Advisory Committees

The N.C. Radiation Protection Commission has four standing Advisory Committees that are each chaired by a Commission member. Any Commission member may serve on any of the Advisory Committees. Furthermore, non-Commission members (*) are appointed/re-appointed annually to these Committees by the Commission Chair.

Meetings are called by the Committee Chair and are conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. For information regarding meetings, please contact the Radiation Protection Section Executive Assistant at 919-814-2250.

Emergency Response Advisory Committee

This committee is responsible for advising the Radiation Protection Commission (RPC) in matters related to the Radiation Protection Section's emergency preparedness and response activities, in coordination with the Division of Emergency Preparedness in the Department of Public Safety and other emergency response agencies.

Members
Graham Johnson, CHP, Chair
Beth Franklin, MS
William Ray
David Rittlinger, PE, LEED AP
James Sawyer, PE
Mark Venters, MBA
*First Sergeant Joseph Sharlow
*Valerie Lott, MPH, REHS
*David Howell
*Bruce Akers, DVM
*David Thompson, CHP
*Jay Royster

DHSR Liaison
William Jeffries, RRPT, Radiation Protection Section

Next Meeting Date and Time: Thursday January 26, 2023, at 2 pm

Non-Ionizing Advisory Committee

This Committee supports the Commission by studying a wide spectrum of non-ionizing radiation issues ranging from lasers to electric and magnetic fields. To date, its only recommendation for rulemaking was for regulation of tanning facilities. The Committee continues to focus most attention on wireless technologies and low-frequency electric magnetic fields associated with electric transmission lines and emerging technologies such as 5G. The Committee works with interested citizens and the regulated community, including the Utility Commission, the Tanning Community (registrants and stakeholders) and others to address emerging public, occupational, or environmental concerns related to non-ionizing radiation.

Members
Roger Sit, PhD, CHP, Chair
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
*Larry Burk, MD, CEHP
*Ben Edwards, MS, CLSO, CHP
*Ritchie Buschow, MEM, CLSO

DHSR Liaison
Catherine Rosfjord, Radiation Protection Section

Next Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday April 26, 2023, at 1 pm

Rulemaking: Rules for UV Tanning Facilities 10A NCAC 15 .1400 were readopted with changes and made effective 10/1/2020. The readoption of Tanning Facilities rules is complete.

Radioactive Materials Control Advisory Committee

The Radioactive Materials Control Advisory Committee deals with issues and rule drafting related to general radiation protection standards and licensing of radioactive materials and accelerators. Much of the Commission’s rule making authority in these areas is defined by an agreement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Members
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR, Chair
Holly Burge, MD
Jerry Hightower, MS, DABMP, DABR
Graham Johnson, CHP
Roger Sit, PhD, CHP
Robert Reiman, MSPH, MD

DHSR Liaison
Louis Brayboy, RAM Branch Manager
James Albright, MA, Radiation Protection Section

Date

Thursday January 12, 2023
Thursday March 9, 2023
Thursday May 11, 2023
Thursday July 13, 2023
Thursday September 14, 2023
Thursday November 9, 2023

Time 9:00 am

Rulemaking: This Committee oversees the development of rules controlling the use of radioactive materials and medical accelerators in the State of North Carolina and presents these rules as proposals to the Radiation Protection Commission. It creates working groups as needed to discuss and develop rule details. Rulemaking is broken down into “Phases” to manage the effort. Currently the Committee is working on the following Phases:

Phase 2 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .0113, .0323, .0349, .1201 - .1242, .1501 - .1517, 1650 - .1652, and .1701.

Phase 3 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .1001 - .1008, .1601 - .1649, and .1653.

Phase 5 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .0301 - .0322, .0324, .0327 - .0335, .0337 - .0344, .0351 - .0365., .0701 and .0702

Medical Accelerators Working Group

The Medical Accelerator Working Group has been established to review existing rules that apply to the use of electronic product radiation in medical radiation therapy, and if deemed necessary, propose new rules to the Radioactive Materials Advisory Committee. All proposed rules should be compatible with applicable federal regulations. Guidance documents published by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements (NCRP) will also be used to develop new regulations specific to electronic product radiation in medical radiation therapy.

Members
Jerry Hightower, MS, DABMP, DABR, Chair
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
Roger Sit, PhD, CHP
*Tobin Hyman, MS, DABR
*Stephanie Parker, MS, DABR, CSSGB
*Steven McLawhorn, PhD, DABR
*Benjamin Sintay, PhD, DABR

DHSR Liaison
James Albright, MA, Radiation Protection Section

Date

Thursday January 19, 2023
Thursday February 16, 2023
Thursday March 16, 2023
Thursday April 20, 2023
Thursday May 18, 2023
Thursday June 15, 2023
Thursday July 20, 2023
Thursday August 17, 2023
Thursday September 21, 2023
Thursday October 19, 2023
Thursday November 16, 2023
Thursday December 21, 2023

Time 2:00 pm

Rulemaking: This working group is developing rules for medical accelerator users that will be new with rule numbers to be finalized: 10A NCAC 15.0609, .0901 - .0910, and Section .1800

Medical Users' Working Group

The Medical Users Working Group has been established to review existing rules that apply to the use of radioactive materials in the practice of medicine, and if deemed necessary, to propose new rules to the Radioactive Materials Control Advisory Committee. All proposed rules should be compatible with applicable federal regulations of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and should support the National Materials Program.

