ML19274C669
| ML19274C669 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/01/2019 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, US Dept of Agriculture |
| To: | |
| RAKOVAN L/NMSS/MSST | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19274C654 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML19274C669 (48) | |
Text
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission National State Liaison Officer Conference Rockville, MD, September 5th 2019 The USDA Element of the Advisory Team - Radiological Ingestion Event Support and Field Analysis Advanced Technology Gordon Cleveland USDA APHIS VS Office of Science and Interagency Coordination Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health 1
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
USDA Responsibilities: Nuke-RAD Incident Annex to the NRF:
- Assists in the planning and collection of agricultural samples within the Ingestion Exposure Pathway
- Assesses damage to crops, soil, livestock, poultry, and processing facilities and incorporates the findings in a damage assessment report.
- Assists in the evaluation and assessment of data to determine the impact of the incident on agriculture.
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USDA Responsibilities: Nuke-RAD Incident Annex to the NRF:
- Inspects and assists in the collection of samples of crops, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, and egg products to ensure that they are safe for human consumption.
- Provides support and advice on screening and decontamination of pets and farm animals that may have been exposed to radiation or contaminated with radioactive materials 3
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
USDA Responsibilities: Nuke-RAD Incident Annex to the NRF:
- Assists, in conjunction with HHS, in monitoring the production, processing, storage, and distribution of food through the wholesale level to eliminate contaminated product and to ensure that the levels of contamination in the product are safe and below the derived intervention levels (DILs).
- Assists in the planning and operational aspects of animal carcasses disposal.
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USDA Responsibilities: Nuke-RAD Incident Annex to the NRF:
- Provides support and advice and assists in the planning and operational aspects of animal carcasses disposal.
- OOPS!!
- Radiologically contaminated carcasses and other agricultural materials are HAZMAT and the responsibility of EPA
- Document describes general Federal (USDA APHIS) roles and responsibilities for decontamination and disposal of agricultural products 5
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
USDA Responsibilities: Nuke-RAD Incident Annex to the NRF:
- Provides support and advice and assists in the planning and operational aspects of animal carcasses disposal.
- OOPS!!
- Radiologically contaminated carcasses Radiological events and other agricultural materials are HAZMAT and the responsibility of EPA are not addressed
- Document describes *Pg. i,general paragraph Federal 2, Executive Summary (USDA APHIS) roles and responsibilities for decontamination and disposal of agricultural products 6
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Major Radiological Preparedness Challenges:
- Regionalization of release through movement control monitoring and sampling statistically relevant quantity of animals/crops/feeds/foods to assure suitability for consumption
- Radiological monitoring and decontamination for livestock/poultry/pets/lab and zoo animals/wildlife
- Therapeutic countermeasures to mitigate the effects of radionuclide contaminants ingested by animals 7
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Major Radiological Preparedness Challenges:
- Remediation strategies for soils and crops contaminated by radionuclides
- Livestock euthanasia and disposal of excessively contaminated animals
- Disposal strategies for radiologically contaminated feeds/crops/FSIS regulated products
- Providing support to the agriculture sector affected by a radiation release 8
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Radiological Response and Recovery Support:
- APHIS Veterinary Services, OSIC: Emergency response
- Rural Utilities: Reestablishment of Critical Infrastructure
- Agricultural Marketing Service: Wholesomeness of USDA Commodities
- Radiation Safety Staff: Worker Safety
- Food Safety and Inspection Service: Safety of regulated agricultural products
- APHIS Animal Care: Pets, zoo and laboratory animals
- Providing support and personnel as a signatory member of the Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health 9
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
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U.S. Department of Agriculture: Membership in the Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health
- Provide coordinated technical advice and recommendations to the State, Coordinating Agency, and DHS concerning environmental, food, and health matters, and participate and provide outreach and guidance for development of, RAD emergency exercises
- USDA: Provide agricultural subject matter expertise, support, and Protective Action Recommendations to federal, state, local, and tribal radiological emergency responders 16 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Major Response and Recovery Agency Participants
- Other USDA Agencies providing response and recovery services and capabilities
- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
- Farm Services Agency (FSA)
- Economic Research Service (ERS)
- Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Agriculture Research Service (ARS)
- Office of General Council 17 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Major Response and Recovery Agency Participants
- Farm Services Agency
- DIPP
- Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) - provides compensation to dairy producers when directed to remove raw milk from the commercial market due to contamination by nuclear radiation or fallout, toxic substances, etc.
