ML20247G551
| ML20247G551 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/22/1989 |
| From: | Cronin M AMESBURY, MA |
| To: | |
| References | |
| OL-I-AMSBRY-001, OL-I-AMSBRY-1, NUDOCS 8905310008 | |
| Download: ML20247G551 (25) | |
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CN3 FebruarP21, 1989 N
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION rn O
DOCE ATOMIC SAFETY L7 CENSING BOARD ff In the Matter of Docket Nos. 50-433-OL PUBLIC' SERVICE COMPANY OF 50-444-OL NEW HAMPSHIRE, et al.
Off-site Emergency-Planning Issues y
(Seabrook Station, Units 1 and 2)
TOWN OF AMESBURY PRE-FILED TESTIMONY q
I
'fFJTIMONY OF POLICE CHIEF ' MICHAEL A.
CRONIN
// Q.
Would'you please state your name, occupation, and business O
address?
A.
My name.is Michael A. Cronin.
I am the Chief of Police in the. Town of Amesbury and my office is located at 19 School Street,-Amesbury, Massachusetts.
f Q.. Would you provide a brief description of your professional and educational-background?
A.
I have been employed by the Amnsbury Police Department since
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I held the rank of patrolman for foar years and the j
rank of sergean* for one year.
I have been Chief since 1981.
I attended Wentworth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts and received an Associates Degree in Building Construction Technology in 1970.
I received an Associates Degree in Law i
Enforcement from Northern Essex Community College in 1980, and a B.S. in Human Services Management from Paw Hampshire A
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College,. Manchester, New Hampshire.in 1986.
I am presently L
-in my final semester'at Anna' Maria College,.-Paxton, Massachusetts, and expect to complete my Master's Degree studies in Criminal Justice by May 1989.
gf.
Q.
Would you briefly describe your duties with the Amesbury Police Department?
A.
I am the chief executive officer of the Town's Police i
Department which is responsible of the care and protection of persons and property within the community of Amesbury.
My duties and responsibilities include:
administration; a
management;. supervision; operations; training; personnel; and formulation of policy within the Department.
(f.
Q.
Would you describe your training in traffic control?
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A.
Yes.-
I attended the Massachusetts Police Academy and as a part of the mandatory curriculum ! was' trained in methods and I
practices of vehicular traffic control.
f' - Q.
Have you previously testified before this Board?
o I-l A.
No.
[
Q.
Would you please describe the purpose of your testimony?
A.
The purpose of this testimony is to describe traffic control I
in the. Town of Amesbury, and to describe the inadequacies in the SPMC traffic plan and bus circulation system.
A critical element of this Plan is the flow of vehicular traffic-in an around Amesbury as residents and transients attempt to evacuate the area following a radiological accident and release at Seabrook Station.
I will explain why the traffic 2
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plan is inadequate, and why, given the particular layout of streets in Amesbury and the conditions likely to occur in a hurried wholesale emergency evacuation of the community, no plan would succeed.
'7 Q.
Are you familiar with the SPMC traffic plan for Amesbury?
A.
Yes.
I have examined it.
([ Q.
Did you or your fellow officers participate in its design or development?
j A.
No.
qQ.
Are you familiar with the layout of streets and traffic conditions in the Town of Amesbury?
I A.
Yes, I am very familiar with the layout of streets and traffic conditions in the Town.
Through my experience with the Police Department and because I am a resident of the area I am not only familiar with the location of streets and roads, but I am aware of landmarks and features of the roadways, such as sharp turns, dead ends, and inclines, and normal traffic flows.
I have observed traffic flow in all areas of the Town during all seasons of the year and in all weather conditions.
f6 Q.
Are you equally familiar with the state highways that intersect with cr pass through the Town of Amesbury?
l A.
Yes, again because of my years of experience with the Police l
q t
and because this area is my home.
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- l[ - Q.
