News Archive 2002

GOVERNOR BEGINS INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF NUCLEAR PLANT SAFETY
Governor's Press Release
08/01/2002

National Expert James Lee Witt to Conduct Review, Starting at Indian Point

Governor George E. Pataki today announced that former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director James Lee Witt will immediately begin a public, independent review of all emergency plans for the communities surrounding nuclear power plants serving New York State. The comprehensive review will begin with Indian Point in Westchester.

"Following the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, the safety of our nuclear power plants has been a heightened concern for all New Yorkers," Governor Pataki said. "While we have asked the federal government to review the standards for these safety plans in light of the new threats we face, it is clear that we must move forward on our own to ensure our residents are protected.

"Safety must be our top priority and we cannot wait for the federal government to act," Governor Pataki said. "In order to ensure that we are doing everything that can be done, and that the federal standards in place for emergency plans are strong enough to meet the post September 11 reality, we have secured the services of former FEMA Director James Lee Witt to conduct a comprehensive independent review of all local emergency preparedness and evacuation plans beginning with Indian Point.

"James Lee Witt is nationally recognized as a hands-on leader and an expert in emergency management planning and procedures," the Governor said. "More importantly, James Lee has experience in nuclear safety planning at the local, state and federal levels. I am confident that his examination will provide clear direction as we continue working with local law enforcement officials throughout the state to provide the highest level of security in the nation."

The evaluation will be a complete top-to-bottom review of all off-site emergency preparedness plans and procedures concerning commercial nuclear reactors in New York.

James Lee Witt, President of James Lee Witt Associates, LLC said, "I look forward to continuing a strong partnership with Governor Pataki and his team of public safety experts while reaching out to communities, businesses, and citizen groups in New York. My team and I plan to listen to their concerns and make extensive recommendations that will allow Governor Pataki and his team to further protect and improve the sustainability of New York's communities and economy. This is an important step made by Governor Pataki to address the concerns of the citizens who reside and work in the emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants in New York."

James Lee Witt has more than 25 years of experience in disaster and crisis management. He served as Director of FEMA from 1993-2001 and was the first FEMA Director to be elevated to the President's cabinet. Under his leadership, Witt transformed FEMA into an effective customer oriented, disaster preparedness and response agency that provides hands-on assistance to those at risk, both before and after disaster strikes. FEMA is the federal agency responsible for evaluating and exercising the emergency response plans for the Radiological Emergency Preparedness program, which is responsible for the 103 commercial nuclear reactors across the country.

Prior to his FEMA appointment, Witt served as Director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services and coordinated for the nuclear preparedness, response and evacuation capability for Arkansas 1 and 2 nuclear reactors. He also served as chairperson of the Arkansas State Nuclear Advisory Board while serving as County Judge, the chief elected official of Yell County.

In light of heightened public concerns following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Governor Pataki in February asked the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and FEMA to conduct a comprehensive review of the federal standards for emergency plans at the commercial nuclear power plants within the State.

In responses in May, those federal agencies affirmed that the current planning standards now in place for both facilities and off-site community preparedness did not require any revision. Last month, Governor Pataki repeated his call at that time for the federal government to initiate a new review, while determining to move ahead at the State level.

Director of the New York State Office of Public Security, John Scanlon said,"This review by James Lee Witt Associates will help refine the plans and procedures we have in place in New York State and cement our position under Governor Pataki as the nation's premier state in nuclear preparedness and security."

Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office and Chairman of the State Disaster Preparedness Commission said, "Because of the response we received from the federal government, Governor Pataki ordered that an independent review be conducted of our off-site preparedness plans to ensure that every level of safety is closely examined. James Lee Witt is the nation's foremost expert in emergency management practices and will give us an independent, balanced examination and review of the status of radiological emergency preparedness in New York State."

James Lee Witt and his firm, James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA) of Washington, D.C., will conduct a thorough review of New York's Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program for off-site activities surrounding the Indian Point site in Westchester County and for the Waterford, Conn., Millstone nuclear plant as it affects Fishers' Island, NY.

This phase of the contract has a not-to-exceed ceiling price of $800,554. JLWA's review will result in a final report and recommendations for each site. The report is to be filed by December 30, 2002.

JLWA's evaluation will include:

• A review of current planning information base for the two sites, including an analysis of population data, as-built road networks, alert and notification systems, current public outreach materials, dose assessment, and communication technology.
  
  
• A review of past performance and historical findings including a review and analysis of past exercise data and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reports related to each site as well as internal exercise reports.
  
  
• A review and analysis of plans used by emergency response organizations affected by the 10-mile emergency planning zone the two sites including the plant, special facilities, counties and the State.
  
  
• An integrated plan review which includes an evaluation of the performance of the participating organizations in State-run exercises scheduled during the contract period and reviewing those results with emergency planners at respective sites. This effort will enable planners to address any inconsistencies prior to federally-evaluated biennial REP exercises. The firm will observe a site's biennial REP exercise. For sites that do not have a biennial exercise scheduled during the contract period, the firm will at the state's request, be available to guide a tabletop exercise involving representatives from key emergency response organizations.
  
  
• A consolidation and categorization of issues. The firm will use the most recent FEMA radiological emergency preparedness exercise guidance to define program core competencies in the areas of emergency operations management, protective action decision-making, protective action implementation, field measurement and analysis, emergency notification and public information, and support operations and facilities.

The second phase of the independent review of off-site emergency plans will focus on the Nine Mile Point-James A. FitzPatrick and Robert E. Ginna sites in Oswego and Wayne counties, respectively. Prior to defining the scope of work for those additional sites, the State wants to examine the results of the Indian Point and Millstone review. The State also will utilize the upcoming radiological emergency preparedness exercises at the Oswego and Wayne counties sites as input to developing a strategy for review at those sites.

JLWA will review the off-site emergency plans and procedures in place and then observe the federally-evaluated exercises scheduled in the spring of 2003. The firm will then file a report detailing the firm's findings based on the observation of the two exercises and recommendations to enhance the emergency preparedness programs at each site as well as the need for any further reviews. The final report is due in July 2003. The cost of this phase is $122,475.

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