ML19254F803
| ML19254F803 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/26/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Grasso E CONNECTICUT, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19254F787 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911190045 | |
| Download: ML19254F803 (4) | |
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The Honorable Ella T. Grasso Governor of Connecticut Hartford, Connecticut 06115
Dear Governor Grasso:
Thank you for your letter of July 19, 1979, expressing your concerns on radiological emergency response planning activities. We at the Commission are also concerned about this and we are row reviewing all aspects of the program. This review will no doubt result in recomendations for improvements.
Let me specifically address the numbered questions and points in your letter:
1.
You asked about actions to make a thyroid blocking drug availao'le for institutionalized citizens, emergency workers and the general public.
W.
The recent letter concerning thyr.oid blocking sent to Mr. Alan Hekking of your Office of Civil Preparedness staff by Mr. Jerome Halperin of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (enclosed) partially answers this question.
In addition, we also believe that all involved agencies (State,. Federal, local) must resolve the issue of stockpiling a thyroid blocking agent and associated funding shortly. At a recent meeting between FDA and NRC staff, this was one of the topics of discussion.
Whatever policy does result will probably be developed under the auspices of the several Federal agencies involved in radiological emergency response planning with State and local governments.
Mr. Frank Mancuso, the Director of your Office of Civil Preparedhess will be kept abreast of developments through an Interorganizational Advisory Comittee of State and local government emergency prepared-ness officials of whi-ch he is a member.
2.
You proposed that I recommend to the Secretary of Transportation that his Department work with Commissioner Powers of the Connecticut Department of Transportation to provide highway signs showing evacuation routes and contaminated areas.
I have written a letter to Secretary Goldschmidt of the Department of Transportation asking that he honor your request. A copy of the letter is enclosed.
1353 284 7 911190 O y
The Honorable.
'a. T. Grasso e 3.
You asked when refresher training will be available for State emergency response personnel.
I am pleased that Connecticut has taken advantage of the training provided by the NRC.
The training programs are still available and we will entertain additional requests for training of those personnel who have not received the training.
As a matter of fact, as a result of a recent request from some of the other New England States, we are contemplating scheduling two of the courses in flew England within the next several months. These would be the Radiological Emergency Response Planning Course and the Radiological Emergency Response Coordinators Course.
If you have personnel who would benefit by attendance, please infonn Robert G. Ryan, Director of the Office of State programs. He can be reached at (301) 492-8170.
We do not as yet have any fonnal programs for refresher training since the job of initial training has absorbed available training resources. We do expect to be in a position to work on refresher training during the next calendar year.
Messrs. Frank Mancuso and Arthur T. Heub,ar, your Radiation Control Director, will be advised when refresher training is,available.
4.
You expressed concern about nucle,ar reactors in other States close to the borders of Connecticut and the need for sharing resources to respond to an accident at one of these reactors.
We share your concerns about contiguous State planning. As a matter of fact, section II.C of our Emergency Planning Guide and Checklist NUREG-75/lli (which was published in 1974) contains the elements of this planning which we believe should be addressed in State and local Radiological Emergency Response Plans.
Contiguous State / local planning is necessary before we will concur in a State plan.
Specifically with regard to New England, we have recently been in contact with representatives of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine to discuss the development of their plans for concurrence.
Contiguous State planning and accident classifications and notifications have been covered in these discussions.
At the most recent meeting, in which representatives of three of those States participated, Vermont agreed to write an emergency plan annex which could be used by all four States to describe mutual support and assistance during an accident. We have informed Vermont of your concerns in this area and you will receive a copy of the draft annex when it is ready.
1355 285
The Honorable Ella T. Grasso
-3.
We are aware of the New England Radiological Health Compact to which all New England States belong and which allows each State to call upon its neighbors in time of need in responding to radiological emergencies.
We believe this is essential, especially in flew England, because of the relatively small geographical area covered by each State.
We are also pleased by the recent passage on May 15, 1979 Resolution Number 206 by the New England Regional Comission which expresses the Governors desire to work together as a region in planning for nuclear emergencies.
