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Radiological Emergency Planning and Preparedness Regulation
Emergency Preparedness
and Response
EPA's radiological emergency response activities follow two regulations:
- The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (40 CFR 300)
- Commercial Nuclear Power Plants: Emergency Preparedness Planning (44 CFR 352)
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (commonly called the National Contingency Plan or NCP) is the key regulation for the United States' national emergency response system. More detailed information is available on the National Contingency Plan page.
The Commercial Nuclear Power Plants: Emergency Preparedness Planning regulations was originally issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1982. It was revised in 1994. It established the policies, procedures and framework for providing technical assistance to state and local governments to plan and prepare for all types of peacetime radiological emergencies.
The regulation also established two committees to provide coordination of federal assistance; they are not response organizations.
On this page:
Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee
The Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC) coordinates federal peacetime emergency planning and preparedness assistance to state and local governments. It also enhances federal response planning and preparedness for such emergencies:
- assists FEMA in providing policy and program direction
- establishes subcommittees to assist in carrying out its functions (e.g., training, research, emergency instrumentation, transportation, education and federal response)
- coordinates efforts of member agencies to minimize duplication and maximize benefits to state and local governments
- assures research activities are coordinated with the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards
- coordinates national response planning and preparedness activities.
FEMA chairs the FRPCC, which has representatives from the following departments and agencies:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- EPA
- Departments of Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, Defense, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, State, and Veterans Affairs
- General Services Administration
- National Communications System
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- other federal agencies as needed.
Regional Assistance Committees
The Regional Assistance Committees (RACs) are also chaired by FEMA and include the following federal agencies:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- EPA
- the Departments of Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior
- other federal agencies, as needed.
The RACs help state and local governments develop radiological emergency response plans. They assist in periodically reviewing and updating plans and observe exercises to evaluate plan effectiveness. They also coordinate regional federal response planning and preparedness activities.
Agencies support RACs by learning about federal planning and federal guidance on state and local planning. Individual agencies also learn about their state-level counterparts, which then helps improve preparedness. In addition, they participate in RAC meetings and in evaluating exercises.
Federal agencies are assigned RAC responsibilities on the basis of their mission and expertise. Certain responsibilities are assigned to all federal member agencies:
- Assist state and local governments through the following activities:
- issuing appropriate planning and preparedness guidance
- reviewing and evaluating preparedness plans
- providing technical assistance, as appropriate.
- Assist FEMA in the following activities:
- developing, implementing, or participating in training programs
- developing policies to support federal response planning and preparedness for radiological emergencies
- supporting the FRPCC and RACs.
EPA's RAC Role
In addition to common responsibilities, agencies have specific RAC responsibilities from their existing authorities, capabilities, and expertise. EPA's specific responsibilities (Section 351.22) include the following:
- Assist state and local governments through the following activities:
- establishing Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for all aspects of radiological emergency planning in coordination with appropriate federal agencies
- preparing guidance on implementing he PAGs
- Assist FEMA in the following activities:
- developing and conducting technical training for state and local officials on PAGs and protective actions, radiation dose assessment, and decision-making
- developing guidance for state and local governments on emergency instrumentation systems for radiation detection and measurement
- developing, implementing, and maintaining public information and education programs.
