Sievert" (Sv) or "Sv" means the SI unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in sievert is equal to the absorbed dose in gray multiplied by the quality factor (1 Sv = 100 rem).

"Simulator (radiation therapy simulation system)" or "radiation therapy simulation system" means any X-ray x-ray system intended for localizing the volume to be exposed during radiation therapy and reproducing the position and size of the therapeutic irradiation field.

"Single tomogram system" means a CT X-ray x-ray system that obtains X-ray x-ray transmission data during a scan to produce a single tomogram.

"Site area emergency" means events may occur, are in progress, or have occurred that could lead to a significant release of radioactive material and that could require a response by offsite response organizations to protect persons offsite.

"Site boundary" means that line beyond which the land or property is not owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the licensee.

"Site closure and stabilization" means those actions that are taken upon completion of operations that prepare the disposal site for custodial care and that assure that the disposal site will remain stable and will not need ongoing active maintenance.

"Source" means the focal spot of the X-ray x-ray tube.

"Source assembly" means an assembly that consists of the sealed source and a connector that attaches the source to the control cable. The source assembly may include a ballstop to secure the source in the shielded position.

"Source changer" means a device designed and used for replacement of sealed sources in radiographic exposure devices, including those source changers also used for transporting and storage of sealed sources.

"Source holder" means a housing or assembly into which a radioactive source is placed for the purpose of facilitating the handling and use of the source in well-logging operations.

"Source-image receptor distance" means the distance from the source to the center of the input surface of the image receptor.

"Source material" means:

1. Uranium or thorium, or any combination thereof, in any physical or chemical form; or

2. Ores that contain by weight one-twentieth of 1.0% (0.05%) or more of uranium, thorium or any combination of uranium and thorium. Source material does not include special nuclear material.

"Source of radiation" means any radioactive material or any device or equipment emitting, or capable of producing, radiation.

"Source-skin distance (SSD)" or "SSD" means the distance between from the source and the skin entrance plane of the patient to the center of the entrant x-ray field in the plane tangent to the patient's skin surface.

"Source traceability" means the ability to show that a radioactive source has been calibrated either by the national standards laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or by a laboratory that participates in a continuing measurement quality assurance program with National Institute of Standards and Technology or other equivalent national or international program.

"Special form radioactive material" means radioactive material that satisfies the following conditions:

1. It is either a single solid piece or is contained in a sealed capsule that can be opened only by destroying the capsule;

2. The piece or capsule has at least one dimension not less than five millimeters (0.2 in.); and

3. It satisfies the test requirements specified by the NRC. A special form encapsulation designed in accordance with the NRC requirements in effect on June 30, 1983, and constructed prior to July 1, 1985, may continue to be used. A special form encapsulation either designed or constructed after April 1, 1998, must meet requirements of this definition applicable at the time of its design or construction.

"Special nuclear material" means:

1. Plutonium, uranium-233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, and any other material the NRC, pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, determines to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material; or

2. Any material artificially enriched by any of the foregoing but does not include source material.

"Special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass" means uranium enriched in the isotope U-235 in quantities not exceeding 350 grams of contained U-235; uranium-233 in quantities not exceeding 200 grams; plutonium in quantities not exceeding 200 grams; or any combination of them in accordance with the following formula: For each kind of special nuclear material, determine the ratio between the quantity of that special nuclear material and the quantity specified above for the same kind of special nuclear material. The sum of such ratios for all of the kinds of special nuclear material in combination shall not exceed 1. For example, the following quantities in combination would not exceed the limitation and are within the formula:

"Specific activity" of a radionuclide means the radioactivity of a radionuclide per unit mass of that nuclide. The specific activity of a material in which the radionuclide is essentially uniformly distributed is the radioactivity per unit mass of the material.

"Spot film" means a radiograph that is made during a fluoroscopic examination to permanently record conditions that exist during that fluoroscopic procedure.

"Spot-film device" means a device intended to transport and/or position a radiographic image receptor between the X-ray x-ray source and fluoroscopic image receptor. It includes a device intended to hold a cassette over the input end of an image intensifier for the purpose of making a radiograph.

"Stability" means structural stability.

"State inspector" means an employee of the Virginia Department of Health designated to perform those duties or functions assigned the Radiological Health Program.

"Stationary beam radiation therapy" means radiation therapy without displacement of one or more mechanical axes relative to the patient during irradiation.

"Stationary X-ray x-ray equipment" (See "X-ray equipment").

"Stochastic effect" means a health effect that occurs randomly and for which the probability of the effect occurring, rather than its severity, is assumed to be a linear function of dose without threshold. Hereditary effects and cancer incidence are examples of stochastic effects. For purposes of these regulations, "probabilistic effect" is an equivalent term.

"Storage" means a condition in which a device or source is not being used for an extended period of time, and has been made inoperable.

"Storage area" means any location, facility, or vehicle that is used to store and secure a radiographic exposure device, a radiation machine, or a storage container when it is not used for radiographic operations. Storage areas are locked or have a physical barrier to prevent accidental exposure, tampering, or unauthorized removal of the device, machine, or container.

"Storage container" means a device in which sealed sources or radiation machines are secured and stored.

"Stray radiation" means the sum of leakage and scattered radiation.

"Subsurface tracer study" means the release of a substance tagged with radioactive material for the purpose of tracing the movement or position of the tagged substance in the well-bore or adjacent formation.

"Supplied-air respirator (SAR) or," "airline respirator," or "SAR" means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the user.

"Surface contaminated object" (SCO) or "SCO" means a solid object that is not itself classed as radioactive material, but that has radioactive material distributed on any of its surfaces. An SCO must be in one of two groups with surface activity not exceeding the following limits:

1. SCO-I: A solid object on which:

a. The nonfixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed four becquerel per cm² (1 E-04 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 0.4 becquerel per cm² (1 E-05 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters;

b. The fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed 4 E+04 becquerel per cm² (1.0 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 4 E+03 becquerel per cm² (0.1 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters; and

c. The nonfixed contamination plus the fixed contamination on the inaccessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed 4 E+04 becquerel per cm² (1 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 4 E+03 Becquerel per cm² (0.1 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters.

2. SCO-II: A solid object on which the limits for SCO-I are exceeded and on which:

a. The nonfixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed 400 becquerel per cm² (1 E-02 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters or 40 becquerel per cm² (1 E-03 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters;

b. The fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed 8 E+05 becquerel per cm² (20 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 8 E+04 becquerel per cm² (2 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters; and

c. The nonfixed contamination plus the fixed contamination on the inaccessible surface averaged over 300 cm², or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm², does not exceed 8 E+05 becquerel per cm² (20 μCi/cm²) for beta and gamma and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 8 E+04 becquerel per cm² (2 μCi/cm²) for all other alpha emitters.

"Surveillance" means monitoring and observation of the disposal site for purposes of visual detection of need for maintenance, custodial care, evidence of intrusion, and compliance with other license and regulatory requirements.

"Survey" means an evaluation of the radiological conditions and potential hazards incident to the production, use, transfer, release, disposal, or presence of radioactive material or other sources of radiation. When appropriate, such an evaluation includes a physical survey of the location of radioactive material and measurements or calculations of levels of radiation, or concentrations or quantities of radioactive material present.

"Tabletop, stationary" means a tabletop that, when assembled for use, is incapable of movement with respect to its supporting structure within the plane of the tabletop.

"Target" means that part of an X-ray x-ray tube or accelerator onto which a beam of accelerated particles is directed to produce ionizing radiation or other particles.

"Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM)" or "TENORM" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, naturally occurring radionuclides whose concentrations are increased by or as a result of past or present human practices. TENORM does not include background radiation or the natural radioactivity of rocks or soils. TENORM does not include uranium or thorium in "source material" as defined in the AEA and NRC regulations.

"Technique factors" means the following conditions of operation:

1. For capacitor energy storage equipment, peak tube potential in kV kilovolts (kV) and quantity of charge in mAs milliampere-seconds (mAs);

2. For field emission equipment rated for pulsed operation, peak tube potential in kV kilovolts (kV), and number of X-ray x-ray pulses;

3. For CT X-ray systems equipment designed for pulsed operation, peak tube potential in kV kilovolts (kV), scan time in seconds, and either tube current in Ma milliamperes (mA), X-ray x-ray pulse width in seconds, and the number of X-ray x-ray pulses per scan, or the product of tube current, X-ray x-ray pulse width, and the number of X-ray x-ray pulses in mAs milliampere-seconds (mAs);

4. For CT X-ray systems equipment not designed for pulsed operation, peak tube potential in kV kilovolts (kV), and either tube current in Ma milliamperes (mA) and scan time in seconds, or the product of tube current and exposure time in mAs milliampere-seconds (mAs) and the scan time when the scan time and exposure time are equivalent; and

5. For all other equipment, peak tube potential in kV kilovolts (kV), and either tube current in Ma milliamperes (mA) and exposure time in seconds, or the product of tube current and exposure time in mAs milliampere-seconds (mAs).

"Teletherapy physicist" means an individual identified as a qualified teletherapy physicist on an agency license.

"Teletherapy" means therapeutic irradiation in which the source of radiation is at a distance from the body.

"Temporary job site" means any location where industrial radiography, wireline service, well-logging, portable gauge or XRF use is performed and where licensed material may be stored other than those location(s) of use authorized on the license.

"Tenth-value layer (TVL)" or "TVL" means the thickness of a specified material that attenuates X-radiation or gamma radiation to an extent such that the air kerma rate, exposure rate, or absorbed dose rate is reduced to one-tenth of the value measured without the material at the same point.

"Termination of irradiation" means the stopping of irradiation in a fashion that will not permit continuance of irradiation without the resetting of operating conditions at the control panel.

"Test" means the process of verifying compliance with an applicable regulation.

"Therapeutic radiation machine" means X-ray x-ray or electron-producing equipment designed and used for external beam radiation therapy.

"These regulations" mean all parts of these regulations.

"Tight-fitting facepiece" means a respiratory inlet covering that forms a complete seal with the face.

"Tomogram" means the depiction of the X-ray x-ray attenuation properties of a section through the body.

"Tomographic plane" means that geometric plane which is identified as corresponding to the output tomogram.

"Tomographic section" means the volume of an object whose X-ray x-ray attenuation properties are imaged in a tomogram.

"Total effective dose equivalent" (TEDE) or "TEDE" means the sum of the effective dose equivalent for external exposures and the committed effective dose equivalent for internal exposures.

"Total organ dose equivalent" (TODE) or "TODE" means the sum of the deep dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent to the organ receiving the highest dose as described in 12VAC5-481-1040.

"Traceable to a National Standard" (See "Instrument traceability" or "Source traceability").

"Transfer" means, as used in Part XVI (12VAC5-481-3460 et seq.) of this chapter, the physical relocation of NORM containing materials not directly associated with commercial distribution within a business's operation or between general or specific licensees. This term does not include a change in legal title to NORM containing materials that does not involve physical movement of those materials.

"Transport container" means a package that is designed to provide radiation safety and security when sealed sources are transported and which meets all applicable requirements of the United States Department of Transportation.

"Transport index (TI)" or "TI" means the dimensionless number, rounded up to the next tenth, placed on the label of a package to designate the degree of control to be exercised by the carrier during transportation. The transport index is the number determined by multiplying the maximum radiation level in millisievert (mSv) per hour at one meter (3.3 feet) from the external surface of the package by 100 (equivalent to the maximum radiation level in millirem per hour at one meter (3.3 ft)).