- Only USDA policy with the word radiological Fact-Sheets- https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/fact-sheets/index 18 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Response Resources: ESF #11
- Responsibilities of Emergency Support Function #11 Coordinators: Located at Each FEMA Region
- Monitoring for and responding to animal/plant pest, disease, and other emergency situations
- Providing for the safety and well-being of household pets
- Offering nutrition assistance
- Ensuring the safety and security of the Nation's commercially produced meat, poultry, and egg products 19 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Response Resources: ESF #11
- Responsibilities of Emergency Support Function #11 Coordinators: Located at Each FEMA Region
- Monitoring for and responding to animal/plant pest, disease, and other emergency situations
- Providing for the safety and well-being of household pets;
- Offering nutrition assistance
- Ensuring the safety and security of the Nation's commercially produced meat, poultry, and egg products 20 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Response Resources: APHIS Radiological Program
- Develop robust and practicable strategies for maintaining agricultural production and a safe food supply following a nuclear or radiological release
- Surveillance and decontamination strategies for contaminated or irradiated pets, service animals, livestock and wildlife
- Regionalization strategies to defend the wholesomeness and integrity of the nations agriculture 21 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Response Resources: APHIS Radiological Program
- Develop robust and practicable strategies, Contd
- Remediation strategies for soils and crops
- Therapeutic strategies for the development and use of radiation prophylaxes and therapies for animals
- FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Euthanasia and carcass disposal strategies for contaminated animals
- Disposal strategies for contaminated agricultural products 22 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
USDAs Response Goal
- The return to sustainable marketability of livestock, poultry, foods, crops, and feeds which have been determined by sampling, monitoring, and geographic location, not to have been contaminated by a radiological release.
- Regionalization of the event to reduce impact on international trade, and enhance domestic consumer confidence 23 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Agricultural Response Priorities Establishing initial movement control zones
- Revising as science and policy direct
- Regionalization is the goal Determining what animals and agricultural products need stop movement/disposal
- Delayed priority
- Initial emphasis on concentrated operations
- What about sustenance farms?
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Agricultural Response Priorities Monitoring production facilities outside buffer zone
- Monitoring animals ante-mortem
- Determining whether buffer zone needs expansion/contraction
- Establishing statistically appropriate and manageable sample volume
- Food Emergency Response Network (FERN)
- Transportable Radiation Analysis Counting System (TRACS) 25 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Agricultural Recovery Priorities Assuring Food Safety
- Monitoring
- Sampling
- Protocol to assure 95% assurance
- Timely analysis/product line
- Regionalization
- Adequate buffer zone
- Movement control within that zone
- Container portal monitors 26 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Agricultural Recovery Priorities Regionalization
- Establishing a buffer zone outside of which there is no increased level of radiation
- Movement control of agricultural animals and commodities 27 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Ante-mortem Monitoring of Livestock
- Groundwork already laid through NIFA Grant to Texas A & M University
- Very scientific, very sophisticated, very expensive
- Engaged FEMA REPP about repurposing their detectors 28 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Is Food Unsafe?
- Perception and politics VS Science:
Greatest Impact on Agricultural Recovery
- Example: BSE Cow that stole Christmas 29 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Is food unsafe?
- An Alaskan university research program on impact of Fukushima radiocesium release on the Alaska tuna fishery 30 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Is Food Unsafe?
- Alaskan university research on impact of Fukushima on tuna fishery
- Found tiny increase in Cs 137
- Unable to get funding because of insignificant findings
- Reported 33% increase in radiocesium in tuna
- Finding: 3 Bq/Kg over 2 Bq/Kg (FDA DIL: 1,200 Bq/Kg)
- AK fishery threatened by consumer perception 31 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Is Food Unsafe?
