Philadelphia - The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA ) will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the North Anna Power Station. The exercise will occur during the week of May 4, 2021 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Virginia to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.
“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety," said Janice Barlow, Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3. “We will assess state and local government emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone and the 50-mile Ingestion Pathway Zone within the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC ) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.
FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise during a public meeting at 9:00 a.m. on May 7, 2021. Due to the Public Health Emergency the meeting will be conducted in a virtual format via Zoom. Planned speakers include representatives from FEMA.
Access to the public meeting is provided below:
https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1618697623
Meeting ID: 161 869 7623
Passcode: 059737
At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:
Janice P. Barlow
Acting Regional Administrtor
FEMA Region III
615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.
REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite" activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.
Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at FEMA.gov/Radiological-Emergency-Preparedness-Program.
Source: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
