Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station

Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station is a two-unit nuclear-fueled power plant located four and a half miles northwest of Glen Rose, Texas, in Somervell County and about 80 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. The plant is owned and operated by TXU Energy.

Radiation Control's Role

Radiation Control has responsibility for environmental surveillance outside the plant boundaries and involvement in emergency response exercises.

Before Comanche Peak could be licensed for start up and operation, a full-scale emergency response exercise had to be successfully staged. After start up, at periodic intervals, exercises must be performed to assure that public health and safety can be protected in the event of an emergency.

Two government agencies, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determine if the emergency response exercise is successful.

Nuclear power facilities are required to perform emergency response exercises at specific intervals: every year for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and every two years for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

What Radiation Control does in
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Response Exercises

Texas has a Radiological Emergency Plan that is used by Radiation Control and a team of state agencies to respond to any radiological emergency. Radiation Control participates by providing technical assistance and expertise. Under the direction of the Chief of Field Operations, the Radiation Control provides:

• emergency operations coordinators
• liaisons who work with the utility company
• health physicists who assess the accident to determine what protection is necessary for the public
• public information specialists
• administrative support
• field monitoring teams
• lliaisons to work with medical facilities
• staff to advise about contamination control at roadblocks and reception centers
• technicians
• and a mobile laboratory to analyze samples of water, soil, vegetation and air
  

What has Happened at Previous Emergency Response Exercises

In 2001, Radiation Control participated in an exercise evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition to personnel from Radiation Control, the exercise included emergency response officials and personnel from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Hood and Somervell Counties, and the cities of Glen Rose and Granbury. Eighteen specific exercise objectives were demonstrated and no deficiencies or weaknesses were identified by the evaluation team. The exercise was conducted to evaluate our ability to respond to a simulated accident involving the nuclear power facility at Comanche Peak. Some of the key objectives demonstrated during the exercise were:

• Mobilization of Emergency Personnel
• Command and Control
• Emergency Worker Exposure Control
• Field Radiation Monitoring
• Protective Action Decision Making
• Alert and Notification to the Public
• Public Instructions and Emergency Information

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Texas Department of State Health Services, Radiation Control Program
1100 West 49th Street - Austin, Texas 78756-3189 - (512) 834-6688 or (512) 834-6770

Last Updated September 27, 2006