Amendment to the ICNIRP "Statement on Medical Magnetic Resonance (MR) Procedures: Protection of Patients" and a Statement on the "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz)" will be published in the September issue of the Health Physics Journal. The two documents are also available for cost free download at:

www.icnirp.org/index.html.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is inviting comments on the draft "Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields (1Hz to 100 kHz)". The consultation process is open until Sunday 31 October 2009. After consultation, all comments will be submitted to the Commission members for finalization of the draft. Information regarding the publication date will be displayed on the ICNIRP website at due time. To participate in the review, please send your comments through our website at www.icnirp.org.

No reply will be sent to you individually. Rather all comments will be studied and taken into account in the final draft, as appropriate.

The IAEA is making its International Nuclear Information System (INIS) available for free to Internet users around the world. INIS is the world’s leading database on the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. The INIS online database contains over 3 million bibliographic records and almost 200, 000 full text documents classified as nonconventional literature, consisting of reports and other non copyrighted information. Established in 1970, INIS processes most of the world’s scientific and technical literature on a wide range of subjects from nuclear engineering, safeguards and non-proliferation to applications in agriculture and health. Following a pilot test project, free, open and unrestricted access to the INIS Online Database is now available from the INIS homepage to all internet users worldwide. No registration is required.

Taghrid Atieh, leader of the INIS Capacity Building and Liaison Group, says that IAEA Member States have recognized the importance of making the information in INIS accessible, especially as more countries continue to express interest in using nuclear power. "Now, more than ever, there is a need for reliable and trustworthy sources of information on nuclear," says Ms. Atieh. "The information we offer comes from reliable sources like the national atomic energy authorities in Member States. As such, it can be trusted by the end user."

Ms. Atieh says that with the increasing amount of information available online, INIS’ role is becoming even more valuable. "Anyone can put up a website about, for example, how to manage radioactive waste from a nuclear power plant. But a source like INIS can guarantee the veracity of the information for the end users."

The IRPA Executive Council with six newly elected and appointed members conducted its first full meeting since IRPA 12. The meeting was held February 27 through March 1, at the headquarters of the U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) in Bethesda Maryland, USA.
The first day of the meeting was devoted to a full day planning session intended to establish objectives for the IRPA program up to IRPA 13 in Glasgow in 2012, as well as discussing long term objectives for several years following the next International Congress. The discussions addressed:

• Future Vision for the IRPA EC.
• Future structures and strategies for the E.C. and IRPA Committees.
• Resources needed to support the Vision
• Next steps and process for implementing key decisions made in the preceding discussions.

At the end of the day, the Executive Council came away with a clearer view of the issues that need to be addressed. It was especially helpful in giving the new members a clear view of E.C. issues and operations, as well as helping the E.C. as a whole develop a focus of the future program. In particular, the remit for the IRPA committees will be reviewed and their roles strengthened to help contribute to a stronger and more pro-active IRPA organization in support of the Associate Societies.
The Saturday and Sunday agenda addressed IRPA operations, with emphasis on preparations for IRPA 13, May 13-18, 2012 in Glasgow Scotland. Roger Coates, Vice President for Congress Affairs, gave an extensive overview of the work of the International Congress Organizing Committee (ICOC) and provided the following list of ICOC members and their responsibilities. The ICOC has employed Congrex UK Ltd as the Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) to assist with the organization and conduct of the Congress. Clearly, preparations are well under way. The IRPA 13 Web Site is www.irpa13glasgow.com

Ted Lazo from the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD is Chairman of the International Congress Program Committee (ICPC). He attended the last day of the E.C. meeting to offer a briefing on the result of the ICPC planning meeting held in early February. It is clear that the ICPC intends to make the most of available digital, presentation and communication technology to make the scientific aspects of the Congress as effective and efficient as possible.

Following the normal agenda of E.C. Officers reports; discussions of preparations upcoming Regional Congresses in Helsinki, Nairobi, and Medellin; review of involvement with other international organizations; education and training; and continuing activities, Ken Kase and Rodger Coates concluded the meeting with the signing of an Agreement between IRPA and the IRPA 13 Glasgow Limited, the company establish to run the 13th International Congress of IRPA in May 2012.