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
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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
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Coordinating Agencies Under
the NRP
(3) EPA
(4) EPA
(3) EPA
(2) EPA
DHS is responsible for the overall coordination of incident management
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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
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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
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Lessons Learned from
Ruby Slippers
 Communications
 Incident Command System
 Employee Health & Safety and Medical
Monitoring
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Questions or comments?
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