"Treatment site" means the correct anatomical description of the area intended to receive a radiation dose, as described in a written directive.

"Tritium neutron generator target source" means a tritium source used within a neutron generator tube to produce neutrons for use in well-logging applications.

"Tube" means an X-ray x-ray tube, unless otherwise specified.

"Tube housing assembly" means the tube housing with tube installed. It includes high-voltage and/or filament transformers and other appropriate elements when such are contained within the tube housing.

"Tube rating chart" means the set of curves which specify the rated limits of operation of the tube in terms of the technique factors.

"Type A quantity" means a quantity of radioactive material, the aggregate radioactivity of which does not exceed A₁ for special form radioactive material or A₂ for normal form radioactive material, where A₁ and A₂ are given in Table A-1 of 12VAC5-481-3770 or may be determined by procedures described in Table A-1 of 12VAC5-481-3770.

"Type B quantity" means a quantity of radioactive material greater than a Type A quantity.

"Underwater irradiator" means an irradiator in which the sources always remain shielded under water and humans do not have access to the sealed sources or the space subject to irradiation without entering the pool.

"Underwater radiography" means radiographic operations performed when the radiographic exposure device or radiation machine and/or related equipment are beneath the surface of the water.

"Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest" or "uniform manifest" means the combination of NRC Forms 540 and 541, and, if necessary, 542, and their respective continuation sheets as needed, or equivalent.

"Unirradiated uranium" means uranium containing not more than 2 x 10³ Bq of plutonium per gram of uranium-235, not more than 9 x 10⁶ Bq of fission products per gram of uranium-235, and not more than 5 x 10^-3 g of uranium-236 per gram of uranium-235.

"Unrefined and unprocessed ore" means ore in its natural form prior to any processing, such as grinding, roasting, beneficiating, or refining.

"Unrestricted area" means an area, access to which is neither limited nor controlled by the licensee or registrant. For purposes of these regulations, "uncontrolled area" is an equivalent term.

"Uranium—natural, depleted, enriched"

1. "Natural uranium" means uranium with the naturally occurring distribution of uranium isotopes, which is approximately 0.711 weight percent uranium-235, and the remainder by weight essentially uranium-238.

2. "Depleted uranium" means uranium containing less uranium-235 than the naturally occurring distribution of uranium isotopes.

3. "Enriched uranium" means uranium containing more uranium-235 than the naturally occurring distribution of uranium isotopes.

"Uranium sinker bar" means a weight containing depleted uranium used to pull a logging tool down toward the bottom of a well.

"Useful beam" means the radiation emanating from that passes through the tube housing port or the radiation head and passing through and the aperture of the beam limiting beam-limiting device when the exposure controls are in a mode to cause the system to produce radiation switch or timer is activated.

"User seal check (fit check)" or "fit check" means an action conducted by the respirator user to determine if the respirator is properly seated to the face. Examples include negative pressure check, positive pressure check, irritant smoke check, or isoamyl acetate check.

"Variable-aperture beam-limiting device" means a beam-limiting device which has capacity for stepless adjustment of the X-ray x-ray field size at a given SID.

"Very high radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels from radiation sources external to the body could result in an individual receiving an absorbed dose in excess of five Gy (500 rad) in one hour at one meter from a source of radiation or one meter from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

"Virtual source" means a point from which radiation appears to originate.

"Visible area" means that portion of the input surface of the image receptor over which incident X-ray x-ray photons are producing a visible image.

"Visiting authorized user" means an authorized user who is not identified on the license of the licensee being visited.

"Waste" means those low-level radioactive wastes containing source, special nuclear, or byproduct material that are acceptable for disposal in a land disposal facility. For the purposes of this definition, low-level radioactive waste means radioactive waste not classified as high-level radioactive waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel, or byproduct material as defined in subdivisions 2, 3, and 4 of the definition of byproduct material.

"Waste collector" means an entity, operating under a specific license, whose principal purpose is to collect and consolidate waste generated by others, and to transfer this waste, without processing or repackaging the collected waste, to another licensed waste collector, licensed waste processor, or licensed land disposal facility.

"Waste description" means the physical, chemical and radiological description of a low-level radioactive waste as called for on NRC Form 541.

"Waste generator" means an entity, operating under a license, who (i) possesses any material or component that contains radioactivity or is radioactively contaminated for which the licensee foresees no further use, and (ii) transfers this material or component to a licensed land disposal facility or to a licensed waste collector or processor for handling or treatment prior to disposal. A licensee performing processing or decontamination services may be a "waste generator" if the transfer of low-level radioactive waste from its facility is defined as "residual waste."

"Waste handling licensees" mean persons licensed to receive and store radioactive wastes prior to disposal and/or persons licensed to dispose of radioactive waste.

"Waste processor" means an entity, operating under a specific license, whose principal purpose is to process, repackage, or otherwise treat low-level radioactive material or waste generated by others prior to eventual transfer of waste to a licensed low-level radioactive waste land disposal facility.

"Waste type" means a waste within a disposal container having a unique physical description (i.e., a specific waste descriptor code or description; or a waste sorbed on or solidified in a specifically defined media).

"Wedge filter" means a filter that effects continuous change in transmission over all or a part of the useful beam.

"Week" means seven consecutive days starting on Sunday.

"Weighting factor (w_T)" for an organ or tissue (T) means the proportion of the risk of stochastic effects resulting from irradiation of that organ or tissue to the total risk of stochastic effects when the whole body is irradiated uniformly. For calculating the effective dose equivalent, the values of w_T are:

Organ Dose Weighting Factors
Organ or Tissue	wT
Gonads	0.25
Breast	0.15
Red bone marrow	0.12
Lung	0.12
Thyroid	0.03
Bone surfaces	0.03
Remainder	0.30a/
Whole Body	1.00b/
a/0.30 results from 0.06 for each of five "remainder" organs, excluding the skin and the lens of the eye, that receive the highest doses.
b/For the purpose of weighting the external whole body dose for adding it to the internal dose, a single weighting factor, wT = 1.0, has been specified. The use of other weighting factors for external exposure will be approved on a case-by-case basis until such time as specific guidance is issued.

"Well-bore" means a drilled hole in which wireline service operations or subsurface tracer studies are performed.

"Well-logging" means all operations involving the lowering and raising of measuring devices or tools that may contain sources of radiation into well-bores or cavities for the purpose of obtaining information about the well or adjacent formations.

"Whole body" means, for purposes of external exposure, head, trunk including male gonads, arms above the elbow, or legs above the knee.

"Wireline" means a cable containing one or more electrical conductors that is used to lower and raise logging tools in the well-bore.

"Wireline service operation" means any evaluation or mechanical service that is performed in the well-bore using devices on a wireline.

"Worker" means an individual engaged in work under a license or registration issued by the agency and controlled by a licensee or registrant but does not include the licensee or registrant.

"Working level (WL)" or "WL" means any combination of short-lived radon daughters in one liter of air that will result in the ultimate emission of 1.3E+5 MeV of potential alpha particle energy. The short-lived radon daughters of radon-222 are polonium-218, lead-214, bismuth-214, and polonium-214; and those of radon-220 are polonium-216, lead-212, bismuth-212, and polonium-212.

"Working level month" (WLM) or "WLM" means an exposure to one working level for 170 hours. Two thousand working hours per year divided by 12 months per year is approximately equal to 170 hours per month.

"Written directive" means an order in writing for a specific patient, dated and signed by an authorized user prior to the administration of a radiopharmaceutical or radiation, except as specified in subdivision 6 below, containing the following information:

1. For any administration of quantities greater than 1.11 megabecquerels (30 mCi) of sodium iodide I-125 or I-131: the radionuclide, and dosage; or

2. For a therapeutic administration of a radiopharmaceutical other than sodium iodide I-125 or I-131: the radiopharmaceutical, dosage, and route of administration; or

3. For gamma stereotactic radiosurgery: target coordinates, collimator size, plug pattern, and total dose; or

4. For teletherapy: the total dose, dose per fraction, treatment site, and overall treatment period; or

5. For high-dose-rate remote afterloading brachytherapy: the radionuclide, treatment site, and total dose; or

6. For all other brachytherapy,

a. Prior to implantation: the radionuclide, number of sources, and source strengths; and

b. After implantation but prior to completion of the procedure: the radionuclide, treatment site, and total source strength and exposure time (or, equivalently, the total dose).

"X-ray control" means a device that controls input power to the x-ray high-voltage generator or the x-ray tube. It includes equipment such as timers, phototimers, automatic brightness stabilizers, and similar devices, which control the technique factors of an x-ray exposure.

"X-ray exposure control" means a device, switch, button or other similar means by which an operator initiates and/or terminates the radiation exposure. The X-ray x-ray exposure control may include such associated equipment as timers and back-up timers.

"X-ray equipment" means an X-ray x-ray system, subsystem, or component thereof. Types of X-ray x-ray equipment are as follows:

1. "Mobile X-ray x-ray equipment" means X-ray x-ray equipment mounted on a permanent base with wheels and/or casters for moving while completely assembled.

2. "Portable X-ray x-ray equipment" means X-ray x-ray equipment designed to be hand-carried.

3. "Stationary X-ray x-ray equipment" means X-ray x-ray equipment that is installed in a fixed location.

"X-ray field" means that area of the intersection of the useful beam and any one of the sets of planes parallel to and including the plane of the image receptor, whose perimeter is the locus of points at which the exposure rate AKR is one-fourth of the maximum in the intersection.

"X-ray high-voltage generator" means a device which transforms electrical energy from the potential supplied by the X-ray x-ray control to the tube operating potential. The device may also include means for transforming alternating current to direct current, filament transformers for the X-ray x-ray tube(s), high-voltage switches, electrical protective devices, and other appropriate elements.

"X-ray system" means an assemblage of components for the controlled production of X-rays x-rays. It includes minimally an X-ray x-ray high-voltage generator, an X-ray x-ray control, a tube housing assembly, a beam-limiting device, and the necessary supporting structures. Additional components that function with the system are considered integral parts of the system.

"X-ray table" means a patient support device with its patient support structure (tabletop) interposed between the patient and the image receptor during radiography and/or fluoroscopy. This includes, but is not limited to, any stretcher equipped with a radiolucent panel and any table equipped with a cassette tray (or bucky), cassette tunnel, image intensifier fluoroscopic image receptor, or spot-film device beneath the tabletop.

"X-ray tube" means any electron tube that is designed for the conversion of electrical energy into X-ray x-ray energy.

"Year" means the period of time beginning in January used to determine compliance with the provisions of these regulations. The licensee or registrant may change the starting date of the year used to determine compliance by the licensee or registrant provided that the change is made at the beginning of the year. If a licensee or registrant changes in a year, the licensee or registrant shall assure that no day is omitted or duplicated in consecutive years.

12VAC5-481-290. Registration of radiation machine facilities.

Each person having a radiation machine facility shall:

1. Apply for registration of such facility with the agency within 30 days following installation of equipment. Application for registration shall be completed on forms furnished by the agency and shall contain all the information required by the form and accompanying instructions. Registrations filed with the agency prior to September 20, 2006, shall remain in effect until a renewal notice is issued by the agency pursuant to 12VAC5-481-310.

2. Designate on the application form an individual to be responsible for radiation protection;

3. Submit to the agency as part of any application for registration or renewal of registration one copy of each radiation survey or calibration report for which records are required to be maintained pursuant to 12VAC5-481-1590 12VAC5-481-1591 A 12 c. Records submitted once need not be submitted again for renewal of registration.