We look forward to the reports which each State will be preparing this fall to determine if there is any help we can provide.
5.
You asked how we propose to handle the media in any future accident at a nuclear power plant, particularly in light of the lessons learned at Three Mile Island.
In regard to communicating with the news media during an accident, the NRC Office of Public Affairs will be working with the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to provide facilities for the news media in the nearby area as part of an Emergency Operations Center to be established in the vicinity of all nuclear power plants.
Establishment of such a center is one element of an action plan developed by the NRC Office of Muclehr Reactor Regulation to improve emergency preparedness at all of these facilities and is intended to accommodate Federal, State and local personnel as well as news media representatives.
is a key part of this overall plan
- Coordination with State and local officials 6.
You expressed concern about Connecticut's aHlity to handle a nuclear crisis.
Your concern about the ability to handle a nuclear crisis is appreciated in the sense that constant concern on the part of responsible public officials is necessary to the development of an adequate response capability.
In addition to your personal concern, you have other officials in Connecticut dedicated to developing such a capability.
You also have one of the best radiological emergency response plans among those that have been concurred in by the NRC.
You surely appreciate that this paper plan is of limited value unless it is annually tested and supported by appropriate preparedness resources.
This is the main reason we have a requirement for an annual exercise as a condition to maintaining NRC concurrence in the State plan.
is the best way to identify deficiencies and correct them.This, we believe, In this connection, we are in the process of developing accident scenarios for exercising State plans.
Our initial effort is to provide this scenario for those States, such as Connecticut, which already have a concurred plan.
For the long tenn, we have a contract for the development of a series of 10-12 scenarios which we hope will provide a spectrum of postulated accidents which can be used to exercise either part of a plan or the entire plan.
1353 286
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The Honorablo Ella T. Grasso '
lionitoring will play a big part in response and we realize that help is needed in this area.
You can be sure that the Federal covernment vill respond ulth assistance as was the case during the Three liile Island accident.
P.clated to ronitorinq of airborne radiological releases is an identified need to be abic to ceasure a dominant radioisotore.
i.e., radiciodine.
Under contract to us, Brookhaven ilational Laboratory Ins developed a relatively inexpensive radiciodine monitoring instrument which is currently undernoinq independent evaluation by the Idaho Mational Enoincering Laboratory (I!!EL).
If this evaluation is positive, the i!RC plans to purchase these instrunents and make them available to the States that need them.
i!c also have another research program with IllEL to develop a series' of guidance documents for the use of Federal, State and local agencies in respondino to radioloalcal enernoncies.
This guidance will provide infornation on measuring certain critical isotopes such as radiciodine, radiostroniuo and radiocesiun which micht be components of any serious radiolcaical release.
These docu:r.cnts are scheduled for completion by about the endjf 1900.
Finally, you should be aware that the Conaress is also concerned about responses to radiological caeroencies asid the coordination of responses by all parties.
In S.5G2, the Senate versibn of mC 1930 Authorization P.ill, there is a renuirement that the I!IC develop an agency plan for response to nuclear emernencies and another renuire'1ent that the Federal governe:ent develop a Federal resonnse plan over and above the existing Interagency -
Radiological Assistance Plan which is being reevaluated.
Again, please be assured that ue do share your, concerns and that we will continue to work with you, other States, local governments and Federal agencies so that ue can together, be better prepared to respond to nuclear emergencies including those from facilities other than nuclear power plants.
Your fir. !'ancuso has been workina closely with us in our efforts with the States and local governoonts. t!e intend to continue that very satisfactory rela tionship.
Thank you for taking such a personal interest in these matters, bec: EDO #07004 SECY 79-2243 Sincerely, EDO R/F RWDeFayette, SP LVGossick RGRyan, SP Smith HECollins, SP,
T. Rehm, OED0 (. !b. .H.
- Joseph tt. Itendrie H. Denton, NRR R. flinogue, 50, M /)
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