ML111320320

FEMA South Texas Project Medical Services Final Exercise Report, Exercise Date - March 17, 2011

ML111320320
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	05/06/2011
From:	Hammond L R Federal Emergency Management Agency
To:	Collins E E NRC Region 4
cecere, Bethany NSIR/DPR 415-6754
References
Download: ML111320320 (55)

Text

South Texas Project Drill Date - March 17, 2011 Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program After Action Report/

Improvement Plan Published May 02, 2011 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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South Texas Project After Action Report/Improvement Plan Published May 02, 2011 Contents Executive Summary 3 Section 1: Exercise Overview 4 1.1 Exercise Details 4 1.2 Exercise Planning Team Leadership 4 1.3 Participating Organizations 5 Section 2: Exercise Design Summary 6 2.1 Exercise Purpose and Design 6 2.2 Exercise Objectives, Capabilities and Activities 6 2.3 Scenario Summary 6 Section 3: Analysis of Capabilities 7 3.1 Drill Evaluation and Results 7 3.2 Summary Results of Drill Evaluation 7 3.3 Criteria Evaluation Summaries 10 3.3.1 Support Jurisdictions 10 3.3.1.1 Matagorda Regional Medical Center 10 3.3.2 Private Organizations 11 3.3.2.1 Matagorda County EMS 11 Section 4: Conclusion 13 Appendix A: Improvement Plan 14 Appendix B: Best Practices 15 Appendix C: Drill Evaluators and Team Leaders 16 Appendix D: Acronyms and Abbreviations 17 Appendix E: Exercise Plan 18 1 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

On March 17, 2011, an out-of-sequence medical drill was conducted for the South Texas Project (STP) located near Wadsworth, Matagorda County, Texas. Personnel from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA), Region VI, evaluated the drill. The purpose was to assess the level of preparedness of state and local responders to react to a simulated radiological emergency at STP. The previous medical drill at this site was conducted February 25, 2009.

Personnel from the Texas Department of State Health Services, STP, Matagorda County Emergency Medical Services, and Matagorda Regional Medical Center participated in the drill.

Evaluation Areas demonstrated included: Emergency Operations Management, Protective Action Implementation, and Support Operations/Facilities. Cooperation and teamwork of all the participants was evident during this drill, and DHS/FEMA wishes to acknowledge these efforts.

This report contains the final written evaluation of this out-of-sequence drill. The participants demonstrated knowledge of their emergency response plans and procedures and adequately implemented them. There were no Deficiencies, no Area Requiring Corrective Actions (ARCA), and one Plan Issues identified as a result of this drill.

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SECTION 1: EXERCISE OVERVIEW

1.1 Exercise

Details Exercise Name South Texas Project Type of Exercise Drill Exercise Date March 17, 2011 Program Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Scenario Type Radiological Emergency

1.2 Exercise

Planning Team Leadership Lisa Hammond RAC Chair FEMA Region VI Technological Hazards Branch Cheif 800 Norht Loop 288 Denton, Texas, 76209 940-898-5199 lisa.hammond@dhs.gov Nan Calhoun Federal Planning Team Lead FEMA Region VI Technological Hazards Program Specialist 800 North Loop 288 4 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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Denton, Texas, 76209 940-898-5398 nan.calhoun@dhs.gov Rae Walker State Planning Team Lead Texas Department of State Health Services Emergency Planner P.O. Box 149347 Austin, Texas, 78714 512-834-6770 rae.walker@dshs.state.tx.us Vivian Wagnon Utility Planning Team Lead South Texas Project Emergency Planner P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, Texas, 77483 361-972-8948 vtwagnon@stpegs.com

1.3 Participating

Organizations Agencies and organizations of the following jurisdictions participated in the South Texas Project drill:

State Jurisdictions Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control Program Support Jurisdictions Matagorda Regional Medical Center Private Organizations South Texas Project Electric Generating Station Matagorda County Emergency Medical Services 5 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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SECTION 2: EXERCISE DESIGN

SUMMARY

2.1 Exercise

Purpose and Design The DHS/FEMA Region VI Office evaluated the drill on March 17, 2011 to assess the capabilities of local emergency preparedness organizations in implementing their Radiological Emergency Response Plans and procedures to protect the public health and safety during a radiological emergency involving the South Texas Project (STP). The purpose of this report is to present the results and findings on the performance of the offsite response organizations during a simulated radiological emergency.

2.2 Exercise

Objectives, Capabilities and Activities Exercise objectives and identified Capabilities/REP Criteria selected to be exercised are discussed in the Exercise Plan (EXPLAN), Appendix E.

