ML21333A241

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Level 1 FEMA Finding Successfully re-demonstrated on November 23, 2021
ML21333A241
Person / Time
Site: Calvert Cliffs  Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 11/24/2021
From: Scardino T
US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region III
To: Warnock T
Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region III
Murray C
References
Download: ML21333A241 (2)


Text

U.S. Department of Homeland Security One Independence Mall, Sixth Floor 615 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404 November 24, 2021 MEMORANDUM FOR: Thomas Warnock Chief Radiological Emergency Preparedness Branch FROM: Thomas Scardino THOMAS A Digitally signed by THOMAS A RAC Chair SCARDINO FEMA Region III SCARDINO Date: 2021.11.24 10:52:29

-05'00'

SUBJECT:

Calvert Cliffs Level 1 Finding Remedial Exercise The purpose of this Memo is to notify you that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) identification of a Level 1 Finding, which was assessed to the Maryland Department of Emergency Management during the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Exercise conducted on September 14, 2021, was successfully re-demonstrated during a remedial exercise that was conducted on November 23, 2021.

As you are aware, a deficiency was identified in development and release of an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message issued during the General Emergency that contained erroneous protective action information, which resulted in the Level 1 Finding. The Level 1 Finding was assessed for the following reasons:

Staff at the Maryland State Emergency Operations Center/Maryland Joint Operations Center (SEOC/MJOC) did not follow procedures for the transmission of an EAS message; and therefore, transmitted incorrect information from the EMNet Emergency Alert System (EAS) following the declaration of a General Emergency by Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The EAS message, as transmitted, omitted the specific protective action decision direction to members the public residing in Zones 1, 2, and 3 to evacuate; Zones 6 and 7 to shelter in place; and for the public in Zones 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 to ingest Potassium Iodide (KI).

In addition to not communicating the protective action decision, the EAS message contained incorrect direction to evacuate Zones A and B, to also shelter in place in Zone A (Zones A and B are not public evacuation zones, but U.S. Coast Guard maritime zone designations applied to the Patuxent River) and instructed emergency workers to ingest KI.

Following the issuance of the Level 1 Finding, corrective actions were implemented, which involved the revision of procedures for drafting and approving EAS messages. These plan changes were submitted to the FEMA Region 3 office for review and approval.

During the remedial exercise staff from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management successfully demonstrated the implementation of the revised procedures and validated that the revisions are effective at preventing an erroneous EAS message from being released. A key to the successful demonstration was the implementation of a two-authority review and approval process by the SEOC Commander and Executive Liaison in the Strategy Room. Additionally, the revised checklists clearly identified responsibilities by all parties involved in the creation and release of an EAS message.

Based on the results of the exercise and a review of the offsite radiological emergency response plans and procedures submitted, FEMA Region 3 has determined they are adequate (meet the planning and preparedness standards of NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 1, November 1980, as referenced in 44 CFR 350.5) and there is reasonable assurance they can be implemented, as demonstrated during the remedial exercise.

Because the remedial exercise was conducted within 75 days of the Level 1 Finding, the results will be captured in the After-Action Report (AAR). There will be no need for FEMA to produce a separate report for the remedial exercise.

Please let me know if you have any questions.