Emergency Management
implemented. Notifications will also inform the state points of contact of the other notifications that have been made (ibid., p. 44). In order for the emergency notification procedures to work properly, DOE must maintain a current list of points of contact for emergency notifications. DOE sporadically solicits this information from the states through the state groups. However, a more formal process involving the regions could be useful to ensure that this information is kept current at all times. Furthermore, any additional emergency notification procedures specific to shipments of spent fuel and high-level waste carried out by OCRWM or its successor will need to be discussed extensively with the states. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT As part of its transportation planning activities, OCRWM did not prepare a draft emergency management plan as required by the DOE Manual. Emergency planning is one of the key interfaces with state governments, therefore this activity should be conducted in close coordination with the states. The DOE Manual identifies emergency planning as encompassing “identification of hazards and threats, hazard mitigation, development and preparation of emergency plans and procedures, and identification of personnel, training, equipment, and other resources needed for an effective response” (DOE 2008f, p. 10). State and local governments bear the primary responsibility for protecting the health and safety of the public within their jurisdictions (MRMTC 2008b, p. 16). The states do this through planning and preparing for emergencies for all kinds of hazards, not just accidents involving radioactive waste shipments.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION Emergency notification procedures are something OCRWM needs to work out with the states and tribes. Procedures for emergency notification are one of the 14 topics addressed in the DOE Manual. OCRWM may work with states and tribes to establish additional emergency notification procedures for shipments of spent fuel and high-level waste. The DOE Manual requires emergency notification if any of the following occurs: • a person is killed; • a person requires hospitalization due to major injuries received as a direct result of the radioactive material or an accident; • an evacuation of the general public; • one or more major transportation arteries are closed or facilities are shut down as a direct result of the radioactive material cargo; • fire, potential release, or suspected radioactive contamination involving a radioactive material shipment; or • a security incident (i.e., sabotage, theft) (DOE 2008f, p. 42). Additional events requiring notification can be specified in transportation plans for individual shipments or campaigns. DOE program offices may also decide to notify state and tribal contacts for events that do not meet the above criteria but may attract public or media attention. When there is uncertainty, the DOE Manual advises programs to err on the side of notifying points of contact. According to the manual, DOE will be informed of a transportation event by the driver, dispatcher, escort, emergency response personnel, or through a satellite tracking system. If an emergency situation occurs, DOE requirements call for the notification of state and tribal points of contact, as well as the appropriate DOE offices, including the receiving site, the Radiological Assistance Program Regional Response Coordinator, and DOE headquarters. The WIPP Transportation Plan requires the notification of additional state points of contact for incidents involving transuranic waste shipments (ibid., p. 43). For OCRWM shipments, OCRWM must notify the NRC of emergency situations (ibid.). DOE headquarters will also provide notification to field offices, other federal agencies, and appropriate elected officials. Notifications made by DOE will provide points of contact with a brief description of the transportation event, including location, date, time, hazards of the material being shipped, injuries, exposures, environmental releases, on-scene responders, and protective actions that have been recommended and/or
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