4. Have an initial inspection by a private or state inspector no later than 30 days after the registration of the equipment. Subsequent inspections shall be made periodically in accordance with other parts of these regulations or whenever the equipment is moved to a new location. The agency shall furnish a list of private inspectors.

12VAC5-481-340. Private inspector qualifications.

Any person desiring designation as a private inspector for diagnostic X-ray x-ray, mammographic or therapeutic X-ray x-ray and teletherapy machines must be qualified by training and experience to perform inspections or calibrations according to the following criteria and must submit to the agency a statement on the appropriate form certifying his specific qualifications. In order to maintain designation as a private inspector, the individual must maintain satisfactory performance of work performed in that capacity. The agency shall disqualify individuals any individual from this designation for just cause provided that a show-cause hearing has been held and the agency if the agency has determined that the individual has demonstrated unsatisfactory performance as a private inspector. The individual may request an informal hearing.

A. Private inspector, diagnostic X-ray x-ray (except mammography). The person must have adequate knowledge, training and experience to measure ionizing radiation, evaluate safety techniques, and advise regarding radiation protection needs to assure compliance with Virginia Rules and Regulations for Ionizing Radiation as evidenced by all of the following:

1. Initial qualifications: evidenced by one or more of the following:

a. Certification by one of the following: American Board of Radiology either in diagnostic or radiological physics, American Board of Health Physics in comprehensive practice, or the American Board of Medical Physics in diagnostic imaging physics.

b. Bachelor's degree in one of the physical sciences or engineering and three years of full-time experience in radiation safety including at least one year in diagnostic X-ray x-ray safety. Advanced degrees in related areas may be substituted for experience on an equal time basis, except that no substitution shall be allowed for the required one year of experience in diagnostic X-ray x-ray safety.

c. Those individuals listed as private inspectors immediately prior to September 20, 2006, shall be considered grandfathered.

2. Continuing qualifications:

a. Continuing education. Private inspectors must participate in continuing education programs relating to diagnostic X-ray x-ray, either by teaching or completing at least 15 continuing education units (CMEs) every three years.

b. Continuing experience. The private inspector must have inspected at least 10 diagnostic X-ray x-ray machines within the preceding 12 months.

3. Reestablishing qualifications. Private inspectors who fail to maintain the required continuing qualifications of this section may not perform the inspections without the supervision of a qualified private inspector. Before independently inspecting another facility, private inspectors must reestablish their qualifications, as follows:

a. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing educational requirements of this section shall obtain a sufficient number of continuing education units to bring their total units up to five continuing education units during the preceding 12 months.

b. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing experience requirement of this section shall complete a satisfactory inspection of a sufficient number of facilities and machines under the direct supervision of a private inspector who meets the qualifications of this section to bring the number to the required level.

B. Private inspector, therapeutic X-ray x-ray and teletherapy machines. The person must have adequate knowledge, training, and experience to calibrate a therapeutic X-ray x-ray machine or teletherapy machine, perform inspections and to establish procedures for (and review the results of) spot-check measurements as evidenced by all of the following:

1. Initial qualifications: evidenced by one or more of the following:

a. Be certified by the American Board of Radiology in:

(1) Therapeutic radiological physics;

(2) Roentgen-ray and gamma-ray physics;

(3) X-ray and radium physics;

(4) Radiological physics;

b. Be certified by the American Board of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology Physics;

c. Be certified by the Canadian College of Medical Physics; or

d. Hold a master's or doctor's degree in physics, biophysics, radiological physics, or health physics, and have completed one year of full time training in therapeutic radiological physics and also one year of full time work experience under the supervision of a radiation therapy physicist at a medical institution. To meet this requirement, the individual shall have performed the tasks listed in 12VAC5-481-3400 A;, 12VAC5-481-3420 P;, 12VAC5-481-3430 T;, 12VAC5-481-3420 Q;, and 12VAC5-481-3430 U under the supervision of a radiation therapy physicist during the year of work experience.

Notwithstanding the provisions of 12VAC5-481-3390 D, certification pursuant to subdivisions B 1 a, b, or c of this section shall be required on or before July 1, 2007, for all persons currently qualifying as a radiation therapy physicist pursuant to subdivision B 1 d of this section.

2. Continuing qualifications.

a. Continuing education: Private inspectors must participate in continuing education programs relating to therapeutic X-ray x-ray and teletherapy machines, either by teaching or completing at least 15 continuing education units (CEUs) every three years.

b. Continuing experience: The private inspector must have inspected at least one therapeutic X-ray x-ray or teletherapy facilities and at least one therapeutic X-ray x-ray or teletherapy machine within the preceding 12 months.

3. Reestablishing qualifications. Private inspectors who fail to maintain the required continuing qualifications of this section may not perform an inspection without the supervision of a qualified private inspector. Before independently inspecting another facility, private inspectors must reestablish their qualifications, as follows:

a. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing educational requirements of this section shall obtain a sufficient number of continuing education units to bring their total units up to five continuing education units during the preceding 12 months.

b. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing experience requirement of this section shall complete a satisfactory inspection of a sufficient number of facilities and machines under the direct supervision of a private inspector who meets the qualifications of this section to bring the number to the required level.

C. Private inspector, mammography. The person must have adequate knowledge, training, and experience to inspect mammography X-ray x-ray machines and facilities. All mammography private inspector conducting inspections of mammography facilities and providing oversight of the facility quality assurance program must meet one of the following tracks, either through the initial master's degree of higher route or the alternative initial bachelor's degree route:

1. Initial qualifications:

Master Route:

a. Be certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or the American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in:

(1) Diagnostic radiological physics;

(2) Radiological physics; or

(3) Diagnostic imaging physics;

b. A master's degree or higher in a physical science with at least 20 semester hours or equivalent of graduate or undergraduate physics; and

c. Twenty contact hours of mammography facility training; and

d. The experience of conducting inspections of at least one mammography facility and a total of at least 10 mammography units.

Bachelor Route (must have been qualified before April 28, 1999):

a. A bachelor's degree in a physical science with at least 10 semester hours or equivalent of college level physics;

b. Forty contact hours of documented specialized training in conducting inspections of mammography facilities; and

c. The experience of conducting inspections of at least one mammography facility and a total of at least 20 mammography units. The training and experience requirements must be met after fulfilling the degree requirement.

2. Continuing qualifications.

a. Continuing education. At all times after the third anniversary of completion of the initial requirements of this section, the private inspector shall have taught or completed at least 15 continuing education units in mammography during the preceding three years.

b. Continuing experience. At all times after the first anniversary of the completion of the initial requirements of this section, the private inspector shall have inspected at least two mammography facilities and six machines in 24 months.

c. Before a private inspector may begin independently performing mammographic examinations using a new modality, that is, a modality other than one for which the physicist received training to qualify under this section, the inspector must receive at least eight hours of training in inspecting units with the new modality.

3. Reestablishing qualifications. Private inspectors who fail to maintain the required continuing qualifications of this section may not perform the mammography inspections without the supervision of a qualified private inspector. Before independently inspecting another facility, private inspectors must reestablish their qualifications as follows:

a. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing educational requirements of this section shall obtain a sufficient number of continuing education units to bring their total units up to the required 15 in the previous three years.

b. Private inspectors who fail to meet the continuing experience requirement of this section shall complete a satisfactory inspection of three mammography facilities under the direct supervision of a private inspector who meets the qualifications of this section.

12VAC5-481-350. Assembler or transfer obligation.

A. Any person who sells, leases, transfers, lends, disposes, assembles, or installs radiation machines or upon significant service or modification thereof of any radiation machine (such as tube inserts, generators, or collimators) in this state shall notify the agency within 15 days of:

1. The name and address of persons who have received these machines;

2. The manufacturer, model, and serial number of each radiation machine transferred; however, in the case of diagnostic x-ray systems that contain certified components, a copy of the assembler's report (Form FDA 2579) prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration's Federal Diagnostic X-ray Standard (21 CFR 1020.30(d)) shall be submitted and shall suffice in lieu of any other report by the assembler; and

3. The date of transfer of each radiation machine.

B. No person shall make, sell, lease, transfer, lend, assemble, or install radiation machines or the supplies used in connection with such machines unless such supplies and equipment when properly placed in operation and used shall meet the requirements of these regulations.

Part VI
Use Of Diagnostic X-Rays In The Healing Arts

12VAC5-481-1580. Purpose and scope. (Repealed.)

This part establishes requirements, for which a registrant is responsible, for use of diagnostic X-ray equipment by, or under the supervision of, an individual authorized by and licensed in accordance with state statutes to engage in the healing arts or veterinary medicine. The provisions of this part are in addition to, and not in substitution for, other applicable provisions of Parts I (12VAC5-481-10 et seq.); II (12VAC5-481-260 et seq.); IV (12VAC5-481-600 et seq.); and X (12VAC5-481-2250 et seq.) of this chapter. Some registrants may also be subject to the requirements of Parts IX (12VAC5-481-2140 et seq.) and XV (12VAC5-481-3380 et seq.) of this chapter.

12VAC5-481-1581. Purpose and scope.

This part establishes requirements, for which a registrant is responsible, for use of diagnostic x-ray equipment and imaging systems by or under the supervision of an individual authorized by and licensed in accordance with Virginia law to engage in the healing arts or veterinary medicine. The provisions of this part are in addition to and not in substitution for other applicable provisions of this chapter.

12VAC5-481-1590. General and administrative requirements. (Repealed.)

A. Radiation safety requirements. The registrant shall be responsible for directing the operation of the X-ray system(s) under his administrative control. The registrant or the registrant's agent shall assure that the requirements of these regulations are met in the operation of the X-ray system(s).

1. An X-ray system that does not meet the provisions of these regulations shall not be operated for diagnostic purposes.

2. Individuals who will be operating the X-ray systems shall be adequately instructed in the safe operating procedures and be competent in the safe use of the equipment. The agency may use interview, observation and/or testing to determine compliance. The following are areas in which the agency considers it important that an individual have expertise for the competent operation of X-ray equipment:

a. Familiarization with equipment

(1) Identification of controls

(2) Function of each control

(3) How to use a technique chart

b. Radiation protection

(1) Collimation

(2) Filtration

(3) Gonad shielding and other patient protection devices, if used

(4) Restriction of X-ray tube radiation to the image receptor

(5) Personnel protection

(6) Grids

c. Image processing

(1) Film speed as related to patient exposure

(2) Image processing parameters

(3) Quality assurance program

d. Emergency procedures—termination of exposure in event of automatic timing device failure

e. Proper use of personnel dosimetry, if required

f. Understanding units of radiation

3. A chart shall be provided in the vicinity of the diagnostic X-ray system's control panel that specifies, for all examinations performed with that system, the following information:

a. Patient's body part and anatomical size, or body part thickness, or age (for pediatrics), versus technique factors to be utilized;

b. Reserved;

c. Reserved;

d. Source to image receptor distance to be used (except for dental intra-oral radiography);

e. Type and location of placement of patient shielding (e.g., gonad, etc.) to be used; and

f. For mammography, indication of kVp/target/filter combination.

4. The registrant of a facility shall create and make available to X-ray operators written safety procedures, including patient holding and any restrictions of the operating technique required for the safe operation of the particular X-ray system. The operator shall be able to demonstrate familiarity with these procedures. A copy of the written safety procedures shall be posted near each X-ray machine.

