The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.  The exercise will occur during the week of April 13 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region III.  “We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone as well as the adjacent support jurisdictions within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for use in licensing decisions.  The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on April 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3943 Tecport Drive, Harrisburg. Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. 

Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing: FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to: MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region III, 615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106

FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.

Click Here for a FEMA fact sheet on the program.  Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online.

4/13/2015