ML20010A060
| ML20010A060 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 06/11/1981 |
| From: | Coleman R SAN CLEMENTE, CA |
| To: | Grimes B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20010A058 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8108100497 | |
| Download: ML20010A060 (3) | |
Text
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CITY OF l
SAN CLEMENTE June 11, 1981 Mr. Brian Grimes U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission Washington, D. C. 20472
Dear Mr. Grimes:
Subject:
Response to FEMA Report Recently I was made aware of a letter sent to your office from John Dickey regarding the status of state and local emergency preparedness for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (Units 2 and 3).
According to this letter, FEMA concluded the following:
' State and local government radiological emergency response plans are minimally adequate.
However, until corrective actions have been taken, the offsite capabilities for implementation of the plans are not considered adequatc."
I am very concerned about the validity of these conclusions.
In a public hearing that was held here in San Clemente, there was absolutely no indications whatsoever that these findings would be generated by the statements made by Mr. Ken Nauman.
I have revimad the transcript of that hearing and can find no evidence to support the possibility that our plans would be held to be inadequate.
As a matter of fact, the following quotes are taken directly from the report:
" Orange County demonstrated an acceptable ability to execute their emergency response plans to protect the public." Page II-17 l
"The '. San Diego) County, where observed, demonstrated an acceptable ability to execute emergency response plans to protect the l
public" Page 11-20
" San Clemente demonstrated, where observed, an acceptable ability to execute emergency response plans to protect the public." Page 11-25 "There was demonstrated an ability to respond to and competently address the nature of the emergency." Page II-26 (refers to San Juan Capistrano)
"The USMC unit generally demonstrated an ability to execute emergency respcnse plans to protect the public." Pg. II-31
" Parks and Bea.:hes' overall capability to execute its emergency
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response plans to protect the general public was generally demonstrated to be good." Pg. II-35 8108100497 810728 ' Avenida Presidio San Clemente, California 92672 (714) 492-5101 PDR ADOCK 05000206 J
Mr. Brian Grimes June 11,1981
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In view of the above statements by FEMA Region IX it is difficult to understand how they arrived at the conclusion that protection of the public was not demonstrated.
Additionally, staff is currently reviewing the rest of the FEMA findings dated May 13, 1981.
This is being done in preparation for a joint meeting of our on-going Inter-Jurisdictional Task Force. A cursory review of these findings reveals some glaring inaccuracies, sweeping generalitics and inconsistencies by the observers themselves.
For example, one observer alleges lack of coordination between the City of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Another observer stated that San Juan did not make a particular decision because of coordination with us. That is inconsistent.
What I find particularly offensive, was a statement on Page 2-36 "Through the melange of personnel". Admittedly, our E0C is small, but when you cram more evaluators into a room than decision makers, it is difficult to function. The evaluators themselves admitted that they were amazed at the control we exercised despite their looming presence. Based upon ny brief review of the comments from the FEMA evaluators, I can safely say that many major points were overlooked in the evaluation.
While these evaluators probably have expertise in theoretical plans and operations, they demonstrated a serious lack of understanding o1 our Orange County, San Diego, Camp Pendleton, fire and law enforcement mutual aid systems and the workings of local government in Orange County.
Our system has been extremely successful in coping with major emergencies for the last decade. These have included massive brush fires, major chemical incidents, flooding and a variety of other causal agents that are only talked about in some areas. They have happened here. We have conducted evacuation of thousands of people during these events.
Another thing that continues to perplex n1y staff is the fact that NUREG 0654 seems to vacillate between being guidelines and law.
In correspondence dated April 10, 1981, a letter from R. C. DeYoung representing a response through Senator Cranston's office, indicated that the " guidelines" for warning systems were so open ended that it affected our Council's ability to approve a siren alerting system.
Now some of the evaluation criteria appears to be almost sacrosanct.
r
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Mr. Brian Grimes June 11,.1981 I have continually felt that the evaluators in this process do not understand the California Emergency Services Act, the Orange County Master Mutual Aid Plan nor have they considered the desire of local officials for the immediate control of the decision making process at the onset of a major emergency.
FEMA's findings and the State Office of Emergency Services continue to point tcuards the establishment of ultimate authority and decision making at the state and federal level.
From a standpoint of protecting life and property, this is absolutely unacceptable to us.
We will readily admit that our plans need continued work.
All planning is evolutionary, ongoing and should be viewed on a continiuum of progress and change. Our on-going task force is currently conducting reviews of the coments from the State Office of N rgency Services, FEMA, and others. This letter is to notify you of our disagreement with the remarks contained in Mr. Dickey's letter.
It is our intent to prepare a mo thoroughly documented critique within sixty days.
Si erely R.J.CT}eman T
Director of Fire Protection RJC:ec cc: John Dickey, Federal Emergency Management Agency Ron Sandwina, Federal Emergency Management Agency Cynthia Ferguson, Public Works, San Juan Capistrano Jim Alexander, State Office of Emergency Services Dr. Mary Frances Reed, State Office of Emergency Services Burt Turner, County Office Of Emergency Services, Emergency Management Div.
Bud Jackley, Edison Company
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