5. Except for patients who cannot be moved out of the room, only the staff, ancillary personnel or other persons required for the medical procedure or training shall be in the room during the radiographic exposure. Other than the patient being examined:

a. All individuals shall be positioned such that no part of the body will be struck by the useful beam unless protected by not less than 0.5 millimeter lead equivalent material;

b. The X-ray operator, other staff, ancillary personnel, and other persons required for the medical procedure shall be protected from the direct scatter radiation by protective aprons or whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 millimeter lead equivalent material;

c. Human patients who cannot be removed from the room shall be protected from the direct scatter radiation by whole body protective barriers, or protective aprons of not less than 0.25 millimeter lead equivalent material or shall be so positioned that the nearest portion of the body is at least two meters from both the tube head and the nearest edge of the image receptor.

6. Gonad shielding of not less than 0.5 millimeter lead equivalent material shall be used for human patients, who have not passed the reproductive age, during radiographic procedures in which the gonads are in the useful beam, except for cases in which this would interfere with the diagnostic procedure.

7. Individuals shall not be exposed to the useful beam except for healing arts purposes and unless such exposure has been authorized by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This provision specifically prohibits deliberate exposure for the following purposes:

a. Exposure of an individual for training, demonstration, or other nonhealing arts purposes; and

b. Exposure of an individual for the purpose of healing arts screening except as authorized by subdivision A 11 of this section.

8. When a patient or film must be provided with auxiliary support during a radiation exposure:

a. Mechanical holding devices shall be used when the technique permits. The written safety procedures, required by subdivision A 4 of this section, shall list individual projections where holding devices cannot be utilized;

b. Written safety procedures, as required by subdivision A 4 of this section, shall indicate the requirements for selecting a holder and the procedure the holder shall follow;

c. The human holder shall be instructed in personal radiation safety and protected as required by subdivision A 5 of this section;

d. No individual shall be used routinely to hold film or patients;

e. In those cases where the patient must hold the film, except during intraoral examinations, any portion of the body other than the area of clinical interest struck by the useful beam shall be protected by not less than 0.5 millimeter lead equivalent material; and

f. Each facility shall have leaded aprons and gloves available in sufficient numbers to provide protection to all personnel who are involved with X-ray operations and who are otherwise not shielded.

g. When an animal must be held in position during radiography, mechanical supporting or restraining devices should be used. If the animal must be held by an individual, that individual shall be protected by appropriate shielding devices, such as protective glove and apron, and he shall be so positioned that no part of his body will be struck by the useful beam. The radiation exposure of and individual used for this purpose shall be monitored and recorded. These records of radiation exposure must be maintained indefinitely for inspection by the agency.

9. Procedures and auxiliary equipment designed to minimize patient and personnel exposure commensurate with the needed diagnostic information shall be utilized.

a. The speed of the screen and film combinations used shall be the fastest speed consistent with the diagnostic objective of the examinations. Film cassettes without intensifying screens shall not be used for any routine diagnostic radiological imaging, with the exception of veterinary radiography and standard film packets for intra-oral use in dental radiography.

b. The radiation exposure to the patient shall be the minimum exposure required to produce images of good diagnostic quality and, where applicable, shall not exceed the following standards:

EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR SELECTED PROJECTIONS

Using a method acceptable to the agency, the exposure measurement shall be determined in the center of the X-ray field at the location of the entrance skin of a standard patient, except for dental intraoral X-ray machines in which case the measurement shall be determined at the conetip. The technique factors selected shall be those used for routine radiography for an average size adult patient at that facility for that X-ray machine. At least one projection must be tested for each X-ray machine unless none of the projections listed are used. If an X-ray machine is used in both the manual and phototimed modes, then only the manual mode shall be tested. If the machine is used only in the phototimed mode, then this test is not required. An average size adult, for purposes of these regulations, is defined as a 5'8", 164 lb. adult male meeting the following anthropometric guidelines for the radiographic examination projection specified: PA Chest—Thorax—23 cm thickness; AP Abdomen and AP Lumbar Spine—Abdomen—23 cm thickness.

The exposure shall not exceed the following maximum exposure limits for the projections below:

Projection	Maximum Exposure
PA Chest	50 mR
AP Lumbar Spine	1400 mR
AP Abdomen	1100 mR
Dental Bitewing Using D Speed Film
50 kVp	575 mR
55 kVp	500 mR
60 kVp	440 mR
65 kVp	400 mR
70 kVp	350 mR
75 kVp	260 mR
80 kVp	230 mR
85 kVp	200 mR
90 kVp	180 mR
95 kVp	160 mR
100 kVp	140 mR
Using E Speed Film
50 kVp	320 mR
55 kVp	270 mR
60 kVp	230 mR
65 kVp	200 mR
70 kVp	170 mR
75 kVp	140 mR
80 kVp	120 mR
85 kVp	105 mR
90 kVp	90 mR
95 kVp	80 mR
100 kVp	70 mR

c. Portable or mobile X-ray equipment shall be used only for examinations where it is impractical to transfer the patient(s) to a stationary X-ray installation.

d. X-ray systems subject to 12VAC5-481-1620 shall not be utilized in procedures where the source to patient distance is less than 30 centimeters, except for veterinary systems.

e. If grids are used between the patient and the image receptor to decrease scatter to the film and improve contrast, the grid shall:

(1) Be positioned properly, i.e., tube side facing the right direction, and grid centered to the central ray;

(2) If of the focused type, be of the proper focal distance for the SID's being used.

10. All individuals who are associated with the operation of an X-ray system are subject to the requirements of 12VAC5-481-640, 12VAC5-481-680, 12VAC5-481-700 and 12VAC5-481-710.

11. Healing arts screening. Any person proposing to conduct a healing arts screening program shall not initiate such a program without prior approval of the agency. When requesting such approval, that person shall submit the following information. If any information submitted to the agency becomes invalid or outdated, the agency shall be immediately notified.

INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED BY PERSONS PROPOSING TO CONDUCT HEALING ARTS SCREENING

Persons requesting that the agency approve a healing arts screening program shall submit the following information and evaluation:

a. Name and address of the applicant and, where applicable, the names and addresses of agents within this state;

b. Diseases or conditions for which the X-ray examinations are to be used in diagnoses;

c. A detailed description of the X-ray examinations proposed in the screening program;

d. Description of the population to be examined in the screening program, i.e., age, sex, physical condition, and other appropriate information;

e. An evaluation of any known alternate methods not involving ionizing radiation that could achieve the goals of the screening program and why these methods are not used instead of the X-ray examinations;

f. An evaluation by a private inspector of the X-ray system(s) to be used in the screening program. The evaluation by the private inspector shall show that such system(s) do satisfy all requirements of these regulations. The evaluation shall include a measurement of patient exposures from the X-ray examinations to be performed;

g. A description of the diagnostic X-ray quality control program;

h. A copy of the technique chart for the X-ray examination procedures to be used;

i. The qualifications of each individual who will be operating the X-ray system(s);

j. The qualifications of the individual who will be supervising the operators of the X-ray system(s). The extent of supervision and the method of work performance evaluation shall be specified;

k. The name and address of the individual who will interpret the radiograph(s);

l. A description of the procedures to be used in advising the individuals screened and their private practitioners of the healing arts of the results of the screening procedure and any further medical needs indicated;

m. A description of the procedures for the retention or disposition of the radiographs and other records pertaining to the X-ray examinations;

n. An indication of the frequency of screening and the duration of the entire screening program.

12. Information and maintenance record and associated information. The registrant shall maintain the following information for each X-ray system for inspection by the agency:

a. Model and serial numbers of all major components, and user's manuals for those components;

b. Tube rating charts and cooling curves;

c. Records of surveys, calibrations, maintenance, and modifications performed on the X-ray system(s); and

d. A copy of all correspondence with this agency regarding that X-ray system.

13. X-ray utilization log. Except for veterinary facilities, each facility shall maintain a record containing the patient's name, the type of examinations, and the dates the examinations were performed. When the patient or film must be provided with human auxiliary support, the name of the human holder shall be recorded.

14. The registrant shall maintain a list of X-ray machine operators for each facility. The following information will be maintained on the list:

The name of the X-ray machine operator. Operators must be licensed by the Department of Health Professions where X-rays are used within the scope of practice or be certified by the ARRT, or an individual enrolled in an accredited program for radiologic technology and under the supervision of a licensed or certified radiological technologist, and if a dental assistant, comply with the Board of Dentistry's radiation certification requirements in 18VAC60-20-195.

B. X-ray film processing facilities and practices.

1. Each installation using a radiographic X-ray system and using analog image receptors (e.g. radiographic film) shall have available suitable equipment for handling and processing radiographic film in accordance with the following provisions:

a. Manually developed film:

(1) Processing tanks shall be constructed of mechanically rigid, corrosion resistant material; and

(2) The temperature of solutions in the tanks shall be maintained within the range of 60°F to 80°F (16°C to 27°C). Film shall be developed in accordance with the time-temperature relationships recommended by the film manufacturer, or, in the absence of such recommendations, with the following time-temperature chart that must be posted in the darkroom:

Thermometer Reading (Degrees)		Minimum Developing Time (Minutes)
°C	°F
26.7	80	2
26.1	79	2
25.6	78	22
25.0	77	22
24.4	76	3
23.9	75	3
23.3	74	32
22.8	73	32
22.2	72	4
21.7	71	4
21.1	70	42
20.6	69	42
20.0	68	5
19.4	67	52
18.9	66	52
18.3	65	6
17.8	64	62
17.2	63	7
16.7	62	8
16.1	61	82
15.6	60	92

(3) Devices shall be utilized which will indicate the actual temperature of the developer and signal the passage of a preset time appropriate to the developing time required.

b. Automatic processors and other closed processing systems:

(1) Films shall be developed in accordance with the time-temperature relationships recommended by the film manufacturer; in the absence of such recommendations, the film shall be developed using the following chart:

Developer Temperature		Minimum Immersion Timea (Seconds)
°C	°F
35.5	96	19
35	95	20
34.5	94	21
34	93	22
33.5	92	23
33	91	24
32	90	25
31.5	89	26
31	88	27
30.5	87	28
30	86	29
29.5	85	30
a Immersion time only, no crossover time included.

(2) The specified developer temperature and immersion time shall be posted in the darkroom or on the automatic processor.

c. Processing deviations from the requirements of subdivision 1 of this subsection shall be documented by the registrant in such manner that the requirements are shown to be met or exceeded (e.g., extended processing, and special rapid chemistry).

2. Other requirements.

a. Pass boxes, if provided, shall be so constructed as to exclude light from the darkroom when cassettes are placed in or removed from the boxes, and shall incorporate adequate shielding from stray radiation to prevent exposure of undeveloped film.

b. The darkroom shall be light tight and use proper safelighting such that any film type in use exposed in a cassette to x-radiation sufficient to produce an optical density from one to two when processed shall not suffer an increase in density greater than 0.1 (0.05 for mammography) when exposed in the darkroom for two minutes with all safelights on. If used, daylight film handling boxes shall preclude fogging of the film.

c. Darkrooms typically used by more than one individual shall be provided a method to prevent accidental entry while undeveloped films are being handled or processed.

d. Film shall be stored in a cool, dry place and shall be protected from exposure to stray radiation. Film in open packages shall be stored in a light tight container.

e. Film cassettes and intensifying screens shall be inspected periodically and shall be cleaned and replaced as necessary to best assure radiographs of good diagnostic quality.

f. Outdated X-ray film shall not be used for diagnostic radiographs, unless the film has been stored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and a sample of the film passes a sensitometric test for normal ranges of base plus fog and speed.

g. Film developing solutions shall be prepared in accordance with the directions given by the manufacturer, and shall be maintained in strength by replenishment or renewal so that full development is accomplished within the time specified by the manufacturer.

h. Living and deceased patient's films (diagnostic images) shall be maintained for a minimum of five years. Films for minors shall be maintained for a minimum of five years beyond their 18th birthday.