In your opinion, has-the SPMC properly accounted for the increases to-the Town's population during holidays and summer months?
l; A.
No.
p O'.
What would-you' estimate the increase in the summer population to be?
L A.
I woul'dT say the Town's population grows from approximately
~16,000 to.21,000 during summer months as people are attracted to the. Town's lake front, camping arsaas, and beaches.in neighboring communities.
Q.
Are there times'when the population in town is even greater 1
than 21,000?
A.
Yes, during Amesbury days, which in a ten to thirteen day L
period including-the 4th of July, the population is greater than 21,000.
.In' fact, during the annual fourth of July fireworks' display the crowd of viewers in Town has been
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estimated to range from 25,000 to 30,000.
Q.
~Are you familiar with the traffic control points, or TCP's, designated in the SPMC traffic plan?
A.
.Yes.
I am familiar with those intersections.
f-
. //j. Q.
Do.the TCP diagrams in the SPMC accurately describe these intersections at which they are located?
A.
No.
They are generally not to scale and because of
-inaccuracies and omissions do not accurately represent these f
o intersections.
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((: Q.
Drawing your attention to the TCP designated No. B-AM-01,
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which is the intersection of Amesbury Center, Route 150,
' Water Street'and Elm Street, would you please indicate any inadequacies you have found in the-SPMC's description of this TCP?
A; This diagram fails to acknowledge the existence of several streets and' potential conflict points.
These include:
Ring Street as it intersects with Elm Street east'of the traffic circle; the parking. lot entrance / exit on Water Street south of the traffic circle; Friend Street intersecting Route 150 from the west in the southbound lane; and.the entrance / exit for buses from the staging area which intersects Route 150 from the east in the northbound lane.
[/f-Q.
Drawing your attention to the TCP designated No. B-AM-02, which is the intersection of Macy Street and Hillside Avenue, would:you please' indicate any inadequacies you have found in q
the SPMC's~ description of this TCP?
'A.
This diagram fails to acknowledge the probable traffic volume and flow along these. routes and the conflicts that will occur with' cross-over traffic.
There are too few traffic guides l
assigned to this TCP to regulate and direct traffic along j
these established router.
Given the volume of traffic that will pass through this TCP cones will probably not be i
i effective for re-routing traffic,,
The probable heavy volume of traffic along Route 110 (Haverhill Road) heading southwest is likely to cause motorists to change direction and cross-i 5
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7-l over1to the Route 150 connector towards Route I-495.
This l
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't TCP is poorly designed-and ill-equipped to handle the volume 1
of traffic likely to pass through this section of Town.
-i I Q.
Drawing.your attention to the TCP designated No. B-AM-03, 7
which'is the intersection of Route I-495 and Hillside Avenue, would you please indicate any. inadequacies you have found in w
the SPMC's description of this TCP?
This diagram fails to acknowledge the volume of traffic A.'
likely to be present along these routes.
Hillside Avenue will have at-least two lanes of traffic in the north and southbound lanes that must merge onto the southbound ramp of Route'I-495.
There will also be three lanes of traffic from Route I-495 north bound forced to merge on to a ramp and traffic from Hunt Road that will merge with the two lanes of
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traffic north bound on Hillside Avenue.
The number of traffic guides assigned to this TCP, and the use of cones instead of barricades are the most significant defects in this TCP.
If Q.
Drawing-your attention to the TCP designated No. B-AM-04, Macy Street and Main Street, would you please indicate any inadequacies you have found in the SPMC's description of this
'TCP?
A.
This diagram fails to acknowledge the existence and therefore the impact of intersections, that is entrance / exit points, from businesses and institutions in the area.
These omissions include:
the entrance / exit points from the Mr.
