[Federal Register: February 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6745-6746]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe03-82]
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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Guidance for the Use of Portable (Hand-Held) Radiological
Instruments
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
ACTION: Notice of availability of final guidance.
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SUMMARY: We (FEMA) have developed the final guidance for the use of
portable (hand-held) radiological instruments, identified as FEMA-REP-
22, for the detection of radioactive contamination on persons in
association with peacetime nuclear accidents. Three documents
pertaining to the final guidance are available for use.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the final guidance documents from
the FEMA Distribution Center, (800) 480-2520, or www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/fr.shtm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William F. McNutt, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-
2857, or (e-mail) william.mcnutt@fema.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The three available documents are:
(a) Contamination Monitoring Guidance for Portable Instruments Used
for Radiological Emergency Response to Nuclear Power Plant Accidents,
FEMA-REP-22, (12 pages);
(b) Background Information on Contamination Monitoring Guidance for
Portable Instruments Used for Radiological Emergency Response to
Nuclear Power Plant Accidents (62 pages); and
(c) Statements of Consideration for Contamination Monitoring
Guidance for Portable Instruments Used for Radiological Emergency
Response to Nuclear Power Plant Accidents (12 pages).
We developed this guidance in response to a request from the
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). The CRCPD
asked us to develop portable instrument guidance that affords
protection to the public equivalent to the portal monitor standard
(FEMA-REP-21) that we established and published in the Federal Register
on March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15290-15291).
We worked through the Federal Radiological Preparedness
Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) and its Offsite Emergency
Instrumentation Subcommittee to develop and coordinate the portal
monitor standard and the guidance for portable instruments. We chair
the FRPCC and, with the Department of Energy, co-chair the Offsite
Emergency Instrumentation Subcommittee, which includes members from
several Federal agencies. Members of the CRCPD's E-6 Committee
(composed of State radiological health officials) participated in
meetings of this Subcommittee as ex-officio members.
[[Page 6746]]
We made the draft guidance available to FEMA Regional staff, CRCPD
constituents in all 50 States and the general public for review and
comment. We have addressed and resolved their comments.
While we developed only one standard for portal monitors, we
developed guidance for four (4) types of portable instruments because
of the instrument-specific factors that influence the manner in which
radiation is detected and measured. We developed the guidance for
portable instruments through extensive empirical tests of different
portable radiological instruments currently in use today by State and
local government personnel. Despite instrument-specific differences
between portal monitors and portable instruments, use of this guidance
will afford protection to individuals equivalent to that afforded by
the portal monitor standard.
Based on extensive consultation with Federal and State officials,
the primary issue involving this guidance is the extended period of
time required to monitor an individual adequately with some types of
portable radiological instruments. Empirical studies undertaken since
1991 have substantiated per-person monitoring time frames for different
types of radiological instruments ranging from 2.6 minutes to as high
as 19 minutes (for a CD V-700 with standard GM side window probe) for
total body scans to detect spot contamination. The planning criterion
for monitoring individuals using a portable CD V-700 radiation survey
instrument is 300 counts per minute (CPM) above background levels.
The range of times required to monitor individuals is critical, as
is the need for State and local governments to provide sufficient
resources to monitor at least 20% of the plume exposure pathway
emergency planning zone (EPZ) population in about twelve (12) hours.
This may require State and local governments with certain types of
radiological instruments to re-examine their radiological emergency
planning and preparedness for accidents involving commercial nuclear
power plants. This issue is extensively documented and addressed in the
three documents previously cited, and we provide suggestions on how
State and local governments may address this issue and related resource
requirements.
Dated: February 4, 2003.
Joe M. Allbaugh,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-3185 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]
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