C. Information to be submitted to the agency. The registrant shall submit to the agency a copy of all surveys, calibrations and inspections performed by a private inspector within 30 days of completion of the survey or calibration.

D. Information to be submitted by the private inspector to the registrant. The private inspector shall provide the inspection report to the registrant within 14 days of the completion of the inspection. A summary and/or recommendations shall be included with this report. The private inspector shall notify the registrant of any noncompliances that need corrective action.

12VAC5-481-1591 General and administrative requirements

A. Radiation safety requirements. The registrant shall be responsible for directing the operation of the x-ray system under his administrative control. The registrant or the registrant's agent shall assure that the requirements of this chapter are met in the operation of the x-ray system or systems.

1. An x-ray system that does not meet the provisions of this chapter shall not be operated for diagnostic purposes.

2. Individuals who will be operating the x-ray systems shall meet the qualifications of this part to conduct the practice of radiologic technology.

3. A chart shall be provided in the vicinity of the diagnostic x-ray system's control panel that specifies, for all examinations performed with that system, the following information:

a. Patient's body part and anatomical size, or body part thickness, or age (for pediatrics), versus technique factors to be utilized;

b. Type and size of the image receptor to be used;

c. Type and size of the image receptor combination to be used, if any;

d. Source to image receptor distance to be used (except for dental intraoral radiography);

e. Type and location of placement of patient shielding (e.g., gonad, etc.) to be used; and

f. For mammography, indication of kVp/target/filter combination.

4. The registrant of a facility shall create and make available to x-ray operators written safety procedures, including patient holding and any restrictions of the operating technique required for the safe operation of the particular x-ray system. The operator shall be able to demonstrate familiarity with these procedures.

5. Except for patients who cannot be moved out of the room, only the staff, ancillary personnel, or other persons required for the medical procedure or training shall be in the room during the radiographic exposure. Other than the patient being examined:

a. All individuals shall be positioned such that no part of the body will be struck by the useful beam unless protected by not less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent material;

b. The x-ray operator, other staff, ancillary personnel, and other persons required for the medical procedure shall be protected from the direct scatter radiation by protective aprons or whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 mm lead equivalent material; and

c. Human patients who cannot be removed from the room shall be protected from the direct scatter radiation by whole body protective barriers of not less than 0.25 mm lead equivalent material or shall be so positioned that the nearest portion of the body is at least two meters from both the tube head and the nearest edge of the image receptor.

6. Gonad shielding of not less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent material shall be used for human patients, who have not passed the reproductive age, during radiographic procedures in which the gonads are in the useful beam, except for cases in which this would interfere with the diagnostic procedure.

7. Individuals shall not be exposed to the useful beam except for healing arts purposes and unless such exposure has been authorized by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This provision specifically prohibits deliberate exposure for the following purposes:

a. Exposure of an individual for training, demonstration, or other non-healing arts purposes; and

b. Exposure of an individual for the purpose of healing arts screening except as authorized by subdivision 11 of this subsection.

8. When a patient or image receptor must be provided with auxiliary support during a radiation exposure:

a. Mechanical holding devices shall be used when the technique permits. The written safety procedures, as required by subdivision 4 of this subsection, shall list individual projections where holding devices cannot be utilized;

b. Written safety procedures, as required by subdivision 4 of this subsection, shall indicate the requirements for selecting a holder and the procedure the holder shall follow;

c. The human holder shall be instructed in personal radiation safety and protected as required by subdivision 5 of this subsection;

d. No individual shall be used routinely to hold image receptor or patients;

e. In those cases where the patient must hold the image receptor, except during intraoral examinations, any portion of the body other than the area of clinical interest struck by the useful beam shall be protected by not less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent material; and

f. Each facility shall have leaded aprons and gloves available in sufficient numbers to provide protection for all personnel who are involved with x-ray operations and who are otherwise not shielded.

9. Procedures and auxiliary equipment designed to minimize patient and personnel exposure commensurate with the needed diagnostic information shall be utilized.

a. The fastest imaging system consistent with the diagnostic objective of the examinations shall be used. Film cassettes without intensifying screens shall not be used for any routine diagnostic radiological imaging, with the exception of veterinary radiography and standard film packets for intraoral use in dental radiography.

b. The radiation exposure to the patient shall be the minimum exposure required to produce images of good diagnostic quality.

c. Portable or mobile x-ray equipment shall be used only for examinations where it is impractical to transfer the patient to a stationary x-ray installation.

d. X-ray systems subject to 12VAC5-481-1621 shall not be utilized in procedures where the source to patient distance is less than 30 cm, except for veterinary systems.

e. If grids are used between the patient and the image receptor to decrease scatter to the film and improve contrast, the grid shall:

(1) Be positioned properly, i.e., tube side facing the right direction, and grid centered to the central ray; and

(2) If the grid is of the focused type, be of the proper focal distance for the SIDs being used.

10. All individuals who are associated with the operation of an x-ray system are subject to the requirements of 12VAC5-481-640, 12VAC5-481-700, and 12VAC5-481-710.

11. Any person proposing to conduct a healing arts screening program shall not initiate such a program without prior approval of the agency. If any information submitted to the agency becomes invalid or outdated, the agency shall be immediately notified. Persons requesting that the agency approve a healing arts screening program shall submit the following information and evaluation:

a. Name and address of the applicant and, where applicable, the names and addresses of agents within this state;

b. Diseases or conditions for which the x-ray examinations are to be used in diagnoses;

c. A description of the x-ray examinations proposed in the screening program, i.e., type and number of views;

d. Description of the population to be examined in the screening program, i.e., age range, sex, physical condition, and other appropriate information;

e. An evaluation of any known alternate methods not involving ionizing radiation that could achieve the goals of the screening program and why these methods are not used instead of the x-ray examinations;

f. An evaluation by a qualified medical physicist of the x-ray system or systems to be used in the screening program. The evaluation shall include the following:

(1) Documentation that such systems satisfy all requirements of this chapter; and

(2) Measurement of patient exposures from the x-ray examinations to be performed;

g. A description of the diagnostic x-ray quality control program;

h. A copy of the technique chart for the x-ray examination procedures to be used;

i. The qualifications of each individual who will be operating the x-ray system or systems;

j. The qualifications of the individual who will be supervising the operators of the x-ray system or systems. The extent of supervision and the method of work performance evaluation shall be specified;

k. The name and address of the practitioner licensed in the state who will interpret the radiograph;

l. Procedures to be used in advising the individuals screened and their practitioners of the healing arts or health care providers of the results of the screening procedure and any further medical needs indicated;

m. Procedures for the retention or disposition of the radiographs and other records pertaining to the x-ray examinations;

n. Frequency of screening of individuals; and

o. The duration of the screening program.

12. The registrant shall maintain the following information and maintenance record for each x-ray system for inspection by the agency:

a. Model and serial numbers of all major components, and user's manuals for those components;

b. Tube rating charts and cooling curves;

c. Records of surveys, calibrations, maintenance, and modifications performed on the x-ray system or systems; and

d. A copy of all correspondence with the agency regarding that x-ray system.

13. Except for veterinary facilities, each facility shall maintain an x-ray utilization log containing the patient's name, the type of examination, and the date the examination was performed.

14. The registrant shall maintain a list of x-ray operators for each facility. Operators must be licensed by the Department of Health Professions where x-rays are used within the scope of practice or be certified by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT), or be an individual enrolled in an accredited program for radiologic technology and under the supervision of a licensed or certified radiological technologist, and if a dental assistant, comply with the Board of Dentistry's radiation certification requirements in 18VAC60-20-195.

B. X-ray film processing facilities and practices.

1. Each installation using a radiographic x-ray system and analog image receptors (e.g., radiographic film) shall have available suitable equipment for handling and processing radiographic film in accordance with the following provisions:

a. Manually developed film.

(1) Processing tanks shall be constructed of mechanically rigid, corrosion resistant material; and

(2) The temperature of solutions in the tanks shall be maintained within the range of 60°F to 80°F (16°C to 27°C). Film shall be developed in accordance with the time-temperature relationships recommended by the film manufacturer or, in the absence of such recommendations, with the following time-temperature chart:

Time-Temperature Chart
Thermometer Reading (Degrees)		Minimum Developing Time (Minutes)
°C	°F
26.7	80	2
26.1	79	2
25.6	78	2-1/2
25.0	77	2-1/2
24.4	76	3
23.9	75	3
23.3	74	3-1/2
22.8	73	3-1/2
22.2	72	4
21.7	71	4
21.1	70	4-1/2
20.6	69	4-1/2
20.0	68	5
19.4	67	5-1/2
18.9	66	5-1/2
18.3	65	6
17.8	64	6-1/2
17.2	63	7
16.7	62	8
16.1	61	8-1/2
15.6	60	9-1/2

(3) Devices shall be utilized that will indicate the actual temperature of the developer and signal the passage of a preset time appropriate to the developing time required.

b. Automatic processors and other closed processing systems. Films shall be developed in accordance with the time-temperature relationships recommended by the film manufacturer. In the absence of such recommendations, the film shall be developed using the following chart:

Developer Temperature		Minimum Immersion Time*
°C	°F	Seconds
35.5	96	19
35	95	20
34.5	94	21
34	93	22
33.5	92	23
33	91	24
32	90	25
31.5	89	26
31	88	27
30.5	87	28
30	86	29
29.5	85	30
*Immersion time only, no crossover time included.

Processing deviations from the requirements of this subdivision shall be documented by the registrant in such manner that the requirements are shown to be met or exceeded (e.g., extended processing and special rapid chemistry).

2. Other requirements.

a. Pass boxes, if provided, shall be so constructed as to exclude light from the darkroom when cassettes are placed in or removed from the boxes and shall incorporate adequate shielding from stray radiation to prevent exposure of undeveloped film.

b. The darkroom shall be light tight and use proper safelighting such that any film type in use exposed in a cassette to x-ray radiation sufficient to produce an optical density from one to two when processed shall not suffer an increase in density greater than 0.1 (0.05 for mammography) when exposed in the darkroom for two minutes with all safelights on. If used, daylight film handling boxes shall preclude fogging of the film.

c. Darkrooms typically used by more than one individual shall be provided a method to prevent accidental entry while undeveloped films are being handled or processed.

d. Film shall be stored in a cool, dry place and shall be protected from exposure to stray radiation. Film in open packages shall be stored in a light tight container.

e. Film cassettes and intensifying screens shall be inspected periodically and shall be cleaned and replaced as necessary to best assure radiographs of good diagnostic quality.

f. Outdated x-ray film shall not be used for diagnostic radiographs, unless the film has been stored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and a sample of the film passes a sensitometric test for normal ranges of base plus fog and speed.

g. Film developing solutions shall be prepared in accordance with the directions given by the manufacturer and shall be maintained in strength by replenishment or renewal so that full development is accomplished within the time specified by the manufacturer.

h. Living and deceased patients' diagnostic images shall be maintained for a minimum of five years. Diagnostic images for minors shall be maintained for a minimum of five years beyond their 18th birthday.

