Bonnie Gitlin, Acting Director, Radiation Protection Division

1. Overview of Developments: Environmental Protection Agency’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Bonnie Gitlin, Acting Director, Radiation Protection Division Radiation Emergency Preparedness Conference April 2005

2. 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

3. 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

4. Coordinating Agencies Under the NRP (3) EPA (4) EPA (3) EPA (2) EPA DHS is responsible for the overall coordination of incident management activities for Incidents of National Significance

5. 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

6. 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

9. Lessons Learned from Ruby Slippers • Communications • Incident Command System • Employee Health & Safety and Medical Monitoring

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Continuing Efforts: Homeland Security • Supporting 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

14. Questions or comments?