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WEST BRANCH CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION                                 7 NEW CITY N Y   10M6 February'g, {S84 j                   pq Hon. WW       [                                         *-Qh~?
WEST BRANCH CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION 7
                                                                  ~
NEW CITY N Y 10M6 February'g, {S84 pq j
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555                    Docket Nos.50-247-SP 50-286-SP Dear Commissioner You may have learned that Rockland County is con-sidering rejoining the three other counties around the Indian Point generating station to work on common evacuation plans. It is not clear on the face of it why that is now being considered. Essentially it has found that New York State is no better than FEMA in evaluating Rockland's pre-paredness. Also, the State has not called for any real drill depending on " exercises."
Hon. WW
Rockland's people in charge of preparedness want to have some real drills and to train its own people, now that the State's capability, or lack of same, has been demonstra-ted. Rockland's preparedness " actors" have stated that they do not want the drill times and dates publicised in advance.
[
*-Qh~?
~
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Docket Nos.50-247-SP Washington, D.C. 20555 50-286-SP Dear Commissioner You may have learned that Rockland County is con-sidering rejoining the three other counties around the Indian Point generating station to work on common evacuation plans.
It is not clear on the face of it why that is now being considered.
Essentially it has found that New York State is no better than FEMA in evaluating Rockland's pre-paredness. Also, the State has not called for any real drill depending on " exercises."
Rockland's people in charge of preparedness want to have some real drills and to train its own people, now that the State's capability, or lack of same, has been demonstra-ted.
Rockland's preparedness " actors" have stated that they do not want the drill times and dates publicised in advance.
They want to_ drill the new road plan. Especially since it has not been tried. Previously the Parsons /Brinkerhoff plan was the be-all and end-all and Rockland flatly rejected it.
They want to_ drill the new road plan. Especially since it has not been tried. Previously the Parsons /Brinkerhoff plan was the be-all and end-all and Rockland flatly rejected it.
During the ASLB hearings several police chiefs and highway department personnel from Rockland testified. The ASLB has waved aside their corrections and asserted that the witnesses were not." experts." We. point this out to you to suggest that the ASLB errs in denigrating the testimony of those who are charged with the daily responsibility of safety and law en-forcement.
During the ASLB hearings several police chiefs and highway department personnel from Rockland testified. The ASLB has waved aside their corrections and asserted that the witnesses were not." experts." We. point this out to you to suggest that the ASLB errs in denigrating the testimony of those who are charged with the daily responsibility of safety and law en-forcement.
In the last two years very little has changer or improved in preparedness. No one has ever seen any prote       ve clothing or masks. Low grade dosimeters are now available out not distributed.
In the last two years very little has changer or improved in preparedness. No one has ever seen any prote ve clothing or masks. Low grade dosimeters are now available out not distributed.
8402000184 840202                                                                 #
8402000184 840202 PDR ADOCK 05000247 0
PDR 0    ADOCK 05000247 PDR
PDR
,'                                                                                                            }                     3
}
3
-1