- Alaskan university research on impact of Fukushima on tuna fishery
- Found tiny increase in Cs 137
- Unable to get funding because of insignificant findings
- Reported 33% increase in radiocesium in tuna
- Finding: 3 Bq/Kg over 2 Bq/Kg (FDA DIL: 1,200 Bq/Kg)
- AK fishery threatened by consumer perception 32 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
TRACS Portable Gamma Analysis System
- Design Features:
- Robust, light weight, modular, scalable, mobile
- Field user does not need radionuclide expertise
- User-friendly
- Limit time and resources required in the field
- ISO 17025 compliant analytical data
- Real time in-situ high throughput sample data collections and analytical results 33 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
FDA Portable Gamma Analysis System
- Portability
- The unit weighs ~110 lbs. fully assembled.
- The system can be disassembled and assembled in less than ten minutes.
- Can be stored in a car trunk 34 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
FDA Portable Gamma Analysis System
- Portability
- The temperature stabilized Cerium Bromide detector provides robust measurement capabilities without the need for cooling.
- The unit is battery powered by the laptop PCs USB port
- Self-calibrating algorithm 35 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
FDA Portable Gamma Analysis System TRACS unit (R2D3) regionalization poster presentation at Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors State HHS buy-in critical to state regionalization strategy 36 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Comparison of Data Collection 37 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Major Challenges: Radiocesium (Chernobyl, Goiânia, Fukushima)
- Mitigation of contaminated soils
- Land stripping, plowing, phytoremediation
- Ante-mortem monitoring of livestock
- Monitoring of product lines
- Long term, systematic
- Internal/external animal decontamination
- FRPCC Subcommittee, funding issues
- Carcass disposal 38 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Mitigation of Contaminated Soils:
Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
- Anecdotal genesis
- FEDs: Stovepiped research
- Academic rescue
- Preliminary findings
- Research proposal
- Predicted deliverables
- Further development 39 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Mitigation of Contaminated Soils:
Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
Color Key :
Present and Native Present and Common 40 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Mitigation of Contaminated Soils:
Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
MERITS:
- Ubiquitous
- Roundup (herbicide) Tolerant
- Rooted in soil sequester zone (5 cm: Fukushima)
- High uptake potential 41 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Mitigation of Contaminated Soils:
Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
Horseweeds (Conyza canadensis) efficiency to remove cesium and strontium from a solution was determined. When incubated in a solution spiked with cesium, Conyza canadensis plants removed 89.6% of the cesium at the end of 168 hours0.00194 days <br />0.0467 hours <br />2.777778e-4 weeks <br />6.3924e-5 months <br />. Overall, the data suggests that Conyza canadensis, commonly known as horseweed, shows promise as bioremediator of radiocesium.
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Carcass and Agricultural Product Disposal
- Plasma arc vitrification
- Used to mine landfills to produce electricity and syngas
- Arc uses 25% of the electricity produced
- Produces glassine, inert slag
- DOD and EPA study of leachate: .025 allowable boron 43 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Carcass and Agricultural Product Disposal
- Disposal of excessively contaminated animals feeds/crops/FSIS regulated products
- Federal, State, academia and private sector collaboration in the development of in situ plasma arc vitrification of contaminated agricultural products 44 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
USDA Agency Contacts
- Economic Research Service - www.ers.usda.gov
- National Agricultural Statistics Service - www.nass.usda.gov
- Census of Agriculture - www.agcensus.usda.gov
- Foreign Agricultural Service - www.fas.usda.gov
- Agricultural Marketing Service - www.ams.usda.gov
- FSA USDA Service Centers - offices.usda.gov https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/fact-sheets/index
- Office of General council: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/staff-offices/office-general-counsel-ogc
- Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.crcpd.org/resource/resmgr/ATeam/Ate am.htm
- Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Tool:
https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm 45 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Preparedness
Response
Recovery Pay now, or pay later Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health
Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health QUESTIONS?
Gordon.S.Cleveland@aphis.usda.gov Office: (301) 851-3597 48 Advisory Team on Environment, Food, and Health