ML20174A283

Public Meeting on the Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Exemption Process During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

ML20174A283
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/23/2020
From:	Ed Miller Plant Licensing Branch II
To:
Miller E
References
Download: ML20174A283 (13)

Text

PublicMeetingontheEmergency PreparednessBiennialExercise ExemptionProcessDuringthe COVID19PublicHealthEmergency June23,2020

BackgroundandPurpose OnJanuary31,2020,theU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices declaredaPublicHealthEmergency(PHE)fortheUnitedStates.

OnMarch11,2020,theCOVID19outbreakwascharacterizedasa pandemicbytheWorldHealthOrganization.

ThismeetingwillbeadiscussionamongparticipantsregardingtheEP biennialexerciserequirementsandguidancedocumentsrelatedto requestinganexemptionfromtheperformanceoftheseexercises.

NRCisseekinginformationontheimpactofCOVID19onEPbiennial exercises.

BiennialExerciseand 8YearExerciseCycleRequirements 10 CFR 50.47(b) (14)

Appendix E to 10 CFR 50

- E.IV.F.2.b and 2.c 8-calendar-year exercise cycle as established in December 2011 EP rule

- First 8-year exercise cycle for a site began in the calendar year in which the first hostile action based (HAB) exercise was conducted. First HAB must be performed by Dec 2015.

- Biennial exercises shall vary the content of scenarios to provide for the ERO to demonstrate proficiency in the key skills necessary to respond to the following scenario elements over the 8-year cycle:

• hostile action directed at the plant site,

• no radiological release or an unplanned minimal radiological release that does not require public protective actions,

• an initial classification of or rapid escalation to a Site Area Emergency or General Emergency,

• implementation of strategies, procedures, and guidance under § 50.155(b)(2),

• and integration of offsite resources with onsite response.

8YearExerciseCycleRequirements 8calendaryearexercisecycleasestablishedin2011EPrule

- Startadrillorexercisebetween6:00p.m.and4:00a.m.Some unannounced.

- AllfunctionsineachEmergencyResponseFacility

- Providingmedicalcareforinjured,contaminatedpersonnel(everytwo years).

- Responsetoessentially100%ofinitiatingconditionsforclassificationof emergencies.

- AlllicenseeEROteamsmustbeprovidedtheopportunityto demonstratekeyskills

- withinthescopeoftheirduties.

- Useofproceduresdevelopedinresponsetoanaircraftthreat

- Useofthestrategiestomitigatespentfuelpooldamagescenarios

- Useofthetomitigatereactoraccidentsandmaintaincontainment

8YearExerciseCycle 2013-20207sites 2014-202130sites 2015-202219sites

BiennialExerciseRequirements EachBiennialexercisesshalldemonstrateEROproficiencyinkeyskills:

- Timelyclassificationofevents;

- Timelynotificationofoffsiteauthorities;

- Assessmentofradiologicalreleasesonsiteandoffsite;

- Developmentofprotectiveactionrecommendations;

- Disseminationofinformationtothepublicviamediachannels;

- Engineeringassessment,repairplandevelopment,andrepairofcritical equipmentunderemergencyconditions;

- Mitigativeactionimplementation;

- Protectionofworkersduringemergencyresponse,includingmedicalcare;

- Responsetooperationaltransientswhileimplementingtheemergencyplan;and

- CoordinationwithOffsiteResponseOrganizations.

2020/2021BiennialExercises OriginalSchedule 202029sites 202127sites

BiennialEPExercisesasofJune22,2020

TheExemptionProcess

• 10CFR50.12SpecialCircumstances

• RegulatoryIssueSummary(RIS)2006003

- ML053390039

• ExemptionLetter,May14,2020

- ML20120A003

Previous Biennial Exercise Exemption

• 2001,LimerickGeneratingStation

- temporaryonetimeexemptionfromAppendixEIV.F.2.c, (offsiteonly)inOctober2001asaresultof9/11ongoing nationalsecuritythreat

- Additionally,LimericklocalandStateagencieswere directlyparticipatingin9/11activities

- Commissiondetermined,pursuantto10CFR50.12(a)

• theexemptionisauthorizedbylaw,willnotpresentanunduerisk tothepublichealthandsafety,andisconsistentwiththecommon defenseandsecurity.

• specialcircumstancesarepresentpursuantto10CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v),inthattheexemptionwouldonlyprovide temporaryrelieffromtheapplicableregulations.

InformationExchange NRCisseekinginformationon theimpactofCOVID19onBiennialEPExercises

• IfNRCand/orFEMAgrantexemption(s)from2020 exercise(s),arethereimpactstothecurrently scheduled2021exercises?

• ArethereresourceconstraintsthattheNRCshouldbe awareof?

• Aretherenewtechnologiesbeingconsideredto replacegatheringinEmergencyResponseFacilitiesor otherareaswhichNRCshouldreviewinanexpedited mannertosupportfutureexercises?

PublicMeetingontheEmergencyPreparedness BiennialExerciseExemptionProcessDuringthe COVID19PublicHealthEmergency Questions?