ML24197A068

FEMA Ltr to Missouri State Emergency Management Agency - Level 1 Finding, 24 June 2024

ML24197A068
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	06/24/2024
From:	Spillars A US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VII
To:	Remillard J NRC Region 4, State of MO, Dept of Public Safety
References
Download: ML24197A068 (2)

Text

U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Region 7 11224 Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131 www.fema.gov June 24, 2024 James W. Remillard, Director Department of Public Safety State Emergency Management Agency 2302 Militia Drive Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Subject:

Notification of Level 1 Finding (Corrected), 2024 Cooper Nuclear Station Medical Services Drill Director Remillard:

In accordance with the REP Program Manual (RPM) dated December 2023, this letter serves as formal notification of a Level 1 Finding that was observed during the Medical Services Drill conducted on May 9, 2024. This drill was conducted Out Of Sequence in support of the 2024 Cooper Nuclear Station Biennial Plume Phase/Hostile Action Based Exercise conducted on May 21, 2024.

Drill participants included the Community Hospital-Fairfax, located in Fairfax, MO, and the Nodaway County Ambulance Service, located in Maryville, MO.

The RPM defines a Level 1 Finding as an observed or identified inadequacy of organizational performance in an assessment activity that could cause a finding that offsite emergency preparedness is not adequate to provide reasonable assurance that appropriate protective measures can be taken in the event of a radiological emergency to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant. The Level 1 Finding was observed for both participants in the Medical Services Drill and is summarized below.

Capability Target 5.3: Transportation and Treatment of Contaminated, Injured Individuals Condition: The Ludlum Model 26 monitoring instruments provided in the Community Hospital-Fairfax and Nodaway County Ambulance Service equipment kits did not have range of reading stickers affixed to document the acceptable range of readings when conducting a response check with the instruments. In addition, the accompanying certification of calibration documents in each kit did not match the instruments provided.

Possible Cause: The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) did not ensure proper calibration of the instruments, including accurate documentation, and did not ensure range of reading stickers were affixed to the instruments.

Effect: The hospital staff and ambulance crew did not have a calibrated meter to detect the presence of possible radiological contamination and were unable to operationally check the instrument against the provided test source. Without a proper instrument they could not adequately detect possible contamination on a patient, themselves, or their equipment. This could jeopardize the safety of the patient and the emergency workers.

ADAMS Accession # ML24197A068

www.fema.gov Per applicable plans and procedures, SEMA is responsible for calibration of the instruments and therefore is responsible to correct the Finding for both drill participants.

Following the drill, SEMA took immediate actions to begin correcting the observed issues. On June 17, 2024, SEMA presented the monitoring instruments for both locations to FEMA Region 7.

Regional staff verified that all the instruments had been calibrated, with appropriate documentation, and that range of reading stickers had been affixed to each. FEMA has determined that the Level 1 Finding has been corrected and is closed. A remedial exercise or demonstration is not required.

The 2024 Cooper Nuclear Station Biennial Exercise After Action Report will reflect the correction.

Please acknowledge receipt of this letter no later than July 15, 2024.

Your timely actions to correct this matter are sincerely appreciated. Please contact Thomas Morgan at Thomas.Morgan5@fema.dhs.gov or (816) 808-2756 for any additional information.

Sincerely, Andrea Spillars Regional Administrator FEMA Region 7 cc:

Tom Warnock, FEMA HQ Darren Bates, FEMA HQ Melissa Friel, SEMA Jeff Childs, SEMA Ryan Alexander, NRC Region IV Matthew Nee, NPPD Kim Tanner, NPPD ANDREA K SPILLARS Digitally signed by ANDREA K SPILLARS Date: 2024.06.24 11:29:26 -05'00'