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o Donut 1 restaurant intersecting Main. Street in the north bound lane south of the Macy Street intersection and intersecting Macy Street in the east bound lane east of the Main Street intersection'lthe entrance / exit points from the Cumberland Farms store intersecting Main Street in-the south bound lane south of the Macy Street intersection and intersecting the east bound lane of Macy Street west of the Main Street intersection; the entrance / exit points from the bank
-intersecting the west bound land of Macy Street west of the Main Screet. intersection and intersecting Main Street in the i
south bound lane' north of.the Macy Street intersection; the I
existence'of.the Middle School off of Main Street north of the Macy Street intersection; and the' existence of the gas I
station.and kindergarten buildings located on Macy Street west of the Main Street intersection with entrance / exit points intersecting with the east bound lane of Macy Street.
The diagram also fails to acknowledge the existence of the nursing home and hospital north of this TCP but certainly influential in the volume of traffic through this TCP.
The absence of the above-mentioned intersections represent a substantial defect in the TCP because of the great potential that motorists will circumvent the traffic barriers and traffic flow restrictions on Main Street in H
north and south bound-lanes, and the west bound lane on Macy Street.
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,y g Q.
Drawing your attention to TCP No. B-AM-05, designated Market I
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Street and Main Street, would you pleare indicate any inadequacies-you have found in the SPMC's description of this TCP?
a A.
.This diagram misrepresents the location of Main and Sparhawk Streets.
.Sparhawk Street should be indicated in this diagram as the roadway west of the intersection and Main Street should be indicated as the roadway east and south of the intersection. ' School Street runs north of the intersection.
Additionally, this diagram fails to acknowledge the existence and>therefore the impact of intersections with Main and School Streets.
These omissions' include:
the entrance / exit points of the bank on the corner of Main Street in the TCP where Main Street changes direction from north to east; the entrance / exit points for the library which intersect with Main Street in the west bound lane east of the School. Street i
intersection, and intersects School Street in the north bound 1
lane north of the Main Street intersection; the entrance / exit to an elderly housing complex which intersects with the east bound lane of Main Street east of the School Street intersection; and the entrance / exit to St. Joseph's Church andLparish hall intersection with the south bound lane on School Street north of the intersection and with the west
. bound lane of Sparhawk Street west of the intersection.
The absence of the above-mentioned represents a substantial defect in the TCP because of the great potential 8
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that motorists will circumvent traffic barriers and flow-restrictions north on School' Street and both south and east on Main Street.
Cones would be ineffective in an intersection such as this where there is just one_ traffic guide and there such a great potential for variance from intended routes by use of the above-mentioned driveways and side streets.
Another substantial error and ambiguity.is the label for this diagram.
Market Street is not depicted in this diagram,
.nor should it be.
Market Street does not intersect with Main Street.
This label would certainly confuse a traffic guide or bus driver trying to locate the TCP or route.
I fh]. Q.
Drawing your. attention to TCP No. B-AM-06, the intersection of Route 11'0, I-95,.and Elm Street, would you please indicate any inadequacies you have found in the SPMC's descr.iption of 1
this TCP?
A.
.This diagram fails to acknowledge the existence and therefore the impact of1several intersections with Elm Street, Clarks Road, and Macy Street (Route 110).
These omissions include:
the entrance / exit points from the Burger King restaurant intersecting _the east bound lanes of-Macy Street in two places. west of tne Clarks Road / Elm Street intersection, and intersecting Clarks Road'in the south bound lanes in two places. south of the Macy Street intersection; the entrance / exit points from the gas station at the corner of Macy and Elm Streets which intersects Macy Street in the west 9
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1 bound lane in two places west of the Elm Street /Clarks Road intersection and' intersecting Elm Street in the south bound lane north of the Macy Street intersection.
The diagram has mislabelled Clarks' Road as Clark Street.
There is a Clark Street in Town but not anywhere near the TCP.
A traffic guide or bus driver looking for Clark Street or Clarks Road would be misled by this diagram.
The absence of the above mentioned intersections represents a substantial defect in'this' diagram because of the great potential that motorists will circumvent the traffic barriers and the traffic flow restrictions on Clarks Road south bound, Elm Street north bound and Macy Street east and west bound.
