Emergency Response and Recovery
In the event of an emergency at one of California’s nuclear power plants, Cal OES is prepared to mobilize state resources and to request and coordinate federal resources to mitigate the effects of radiation released into the atmosphere.
While Cal OES has coordination authority during emergency response, CDPH will provide radiological assessments during all phases of such emergencies and will be the technical lead during “ingestion pathway” and “recovery” phases of an emergency. The goal during ingestion pathway response is preventing contaminated water, food and food animals from reaching the consumer. The goal during recovery is restoring areas to pre-accident conditions.
Emergency Plans: Federal regulations require nuclear power plants, states and surrounding counties have a federally tested and approved emergency response plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for ensuring adherence to emergency planning and exercise requirements by emergency response organizations outside of the power plant boundaries which is referred to as “offsite”. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for the regulatory application of these guidelines at the nuclear power plant which is referred to as “onsite”. Radiation releases are monitored and controlled by strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines to keep the public and emergency responders safe.
Emergency Notification: In the event of a nuclear power plant incident, the power plant (utility company) immediately notifies the California State Warning Center and counties in the Plume Exposure Pathway Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ). The Warning Center continues the notification process to other agencies according to procedures for NPP incidents. The power plant provides the emergency classification level (ECL) and plant information to the Warning Center for updates along the notification chain.
Emergency Classification Levels (ECL): Federal guidelines classify emergency conditions at U.S. nuclear power plants into four levels. They are listed below in order from the least to the most serious:
- Notification of Unusual Event (NOUE): Indicates a potential problem with operation of the plant. Officials are notified but no public action is needed.
- Alert: Indicates an event that could reduce the plant’s level of safety. Any release of radioactivity would be a small fraction of the federal guidelines. Designated Emergency Operations Centers and facilities may be activated. No public action is needed.
- Site Area Emergency (SAE): Indicates a problem that substantially reduces the plant’s level of safety. Release of radioactivity outside the plant site would not be expected to exceed federal guidelines. Those who live and work in the EPZ should monitor the situation on television or radio. Limited actions to protect the public may be needed.
- General Emergency (GE): Indicates a problem affecting safety systems in the plant that could lead to a release of radiation that would exceed the federal guidelines outside the plant. Warning sirens will sound. Officials may order protective action for those who live in the EPZ.