C. The registrant shall submit to the agency a copy of all surveys, calibrations, and inspections performed by a private inspector within 30 days of completion of the survey, calibration, or inspection.

D. The private inspector shall provide the inspection report to the registrant within 14 days of the completion of the inspection. A summary or recommendation shall be included with this report. The inspector shall notify the registrant of any noncompliances that need corrective action.

E. Violations identified as "serious" must be corrected within 30 days. Certification of the unit will not be issued until the violation is corrected. Violations identified as "non-serious" shall be corrected before the next inspection cycle. Uncorrected "non-serious" violations will become "serious" and require immediate correction.

12VAC5-481-1600. General requirements for all diagnostic X-ray systems. (Repealed.)

In addition to other requirements of this part, all diagnostic X-ray systems shall meet the following requirements:

1. Warning label. The control panel containing the main power switch shall bear the warning statement, legible and accessible to view: "WARNING: This X-ray unit may be dangerous to patient and operator unless safe exposure factors and operating instructions are observed."

2. Battery charge indicator. On battery-powered X-ray generators, visual means shall be provided on the control panel to indicate whether the battery is in a state of charge adequate for proper operation.

3. Leakage radiation from the diagnostic source assembly. The leakage radiation from the diagnostic source assembly measured at a distance of one meter in any direction from the source shall not exceed 25.8 μC/kg (100 milliroentgens) in one hour when the X-ray tube is operated at its leakage technique factors. Compliance shall be determined by measurements averaged over an area of 100 square centimeters with no linear dimension greater than 20 centimeters.

4. Radiation from components other than the diagnostic source assembly. The radiation emitted by a component other than the diagnostic source assembly shall not exceed 0.5 μC/kg (2 milliroentgens) in one hour at five centimeters from any accessible surface of the component when it is operated in an assembled X-ray system under any conditions for which it was designed. Compliance shall be determined by measurements averaged over an area of 100 square centimeters with no linear dimension greater than 20 centimeters.

5. Beam quality.

a. Half-value layer.

(1) The half-value layer of the useful beam for a given X-ray tube potential shall not be less than the values shown in Table I. If it is necessary to determine such half-value layer at an X-ray tube potential that is not listed in Table I, linear interpolation or extrapolation may be made.

Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-570. Commonwealth of Virginia Sanitary Regulations for Marinas and Boat Moorings (amending 12VAC5-570-10, 12VAC5-570-30 through 12VAC5-570-190; adding 12VAC5-570-200; repealing 12VAC5-570-20).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-246 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: January 31, 2014.

Agency Contact: Preston Smith, Manager, Marina Programs, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-7468, FAX (804) 864-7475, or email preston.smith@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: Sections 32.1-12 and 32.1-246 of the Code of Virginia require the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations establishing minimum requirements for sewerage facilities at marinas and other places where boats are moored. Section 32.1-164 of the Code of Virginia provides that the board's regulations may require that residences, buildings, structures, and other places designed for human occupancy as the board may prescribe be provided with a sewerage system or treatment works.

Purpose: The board's Marina Regulations are intended to protect public health and the environment by ensuring that sewage generated from boats and onshore boating facilities is treated and disposed of properly. The Marina Regulations have not been revised since the board adopted amendments in 1990. Since that time, development has increased dramatically in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other tributaries and around Virginia's inland lakes. At the same time the public's awareness of and susceptibility to impaired water quality has increased. Boating has increased in popularity with more than 12 million boats in use nationwide. While the number of large commercial marinas has steadily grown, Virginia has also seen an increase in the number of smaller facilities, such as neighborhood marinas and public boat ramps. The proposed amendments simplify and clarify many regulatory requirements and address the need to modify the regulatory requirements for two facilities in particular: (i) marinas that serve owners who live aboard their boats and (ii) public boating access facilities (boat ramps) that receive heavy use (i.e., that have parking spaces for 50 or more boat trailers). In addition, the proposed amendments reflect the evolution in the methods of conveying and disposing human waste aboard boats; in particular, the proposed amendments address the advent of waste disposal via a marine sanitation device or a portable toilet. In addition to these methods, the Marina Regulations also require pump-outs to safely and properly handle waste disposal. Some of the changes, particularly those that simplify the method for determining sewage flow as a function of the number of slips, are intended to provide marinas and other places where boats are moored with the flexibility to redefine business models regarding the types of boats and boating activities they will service.

Substance: The amendments cover five main areas: (i) definitions of terms; (ii) requirements for sanitary fixtures based on the number of slips and dry storage spaces; (iii) sewerage facility requirements at boating access facilities (boat ramps); (iv) sewage design flows based on the number of slips rather than the type of slip with a specific flow assigned to all slips used as live-aboard slips; (v) a new section for onshore facility requirements; and (vi) an exemption from the requirement for a sewage dump station for any facility that has a sewage pump-out and the correct appurtenance for pumping out portable toilets.

The agency amended 12VAC5-570-10 to define boating access facility as a location consisting of a boat ramp. The agency expanded the definition for dry storage to include different ways boats are stored between uses. The agency added a definition for live-aboard slip. The agency defined regulated facilities as marinas, other places where boats are moored, and boating access facilities with 50 or more parking spaces for boat trailers.

The agency amended 12VAC5-570-150 to provide an allowance for smaller boating facilities to construct unisex bathrooms.

The agency amended 12VAC5-570-160 to require sewerage facilities at boating access facilities that have 50 or more parking spaces for boat trailers.

The agency amended 12VAC5-570-180 to prohibit marinas or other places that provide live-aboard slips or boats with a marine sanitation device to invoke an exemption to provide a pump-out service.

The agency amended 12VAC5-570-190 to allow marinas with a pump-out facility equipped with a specialized device (i.e., porta-potty wand) to use the device to excavate sewage from portable sewage containers instead of installing a dump station.

Issues: The primary advantages to the public of these amendments are improved sewage handling in sensitive waterfront areas and the assurance that when the public visits a regulated facility, there will be adequate sewerage fixtures to meet their needs. Having sewerage facilities available in such locations reduces the potential that human wastes will be improperly dumped into the waters of the Commonwealth. The requirement for smaller-sized marinas to install shower facilities poses an additional economic burden on smaller marina owners. This burden is offset somewhat, however, by the change that allows these smaller facilities to install a unisex bathroom instead of having to construct separate facilities for men and women. The proposed amendments create advantages to the public and the department by simplifying the regulatory program; specifically, the number of sewerage fixtures required at regulated facilities is no longer driven by the type of slip (seasonal or transient) but rather by the total number of slips and dry storage spaces. This proposed amendment allows owners the freedom to accommodate both short-term and long-term boaters without impacting any future growth. The amendments propose a higher sewage flow for live-aboard slips to reflect the higher water usage associated with these residences. While this change may pose economic impacts to owners, it provides public health protection from raw sewage discharge by helping to ensure that sewerage systems and treatment works are sized adequately to handle the wastewater load.

The department worked with an ad hoc group of stakeholders in developing the proposed amendments. While that group was not able to review all of the proposed amendments, it supported the need to update the regulations and generally supported the substantive changes proposed.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Board of Health's Sanitary Regulations for Marinas and Boat Moorings establish minimum standards for sewage handling and disposal at regulated facilities. The regulations are intended to protect public health and the environment by ensuring that sewage generated from boats and onshore boating facilities is treated and disposed of properly. The Marina Regulations have not been revised since the Board adopted amendments in 1990. Among other changes the Board proposes to: 1) require that boating access facilities have at least one privy, 2) eliminate the distinction between transient and seasonal slips as the basis for determining sewerage fixture needs, 3) establish a new category of slip, live-aboard slip, with a higher wastewater flow number, 4) provide owners with facilities that have proper sanitary waste pump-out services an alternative to installing a sanitary waste dump station, and 5) allow the use of manually operated pumps at marinas and other places where boats are moored that offer fewer than 26 slips.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for one or more proposed changes. There is insufficient data to accurately compare the magnitude of the benefits versus the costs for other changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The proposed regulations do state that "Marinas, other place(s) where boats are moored, and boating access facilities in operation prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to the regulations in effect at the time the marina, other place(s) where boats are moored or boating access facility was permitted unless such marina, other place(s) where boats are moored or boating access facility is expanded after the effective date of this chapter." So, no marina or other facility will face increased (or decreased) costs due to the proposed changes in these regulations unless they expand after the effective date of the adoption of these proposed amended regulations. Further, federal funding is available to pay 75 percent of the cost of investments in sewage handling infrastructure.¹

The Board proposes to require that boating access facilities have at least one privy (porta john). Boating access facilities are defined as any installation operating under public or private ownership that provides a boat launching ramp and has 50 or more parking spaces for boat trailers. The Virginia Department of Health (Department) estimates that purchasing a privy costs from $500 to $750;² leasing a privy costs about $150.00 per week and that includes a weekly service (pump-out and cleaning).³ The benefit of this proposed requirement is reduced risk to public health and the environment. According to the Department there has been a problem with unprocessed sewage being left in the water and on the land at boating access facilities and adjacent properties. The proposed requirement for a privy is intended to reduce such incidences and thus reduce potential harm to public health and the environment.

The Board also proposes to eliminate the distinction between transient and seasonal slips as the basis for determining sewerage fixture needs. In the current regulations the required number of sewerage fixtures per given quantity of transient slips is greater than the required number of sewerage fixtures per given quantity of seasonal slips. Under the proposed regulations where the distinction between transient and seasonal is eliminated, the required number of sewerage fixtures per given quantity of slips is between the required numbers for seasonal and transient under the current regulations. Thus, marina owners with relatively more transient slips may encounter a slight reduction in the number of required sewerage fixtures under the proposed regulations; while marina owners with relatively more seasonal slips may encounter a slight increase in the number of required sewerage fixtures under the proposed regulations. As indicated earlier, these changes in the number of required sewerage fixtures only apply for facilities which expand after the effective date of the adoption of these proposed amended regulations.

Public or municipal sewerage systems and treatment works should be used if there is reasonable access to sewers. When such municipal means of disposal are not available, the owner shall have designed and installed an approved sewerage system or treatment works. The sewage design flow for each slip shall be 25 gallons per slip per day.

The Board proposes to establish a new category of slip, live-aboard slip, with a higher wastewater flow number. Live-aboard slips are any slip where a boat is moored and used principally as a residence or a place of business. Charter and commercial fishing boats are not included unless used as a residence. The Board proposes to require that the sewage design flow for each live-aboard slip be 50 gallons per slip per day. Users of live-aboard slips are likely to put significantly greater demands on the sewage system given that the slip users are likely to be present at the facility for a much higher percentage of time than other slip users.