Members
Robert Reiman, MSPH, MD, Chair
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
*Brian Duncan, BS, CNMT
*Sharn Jeffries, MSPH
*Todd Jenkins, MS, DABR
*Michael Johnston, CNMT, NMTCB(CT)
*Michael Lawrence, PhD, DABR
*Stewart “Stew” Little, BS, CNMT, RT(N)(CT)(MR)
*Michael Robitaille, PharmD
*Paul Stroud, PharmD

DHSR Liaison
James Albright, MA, Radiation Protection Section

Date

Tuesday January 3, 2023
Tuesday February 7, 2023
Tuesday March 7, 2023
Tuesday April 4, 2023
Tuesday May 2, 2023
Tuesday June 6, 2023
Tuesday July 11, 2023
Tuesday August 1, 2023
Tuesday September 5, 2023
Tuesday October 3, 2023
Tuesday November 7, 2023
Tuesday December 5, 2023

 Time 3:00 pm

Rulemaking:  This working group is developing rules based on 10 CFR Part 35 for medical users of radioactive materials: 10A NCAC 15 .0319.

X-Ray Surveillance Advisory Committee

The X-Ray Surveillance Advisory Committee is responsible for issues related to equipment that produces ionizing radiation when energized. This type of equipment may be used for patient imaging in hospitals, medical, dental, chiropractic and podiatry offices. It may also be used for industrial applications. The committee assists the Commission by recommending the establishment of rules that are compatible with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) including the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) of 1992 (21 CFR 900) as well as the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) Suggested State Regulations (SSR).

Members
Beth Franklin, MS, DABMP, DABR, Chair
Holly Burge, MD
John Davis, DC, CCNA, CCEP
Jerry Hightower, MS, DABMP, DABR
John Ludlow, DDS, MS, FDSRCS(Ed)
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
*Robert “Phil” Blackman, MEd, RT(R)

DHSR Liaison
Denise Cloninger, BSMI, RT(R)(CT)(QM), Radiation Protection Section
Regina Kissinger, R.T.(R) (M) ARRT, Staff Liaison

Date

Wednesday January 18, 2023
Wednesday March 15, 2023
Wednesday May 17, 2023
Wednesday July 19, 2023
Wednesday September 20, 2023
Wednesday November 15, 2023

 Time 9:00 am

Rulemaking: This Committee is tasked with the oversite for the rule making process of both the healing and non-healing arts devices in the State of North Carolina. Committee members provide guidance to each working group and review the rule writing process then presents these rules as proposals to the Radiation Protection Commission.  Currently there are two working groups, the dental working group and the industrial radiography working group. Rulemaking is broken down into “Phases” to manage the effort. Currently the Committee is working on the following Phases:

Phase 4 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .0501-.0517 and .0519 - .0525.

Phase 6 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .0801 - .0808.

Phase 10 – includes Rules 10A NCAC 15 .0601 - .0608 and .0610 - .0611.

Dental Working Group

The Dental Working Group has been established to review current rules and propose new rules that impact the use of dental x-ray equipment. All proposed rules should be compatible with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR), the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) and Suggested State Regulations (SSR). The Working Group will present the proposed rules to the X-ray Surveillance Advisory Committee for final review.

Members
Beth Franklin, MS, DABMP, DABR, Chair
*Peter Green, DMD, MS
John Ludlow, DDS, MS, FDSRCS(Ed)
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
*William Bruce Howerton Jr, DDS, MS
*Brandon Johnson
*Brett Keen
*Erika Martin
*Todd Schuette

DHSR Liaison
Denise Cloninger, BSMI, RT(R)(CT)(QM), Radiation Protection Section
Regina Kissinger, R.T.(R) (M) ARRT, Staff Liaison

Date

Wednesday January 25, 2023
Wednesday February 22, 2023
Wednesday March 22, 2023
Wednesday April 26, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday June 28, 2023
Wednesday July 26, 2023
Wednesday August 23, 2023
Wednesday September 27, 2023
Wednesday October 25, 2023
Wednesday November 22, 2023

Time 9:00 am

Rulemaking:  This working group is developing rules as indicated below.

Dental x-ray equipment for human use:  10A NCAC 15 .0601 - .0604; .0607 and .0611.

Industrial Radiography Users' Working Group

The Industrial Radiography Users Working Group has been established to review existing rules that apply to the use of radioactive materials and electronic products in the use of radiation for nondestructive testing of construction materials and materials detection, and if deemed necessary, to propose new rules to the Radioactive Materials Control Advisory Committee and the X-Ray Surveillance Advisory Committee for consideration. All proposed rules should be compatible with applicable federal regulations of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, accepted industry national standards, and should support the National Materials Program.

Members
Graham Johnson, CHP, Chair
Beth Franklin, MS, DABMP, DABR
Carmine Plott, PhD, CHP, DABR
*Steve Fowler
*Benjamin Midyette, Jr, MS
*Jerry Sandoval, RSO

DHSR Liaisons
James Albright, MA, Radiation Protection Section
Denise Cloninger, BSMI, RT(R)(CT)(QM), Radiation Protection Section

Date

Thursday January 12, 2023
Thursday February 9, 2023
Thursday March 9, 2023
Thursday April 9, 2023
Thursday April 13, 2023
Thursday May 11, 2023
Thursday June 8, 2023
Thursday July 13, 2023
Thursday August 10, 2023
Thursday September 14, 2023
Thursday October 12, 2023
Thursday November 9, 2023
Thursday December 14, 2023
* Tentative dates

Rulemaking:  This working group is developing rules as indicated below. 

10 CFR Part 34 for industrial radiography using electronic radiation machines for non-human use.

21 CFR 1020.40 for analytical radiation machines for non-human use:  .0801 - .0808.