ML23023A047
| ML23023A047 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Quad Cities  |
| Issue date: | 01/25/2023 |
| From: | Kathryn Brock NRC/NSIR/DPR |
| To: | Penn D US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| Shared Package | |
| ML23018A159 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML23023A047 (2) | |
Text
Damon C. Penn Deputy Assistant Administrator National Preparedness Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency 400 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20024
SUBJECT:
QUAD CITIES GENERATING STATION ALERT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM EVALUATION REPORT
Dear Mr. Penn:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter dated December 12, 20221, which provided the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval of the Alert and Notification System (ANS) Evaluation Report (Report) submitted for Quad Cities Generating Station by the State of Iowa, hereinafter referred to as the ANS Report.2 As described in the ANS Report, the backup ANS is being changed from route alerting to the Alert Iowa - Electronic Telephone Notification System/Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Wireless Emergency Alerts (IPAWS/WEA) system. This system will be used as the backup ANS for the State of Iowas portion of the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone. The Alert Iowa IPAWS/WEA system has greater than 99.9 percent availability and covers 100 percent of the geographical area. In addition, Iowa will notify the public via their Electronic Telephone Notification System which also reaches members of the public that do not have IPAWS/WEA capable devices. This backup ANS system provides the added benefit that it can and will be triggered for all events in conjunction with the primary ANS, which remains the site-owned siren system and Emergency Alert System messaging.
Per Section III, Paragraph 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regarding Radiological Emergencies, Planning, and Preparedness, which was signed on November 19, 20153:
FEMA coordinates all Federal planning for offsite impact of radiological emergencies and takes the lead for assessing offsite radiological emergency response plans and preparedness, makes findings and determinations as to the adequacy and capability of implementing offsite plans, and communicates those findings and determinations to the NRC. The NRC reviews FEMA's findings and determinations in conjunction with the NRC onsite findings for the purpose of making determinations on the overall state of 1 NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML23018A160 2 ADAMS Accession No. ML23018A161 3 ADAMS Accession No. ML15344A371 January 25, 2023
D. Penn 2
emergency preparedness. These overall findings and determinations are used by the NRC to make radiological health and safety decisions in the issuance of licenses and the continued operation of licensed utilization facility to include taking enforcement actions such as notices of violations, civil penalties, orders, or shutdown of operating reactors.
This delineation of responsibilities avoids duplicative efforts by the NRC in preparedness matters.
Consistent with the roles of each agency, as set forth in the MOU, the NRC conducted a review of FEMAs findings. To aid its review, the NRC utilized the evaluation criteria and sample template presented by FEMA during the NRCs 2019 Annual Emergency Preparedness Stakeholder Meeting4. The NRC review focused on the applicable requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50, Appendix E,Section IV.D.3. The NRC found that the ANS Evaluation Report, which was attached to your letter, contained sufficient information, and upon review the NRC did not identify any licensing basis concerns.
In conclusion, the NRC accepts FEMAs findings that the updated Quad Cities Generating Station ANS Evaluation Report meets the applicable requirements in 10 CFR 50, Appendix E, Section IV.D.3, and enables the NRC to make a finding of reasonable assurance for public health and safety.
Please feel free to contact my staff, Michael McCoppin, Chief, Policy and Oversight Branch at (301) 415-6533 or at michael.mccoppin@nrc.gov, if you have questions.
Sincerely, Kathryn M. Brock, Director Division of Preparedness and Response Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response 4 ADAMS Accession No. ML19339G862 Signed by Brock, Kathryn on 01/25/23
ML23018A159; Ltr ML23023A047 OFFICE NSIR/DPR/POB NSIR/DPR NAME MMcCoppin KBrock DATE Jan 23, 2023 Jan 25, 2023