The proposed regulations do allow for a reduction in the sewage flow requirements if the owner provides documented flow data sufficient to justify the reduction. The owner could do this by use of a water meter measuring actual discharge into the onsite system. Such meters cost approximately $500. Expansion of an onsite system would on the other hand cost thousands of dollars.⁴

The Board proposes to provide owners with facilities that have proper sanitary waste pump-out services an alternative to installing a sanitary waste dump station. Marinas and other place(s) where boats are moored that have an operational pump-out facility equipped with a device to pump portable sewage containers would not be required to have a dump station (costs about $5,000). The wand attachment is now commonly used at boating facilities with sanitary waste pump-out systems because it is easy to use and limits the boaters opportunity to spill sanitary waste into the water thereby protecting the environment. The wand costs approximately $25.⁵

Under the current regulations manually operated pumps are not permitted. The Board proposes to allow the use of manually operated pumps at marinas and other places where boats are moored that offer fewer than 26 slips. Manually operated pumps cost approximately $1,500 and could help avoid spending $15,000.⁶

Businesses and Entities Affected. The proposed amendments potentially affect owners of the 525 marinas, 402 other places where boats are moored, and 25 public access facilities (boat ramps) in the Commonwealth,⁷ as well as the customers and suppliers of such facilities.

Localities Particularly Affected. Localities that own (or propose to own) regulated facilities are regulated under the current regulations and will be affected by the proposed amendments. These include the Cities of Alexandria, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and the counties of Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, James City, and the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Eastern Shore regions.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposal to require that boating access facilities have at least one privy may increase demand for firms which supply and service privies. Consequently employment for such firms may modestly increase.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposal to require that boating access facilities have at least one privy may increase demand for firms which supply and service privies. Consequently the value for some such firms may modestly increase.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposed amendments are unlikely to significantly increase costs for small businesses.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed amendments are unlikely to significantly adversely affect small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposals to allow the use of manually operated pumps at marinas and other places where boats are moored that offer fewer than 26 slips and to provide owners with facilities that have proper sanitary waste pump-out services an alternative to installing a sanitary waste dump station will modestly reduce develop costs for applicable marinas and other places where boats are moored.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

__________________________

¹ Source: Virginia Department of Health

² Ibid

³ Ibid

⁴ Ibid

⁵ Ibid

⁶ Ibid

⁷ Ibid

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Virginia Department of Health concurs with the Department of Planning and Budget's economic impact analysis. The benefits of the regulations likely exceed the costs for one or more proposed changes.

Summary:

The Sanitary Regulations for Marinas and Boat Moorings establish minimum standards for sewage handling and disposal at regulated facilities to ensure that sewage generated from boats and onshore boating facilities is treated and disposed of properly. The proposed amendments (i) provide an allowance for smaller boating facilities to construct unisex bathrooms, (ii) eliminate the distinction between transient and seasonal slips as the basis for determining sewerage fixture needs, (iii) establish a new live-aboard slip category with a higher wastewater flow number, (iv) provide an alternative to installing a sanitary waste dump station for owners with facilities that have proper sanitary waste pump-out services, and (v) allow the use of manually operated pumps at marinas and other places where boats are moored that offer fewer than 26 slips.

Part I
Introduction

Article 1
Definitions

12VAC5-570-10. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the The following words and terms hereinafter set forth when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings respectively, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. indicates otherwise:

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Boat" means any vessel or other watercraft, privately owned or owned by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, whether moved by oars, paddles, sails, or other power mechanism, inboard or outboard, or any other vessel or structure floating on water in the Commonwealth of Virginia, whether or not capable of self-locomotion, including but not limited to cruisers, cabin cruisers, runabouts, houseboats and barges. Excluded from this definition are commercial, passenger and cargo carrying vessels subject to the Quarantine Regulation of the United States Public Health Service adopted pursuant to Title 42 of the United States Code and ships or vessels of the U.S. Government and boats which are tenders to larger boats moored or stored at the same facility.

"Boating access facility" means any installation operating under public or private ownership that provides a boat launching ramp and has 50 or more parking spaces for boat trailers.

"Certificate" means a written approval from the Commissioner commissioner or his designated representative indicating that plans for sanitary facilities and sewage sewerage facilities, sewerage system, and treatment works meet or satisfy the minimum requirements of this chapter and § 32.1-246, of the Code of Virginia.

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner whose duties are prescribed in § 32.1-19 of the Code of Virginia.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Health.

"Division" means the Division of Wastewater Engineering, Department of Health Onsite Sewage and Water Services, Environmental Engineering, and Marina Programs, Office of Environmental Health Services of the department or its administrative successor.

"Dry storage" means a boat storage, including boatels, valet storage, pigeon hole storage, stackominiums, or parking space where boats rest on racks or trailers located on land, whether covered or uncovered, at a marina or other place places where boats are moored for the purpose of storing boats on land between use.

"Expanded" means any change to a regulated facility that results in an increase in sewage volume or strength due to the addition of slips, dry storage spaces, boat trailer parking spaces, or ancillary operations.

"Live-aboard slip" means any slip where a boat is moored and used principally as a residence or a place of business. Charter and commercial fishing boats are not included unless used as a residence.

"Local health department" means the branch of the State Health Department, established in accordance with § 32.1-30 of the Code of Virginia, that has jurisdiction in the city or county where the regulated facility is located.

"Marina" means any installation operating, under public or private ownership, which that provides dockage or moorage for boats (exclusive of, other than paddle or rowboats) rowboats, and provides, through sale, rental or, fee, or free basis, any equipment, supply, or service (fuel including fuel, electricity, or water) water for the convenience of the public or its leasee the lessee, renters, or users of its the facilities.

"Marine sanitation device" means any equipment, piping, holding tanks, and appurtenances such as holding tanks for installation on board onboard a boat which is designed to receive, retain, treat, or discharge sewage and any process to treat such sewage.

"No Discharge Zone" means an area where a state has received an affirmative determination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that there are adequate facilities for the removal of sewage from vessels (holding tank pump-out facilities) in accordance with § 312(f)(3) of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) and where federal approval has been received allowing a complete prohibition of all treated or untreated discharges of sewage from all vessels.

"Office" means the Office of Environmental Health Services.

"Other places where boats are moored" means any installation operating under public or private ownership, which that provides dockage, or moorage or mooring for boats, other than (exclusive of paddle or rowboats) rowboats, either on a free, rental, or fee basis or for the convenience of the public boater.

"Owner" means the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions and any public or private institution, corporation, association, firm, or company organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or county, or any person or group of persons acting individually or as a group who owns or proposes to own a marina, or other place places where boats are moored, or boating access facility.

"Pump-out facilities facility" means any device, equipment, or method of for removing sewage from a marine sanitation device. Also, it shall include and conveying such sewage to a sewerage system or treatment works including any portable, movable, or permanent holding tanks either portable, movable or permanently installed, and any sewage treatment method or disposable equipment used to treat, or ultimately dispose of, sewage removed from boats.

"Sanitary facilities "Sewerage facility" means bathrooms, toilets, closets and other enclosures, including portable toilets, where commodes, stools, water closets, lavatories, showers, urinals, sinks, or other such plumbing fixtures are installed.

"Seasonal slips" means any slip which is used, rented, leased, or otherwise made available for mooring or docking of boats during the normal boating season, usually from April through September, or for any period greater than 30 days.

"Sewage" means the spent water or wastewater containing human excrement coming from toilets, bathrooms, commodes and holding tanks. water-carried and nonwater-carried human excrement, kitchen, laundry, shower, bath, or lavatory waste, separately or together with such underground, surface, storm, and other water and liquid industrial wastes as may be present from residences, buildings, vehicles, boats, industrial establishments, or other places.

"Sewage dump station" means a facility specifically designed to receive waste from portable sewage containers carried on boats and to convey such sewage to a sewerage system or a treatment works.

"Sewage treatment or disposal systems" means device, process or plant designed to treat sewage and remove solids and other objectionable constituents which will permit the discharge to another approved system, or an approved discharge to state waters or disposal through an approved subsurface drainfield or other acceptable method, such as incineration.

"Sewerage facilities system" means entire sewage collection and disposal system including commodes, toilets, lavatories, showers, sinks and all other plumbing fixtures which are connected to a collection system consisting of sewer pipe, conduit, holding tanks, pumps and all appurtenances, including the sewage treatment or disposal system pipelines or conduits, pump stations and force mains, and all other construction, devices, and appliances used for the collection and conveyance of sewage to a treatment works or point of ultimate disposal.

"Slip" means a berth or space where a boat may be secured to a fixed or floating structure, including a dock, finger pier, boat lift, or mooring buoy.

"Transient slips" means temporary docking or mooring space which may be used for short periods of time, including overnight, days, or weeks, but less than 30 days.

"Treatment works" means any device or system used in the storage, treatment, disposal, or reclamation of sewage or combinations of sewage and industrial wastes, including but not limited to pumping, power and other equipment and appurtenances, septic tanks, and any works, including land, that are or will be (i) an integral part of the treatment process or (ii) used for ultimate disposal of residues or effluents resulting from such treatment.

"VMRC" means the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Article 2
General Information

12VAC5-570-20. Authority for regulations. (Repealed.)

Section 32.1-12 and 32.1-246 of the Code of Virginia provides that the State Board of Health is empowered and directed to promulgate all necessary rules and regulations establishing minimum requirements as to adequacy of sewerage facilities at marinas and other places where boats are moored. These facilities should be sufficient to serve the number of boat slips or persons such marinas and places are designed to accommodate, regardless of whether such establishments serve food.

Article 2
General Information

12VAC5-570-30. Purpose of regulations.

This chapter The board has been promulgated by the State Board of Health this chapter to:

Ensure 1. Protect public health and water quality by ensuring that adequate sanitary sewerage facilities and, pump-out facilities, as defined in 12VAC5-570-10 and required by 12VAC5-570-130 of this chapter, sewage dump stations, and sewerage systems are provided at all marinas and, other places where boats are moored;, and boating access facilities.

2. Establish minimum requirements as to the adequacy of sewerage facilities and sewerage systems at all marinas and, other places where boats are moored;, and boating access facilities.

3. Protect public health and the environment by ensuring that all sewage generated from all regulated facilities is conveyed to an approved sewerage system or treatment works.

3. 4. Guide the State Board of Health commissioner or his designee in its his determination of the adequacy of the sewerage systems and sewerage facilities to serve serving all marinas and, other places where boats are moored;, and boating access facilities.

4. 5. Guide the State Board of Health commissioner or his designee in its approval his evaluation of plans and other data and in the issuance of a certificate as to the adequacy of sanitary and sewerage facilities; and sewerage systems.

5. Notify the Marine Resources Commission that a certificate has been issued; and

6. Assist the owner or his authorized engineer in the preparation of an application and supporting data, as may be required. (See 12VAC5-570-70)

12VAC5-570-40. Administration of regulations.

This chapter is administered by the following parties:

1. The State Board of Health has responsibility for promulgating, amending, and repealing regulations which ensure minimum requirements as to adequacy of sewerage facilities at marinas and other places where boats are moored.

2. A. The State Health Commissioner commissioner is the chief executive officer of the Virginia Department of Health. The commissioner has the authority to act for the board when it is not in session. The commissioner may delegate his powers under this chapter with the exception of his power to issue variances under 12VAC5-570-90.

3. B. The Division of Wastewater Engineering division is designated as the primary reviewing agent of the board commissioner for the purpose of administering this chapter. It Upon receipt of the application from the local health department, the division examines and passes upon the technical aspects of all applications, plans and specifications grants or denies the application for sewerage facilities to serve marinas and, other places where boats are moored, and boating access facilities. It The division issues all certificates attesting to the adequacy of the sewerage facilities and notifies the Marine Resources Commission VMRC when a certificate is issued or denied.

4. The Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services directs and supervises the activities of the local health departments in the administration of assigned duties and responsibilities under the chapter.

