ML20069L121

Testimony of Re Gendron Re 830309 Emergency Excercise Observation

ML20069L121
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	04/25/1983
From:	Gendron R PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT INDIAN POINT
To:
References
ISSUANCES-SP, NUDOCS 8304280045
Download: ML20069L121 (5)

Text

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD 3,'

/E' 27 N0:04 In the Matter of )

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CONSOLIDATED EDIS0N COMPANY OF NEW YORK ) Docket Nos. 50-247 SP (Indian Point Unit 2) ) 50-286 SP

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POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK )

(Indian Point Unit 3) ) April 25, 1983 EMERGENCY EXERCISE OBSERVATION TESTIMONY OF~ RICHARD'E. GENDRON The testimony of Richard E. Gendron on the emergency exercise "Intervenors' Observation Team" was inadvertently omitted from the package of testimony submitted on April 12, 1983. Parents Concerned -

About Indian Point hereby submits the omitted testimony and respect-fully requests this Board to accept the testimony at this time, and to allow Mr. Gendron to testify on a panel with Nathaniel riills who also observed at the Westchester Fire Control / Training Center in

, Valhalla, New York.

Rey ectfully submitted, Pat PoBnce Parents Concerned About Indian Point P.O. Box 125 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 8304280045 830425 PDR T ADOCK 05000247 PDR

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Intervenorhtver Richard E. Gendron Observation Point Decontamination Center Fire Training Center Hawthorn, New York 1:00 p.m. The demntamination cent 2.r in Hawthorn, New York is located in a small lobby and, foyer of the Fire Training Center. % e floor in the cen-ter is divided down the middle by a strip of white tape; the area on the right side of the line serves as the contaminated area, the area to the left is uncontaminated. Decontamination team msnbers are stationed at the entrance to each of the two bathroons and the bathroam are also diviaM

.by strips of tape.

Tnere are seven team mnhes and two alternates, all of whom are either doctors or nurses and work for the h rd of Health. Dr. Gallutso is ithe leader of this partimlar team. (his pat +imlar training does not necessarily require a m Mical background.)

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The first victim arrives at the door and is met by a team nenber.

l h e person is then scanned with a geiger counter, declared safe, and proceeds l

l on to the registration table and out the door. Were are also two state l

troopers stationed in the rodra. This decontamination center is not meant l for the general public, it is for energency workers.

It is explained that, in accordance with the accident scenario, these pareimlar people (victims) are arriving from the Buchannan area.

I ask Dr. Gallutso a nunber of questions:

! 1. Would the team members be wearing hoods in an achtal energency? The team are dressed in what looks like cotton overalls that are taped at the j wrist and ankles. It seens that the hoods are part of Civil Defense Pre-paredness and are back ordered.

2. How many people are processed per hour? Approximately 4-8.

3. What happens if a person is found to be contanunated? The person is first

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'Gendron taken down the right side of the tape, into the lavatory, his clothing is shaken off, and another reading is taken. If the reading is positive, the victim's clothing is taken off and placed into two plastic bags. 'Ihe vic-tim is then taken down the right side of the tape line. to the showers where he washes with plenty of soap and water. Arother r = Hng is taken. .He is then issued a new pair of disposable coveralls and sent on to a safe zone where the Red Cross will provide him with food and shelter. I was told that coveralls were'also back ordered.

4. What is the limit of safety as far as the contamination is concerned?

1.0 millirms to 3.0 millirens.

1:55 Another victim arrives and enters throtrJh the southern door (which is the

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only door which is being used for an entrance), is given a scan with the geiger counter, found to be clean, and passes on to the registration table.

After the person's particulars are registered, she passes down the hall on the left of the taped line and exits.

'Ihe next victim is a federal observer. It is determined that he has a contaminated sleeve and is told to go to the lavatory with one of the team m mbers, stand on a brown piece of paper, and to shake. For the sake of the-simulation, he is found to still be contaminated. He is taken along the right side of the taped line to the showers. After showering the victinris checked again, found to still be at an unsafe radiation level, and taken l- to a holding area. Dr. Gallutso calls Dr. Williams, the supervisor at the l

EOC, to arrange to have the victim retoved. I ask where such victims will be taken and am told by Dr. Gallutso that he is unsure and to ask Dr. Williams.

A state trooper enters the control rocm area again. (Is this decon-tamination area too close to the control room?)

A call for fifteen ambulances to evacuate the V.A. Hospital annes in t

over the radio.

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Gendron I ask how many teams canprise the energency arm of the Civil Defense

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Preparedness. It is explained that there are 7 teams, each with 7 meubers and two alternates, in Westchester (bunty.

Conclusion In the final analysis, I feel that smrgency workers, people who are puttting their own lives on the lines to protect the safety of others, must be given the proper equip e nt te successfully carry out their re-sponsibilities. In all disaster situations, scme people will react with fear while othe s take up the banner. We.cannot expect energency workers to sacrifice their own health and safety because of a lack of training or equignent.

As a jet mechanic, I have had sane basic training concerning radio-active envirorments. One of the first precautions is to prevent breathing in the contmunants. Certainly if we are going to be in contact with sus-pected carriers of radioactive dust, we should be breathing through respira-tors in order to avoid becaning contaninated as well. Will we be satisfied with a strip of tape on the floor to protect the uncontaminated fran the con-taminated?

The United States Air Force uses operating roan procedures when deal-ing with radioactive materials. Isolation is the key. Should the decontamina-tion center be located in the same building as the ccmmunication center for the whole county? When we contaminate the control roan who will take over?

'Ihe equipnent in this roan is very modern and technical and will require a trained person to operate it. How are we going to transport the people that are contaminated without contaminating the drivers as well as others people working in the decontmunation center?

I must also question whether or rot the decontmunation centers are

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a.' , j Gendron adequately staffed and if we can be certain that such workers would even

, fulfill their responsibilities in the event of a nuclear accident.

It is my view that, if the exercise had been an actual energency, the msnbers of the decontamination teans,as well as tSe workers in the control rocm, would have been sacrificed regardless of the efforts of Dr. Gallutso or any of his team meubers.

I would also like to state that at this tine we must begin a high-priority program which aims to clean up the radioactive materials that are building up throughout our land. We must enploy the finest minds that our great country can deliver and give then the freedan that they need to deal.

with this dilemma. We must put away the greed and the ego and bring.for-ward the blessings that cxxne with fol]cwing conscience. We must trade the fear and uncertainty right now for a united effort to solve this problen. WE MUST DO THIS NOW FOR IT MAY AIREADY BE TOO IATE.

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