While the power company issued plan calls for a 10 mile EPZ, and the Staff mentioned at the ASLB hearings that the distance'might~be reduced to two or five miles, the officials in Rockland prefer that the whole County be the EPZ. The reason is that the plans for traffic control along the 10 mile perimeter are poor, and mostly non-existent.     Rockland points out that the blidt on the lights on route 59, which
While the power company issued plan calls for a 10 mile EPZ, and the Staff mentioned at the ASLB hearings that the distance'might~be reduced to two or five miles, the officials in Rockland prefer that the whole County be the EPZ. The reason is that the plans for traffic control along the 10 mile perimeter are poor, and mostly non-existent.
      - is the main east-west artery, are set for orange in the east-west direction and red in the north-south direction.
Rockland points out that the blidt on the lights on route 59, which is the main east-west artery, are set for orange in the east-west direction and red in the north-south direction.
They cannot be changed by a policeman's key. He can only turn the signal from its customary pattern to whatever blink pattern is pr.ogrammed into it. Nor are the signal lights in Rockland connected to remote controls. For these reasons, police chiefs have told us that more than one officer is needed at any major intersection.
They cannot be changed by a policeman's key. He can only turn the signal from its customary pattern to whatever blink pattern is pr.ogrammed into it.
Nor are the signal lights in Rockland connected to remote controls.
For these reasons, police chiefs have told us that more than one officer is needed at any major intersection.
When the State Plan calls for aid from the New York State police, as it does in many subsections, it has not totalled the number that Rockland would need.
When the State Plan calls for aid from the New York State police, as it does in many subsections, it has not totalled the number that Rockland would need.
In fact, there is a paucity of information as to how many volunteers would be needed plus other emergency workers.
In fact, there is a paucity of information as to how many volunteers would be needed plus other emergency workers.
                      ~
~
West Branch Conservation Association (WBCA) attempted to elicit from Parsons /Brinkerhoff some ball park figure as to how many workers would be needed in the event of an evac-ation, on cross examination during the hearings before the
West Branch Conservation Association (WBCA) attempted to elicit from Parsons /Brinkerhoff some ball park figure as to how many workers would be needed in the event of an evac-ation, on cross examination during the hearings before the
        .ASLB. No one has addressed the issue and provided any answer to that inquiry. Where else would plans be made, by business like people, without knowing the personnel numbers. Imagine an Army setting out without counting its troops!
.ASLB.
Aditionally Rockland is still without sufficient monitor-ing teams to measure radiation in the field should a plume
No one has addressed the issue and provided any answer to that inquiry.
.        be headed its way. Nor did the State plan call for enough teams.
Where else would plans be made, by business like people, without knowing the personnel numbers. Imagine an Army setting out without counting its troops!
This winter we had a 1h inch snow and ice storm causing the police to close Central Highway due to ice. It is an evacuation route in ERPA 31 on the latest State map.
Aditionally Rockland is still without sufficient monitor-ing teams to measure radiation in the field should a plume be headed its way.
_ _ _ _ - _ _                                     I
Nor did the State plan call for enough teams.
This winter we had a 1h inch snow and ice storm causing the police to close Central Highway due to ice. It is an evacuation route in ERPA 31 on the latest State map. _ _ _ _ - _ _
I


            . r                                                                                                   l There is no school evacuation plan to date. Agreements with bus companies are out-of-date and do not provide for drivers.         The bus study is not yet complete.
. r There is no school evacuation plan to date. Agreements with bus companies are out-of-date and do not provide for drivers.
The North Rockland schools use one central switch no matter which school is called.           If the telephone trees were
The bus study is not yet complete.
The North Rockland schools use one central switch no matter which school is called.
If the telephone trees were started and interrupted it would be near impossible for a
~
~
started and interrupted it would be near impossible for a call to be placed to the school to advise it. On an ordinary day parents and people having business with North Rockland schools have to wait uncommonly long, 15 or 20 minutes to reach a free line.         The phone system in North Rockland is primitive and this was so attested at the ASLB hearings.
call to be placed to the school to advise it.
A recent test of the early-go-home plan in Westchester County revealed 53% of the telephones were unanswered. A number which surely does not suggest that such a plan is workable.         Both FEMA and the State are aware that there are no plans for the school childrens' care in Rockland. No clear agreement has been reached with teachers about their respon-cibilities in the event of an evacuation.
On an ordinary day parents and people having business with North Rockland schools have to wait uncommonly long, 15 or 20 minutes to reach a free line.
The phone system in North Rockland is primitive and this was so attested at the ASLB hearings.
A recent test of the early-go-home plan in Westchester County revealed 53% of the telephones were unanswered. A number which surely does not suggest that such a plan is workable.
Both FEMA and the State are aware that there are no plans for the school childrens' care in Rockland. No clear agreement has been reached with teachers about their respon-cibilities in the event of an evacuation.
Sheltering is not an option in Rockland and WBCA and others so testified ad nauseam in the ASLB hearings. We cross examined witnesses Donald Davidoff and L. Czech as to what figures they could offer stating that basements were available in raised ranch houses and others in Rockland.
Sheltering is not an option in Rockland and WBCA and others so testified ad nauseam in the ASLB hearings. We cross examined witnesses Donald Davidoff and L. Czech as to what figures they could offer stating that basements were available in raised ranch houses and others in Rockland.
They could only supply us with "the national average,"
They could only supply us with "the national average,"
Clearly taking nothing into account about local conditions.
Clearly taking nothing into account about local conditions.
Yet on every occasion of exercise summaries and press conferences FEMA and New York State officials continue to refer to sheltering as an option.
Yet on every occasion of exercise summaries and press conferences FEMA and New York State officials continue to l
l l                        This past summer Rockland County's Chairman's office made a study of the listed shelters left over from Civil Defense days and found most of them useless, either full of stores or otherwise now occupied and not in accordance with EPA standards.           Copies were sent to FEMA who brushed it off.
refer to sheltering as an option.
h 4
l This past summer Rockland County's Chairman's office made a study of the listed shelters left over from Civil Defense days and found most of them useless, either full of stores or otherwise now occupied and not in accordance with EPA standards.
    - . - ,    . . -        . , - . . _.      ,  n. .    ,
Copies were sent to FEMA who brushed it off.
. h 4
n.


