ML030920556
| ML030920556 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Three Mile Island  |
| Issue date: | 02/19/2003 |
| From: | Hammons D Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| To: | Gibson K NRC/NRR/DIPM |
| Schneck D NRR/NUEPPO 415-3079 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML030920556 (2) | |
Text
Federal Emergency Management Agency X. , I 1Region III One Independence Mall, Sixth Floor 615 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404 NP rFE.B 19 2003 Ms. Kathy Halvey Gibson, Chief Emergency Preparedness and Health Physics Section Operator Licensing, Human Factors and Plant Support Branch Division of Inspection Program Management Office of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
Dear Ms. Gibson:
This letter is to inform you that the prior unresolved Deficiency in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which resulted from the Three Mile Island (TMI) Nuclear Power Station Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Exercise conducted on May 22, 2001, was corrected. A re-demonstration of the issues resulting in the Deficiency for Objectives 11 and 14 were correctly demonstrated by Dauphin County, January 14, 2003. As a result, the remaining issue in Objective 12 that was part of the Deficiency, has been reclassified as an Area Requiring Corrective Action (ARCA) and will be re-demonstrated during the next regularly scheduled REP Plume Exercise, April 22, 2003.
Based on the results of this re-demonstration, FEMA finds that the offsite radiological emergency response plans and preparedness for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the effected local jurisdictions, specifically Dauphin County, are now adequate to protect the public health and safety in the event of a radiological emergency at the site.
Two Deficiencies (1 self-correcting and 1 correctly re-demonstrated) and 5 Areas Requiring Corrective Action (1 additional as explained above) were identified during this exercise.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, or John Price, at (215) 931-5570.
Sincerely, Dariell Hammons
- Regional Assistance Committee Chairman
Enclosure:
File 2.2.1.b Issue No.: 64-01-11/12/14-D-02 Issue No.: Dauphin County EOC
- a.
Description:
The initial prescripted EAS notification message released by the Dauphin County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) omitted information on the nuclear power plant conditions, the emergency classification level (ECL), the position of the person authorizing the release of the information, and the potential for a radiological release, as required by the FEMA policy letter dated February 2, 1999. The news release for the General Emergency declaration did not distinguish whether it was a drill or not, nor did it distinguish whether the evacuation was iidedor~rdered
-6c& by the Governor. It also did not include the precautionary message to shelter animals. This is the second consecutive exercise in which this problem has occurred. (NUREG-0654, E.7, E., E.5.7)
The media briefing, based upon the information in the initial EAS notification message omitted the official who authorized the EAS alert and notification, the ECL, the current status of radiological conditions, and the possibility of protective actions. Information from rumor control on identified trends was not included in the briefing. (NUREG-0654, E.7., G.4.a, N.1.a)
After the governor's evacuation order, a decision was made by the Secretary of Public Health for the emergency workers and institutionalized individuals to take potassium iodide (KI). At 2054, the Dauphin County Emergency Management Coordinator briefed the EOC that KI was to be taken by all emergency workers within the Emergency Planning Zone; however, no information or instructions were given to the staff concerning institutionalized individuals. Consequently, no one advised the staff at the hospitals, nursing homes or prisons to consider the use of KI for those persons not able to evacuate. This is the second consecutive exercise in which this issue has occurred. (NUREG-0654, J.10.e., f., N.1.a)
Recommendation: Appropriate remedial actions including remedial exercise, drill(s), or other actions should be taken within 120 days after the exercise to assure that appropriate protective measures can be taken in the event of a radiological emergency to protect the health and safety of the public.
Activity Observed: Dauphin County EOC Prepared By: Al Henryson & Kevin Keyes Site: Three Mile Island Date: January 14,2003 Evaluator's Signature=
Date of Approval: 3 h/6
Corrective Action Demonstrated: On January 14, 2003, a remedial exercise was conducted in the Dauphin County EOC, specifically to re-demonstrate Objectives 11 and 14 of this Deficiency.
Objective 11: At 1328 an initial prescripted EAS message was released by the Dauphin County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to inform the public of a Site Area Emergency which had been declared by the Three Mile Island (TMI) Nuclear Power Station at 1255. The initial EAS message contained all the information as required by the FEMA policy letter dated February 2, 1999 and as revised October 1, 2001. It contained the identification of the local government organization (Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency), the official with the authority for providing the alert signal and instructional message (Gov. Mark Schweiker), identification of the commercial nuclear power plant (Three Mile Island) and a statement that an emergency exists at the plant (Site Area Emergency), reference to Radiological Emergency Preparedness
-specific emergency information for use by the general public during an emergency (telephone directory emergency pages), and a closing statement asking that the affected and potentially affected population stay tuned for additional information or that the population tune to another station for additional information ("Sirens within this area may be periodically activated to tell residents to tune to designated emergency alert system radio and TV stations for announcements" --- and "Stay tuned to this station for official bulletins and special instructions issued by your County Emergency Management Agency"). The initial EAS message also contained other information that supports public health and safety objectives, including the ECL (Site Area Emergency) and information concerning protective actions ('The situation at the plant requires no special action at this time. No release of radioactivity has occurred because of this event.")
The news release for the General Emergency declaration did distinguish that it was an exercise and that the evacuation was ordered by the Governor and that "As a precautionary measure, farmers within a 10-mile radius have been advised to remove farm animals from the pastures and place all livestock, dairy cattle and poultry under shelter. They also have been advised to protect feed and water supplies by covering with plastic sheeting or canvas."
Objective 14: At 1339 a message from the Secretary of Health advising all emergency workers and institutionalized individuals within the 10 mile EPZ to take KI. The Operations Officer directed the Police DepartmentEOQCrepresentative andHealth Department-EOC-representative to get the word out to all Emergency Workers and institutionalized persons in the area hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons to take KI. The Police Department representative made calls (simulated) to the police officers located within the 10 mile EPZ to take KI. The Health Department representative also made calls using the Hospital and Nursing Home Facility listing for these institutionalized individuals and Emergency Workers to take KI and using a list of prisons for these institutionalized individuals and Emergency Workers to take KI. At 1410, after discussions between the EMA Director, the PIO, and the PEMA Liaison, a press release was issued which contained these same instructions.
Activity Observed: Dauphin County EOC Prepared By: Al Henryson & Kevin Keyes Site: Three Mile Island Date: January 14, 2003 Evaluator's Signature: )( Ar Date of Approval:
I These actions correct the prior issue for Objective 11 and 14 identified above and the prior issues (64-99-1 1-A-05 and 64-99-14-A-07). The prior issue pertaining to Objective 12 was not scheduled for redemonstration at this time and will be reclassified as an Area Requiring Corrective Action (ARCA), as approved by FEMA Headquarters, and re-demonstrated during the April 23, 2003 Plume exercise.
OR Reason ARCA Unresolved:
Recommendation:
Schedule of Corrective Actions:
Activity Observed: Dauphin County EOC Prepared By: Al Henryson & Kevin Keyes Site: Three Mile Island Date: January 14, 2003
- 1' e Evaluator's Signature:
Date of Approval: / /--;?3 ,'(221 I /