Another perhaps even greater defect in this TCP is the i
unnecessary ctopping and splitting of traffic flows which will certainly cause delays and probably create choke points in this TCP.
The stopping of traffic on Route 110 to allow for~ southbound Elm Street traffic to merge with westbound Route 110 traffic and the stopping of east bound Route 110
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traffic to allow the merge of traffic from Clarks Road and from traffic reversing direction (u-turn) on Route 110 will certainly cause traffic to back up and stop in all directions.
l-The splitting of westbound traffic on Route 110 sending 1
one lane south on Route 95 and the other west to either turn K
l on Route 110 to head east on Route 110 then south on Route 95 10 mm_m-
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or continue west on Route 110 until reaching Route 495 south is an ill-conceived and wholly impractical plan.
For l
example, families travelling in more than one vehicle will resist this re-direction causing both conflicts with traffic guides and unauthorized cross-overs which will result in further delays in traffic flows.
f._ M Q.
In your opinion, are the TCP diagrams contained in the SPMC sufficiently clear to allow the SPMC's traffic management plan to be implemented?
A.
No.
Q.
What is the basis for that opinion?
A.
The traffic control diagrams do not reflect the countless number of side streets and traffic conflict points along the routes indicated in the traffic control diagrams.
There are also alternate access routes and cut-through points beyond the areas indicated in the TCP diagrams that will cause disruptions.
These streets, roads, and cross routes will most certainly effect traffic flows.
The TCP's are not properly designed to hcndle the volume of traffic ilkely to pass through.
Amesbury has 14 square miles of land, but the great majority of its population is concentrated in the one square mile in the downtown area.
T TCP's algo do not a up t f esbury's hil {,
Sev al of the To
's streets have very steep rades v 'ch make travel ery dangerous during adverse weath The rush of traffic in the event of an emergency 11 l'
a
---,--,-.,-,,---,--,-m evacuation 1.certainly-result in traffi accidente, with
'attendan ersonal injuries and disabled ehicles/
c guides e ill-equipped to clear disabled vehicles from the road w ys, secure alternative transportation for stranded N
motorists, aid injured persons, and' resolve conflicts between motorists.
The TCP's do not account for any difficulties in the management of the SPMC traffic plan and for the above mentioned reasons are therefore not sufficiently clear to allow for.its implementation.
7.. Q.
You stated that duties as chief include the assignment of officers to traffic details.
Based on this experience and your familiarity with traffic patterns in the Town, would you please identify every location.where more traffic control personnel (than provided in SPMC) would be needed to ensure that traffic flow can be maintained?
A.
The following intersections are along heavily travelled evacuation routes and additional traffic guides are needed to assist and ensure traffic flow.
Route 110 and Elm Street - Two additional traffic guides are needed because of the volume on these routes and the conflict points resulting from intersections at the nearby restaurants, gas station, apartments, and hotel.
l Route 110 and Rocky Hill Road - This is a very dangerous intersection.
A traffic guide is needed at this intersection because traffic is supposed to turn right at the intersection l_
and visibility is very limited for vehicles approaching the L
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C' intersection.
Even under ideal weather conditions, with'only lightLto moderate traffic flow,..this is the scene of many accidents.
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Main Street and Macy Street This is one of'the busiest
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intersections in Amesbury.
Given the volume of traffic' flow along'these routes, andLthe traffic generated by the nearby Middle School, nursing home, hospital, and local businesses, a-minimum of two additional traffic guides should be located in this TCP.
Route 110 and Route 150 - Heavy volume along this route and the need to re-direct traffic along Route 110 and preventing vehicles from heading directly toward'I-495 L
requires one more traffic guide.
Route'150 and 495 north and south bound ramos - Two additional traffi'c. guides'are needed, one at each of these-ramps, because of the heavy volume of traffic. heading-towards Route I-495 south bound where three lanes narrow to a one
. lane ramp.
