Overview of Developments: Environmental Protection Agency’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Bonnie Gitlin, Acting Director, Radiation Protection Division Radiation Emergency Preparedness Conference April 2005
Dec 14, 2015
Overview of Developments: Environmental Protection Agency’s
Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program
Bonnie Gitlin, Acting Director, Radiation Protection Division
Radiation Emergency Preparedness ConferenceApril 2005
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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
DHS is responsible for the overall coordination of incident management activities for Incidents of National Significance
(3) EPA
(4) EPA
(3) EPA
(2) EPA
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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 SecuritySupporting 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?