A letter published in the Sept. 14 edition of The Commons (“NRC ignores evacuation realities during flooding, road destruction”) sought to make the case that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission neglected its duties when Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont in late August.
Unfortunately, the author missed the mark with respect to several key facts.
The letter writer argues that the NRC failed to ensure the emergency plan for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant would continue to work even though the storm severely impacted area roads and bridges, with some closed temporarily and others in need of significant repairs.
In fact, it is not the NRC but rather the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that is responsible for determining whether there is reasonable assurance that state and local emergency plans for a nuclear power plant will protect public health and safety.
The NRC, on the other hand, is responsible for assessing on-site emergency response; that is, whether the company that operates the plant is appropriately evaluating emergency conditions, responding to those, and communicating about them to off-site responders.
Recognizing these distinct roles and responsibilities, which are spelled out in a memorandum of understanding between the two federal agencies, the NRC and FEMA work closely together to ensure that both on-site and off-site emergency plans can be successfully implemented during severe weather situations.
During Hurricane Irene - later downgraded to a tropical storm - officials from the NRC were in constant contact with FEMA as the storm approached and passed through numerous states on the East Coast.
Along these lines, the NRC engaged FEMA as to whether there were any adverse impacts on evacuation routes for Vermont Yankee after Irene hit the area.
Based on its review, in coordination with Vermont, as well as the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, FEMA indicated in a letter to the NRC that reasonable assurance continued to exist.
Here is what FEMA wrote to the NRC in a statement dated Aug. 30:
• Tropical Storm Irene impacted the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) surrounding Vermont Yankee Power Station on Aug. 28. Although emergency management officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts found no significant impact to their communities in the EPZ, Vermont officials expressed some concern due to flooding.
• Consequently, state, local, and federal officials coordinated to attain situational awareness of the impacted areas. FEMA Region I and Vermont officials conducted a physical post-event assessment on Aug. 29.
• The only item of concern to officials was road accessibility within the EPZ. The designated primary evacuation routes do not include most of the currently inaccessible roads. State officials implemented a compensatory plan to evacuate inaccessible households. This compensatory plan does increase the time needed for evacuation, although not to a degree that jeopardizes public health or safety.
• FEMA concludes that the off-site radiological emergency preparedness remains adequate to provide reasonable assurance that appropriate measures can be taken to protect the health and safety of the public in the event of a radiological emergency at the Vermont Yankee Power Station, and therefore, we have no concerns with regards to full-power operation.
Put simply, federal officials - working with state and local officials - proactively leaned forward to ensure the safety of residents around the plant. They were satisfied the emergency plan for Vermont Yankee would still be effective despite the damage wrought by the storm. There was no neglect in this area by any of the agencies involved.
As for the criticism directed at the NRC, it is without basis.