Market Sauare - Three additional traffic guides are needed at this traffic circle to regulate and assist the flow of traffic in this area.
The potential for a bottleneck at this circle is great because of the proximity of the staging area located off Main-Street.
Additional traffic guides should be located at the High Street, Elm Street, and. Water Street entrances to the circle.
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Friend Street and Main Street - As mentioned above, because of the entrance and exit of the staging area and because the intersection of these two streets is at a 45 degree angle, another traffic guide should be stationed at this intersection.
Enaf awk Street and Main Street - Another traffic guide h
should be located on School Street north of the Main Street intersection because of the volume of traffic from nearby town hall and police station.
Hillside Avenue and Greenleaf Street - Two traffic guides should be assigned to this intersection, one at Greenleaf Street near the stop sign and one on the east side of the traffic island northeast of the Hillside Avenue / Highland Street intersection because of the heavy volume along these routes.
Hichland Street and Hillside Avenue - Because of the heavy volume on Highland Street and Hillside Avenue on route to Route 495 a traffic guide should be added to assist in traffic direction and enforce traffic instructions.
The heavy traffic is a result of this intersection being a main evacuation route for the High School and Cashman Elementary School, and is also used us access for the hospital and a nursing home.
School Street and Friend Street - Five roads intersect at this point.
In addition, the traffic problems from the nearby police station, town hall and parking lots necessitate 14
at: least1two traffic guides on School Street near the above.
mentioned facilities.
i WhitehallLRoad and Friend Street - Nearly.one sixth of-
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the Town's population is. located in this' area.- With several feeder roads intersecting.with Whitehall Road a traffic guide is.needed at the end of' Whitehall road to assist traffic flow and mitigate traffic snarls.
Friend Street and Hiahland Street - Due to the-proximity toLthe High-School, elementary school, nursing home, and apartment complexes, a traffic guide is needed to prevent the heavy volume of traffic from proceeding into the downtown area.
Pond' Street and' Friend Street; Pond Street and Hioh Street; Greenleaf Street and Friend Street - Each of these intersections requires'a traffic guide because they are located in.very ' densely populated areas and the likelihood of heavy traffic is very strong.
Hich' Street and Whitehall Road - A traffic guide is needed at this intersection'to prevent traffic from continuing into Market Square.
Concress Street and Elm Street - A traffic ~ guide is l
needed on Congress Street to assist buses entering and exiting the kindergarten.
A traffic guide would also need to direct traffic from the fire station located on the corner.
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tionroe Street' and Elm Street - A traffic guide is needed 1
to regulate the traffic entering ~ Elm Street en route to Route 110.
South HamDton Road at-Market Street - A traffic guide should-be assigned to South Hampton Street to regulate l-l traffic at'the entrance'and exit from the elementary school.
Friend Street and Newton Road - This section of Friend
- Street is now called Lion's Mouth Road.
A traffic guide is needed at this-intersection to prevent heavy traffic from liew Hampshire from passing.through the Town.
Traffic guide needs to direct traffic along Kimball Road south to Route 110 and then to Route I-495.
Hichland Street and Route Pio - This is one of the busiest intersections in Amesbury.
At lear.t two traffic guides are needed in this area.
One traffic guide should be stationed at the V-intersection with Highland Street to prevent traffic from travelling the wrong way on Highland
- Street.
At least one other traffic guide should be assigned to the entrance and exit points of the nearby hospital and nursing home.
7ff Q.-
Are you familiar with the equipment proposed in the SPMC to be used at the TCP's?
A.
Yes.
The equipment consists of portable traffic cones.
7g Q.-
In your opinion, are these adequate to stop or redirect
- vehicular traffic?
16
E t.
It1 depends on the circumstances.
Generally I would advise k
the'ase of cones only in limited' instances when there is light traffic, sufficient time for the cones to be safely
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placed in the road way and at'least one person in place to assist in the re-direction of traffic.. Cones because of their height may not be visible to drivers.
