Press Release-IV-09-019, NRC, FEMA to Hold Public Meetings on June 11 in Irving, Texas on Proposal to Amend Emergency Preparedness Requirements

Press Release-IV-09-019: NRC, FEMA to Hold Public Meetings on June 11 in Irving, Texas on Proposal to Amend Emergency Preparedness Requirements

ML091590220
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/04/2009
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-09-019
Download: ML091590220 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 Telephone: (817) 860-8128 No. IV-09-019 June 4, 2009 Contact: Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: (817) 860-8128 NRC, FEMA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON JUNE 11 IN IRVING, TEXAS ON PROPOSAL TO AMEND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS Staff from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will hold two public meetings on June 11, in Irving, Texas, to provide information on a proposed agency rule that would change emergency preparedness requirements for operating nuclear power plants, for any that might be licensed and built in the future, and for research and test reactors.

The meetings are scheduled for 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport Hotel, 4545 W. John Carpenter Freeway. NRC representatives will discuss changes included in the proposed rule and in the supporting emergency preparedness program guidance. FEMA representatives will present information on a proposed supplement to a joint FEMA/NRC document that addresses criteria for preparing and evaluating emergency response plans for nuclear power plants, and on a draft revision of the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Manual.

Developed over many years and with public input, the proposed NRC rule would limit the duties of a plants on-site emergency responders to ensure they are not overburdened during an emergency, and require specific provisions to protect them and other plant personnel during a hostile action event. In addition, the proposed rule would require all nuclear power plants to incorporate hostile action security scenarios in their drills and exercises, which at present focus primarily on nuclear safety-related scenarios. New requirements for back-up measures for alerting and notification systems are also included in the proposed rule.

Attendees are encouraged to read the documents associated with the proposed rule on http://www.regulations.gov (Docket Nos. NRC-2008-0122 and FEMA-2008-0022) prior to the meeting. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on May 18. It can be viewed at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10947.pdf.

Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by Aug. 3. Citizens can submit comments over the federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov; by e-mail to Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov; or by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff; or by fax to 301-492-3466.

Interested members of the public unable to attend the meetings may participate via toll-free teleconference or web conferencing. For details, call Annette Stang at 1-800-368-5642 or send an e-mail to: Emergencypreparedness.resource@nrc.gov no later than June 8.

NRC news releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html . The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.