WBCA does not wish to relitigate the hearings in this letter. What we are trying to do is to show you how little prepared we are in Rockland County and why.
WBCA does not wish to relitigate the hearings in this letter. What we are trying to do is to show you how little prepared we are in Rockland County and why.
We have no money to spare to pay our employees that need to take time off to attend to evacuation preparedness.
We have no money to spare to pay our employees that need to take time off to attend to evacuation preparedness.
To try to push it off, as the utlities do, as ordinary planning which Rockland should be doing anyway, is not aceeptable.                                                                                                 Snow Day is exceptionally rare. Mr. Scharf testified that Clarkstown had not sent children home from school in eight years. The person to whom one might send children while the parents are at work is not necessarily the same. person one would choose to care for a child in the event evacuation was the scenario. A neighbor can let a child in during a snow storm but not necessarily even have a car to evacuate to a relocation center.
To try to push it off, as the utlities do, as ordinary planning which Rockland should be doing anyway, is not aceeptable.
Snow Day is exceptionally rare. Mr. Scharf testified that Clarkstown had not sent children home from school in eight years.
The person to whom one might send children while the parents are at work is not necessarily the same. person one would choose to care for a child in the event evacuation was the scenario.
A neighbor can let a child in during a snow storm but not necessarily even have a car to evacuate to a relocation center.
The Chairman of the Legislature of Rockland County has repeatedly stated and testified that he does not believe that the majority of the people could be evacuated from Rockland County.
The Chairman of the Legislature of Rockland County has repeatedly stated and testified that he does not believe that the majority of the people could be evacuated from Rockland County.
During all this Indian Point #3 has been shut down for vcrious failures which do not inspire our confidence.
During all this Indian Point #3 has been shut down for vcrious failures which do not inspire our confidence.
Nor does Indian Point #2's shutting off of a valve for the spray cooling system going unnoticed for a month in 1983 bolster confidence.
Nor does Indian Point #2's shutting off of a valve for the spray cooling system going unnoticed for a month in 1983 bolster confidence.
The disabled are still way out of the picture of safety.                                                                             The return cards on the brochures were a flop.
The disabled are still way out of the picture of safety.
The return cards on the brochures were a flop.
WBCA so stated at their inception in February, 1982.
WBCA so stated at their inception in February, 1982.
We are still shouting and no one will listen about the EBS broadcast coming on FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE SIRENS.                                                                             Why the drag? What if the message was repeated?
We are still shouting and no one will listen about the EBS broadcast coming on FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE SIRENS.
s        Many people can get to their radios in less than 5 min-utes. They will get to their phones and start calling asking if the siren is evacuation or fire, and what to do and a million other ways to clog the phone lines.
Why the drag? What if the message was repeated?
FEMA says it's 0.K.                                                                                               Does the NRC? Why the delay?
Many people can get to their radios in less than 5 min-s utes. They will get to their phones and start calling asking if the siren is evacuation or fire, and what to do and a million other ways to clog the phone lines.
FEMA says it's 0.K.
Does the NRC? Why the delay?
_ /, _
_ /, _