5. C. The local health department in each jurisdiction, city, town or county in which there exists, or is proposed, a marina or other place where boats are moored shall (i) be responsible for the processing of all applications submitted by owners, (ii) inspect and for inspecting sites and facilities provided, (iii) issue such permits as required by law, rules or regulations for sewerage facilities and, (iv) lacking in authority to issue a permit, will process such applications in accordance with the policies and procedures of the department. The local health department shall conduct a surveillance program and enforce the provisions of this chapter to ensure proper sanitation and cleanliness of the facilities provided for compliance with this chapter.

6.The Office of Water Programs of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Virginia is responsible for the review and approval of sewage treatment works where there is a discharge to state waters, in accordance with the chapter, policies and procedures of the Health Department and the State Water Control Law, §§ 62.1-44.2 through 62.1-44.34 of the Code of Virginia.

12VAC5-570-50. Application of regulations to marinas and other places where boats are moored Applicability.

A. Marinas or other places where boats are moored which are not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health Governing Sanitary and Sewerage Facilities at Marinas and Other Places Where Boats Are Moored which became effective November 15, 1975 [repealed], shall comply with this chapter. Marinas, other places where boats are moored, and boating access facilities in operation prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to the regulations in effect at the time the marina, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facility was permitted unless such marina, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facility is expanded after (insert the effective date of this chapter).

B. All planned or new marinas or other places where boats are moored which do not exist This chapter shall apply to all marinas, other places where boats are moored, and boating access facilities placed into operation on or after (insert the effective date of this chapter) shall comply with all provisions of this chapter prior to commencing operation.

C. All sanitary or sewerage facilities and sewerage systems shall conform to the requirements of this chapter when the marina or, other place places where boats are moored are either, or boating access facility that is served by the sewerage facilities and sewerage systems is expanded, altered or modified.

D. This chapter shall apply to sewerage facilities and sewerage systems (i) serving marinas, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facilities and (ii) located on property owned by the marina, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facility. Sewerage systems or treatment works installed or proposed to be installed on property owned by someone other than the marina, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facility owner are regulated by Chapter 6 (§ 32.1-163 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia or Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia, as applicable.

Article 3
Procedure

12VAC5-570-60. Certification general Permits and certificate.

No owner shall operate construct a marina or, other place places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility unless he complies with the provisions of §§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-246 of the Code of Virginia and has obtained a construction permit in accordance with this chapter. No owner shall operate a marina, other places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility until the local health department has inspected and approved construction and has issued a certificate to operate. Owners shall have in their possession obtain a permit from the Marine Resources Commission VMRC to operate a marina, or place other places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility when so required by § 62.1-3, of the Code of Virginia. Where state-owned bottom lands are involved, the owner shall submit a plan approved preliminary design and receive approval by the department shall be issued division prior to construction and the issuance of a certificate to operate.

12VAC5-570-70. Application for certificate construction permit.

A. Any owner, or his duly authorized representative, may make application shall apply for a certificate of approval of sanitary or sewerage facilities construction permit by applying submitting an application to the local health department in the jurisdiction where the proposed marina or, other place places where boats are moored, or boating access facility is to be located. The application shall be made on a form supplied by the local health department approved by the division. The application shall consist of the following:

1. A completed application form which shall set forth the essential Essential data to determine the sewerage facilities and sewerage system necessary to serve the proposed installation;.

2. Maps, plans, and specifications of the sanitary sewerage facilities and sewerage facilities system describing how and what the type of facilities that will be provided and how the facilities will provide for the safe and sanitary disposal of all sewage generated at the facility. The preliminary design plans shall establish the location of the sanitary sewerage facilities and sewerage system in relation to other facilities; they are intended to serve.

3. A description of the proposed method of sewage or existing offsite sewerage system or treatment works used for the ultimate treatment or and disposal. Approval of sewage. The applicant shall apply for and obtain approval of the new offsite sewerage systems or treatment works or disposal system must be applied for and obtained under other sections of the Code of Virginia and other regulations; and demonstrate that the existing sewerage systems or treatment works are approved and in accordance with this chapter.

4. Any other data as may be pertinent to show the adequacy of sanitary or the sewerage facilities and sewerage system to be provided.

B. An application pursuant to this section shall contain sufficient detail and clarity necessary to demonstrate that the sewerage facility and sewerage system meet all the applicable requirements of this chapter.

12VAC5-570-80. Receipt of data application.

Upon receipt of the data set forth in 12VAC5-570-70 in sufficient detail and clarity so as to show that the sewerage facilities meet requirements of this chapter, a plan approval or disapproval will be issued by the Department of Health.

A. Construction. Upon completion of construction of the sanitary sewerage facilities and sewerage facilities systems at marinas and, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facilities, the owner of the facility, or his duly authorized representative, shall notify the local health department so that it may inspect the construction. A certificate to operate shall be issued by the Health Department when it When the division, in consultation with the local health department, has been determined that construction is in compliance with the approved plan, it shall issue a certificate.

B. Operation. All marinas and other places where boats are moored shall hold a valid certificate to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The owner shall post the certificate in a place where it is readily observable by members of the public who transact business with the facility.

12VAC5-570-90. Variances.

A. The commissioner may grant a variance to any requirement of this chapter if, after investigation, it is determined the commissioner determines that the hardship imposed upon the owner or the public by compliance with this chapter outweigh outweighs the benefits that the chapter confers, or that there is no and that granting a variance will not result in a potential or actual public health hazard.

A. Effect of variance. B. A variance is a conditional waiver of a specific regulation which that is granted to a particular or designated marina or other place where boats are moored an owner of a marina, other places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility. It is nontransferrable Variances are not transferrable between owners, and it any variance shall be attached to the certificate of the marina or, other place places where boats are moored, or boating access facility to which it was granted. The variance is a condition of the certificate, which is revoked if the certificate is revoked.

B. Application for a variance. C. Any owner of a marina or, other place places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility may apply in writing for a variance. This application shall be submitted to the local health department in the jurisdiction in which the marina or, other place places where boats are moored, or boating access facility is located. This application shall include:

1. A citation to referencing the specific requirements of this chapter from which a variance is requested and a statement describing the hardships imposed by the specific requirements of this chapter;

2. A statement of reasons why the public health and environment would not be detrimentally affected if a variance is granted, and a list of suggested measures that would be implemented to prevent any potential detrimental impacts; and

3. Facts supporting the need and justification for the variance.;

4. The nature and duration of the variance request;

5. Other information, if any, believed by the applicant to be pertinent; and

6. Such other information as the division, local health department, or the commissioner may require.

D. If the commissioner denies any request for a variance, such denial shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for the denial.

12VAC5-570-100. Suspension or revocation Revocation of a certificate.

The board Either by emergency order under the authority of § 32.1-13 of the Code of Virginia or following an opportunity for an informal fact-finding proceeding as provided by § 2.2-4019 of the Code of Virginia, the commissioner or his designee may revoke or suspend a certificate for failure to construct and operate the sewerage facilities and sewerage system in accordance with the conditions of the application and certificate issued or for any violation of this chapter.

12VAC5-570-110. Administration appeals Applicability of the Administrative Process Act.

Any applicant or certificate holder who is aggrieved by an adverse decision of the commissioner may appeal in writing within 30 days after the notification of the adverse decision and request a fair hearing. Within 30 days of receipt of notification of appeal, the commissioner shall set a date and place for such hearing. Not later than 30 days following the hearing, the commissioner shall issue a final order with respect to the disposition of the appeal. Such hearing, notice and proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the The Administrative Process Act, Chapter 1.1:1 (§ 9-6.14:1 et seq.) of Title 9 of the Code of Virginia. (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) shall govern the decision of cases under this chapter.

Part II
Required Sewerage Facilities and Sewerage Systems for Marinas and, Other Places Where Boats are Are Moored, and Boating Access Facilities and Their Operation

12VAC5-570-120. General.

A. All owners of marinas or, other places where boats are moored, and boating access facilities shall provide the minimum number of sanitary sewerage facilities required by this chapter for their patrons. These Owners shall maintain their facilities shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary operable condition. They shall be equipped Owners shall equip their facilities with toilet tissue, lights where electricity is available, and soap and towels where handwashing facilities are required. These Owners shall make their facilities shall be available during normal business hours to patrons and users of these facilities at all times during the normal boating season for that facility.

B. Marinas which are located within 1,000 feet of the shore end of the pier that are operated as part of residential developments, overnight lodging facilities, restaurants, or commercial establishments, which are located within 1,000 feet of the shore end of the pier, are exempted exempt from providing separate sanitary sewerage facilities, as long as the sanitary sewerage facilities at the residence, lodging establishment, restaurant, or commercial establishment are made available to all users of the marina. This The exemption set forth in this subsection does not apply to (i) marinas:

1. Marinas associated with restaurants or commercial establishments which that allow overnight occupancy of boats; and (ii) marinas

2. Marinas associated with overnight lodging establishments where overnight occupancy of boats is permitted by persons not registered at the overnight lodging establishment.

C. Exempt from the requirements of subsection A of this section are other Other places where boats are moored which serve and boating access facilities are exempt from the requirements of subsection A of this section, provided that the other places where boats are moored or boating access facility:

1. Serves residents of homes (houses, condominiums, apartments, or mobile homes), their bona fide house guests, or registered guests of tourist establishments which provide; and

2. Provides adequate sanitary sewerage facilities that are located within 1,000 feet of the shore end of the pier.

D. In order to qualify for an exemption under subsections subsection B or C of this section, the owner of such marinas or a marina, other places where boats are moored, or a boating access facility shall provide to the department division a signed, notarized statement that all conditions set forth in the aforementioned sections this section will be complied with by users of the facilities.

12VAC5-570-130. Location.

Adequate sanitary Owners shall conveniently locate their sewerage facilities shall be conveniently located within 500 feet walking distance from the shore end of any dock they the facilities are intended to serve or within a reasonable. On a case-by-case basis the division may approve a greater distance under if unusual circumstances as determined by the division, such as topography or resource protection areas, prevent compliance with this requirement. It The division may be necessary require the owner to provide sanitary sewerage facilities in more than one location in order to meet the needs of the particular site developed. In addition, the division may require additional fixtures, beyond the minimum number specified in Table 1 (12VAC5-570-150), if it determines that additional fixtures are necessary to accommodate the site layout and use of the marina, other places where boats are moored, or boating access facility.

12VAC5-570-140. Availability and marking of sanitary facilities.

The sanitary Owners shall locate the sewerage facilities shall be so that they are available and readily reasonably accessible to all users. They shall be appropriately marked with signs readily identifiable to all personnel who might desire to use the facilities The location and use of all sewerage facilities shall be clearly indicated by appropriate signage.

12VAC5-570-150. Marinas Sewerage facilities for marinas.

A. Minimum The minimum number of sewerage fixtures to be provided in sanitary facilities. It shall be understood that at marinas is found in many instances the site layout and the use of the marina may require more fixtures than are shown in the table below. If the board, after observation and study, determines that additional fixtures or buildings housing sanitary facilities are necessary, the owner shall provide the additional fixtures so determined Table 1.

B. Where dry storage space is provided, each dry storage space is equivalent to one-third of a seasonal slip. The minimum number of fixtures required is contained in Table No. 1 and is based upon the total number of seasonal slips or their equivalent. Separate sewerage facilities for male and female personnel shall employees may be provided in a structure or structures, but shall not be counted toward the minimum number of fixtures required to accommodate users of the marina.