ML20027C480
| ML20027C480 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/14/1982 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Giuffrida L Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8210150659 | |
| Download: ML20027C480 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES g
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 4m5
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CFFICE OF THE CHAMMAN September 14, 1982 Mr. Louis 0. Giuffrida, Director Federal Emergency Management Agency Washington, D.C.
20472
Dear Mr. Giuffrida:
Since the issuance of the new emergency planning rule in August 1980, considerable progress has been made in upgrading emergency preparedness around nuclear power plants.
Full scale joint exercises, involving the licensee as well as State and local governments, have been held at every site where operating nuclear power plants are located and at six addi-tional sites where plants were under construction.
These exercises have identified areas where improvements in emergency planning were needed and post-exercise critiques were held so that all of the emergency response organizations had an opportunity to hear the preliminary findings of the Federal observers. An important feature of these critiques is the oppor-tunity for all participating organizations to state their perception of the problems and accomplishments of the exercise and to comment on the preliminary findings of the Federal observers.
The critiques were also open for public and media observation and were frequently followed by press interviews of the Federal observers.
The NRC/ FEMA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of November 1980 ~ established a framework of cooperation between the two agencies in radiological emergency l
response planning matters.
One of the areas of cooperation concerns exer-cises.
The MOU states that the two agencies will cooperate in determining exercise requirements and will jointly observe and evaluate such exercises.
Your Guidance Memorandum 17, " Joint Exercise Procedures" was prepared to establish a standardized approach for personnel involved in exercise eval-uation.
Similar guidance was provided to the NRC Regions.
Concerning public participation in the joint exe.cise critique, the Guidance Memorandum states that the meeting should be open to the public and the media and these individuals should attend as observers and not participate in the discussions.
While the Commission recognizes that the primary purpose of a joint exercise is to test the implementation of the emergency plans, the opportunity for public involvement following an exercise could be beneficial in that it would allow for concerned citizens to coment on various aspects of the exercise and local emergency plans.
With this thought in mind, the Commission requests that an oppo'rtunity for members of the public to comment be provided following each joint exercise.
These comments could be responded to at the option of the FEMA and NRC representatives at the meeting.
Your views on l
8210150659 820914 LZ iICHATED ORIGINAL PDR COMMS NRCC D
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CORRESPON_DENCE PDR Certified By iL Ik/L
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instituting such a public comment period, at least on a trial basis, would ~
be appreciated at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,,
origina$ Signed By, JohnF. Abearno John F. Ahearne Acting Chairman 4
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