Cones are also ineffective because they are easily disregarded as a barrier.
Once the cone barrier has been interrupted by traffic it is very difficult,. and potentially hazardous, even in light to moderate traffic, to re-establish.
Concrete barricades are'obviously not as easily stored H
or moved as cones, but.they are far better for enforcing traffic restrictions.
Concrete barricades are by far the most caf fective means to enforce road blocks, and re-direct moderate to heavy traffic.. The difficulty with concrete barricades is that they are cumbersome and must be-transported by crane and flat bed trucks.
They cannot be installed in emergency situations unless they are stored within a reasonable distance from the site where they are needed and there is enough notice to obtain equipment necessary to.nove and install them.
ggf.
Q.
Should barriers therefore be pre-positioned in the field?
A.
Yes.
That would reduce the distance and travel time from storage area to destination.
Q..
In your-opinion, would this cure the defect in the TCP's 77 regarding the use and placement of traffic barriers?
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A.
No, because there is no' provision in the SPMC for the advance warning to public safety officials and traffic guides of a
,y radiological emergency.- These barriers would be difficult to establish under normal, non-emergency traffic conditions, and nearly impossible under emergency situations.
With the onset of heavy traffic following the announcement'of a radiological
. emergency it would be extremely difficult as well as hazardous to interrupt and re-direct traffic.
Unless public safety personnel or traffic guides are pre-positioned with their equipment, and have advance warning of an emergency and evacuation, the pre-positioning of traffic barriers will prove as useless as if they were stored a great distance from the TCP.
s Q.
In your opinion, are the number of personnel designated in q
the SPMC to implement and manage the traffic plan in the event of a radiological emergency is adequate?
A.
No.
30
-Q.
On what do you base that opinion?
A.
The number of traffic guides and other personnel designated l
in the SPMC is wholly inadequate especially given the circumstances in which they will be expected to administer the traffic plan.
As mentioned earlier, the TCPs listed in l
the SPMC fail to account retractions 7-traffic volume,
._reak downs anic.seedoP]approdhhdngvehicles, r nearby conflict poin s such as parking lots, blind corners, and cut throughs which require inflexible barriers and personnel with 18 I
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'wid ly recognized authority to enforce traffic restrictions.,)
Additional personnel would be required to assist disabled vehicles and removing traffic obstructions.
The SPMC also fails to acknowledge the need for personnel to facilitate the p
. orderly evacuation of persons requiring transportation such as children, elderly, and the sick from schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.
There are no traffic guides assigned to these areas although buses will need to enter and exit these institutions.
Q.
In your opinion, would the implementation of the SPMC in the
- g event of a radiological emergcncy increase the efficiency of the evacuation of traffic from Newburyport in. comparison to an evacuation in the absence of any plan?
A.
In my opinion it is doubtful.
There are numerous errors and inaccuracies in the plan.
It relies upon traffic guides who will probably be unfamiliar with the area and with alternate-routes to use in the event accidents or choke points occur.
The initial set up of the traffic barriers is crucial to the plan, but it relies upon persons who may have to come from some distance away, thus costing valuable time.
Once the population begins to evacuate, it will be extremely difficult to establish the TCP's.
They will also have difficulty in C
resolving any confrontations that may occur with drivers who disregard their directions, since they lack any police authority.
They will also be unable to effectively communicate and coordinate with the City's emergency 19
e personnel.such~as ambulances if needed.
In short, the use of the plan does not guarantee any improvement over existing l traffic. patterns, and holds the potential for creating i
additional confusion.
Q.
Does the Amesbury police department naintain a record of the work and home phone numbers of the members of the Board of Selectmen?
A.
Yes.
gg Have you had occasion or.need to contact members of the Board (b
of Selectmen at home or at work?
A.
Yes.-
Several times.
i pp Q.
Have_you encountered any difficulties contacting Board members?
