ML101880032
| ML101880032 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 06/17/2010 |
| From: | Tonya Russell US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| To: | Cooper M, Meyers J Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, NRC Region 4, State of LA, Dept of Environmental Quality, US Dept of Homeland Security |
| References | |
| Download: ML101880032 (2) | |
Text
June 17,2010 Mark A. Cooper, Director Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness 7667 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Jeffrey P. Meyers, Administrator Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 602 N. Fifth Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Dear Mr. Cooper and Mr. Meyers:
The purpose of this letter is to officially notify you of three identified Deficiencies that occurred during the June 8-9, 2010, River Bend Station Plume and Ingestion Pathway Exercise. These deficiencies were discussed during the post-exercise participant's briefmg on June 10,2010.
The identified Deficiencies are attributed to the East F eliciana Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, and Pointe Coupee Parish, Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) under Evaluation Area Criterion 5.a.1., Activation ofthe Prompt Alert and Notification System.
This criterion indicates that the activation of the sirens should occur before the Emergency Alert System (EAS) message is broadcasted. This ensures that the public is alerted and then provided sufficient time to tune into the EAS station in order to listen to the EAS message. During the exercise, the sirens were not sounded while the EAS messages (Scenario #8 and #22) were broadcasted at the agreed times. The Parishes failed to sound the sirens (simulated), which did not alert the public to tune into the EAS station. From that point, the public would not have known to listen for an EAS broadcast and as a result, the population in the affected area could have experienced a significant delay in receiving critical information related to the emergency situation.
We have thoroughly reviewed and discussed this issue with DHS-FEMA Headquarters and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). FEMA defines a deficiency as "... an observed or identified inadequacy of organizational performance in an exercise that could cause a finding that off-site emergency preparedness is not adequate to provide reasonable assurance that appropriate measures can be taken in the event of a radiological emergency to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant. "
www.fema.gov
Mark A. Cooper and Jeffrey P. Meyers June 17,2010 Page 2 Because of the potential impact on public health and safety, this situation should be corrected within 120 days of the exercise date through appropriate remedial actions. Please let us know the timing of these remedial actions and the identity of the utility, state and local participants who will be involved.
Your reply is required within ten days from the date of this letter, and your cooperation in this matter is sincerely appreciated. Please contact Lisa Hammond, Regional Assistance Committee Chair, at (940) 898-5199 with any questions relating to this letter.
cc:
Vanessa Quinn - FEMA HQ Michael Perito - River Bend Station Elmo Collins - NRC Region IV Tony Russell Regional Administrator