2.3 Scenario

Summary The drill scenario was developed to evaluate the response of drill participants to an incident at the South Texas Project requiring the transportation, treatment and decontamination of a radiologically contaminated injured individual. The drill scenario provided for the evaluation of the Matagorda County Emergency Medical Services and Matagorda Regional Medical Center staff. 6 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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SECTION 3: ANALYSIS OF CAPABILITIES

3.1 Drill

Evaluation and Results Contained in this section are the results and findings of the evaluation of all jurisdictions and functional entities that participated in the March 17, 2011 drill to test the offsite emergency response capabilities of state and local governments in the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) surrounding the South Texas Project (STP).

Each jurisdiction and functional entity was evaluated on its demonstration of criteria contained in the exercise evaluation areas as outlined in the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 80, "FEMA-Radiological Emergency Preparedness: Evaluation Methodology" (April 25, 2002). Detailed information on the exercise evaluation area criteria and the extent of play agreements used in this drill is included as an appendix to this report.

3.2 Summary

Results of Drill Evaluation The matrix presented in Table 3.1, on the following page, presents the status of all exercise evaluation area criteria that were scheduled for demonstration during the drill by all participating jurisdictions and functional entities. Exercise criteria are listed by number and the demonstration status is indicated by the use of the following letters:

M - Met (No Deficiency or Areas Requiring Corrective Actions [ARCAs] assessed and no unresolved ARCAs from prior exercises)

D - Deficiency assessed A - ARCA(s) assessed or unresolved ARCA(s) from prior exercise(s)

N - Not Demonstrated P - Plan Issue 7 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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Table 3.1 - Summary of Drill Evaluation DATE: 2011-03-17 SITE: South Texas Project, TX M: Met, A: ARCA, D: Deficiency, P: Plan Issue, N: Not Demonstrated Matagorda County EMS Matagorda Regional Medical Center Emergency Operations Management Mobilization 1a1 Facilities 1b1 Direction and Control 1c1 Communications Equipment 1d1 Equip & Supplies to support operations 1e1 M M Protective Action Decision Making Emergency Worker Exposure Control 2a1 Radiological Assessment and PARs 2b1 Decisions for the Plume Phase -PADs 2b2 PADs for protection of special populations 2c1 Rad Assessment and Decision making for the Ingestion Exposure Pathway 2d1 Rad Assessment and Decision making concerning Relocation, Reentry, and Return 2e1 Protective Action Implementation Implementation of emergency worker exposure control 3a1 M M Implementation of KI decision 3b1 Implementation of protective actions for special populations - EOCs 3c1 Implementation of protective actions for Schools 3c2 Implementation of traffic and access control 3d1 Impediments to evacuation are identified and resolved 3d2 Implementation of ingestion pathway decisions - availability/use of info 3e1 Materials for Ingestion Pathway PADs are available 3e2 Implementation of relocation, re-entry, and return decisions.

3f1 Field Measurement and Analysis Adequate Equipment for Plume Phase Field Measurements 4a1 Field Teams obtain sufficient information 4a2 Field Teams Manage Sample Collection Appropriately 4a3 Post plume phase field measurements and sampling 4b1 Laboratory operations 4c1 Emergency Notification and Public Info Activation of the prompt alert and notification system 5a1 Activation of the prompt alert and notification system - Fast Breaker 5a2 Activation of the prompt alert and notification system - Exception areas 5a3 Emergency information and instructions for the public and the media 5b1 Support Operations/Facilities Mon / decon of evacuees and emergency workers, and registration of evacuees 6a1 Mon / decon of emergency worker equipment 6b1 Temporary care of evacuees 6c1 8 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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Transportation and treatment of contaminated injured individuals 6d1 M P 9 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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a.b.c.d.3.3 Criteria Evaluation Summaries

3.3.1 Support

Jurisdictions 3.3.1.1 Matagorda Regional Medical Center MET: 1.e.1, 3.a.1.

AREAS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION: None DEFICIENCY: None PLAN ISSUES: 6.d.1.

ISSUE NO.: 60-11-6d1-P-01 CRITERION: Facility/ORO has the appropriate space, adequate resources, and trained personnel to provide transport, monitoring, decontamination, and medical services to contaminated injured individuals. (NUREG-0654, F.2., H.10., K.5.a.b., L.1., 4) CONDITION: According to the hospital plan, contamination is considered to be any reading of 300 cpm above background. A background reading was taken by the Control Point Attendant in accordance with plans. This background reading was not documented on any log or form, nor was it shared with the RPT when he arrived.

The plan does not include instructions to document the background reading. If contamination is determined to be 300 cpm above background, without knowing what background is, there is no way to determine what the corrected counts would be and no way to determine what readings would exceed the 300 cpm above background.

POSSIBLE CAUSE: The hospital plan includes direction to take a background reading, but does not include instructions for documenting the reading so that it can be used in determining corrected counts and contamination thresholds. In addition, the controller provided corrected counts to the Radiation Protection Technician (RPT) without first requiring the RPT to do the calculation, subtracting out the background reading, to get corrected counts.

