SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
Duration: 4 – More than one week LOCATION
Harris Nuclear Plant, which is located in southwest Wake County, is a single-unit 964-megawatt power plant. The plant began commercial operation in 1987 and now employs over 500 people. Its reactor is a pressurized water reactor and the plant operates with a very high level of security. This is the location from which the most catastrophic nuclear accident might occur in Wake County and will be the focal point of the nuclear analysis in this plan. However, it should also be noted that there is a 1-megawatt PULSTAR research reactor located on North Carolina State University’s campus in downtown Raleigh. Although its impacts would potentially be less far-reaching than Harris Nuclear Plant ’ s in the event of an accident, it should still be noted that the effects could be extremely detrimental, especially to citizens and property within Raleigh.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear plants:
• Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) – The EPZ is a 10-mile radius around nuclear facilities. It is also known as the Plume Exposure Pathway. Areas located within this zone are considered to be at highest risk of exposure to radioactive materials. Within this zone, the primary concern is exposure to and inhalation of radioactive contamination. Predetermined action plans within the EPZ are designed to avoid or reduce dose from such exposure. Residents within this zone would be expected to evacuate in the event of an emergency. Other actions such as sheltering, evacuation, and the use of potassium-iodide must be taken to avoid or reduce exposure in the event of a nuclear incident. • Ingestion Pathway Zone (IPZ) – The IPZ is delineated by a 50-mile radius around nuclear facilities as defined by the federal government. Also known as the Ingestion Exposure Pathway, the IPZ has been designated to mitigate contamination in the human food change resulting from a radiological accident at a nuclear power facility. Contamination to fresh produce, water supplies, and other food produce may occur when radionuclides are deposited on surfaces. Figure 4.35 shows the location of Harris Nuclear Plant and the approximate 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) buffer and 50-mile Ingestion Pathway Zone (IPZ) around the plant. Nearly all of Apex and Holly Springs, and much of western Fuquay-Varina fall within the EPZ for Harris Nuclear Plant. All of Wake County falls within the IPZ for Harris Nuclear Plant. The entire county is at risk to a nuclear incident. However, areas in the southwest part of the region are more susceptible due to their proximity to the Harris Nuclear Plant and its 10-mile EPZ. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear plants. Areas located within 10 miles of the station are considered to be within the zone of highest risk to a nuclear incident and this radius is the designated evacuation radius recommended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Within the 10-mile zone, the primary concern is exposure to and inhalation of radioactive contamination. The most concerning effects in the secondary 50-mile zone are related to ingestion of food and liquids that may have been contaminated. All areas of the county that are not located within the 10- mile radius are located within this 50-mile radius that is still considered to be at risk from a nuclear incident.
Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 258
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator