ML092960546
| ML092960546 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 10/19/2009 |
| From: | Moriarty M US Dept of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| To: | Mcnulty D NRC/NSIR/DPR, State of NJ, Office of Emergency Mgmt |
| References | |
| Download: ML092960546 (2) | |
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26FedenlPlaza, Room 1311 New Yo&, NY 10278-0002 FEMA October 19,2009 Major Dennis McNulty Commanding Officer Emergency Management Section New Jersey State Police P.O. Box 7068 West Trenton, NJ 08628-0068
Dear Major McNulty,
This is regarding the full-scale federally evaluated radiological emergency preparedness and response exercise held for the Oyster CreekNuclear Generating Station on October 6,2009.
Overall, the evaluation team reported that the exercise went well. Unfortunately, a number of the municipalities did not receive notice of the Protective Action Decision, which recommended evacuation of a number of Emergency Response Planning Areas (ERPAs) and sheltering-in-place for the rest of the ERPAs in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) for over an hour. This could have had an impact on public health and safety if the municipal emergency management directors were unaware that their populations were being advised to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
Due to the potential negative impact on public health and safety, we have classified this issue as a Deficiency, the most serious category. FEMA defines a Deficiency as "...an observed or identified inadequacy of organizational performance in an exercise 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." 44 CFR 353, App.A. We notified your REP Program staff and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of this issue on October 8,2009. The issue must be addressed and corrected within 120 days of that date, or no later than February 4,2010.
It is our understanding that a Remedial Drill has already been scheduled for Tuesday, December 8,2009. Please verify that this is indeed the corrective action plan and describe. the extent-of-play for the remedial demonstration, and we will arrange for a federal evaluator team to observe the demonstration(s). Questions on this matter can be addressed to Rebecca S. Thomson, Technological Hazards Branch Chief, at 212-680-8509.
Sincerely,
\\
Michael F. Moriarty Acting Regional Administrator