REFERENCE:

NUREG-0654, F.2; H.10; K.5.a, b; L.1, 4 10 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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e.f.g.a.b.c.d.e.f. EFFECT: The RPT would not be able to accurately identify contamination without doing the calculation to subtract out background before conducting patient survey and decontamination.

RECOMMENDATION: Add language in the hospital plan that requires the Control Point Attendant to document the background reading taken on the Patient Data Sheet.

Include a place on the Patient Data Sheet for documentation of background radiation readings. NOT DEMONSTRATED: None PRIOR ISSUES - RESOLVED: 1.e.1.

ISSUE NO.: 60-09-1e1-A-01 ISSUE: The survey meters staged for use did not have a range of readings sticker affixed indicating the appropriate range of readings to be observed during source check of the meters. The range of readings sticker is required to verify that the meters were measuring correctly prior to use.

CORRECTIVE ACTION DEMONSTRATED: The survey meters did not display a range-of-readings sticker; however, the operational check source had an upper and lower range documented.

PRIOR ISSUES - UNRESOLVED: None

3.3.2 Private

Organizations 3.3.2.1 Matagorda County EMS MET: 1.e.1, 3.a.1, 6.d.1.

AREAS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION: None DEFICIENCY: None PLAN ISSUES: None NOT DEMONSTRATED: None PRIOR ISSUES - RESOLVED: None 11 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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g.PRIOR ISSUES - UNRESOLVED: None 12 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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SECTION 4: CONCLUSION Based on the results of the drill, the offsite radiological emergency response plans and preparedness for the State of Texas and the affected local jurisdictions are deemed adequate to provide reasonable assurance that appropriate measures can be taken to protect the health and safety of the public in the event of a radiological emergency. Therefore, 44 CFR Part 350 approval of the offsite radiological emergency response plans and preparedness for the State of Texas site-specific to STP will remain in effect.

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APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN Issue Number: 60-11-6d1-P-01 Criterion: 6d1 ISSUE: According to the hospital plan, contamination is considered to be any reading of 300 cpm above background. A background reading was taken by the Control Point Attendant in accordance with plans. This background reading was not documented on any log or form, nor was it shared with the RPT when he arrived. The plan does not include instructions to document the background reading. If contamination is determined to be 300 cpm above background, without knowing what background is, there is no way to determine what the corrected counts would be and no way to determine what readings would exceed the 300 cpm above background.

RECOMMENDATION:

Add language in the hospital plan that requires the Control Point Attendant to document the background reading taken on the Patient Data Sheet. Include a place on the Patient Data Sheet for documentation of background radiation readings.

CORRECTIVE ACTION DESCRIPTION:

The plan will be updated to include a place on the Patient Data Sheet for documentation of background readings.

CAPABILITY:

Medical Surge PRIMARY RESPONSIBLE AGENCY:

Matagorda County Emergency Management CAPABILITY ELEMENT:

Planning START DATE:

2011-03-17 AGENCY POC:

Doug Matthes 979-244-6801 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE:

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APPENDIX B: BEST PRACTICES

1. Set up of the Radiation Control Area (REA)

Summary: The Emergency Room (ER) Charge Nurse verified the proper set up of the REA using a binder filled with photos depicting the proper set up of the REA.

Description:

Proper set up of the REA is of high importance to the hospital staff. As an added measure to assure proper set up, the Charge Nurse keeps a book of photographs of correct REA set up. Upon completion of set up of the REA by the hospital engineering team, the Charge Nurse verified proper set up by inspecting the REA against the photographs. This additional step is beyond requirements and is a very creative way to assure proper hospital preparedness of the REA prior to patient arrival.

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APPENDIX C: DRILL EVALUATORS AND TEAM LEADERS DATE: 2011-03-17, SITE: South Texas Project, TX LOCATION EVALUATOR AGENCY Matagorda Regional Medical Center

• Nan Calhoun Tim Pflieger DHS/FEMA DHS/FEMA Matagorda County EMS Linda Gee DHS/FEMA* Team Leader 16 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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APPENDIX D: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Acronym Meaning ARCA Area Requiring Corrective Actions BZ Buffer Zone CN Charge Nurse EMS Emergency Medical Services EPD Electronic Personal Dosimeter EPZ Emergency Planning Zone ER Emergency Room HPT Health Physics Technician mHz Megahertz MRMC Matagorda Regional Medical Center NTF Nuclear Training Facility PPE Personal Protective Equipment REA Radiation Emergency Area RPT Radiation Protection Technician STP South Texas Project TLD Thermoluminescent Dosimeter 17 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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APPENDIX E: EXERCISE PLAN 18 Unclassified Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

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