Radiation Protection Modernization in the United States: Stakeholder Perspectives on the US NRC’s Proposed Rulemaking

On 15 July 2026, the Health Physics Society (HPS), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) convened an open-forum webinar concerning the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) proposed rule, "Reforming and Modernizing the NRC's Radiation Protection Framework" (RIN 3150-AL47). More than 800 individuals attended. Moderators summarized the proposed rule, facilitated open discussion, and administered live polling; participation in single-response poll questions ranged from 213 to 404 respondents. Poll respondents expressed qualified support for modernization in principle, and forum participants raised substantial concerns about the absence of cross-agency and international harmonization, burdens placed on Agreement States, the lack of infrastructure for tracking occupational dose across licensees, potential effects on medical and x-ray practice, and reliance on implementing guidance that had not been released. In polling, 60% (153/253) of respondents strongly supported or supported the graded approach in concept. Eighty-eight percent (202/229) considered consistency between the US NRC and Agreement State regulations very or extremely important. Seventy-six percent (184/241) indicated that the proposed rule provided only partial or insufficient information for determining required program changes. Open-ended responses most often called for additional low-dose research, clearer implementing guidance, regulatory harmonization, and resolution of specific technical and operational questions. These findings describe the perspectives of a self-selected forum audience and should not be interpreted as representative of the entire radiation protection community. Overall, the forum reflected qualified support for modernization, coupled with an emphasis that its practical effect will depend on guidance, transition planning, harmonization, and dose-tracking infrastructure.