NRC: Staff Requirements – SECY-07-0182 – Semi-Annual Update on the Status of Emergency Preparedness Activities

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December 21, 2007

MEMORANDUM TO:	Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations
FROM:	Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary /RA/
SUBJECT:	STAFF REQUIREMENTS – SECY-07-0182 –SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES

The Commission has approved the staff’s recommendation to provide future emergency preparedness (EP) status papers on an annual basis with the next paper to be submitted in October of 2008. The annual paper should become more of a self-assessment and communication tool, perhaps summarizing accomplishments and providing a status on improvement initiatives within our EP programs. Such an assessment should be coordinated with and not overlap the Reactor Oversight Process self-assessment of the EP cornerstone, and should be designed to aid the staff in effecting continuous and coordinated improvements to the overall EP program, as well as to inform the Commission and the public of progress.

(EDO)

(SECY Suspense: 10/31/08)

The Office of the Secretary will work with staff to arrange for periodic meetings with an appropriate Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Administrator to aid in ensuring continued mutual understanding and coordination between our agencies.

The staff should continue to make use of other mechanisms, including public meetings, to provide updates on EP initiatives.

The staff should ensure that the effort to develop a performance-based EP regulatory concept is pursued concurrently with, but as a lower priority than, the effort to enhance existing EP regulations and guidance.

The staff should continue to look for advanced outreach opportunities to gather the information they need to further strengthen the Protective Action Recommendation Study.

The staff should seek ways to reduce the burden of involvement in hostile action drills on state and local officials. The staff should work with DHS to seek alternative methods of allowing state and local officials to demonstrate their ability to respond to a nuclear power plant emergency such as credit for out-of-sequence exercises and for response to actual emergencies. The staff should conduct a public meeting specifically to seek feedback on the proposed regulation and on ideas about alternative means for verifying offsite capabilities.

The staff should brief the Commission Technical Assistants on the potential benefits and challenges associated with EP ITAAC.

cc:	Chairman Klein Commissioner Jaczko Commissioner Lyons OGC CFO OCA OPA Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail) PDR