See Also
Cooperative Efforts to Deal with
Emergencies
Radioactive Emergencies On and
Off the INL
Contact INL Oversight
Boise
Office
1410
N. Hilton
Boise,
ID 83706
ph:
(208) 373-0498
fx: (208) 373-0429
Idaho
Falls Office
900
N. Skyline Dr.
Idaho
Falls, ID 83402
ph:
(208) 528-2600
fx:
(208) 528-2605
INL
Oversight Staff List
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INL Oversight Program:
Emergency Planning and Response
Overview
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| Emergencies involving
radioactive materials can occur on the INL, but such emergencies can
also happen on transportation routes or in other enterprises that
use radioactive materials, (i.e., hospitals, research facilities,
technology companies or engineering firms). Although the first goal
is to keep emergencies from happening, the second goal is to be prepared
for them when they do. A timely and capable response reduces the impacts
of an emergency, which is why planning, training, and drills are important.
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| Organizations Involved
in Emergency Planning and Response |
DOE normally takes the
lead role in responding to and mitigating incidents that happen on
the INL. However, if a radiological emergency takes place off the
INL, or if the effects of an INL emergency could leave the site, local,
state or other federal agencies may have the lead.
When it comes to planning for and responding to radiological emergencies
in Idaho, federal, state, and local agencies-as well as commercial
enterprises-share responsibilities. Accordingly, coordination must
be part of the planning process.
Indian tribes, which are sovereign entities, are also involved. The
Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
maintains the overall planning responsibility and coordination role
for state emergency planning. The state's emergency response plans
establish who does what when natural or man-caused emergencies happen.
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| INL Oversight: Technical
Support for Radiological Emergencies |
For radiological emergencies,
INL Oversight provides technical support to state and local agencies
during both the planning process and actual events. Oversight Program
technical staff gather data, assess potential health and environmental
effects, and advise state and local agencies on how to respond.
Oversight staff also coordinate with those in charge of an incident
to provide information to the public. |
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| Training and Practice |
| A key part of effective
emergency response is not waiting until something happens to see how
plans work. The Oversight Program participates in training and practice
drills for local responders. Idaho fire departments and law enforcement
agencies participate in training, designed by INL Oversight, to help
responders identify, respond, and control an emergency situation involving
radioactive material. |
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| Who's in Charge
of INL Emergencies? |
Two different DOE Operations
Offices manage parts of the INL:
- The Naval Reactors Program, Pittsburgh Office, is responsible
for the Naval Reactors Facility.
- DOE's Idaho Operations Office manages the rest of the INL.
All offices involved maintain separate, but consistent, emergency
plans. INL maintains an overall plan for responding to and mitigating
the consequences of emergencies that may occur on the INL. Emergency
plans for the INL consolidate all emergency-planning requirements
for federal, state and local agencies, and they include information
for offsite agencies as well as INL facility actions and requirements.
In some cases, the INL may need state and local resources to respond
to emergencies, while in other cases, state and local agencies may
need INL resources. That's why jurisdictions develop mutual aid agreements.
Several agreements are in place, including some which allow local
fire departments to respond to fires on the INL while the INL fire
department is allowed to respond to fires offsite.
The State's Emergency Plan will soon have more details for responding
to radiological emergencies related to INL facilities. Not only will
this effort develop a more coordinated and efficient response by state
agencies, it will also ensure consistency between INL's plans and
the State's plans.
Idaho also coordinates with other states through the Western Governors
Association to plan and prepare for emergencies involving DOE shipments. |
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| Questions and Comments? |
| Please call the INL
Oversight Program if you have questions or comments about emergency planning
and response, or any other issue relating to the INL. Our toll-free
telephone number is 1-800-232-4635. |
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