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?