b i .
b i
t
t
(
(


==SUMMARY==
==SUMMARY==
Rockland County is not prepared.
Rockland County is not prepared.
It-has no school plan in. place.
It-has no school plan in. place.
Line 82: Line 107:
The disabled and partially impaired that have no one on whom to depend have not been tallied.
The disabled and partially impaired that have no one on whom to depend have not been tallied.
Most of the citizens on Rockland's Citizens Advisory Committee dropped out of the planning leaving it to the agency personnel who work for the County.
Most of the citizens on Rockland's Citizens Advisory Committee dropped out of the planning leaving it to the agency personnel who work for the County.
Knowing all the above, the NRC and FEMA continue to fail to enforce 50.47 and NUREG-0654 Rev. 1. The people of Rockland County have become completely cynical about the plans.       They don't care what they are told to do, they say, they will do whatever they want - and most say that is to get into their cars and flee, or to stay put and keep out of the plume's path as much as their homes provide, which is to say, perhaps die in comfort rather than on the road!
Knowing all the above, the NRC and FEMA continue to fail to enforce 50.47 and NUREG-0654 Rev. 1.
The people of Rockland County have become completely cynical about the plans.
They don't care what they are told to do, they say, they will do whatever they want - and most say that is to get into their cars and flee, or to stay put and keep out of the plume's path as much as their homes provide, which is to say, perhaps die in comfort rather than on the road!
In any event, with or without the speculation as to what the people will do, you are charged with their safety and your are not fulfilling that responsibility.
In any event, with or without the speculation as to what the people will do, you are charged with their safety and your are not fulfilling that responsibility.
Sincerely yours, hfxvth       N olpporah S. Fleisher xc: NRC Commissioners                                                                                               Secretary Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman N.Y. Legislators Hon. Daniel P. Moyniha
Sincerely yours, hfxvth N
                                                                                                                          ~  ~
olpporah S. Fleisher xc: NRC Commissioners Secretary Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman N.Y. Legislators Hon. Daniel P. Moyniha
Hon. Alfonse D'Amato                                                                                                             ,
~
                                                                                                                                                      ;}}
Hon. Alfonse D'Amato
~
;}}

Latest revision as of 01:53, 14 December 2024

Charges Commission W/Failure to Fulfill Responsibility of Assuring Public Safety in Event of Emergency Evacuation. Shelters Useless,Disabled,Forgotten & Plan Sadly Deficient
ML20086L315
Person / Time
Site: Indian Point  Entergy icon.png
Issue date: 02/03/1984
From: Fleisher Z
WEST BRANCH CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
To:
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
ISSUANCES-SP, NUDOCS 8402080184
Download: ML20086L315 (5)
v • d • e


Text

. __

WEST BRANCH CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION 7

NEW CITY N Y 10M6 February'g, {S84 pq j

Hon. WW

[

  • -Qh~?

~

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Docket Nos.50-247-SP Washington, D.C. 20555 50-286-SP Dear Commissioner You may have learned that Rockland County is con-sidering rejoining the three other counties around the Indian Point generating station to work on common evacuation plans.

It is not clear on the face of it why that is now being considered.

Essentially it has found that New York State is no better than FEMA in evaluating Rockland's pre-paredness. Also, the State has not called for any real drill depending on " exercises."

Rockland's people in charge of preparedness want to have some real drills and to train its own people, now that the State's capability, or lack of same, has been demonstra-ted.

Rockland's preparedness " actors" have stated that they do not want the drill times and dates publicised in advance.

They want to_ drill the new road plan. Especially since it has not been tried. Previously the Parsons /Brinkerhoff plan was the be-all and end-all and Rockland flatly rejected it.

During the ASLB hearings several police chiefs and highway department personnel from Rockland testified. The ASLB has waved aside their corrections and asserted that the witnesses were not." experts." We. point this out to you to suggest that the ASLB errs in denigrating the testimony of those who are charged with the daily responsibility of safety and law en-forcement.

In the last two years very little has changer or improved in preparedness. No one has ever seen any prote ve clothing or masks. Low grade dosimeters are now available out not distributed.

8402000184 840202 PDR ADOCK 05000247 0

PDR

}

3

-1

While the power company issued plan calls for a 10 mile EPZ, and the Staff mentioned at the ASLB hearings that the distance'might~be reduced to two or five miles, the officials in Rockland prefer that the whole County be the EPZ. The reason is that the plans for traffic control along the 10 mile perimeter are poor, and mostly non-existent.

Rockland points out that the blidt on the lights on route 59, which is the main east-west artery, are set for orange in the east-west direction and red in the north-south direction.

They cannot be changed by a policeman's key. He can only turn the signal from its customary pattern to whatever blink pattern is pr.ogrammed into it.

Nor are the signal lights in Rockland connected to remote controls.

For these reasons, police chiefs have told us that more than one officer is needed at any major intersection.

When the State Plan calls for aid from the New York State police, as it does in many subsections, it has not totalled the number that Rockland would need.

In fact, there is a paucity of information as to how many volunteers would be needed plus other emergency workers.

~

West Branch Conservation Association (WBCA) attempted to elicit from Parsons /Brinkerhoff some ball park figure as to how many workers would be needed in the event of an evac-ation, on cross examination during the hearings before the

.ASLB.

No one has addressed the issue and provided any answer to that inquiry.

Where else would plans be made, by business like people, without knowing the personnel numbers. Imagine an Army setting out without counting its troops!

Aditionally Rockland is still without sufficient monitor-ing teams to measure radiation in the field should a plume be headed its way.

Nor did the State plan call for enough teams.

This winter we had a 1h inch snow and ice storm causing the police to close Central Highway due to ice. It is an evacuation route in ERPA 31 on the latest State map. _ _ _ _ - _ _

I

. r There is no school evacuation plan to date. Agreements with bus companies are out-of-date and do not provide for drivers.

The bus study is not yet complete.

The North Rockland schools use one central switch no matter which school is called.

If the telephone trees were started and interrupted it would be near impossible for a

~

call to be placed to the school to advise it.

On an ordinary day parents and people having business with North Rockland schools have to wait uncommonly long, 15 or 20 minutes to reach a free line.

The phone system in North Rockland is primitive and this was so attested at the ASLB hearings.

A recent test of the early-go-home plan in Westchester County revealed 53% of the telephones were unanswered. A number which surely does not suggest that such a plan is workable.

Both FEMA and the State are aware that there are no plans for the school childrens' care in Rockland. No clear agreement has been reached with teachers about their respon-cibilities in the event of an evacuation.

Sheltering is not an option in Rockland and WBCA and others so testified ad nauseam in the ASLB hearings. We cross examined witnesses Donald Davidoff and L. Czech as to what figures they could offer stating that basements were available in raised ranch houses and others in Rockland.

They could only supply us with "the national average,"

Clearly taking nothing into account about local conditions.

Yet on every occasion of exercise summaries and press conferences FEMA and New York State officials continue to l

refer to sheltering as an option.

l This past summer Rockland County's Chairman's office made a study of the listed shelters left over from Civil Defense days and found most of them useless, either full of stores or otherwise now occupied and not in accordance with EPA standards.

Copies were sent to FEMA who brushed it off.

. h 4

n.

WBCA does not wish to relitigate the hearings in this letter. What we are trying to do is to show you how little prepared we are in Rockland County and why.

We have no money to spare to pay our employees that need to take time off to attend to evacuation preparedness.

To try to push it off, as the utlities do, as ordinary planning which Rockland should be doing anyway, is not aceeptable.

Snow Day is exceptionally rare. Mr. Scharf testified that Clarkstown had not sent children home from school in eight years.

The person to whom one might send children while the parents are at work is not necessarily the same. person one would choose to care for a child in the event evacuation was the scenario.

A neighbor can let a child in during a snow storm but not necessarily even have a car to evacuate to a relocation center.

The Chairman of the Legislature of Rockland County has repeatedly stated and testified that he does not believe that the majority of the people could be evacuated from Rockland County.

During all this Indian Point #3 has been shut down for vcrious failures which do not inspire our confidence.

Nor does Indian Point #2's shutting off of a valve for the spray cooling system going unnoticed for a month in 1983 bolster confidence.

The disabled are still way out of the picture of safety.

The return cards on the brochures were a flop.

WBCA so stated at their inception in February, 1982.

We are still shouting and no one will listen about the EBS broadcast coming on FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE SIRENS.

Why the drag? What if the message was repeated?

Many people can get to their radios in less than 5 min-s utes. They will get to their phones and start calling asking if the siren is evacuation or fire, and what to do and a million other ways to clog the phone lines.

FEMA says it's 0.K.

Does the NRC? Why the delay?

_ /, _

b i

t

(

SUMMARY

Rockland County is not prepared.

It-has no school plan in. place.

Bus plans are not yet in place.

Bus drivers have not been trained and have not promised to arrive. Some work at other jobs and would not even be near the bus depots.

Rockland's ambulance corps want to have real drills.

Sheltering is not an option.

No one can say how many volunteers and other personnel are needed and are available.

The disabled and partially impaired that have no one on whom to depend have not been tallied.

Most of the citizens on Rockland's Citizens Advisory Committee dropped out of the planning leaving it to the agency personnel who work for the County.

Knowing all the above, the NRC and FEMA continue to fail to enforce 50.47 and NUREG-0654 Rev. 1.

The people of Rockland County have become completely cynical about the plans.

They don't care what they are told to do, they say, they will do whatever they want - and most say that is to get into their cars and flee, or to stay put and keep out of the plume's path as much as their homes provide, which is to say, perhaps die in comfort rather than on the road!

In any event, with or without the speculation as to what the people will do, you are charged with their safety and your are not fulfilling that responsibility.

Sincerely yours, hfxvth N

olpporah S. Fleisher xc: NRC Commissioners Secretary Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman N.Y. Legislators Hon. Daniel P. Moyniha

~

Hon. Alfonse D'Amato

~

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