ML090420480

Ltr to the Honorable Andy Rash, Hood County Judge, Invite to Observe NRC Participation in a Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise Involving the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, 02/11/2009

ML090420480
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	02/11/2009
From:	Collins E Region 4 Administrator
To:	Rash A Hood County, TX
References
Download: ML090420480 (4)

Text

February 11, 2009 The Honorable Andy Rash Hood County Judge 100 East Pearl Street, Room 7 Granbury, TX 76048

Dear Judge Rash:

I am pleased to invite you to visit our office in Arlington on the morning of March 4 th to observe our participation in a radiological emergency preparedness (REP) exercise involving the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. The exercise observation will be followed by a working lunch in my office which will give us an opportunity to discuss our mutual needs and priorities for the upcoming Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant REP exercise. I have also invited Judge Maynard from Somervell County to attend as well as representatives of the Texas Department of State Health Services and Division of Emergency Management.

Although the NRC's response function is not tailored like that of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to achieve a broad spectrum of tasks, we take our role as the technical coordinating agency for nuclear power plant event response seriously and consider ourselves to be an essential element of the integrated response. Therefore, we make every effort to participate in REP exercises at power plants to the maximum extent of our resource and budgetary capabilities. Our last participation in a Comanche Peak exercise was in the fall of 2003. Because of the technical nature of the NRC's response activities, they may not be as easily understood as FEMA's logistical response role. I hope that by observing our activities during the Palo Verde exercise, you might be able to understand our response priorities and how to call on the NRC as a support resource for you to better achieve your own priorities. I also would welcome any comments and observations from your perspective as to how we can improve our support to the integrated response.

The enclosed is a tentative agenda of activities planned for March 4 th. One restriction I would like to make you aware of is the fact that cell phones, Blackberries, cameras and other recording or transmitting devices are not permitted in our incident response center while it is activated. I hope this does not present an unacceptable burden to you. If you can attend, please contact Mrs. Linda Howell, Chief of our Response Coordination Branch, at 817-860-8213 or by e-mail to Linda.howell@nrc.gov for more information.

Sincerely, /RA/ Elmo E. Collins Regional Administrator

Enclosure:

As statedUNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONREGION IV612 EAST LAMAR BLVD, SUITE 400ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4125 The Honorable Andy Rash cc w/enclosure : Chief, Technological Hazards Branch FEMA Region VI 800 North Loop 288 Federal Regional Center Denton, TX 76209-3698 Lisa.hammond@dhs.gov The Honorable Andy Rash bcc w/enclosure (via e-mail): Elmo.Collins@nrc.gov Chuck.Casto@nrc.gov Roy.Caniano@nrc.gov Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov Linda.Howell@nrc.gov Bill.Maier@nrc.gov Tom.Andrews@nrc.gov Beth.Alferink@nrc.gov Linda.McLean@nrc.gov

File located: s:\ras\!maier W\Invitation letter to Judge Rash 3-4-09.doc SUNSI Rev Compl. X Yes No ADAMS X Yes No Reviewer Initials wam Publicly Avail X Yes No Sensitive Yes X No Sens. Type Initials RIV:ORA:RSLO C:RCB DRA RA WAMaier LLHowell CACasto EECollins /RA/ /RA RDA for/ /RA/ /RA/

02/10/09 02/10/09 02/11/09 02/11/09 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax

AGENDA FOR PALO VERDE EXERCISE VISIT March 4, 2009 Time Activity Contact

8:45 a.m. Arrive at Region IV Phil Longdo 817-276-4499 9:00 a.m. Welcome Elmo Collins 817-860-8225

9:15 a.m. In-brief and tour of incident response center Linda Howell 817-917-1222 9:45 a.m. Observation of NRC response activities Linda Howell (approx.) 817-917-1222

12:00 p.m. Working lunch and discussion of Elmo Collins/ Comanche Peak exercise participation Troy Pruett/ Linda Howell 817-860-8225

1:00 p.m. Departure

Enclosure