EPA Update Gitlin
Download
Report
Transcript EPA Update Gitlin
Overview of Developments:
Environmental Protection Agency’s
Radiological Emergency Preparedness
Program
Bonnie Gitlin, Acting Director,
Radiation Protection Division
Radiation Emergency Preparedness Conference
April 2005
Presentation Overview
New Developments
National Response Plan: Impact on EPA
Ruby Slippers Exercise
RERT Infrastructure
Continuing Efforts
Protective Action Guides
RadNet (previously ERAMS) augmentation
Homeland Security
Open Discussion
Questions or comments
2
New Developments:
National Response Plan
EPA’s Radiological Emergency Response role stayed
largely the same under the new NRP
Emergency preparedness planning
Development of Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
– Provide recommendations during emergencies
Emergency response
– Lead & support federal response to radiological
emergencies
Monitoring and assessment of release impacts
Provide technical advice & response support
– To state, tribal, and local governments, and other federal
agencies
3
Coordinating Agencies Under
the NRP
(3) EPA
(4) EPA
(3) EPA
(2) EPA
DHS is responsible for the overall coordination of incident management
4
activities for Incidents of National Significance
New Developments:
Ruby Slippers Exercise
An internal, no-fault exercise designed to test EPA’s
readiness and to practice EPA’s role in responding to
a radiological emergency of national significance
EPA-only emergency response exercise, July 26 -30,
2004 (the week of the Democratic National
Convention)
One-day tabletop and two-day field exercise at Ft.
Leavenworth, KS
Multi-regional EPA field response by Regions 6 and 7, RERT
(ORIA laboratories), On-Scene Coordinators
150 participants from across EPA
5
Ruby Slippers
Exercise Scenario
Foreign satellite breaks up on re-entry and crashes in
the United States
Satellite is from the imaginary country of Usepastan
Satellite contains a Topaz II reactor and up to 16
cesium/strontium Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators
Radioactive material contaminates parts of Kansas and
Oklahoma (EPA Regions 6 & 7)
OK and KS request Federal help
DHS delegates EPA to lead the U.S. radiological
response per FRERP (DHS is dealing with DNC)
National Response Plan still under development
6
7
8
Lessons Learned from
Ruby Slippers
Communications
Incident Command System
Employee Health & Safety and Medical
Monitoring
9
New Developments:
RERT Infrastructure
ER Planning Retreat
Identified specific actions needed to address lessons
learned from Ruby Slippers
Action Plan
Developed to track progress
– HQ, NAREL, R&IE, and regional participation
Efforts expected through next fiscal year and beyond
– Continuous improvements
10
Continuing Efforts:
Protective Action Guides
Early and intermediate phases essentially the same
Updated to incorporate new FDA guidance on food and KI,
as well as water requirements
Consistent with the National Response Plan
Long-term guidance consistent with the Radiological
Dispersion Device/Improvised Nuclear Device
(RDD/IND) Guidance
Not yet issued
Following internal EPA negotiations, next step is
review by the Federal Radiological Emergency
Preparedness Committee’s PAG Subcommittee
11
Continuing Efforts:
RadNet
Maintaining and improving National
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring
System
New Name = RadNet
Telemetry and database development
Improving and expanding fixed component (traditional
ERAMS)
– Including “real-time” gamma detection
Adding deployable component
– 40 units, 20 at each ORIA Lab
12
Continuing Efforts:
Homeland Security
Supporting classified operations
Working with DHS, DOE, and other partners
Supporting EPA’s Office of Homeland Security
Participating in EPA Homeland Security Collaborative
Network
Continuing to address impact of new Homeland Security
Presidential Directives
Primary focus is on decontamination of materials,
environment
13
Questions or comments?
14