A.
Yes.
The Town of Amesbury has.several part-time officials that work in places as far away as Boston.
I have had some difficulty contacting town officials at work and at home.
y[
Q.
Have you reviewed the SPMC for any other' community in Massachusetts or.similar emergency evacuation plans for communities-in New Hampshire?
A.
No.
I am not familiar with any emergency evacuation plan for any community except Amesbury.
g6 Q.
Does the Town of Amesbury have an emergency evacuation plan that could be implemented in the event of either a nuclear or non-nuclear emergency?
A.
No, the Town of Amesbury has no such plan.
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- 37 Q.
Does the Town of-Amesbury'have an established procedure for
' interacting.with any other community if an evacuation were necessary because of either a nuclear or non-nuclear emergency?
A.
No, there is no plan or established procedure to interact or i
. coordinate'with any other community attempting an evacuation on any scale, for any retson.
c.
Q.
gg Have.you-as Chief of Police ever assigned police functions to any person other than a duly trained and sworn police,-
officer?
A.
- Yes.
i g
Q.
Would you describe the circumstances under which this has occurred?'
A.
I have assigned Auxiliary Police officers to assist with traffic control during.certain major Town events such as Amesbury Days.
These auxiliary officers, however, do receive training in CPR, traffic control, and in the use of fire
-They have strict instructions to immediately report arms.
any, violations, conflicts, or difficulties to regular police
' officers for resolution.
40.12 Does the Town of Amesbury have a mutual aid pact or any other formal agreement with other police departments outside of Amesbury to provide support for law enforcement in an emergency situation?
A.
No formal agreements exist between communities, but there is an informal understanding between communities surrounding 21
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c Li Amesbury that when one community's manpower in police, fire,
'or other public safety department is overtaxed, other communities will lend support.
The theory behind the practice is Lthat public safety resources may: be allocated and shared within the region when one community is in need.
jg Q.
In the event of a radiological emergency at Seabrook Station will the Town of Amesbury be available to lend public safety services,such as law enforcement support to other communities?
A.
No.
The ~ Town of Amesbury will not deploy police arid fire
' equipment and personnel resources to other communities within theLEPZ, nor does the Town expect to receive such assistance from other communities within the EPZ in the event of a radiological emergency.
Mutual aid is based upon the concept of allocating public safety resources between communities, directing surplus resources from one comr. unity where they are not presently in demand to another that in time of need has exhausted its resources.
In the event of a radiological emergency, all communities within the EPZ will be similarly l:
situated, deploying all available resources within'their own 1
community and no community will be able to share resources-with another.
42-Q.
Are you familiar with the location of the nursing homes, day care centers, elderly housing complexes, and other special facilities in the Town of Amesbury?
1A.
Yes.
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- j Q. - In your opinion, does the SPMC adequately provide for ;he evacuation of persons at these facilities in the event of a radiological emergency?
A.
No.
To the best of'my knowledge.there is no mention of L
. training,_ destination, or assignment of personnel to assist in the evacuation of very small children, elderly, and
-physically or mentally impaired individuals.
The SPMC also fails to include two major facilities for the elderly in. Town, the Heritage Towers and the Park Side nursing home.
The omission of Heritage Towers especially signifies a substantial defect in.the SPMC because the result is a failure to account and plan for 150 to 200 elderly persons housed in 100 units.
In addition to the special facilities for the elderly, the SPMC also fails to acknowledge the approximately sixty Family Day Care providers located throughout town which are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Children.
Each of these facilities has an average of 5-6 children of pre-school age.
9' Q.
What conclusions do you reach from the above testimony?
A.
Based on the above testimony, I conclude that the SPMC is poorly designed and it is unlikely that residents and others in the Town of Amesbury in the area at the time of a i
radiological emergency at Seabrook could be evacuated in a safe and timely manner.
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Q.
Does this conclude your testimony?
A.
Yes it does.
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