HR: 16:45h
AN: A44A-04 [Abstracts]
TI: EPA's role and requirements in Radiological Dispersive Device (RDD) Emergency Response
AU: Mitchell, J
EM: mitchell.james@epa.gov
AF: U.S.EPA, 77 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604,
AU: * Becker, N
EM: nmb@lanl.gov
AF: Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.0 1663 Los Alamos New Mexico
87545, Los Alamos, NM 87544,
AB:
The National Response Plan (NRP)'s Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex describes how federal agencies
should coordinate their actions when responding to nuclear/radiological incidents This would include sabotage
and terrorist incidents, such as terrorist use of radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) or improvised nuclear
devices, as well as reactor plant accidents (commercial or weapons production facilities), orphan radioactive
material sources, transportation and foreign accidents involving nuclear/radioactive material, .
For an Incident of National Significance (INS), DHS is always responsible for overall coordination of the Federal
response taking the lead on external affairs (public, state/local, Congressional, White House), while working in
consultation with the Coordinating Agency. The primary role of the Coordinating Agency during an INS is to focus
on managing the technical aspects of the Federal radiological response, including establishing site perimeters,
site characterization, contaminant control measures, data management, ensuring coordination of technical data,
decontamination/cleanup, and waste management. EPA becomes the Coordinating Agency for non-terrorist
incidents at nuclear facilities that are not DOD, DOE, or NRC/Agreement-State licensed facilities.even though
DOD, DOE, and NRC become the Coordinating Agency for their own facilities, weapons, and materials. For all
other radiological terrorist incidents, such as a RDD in a city, DOE is the initial Coordinating Agency. EPA will be
expected to provide radiological emergency response of a magnitude, scope, and rapidity of response greater
than in all their past experience.
The EPA and Los Alamos National Laboratory have formed a partnership to current research to aid in response
planning and enhance preparedness. Currently Los Alamos is defining the boundaries of contamination from an
urban RDD using urban dispersion modeling, in order for the EPA to be able to identify, quantify and establish a
level of preparation regarding response activities and resources. The dispersion modeling will also be used in
the development of future exercise planning scenarios, training and in the development of field response
procedures.
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting