In response to pressure from citizen groups, on Dec. 11th FEMA held a public meeting to unveil their analysis of the emergency response plan around Constellation's nuclear reactors in Calvert County.
Citizen concern in the communities around the existing reactors has been heightened by Constellation’s plans to build a new nuclear reactor at the Southern Maryland site.
Darrell Hammons from FEMA explained the process of the Medical Services Drill conducted on Nov. 7. The final report will be forwarded to the NRC within 90 days of the drill. The final analysis of the drill was that there would be no negative impacts to the public.
Ron Carrington of the NRC said five inspectors observed a simulator control run with a simulated crew. The primary focus was on risk classification, notification and dose expectation. Overall NRC finding is that it the drill was adequate and in compliance with policies and that Constellation was able to evacuate and protect the public.
In the public questions period Paul Gunter from the citizens' organization Beyond Nuclear, said the NRC is in violation of the 2002 Public Health and Bioterrorism Act, which mandated that potassium iodine be distributed to everyone within a 20 mile radius around nuclear power plants. That has not happened in Calvert County.
Officials responded that they were unaware of this law.
Gunter asked if the exercises assume that the regions electric grid was down and officials responded that the drills assumed that there was no offsite power loss
Gunter mentioned that the the polar ice caps may be gone by the summer of 2013 as a result of global warming. What happens when the ice caps melt and the sea level rises? How will it affect intake, functionality of plant, and what are the protections from the potential for severe weather?
Gunter asked If the power grid goes down, how is the public notified with/in 15 mins?
Officials Responded that bullhorns would be used and if the sirens go down the time period that the public has to be notified within is 45 minutes not 15 minutes.
Gunter mentioned that some plants have battery back-up on sirens. What is FEMA’s plan to bring up the Calvert Cliffs sirens up to date with these batteries?
Officials responded that they did not have any specifics at the time.
Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear said that after Chernobyl, the USSR did not hand out any potassium iodine, but Poland did. Poland has a dramatically lower level of thyroid cancer than the USSR.
Officials responded that pre-distribution of potassium iodine was optional, that the expiration dated was extended by two years by the FDA, re-supply is held by local health centers, so that in the event of an accident evacuees (who would have to stop at these centers for possible decontamination) would be given potassium iodine.
Santa did make an appearance and presented a bottle labeled KI (potassium iodine) to FEMA representative Darrell Hammons, as well as the signed (by over 100 people) petition to the NRC representative. These “presents” came complete with bows.
Mary Stephenson of Solomons said that first distribution was optional and that no one knows where to get potassium iodine.
Another concerned citizen asked how the radioactive material be taken care of and officials responded that the decontamination process includes removing the soil, removing the vegetation, and containing the area.
Erica Mitrano from the Calvert Recorder asked what would happen in the event of an accident? Officials responded that the sirens would go off which would signal to tune to the emergency alert system (EAS). All of this information is found in the calendar that is sent out to all residents within the 10 mile radius. Officials also mentioned that there is an annual full-cycle test of the sirens that happen on the 1st Monday of November.
To sign on to a letter directly expressing your concerns to Constellation Energy's CEO, click here.
