Emergency Response
The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) must be prepared to respond to a wide range of potential emergencies through a comprehensive emergency management system that ensures DOE's capability to protect the public, environment, and national security. DOE O 151.1B, Comprehensive Emergency Management System, Emergency Management Guides, DOE's Headquarters Emergency Response Plan, January 15, 2002, and other relevant documents embody and complement such a system.
The Office of Integrated Safety and Program Assurance (NE-43) is responsible for coordinating DOE's Headquarters emergency response activities involving facilities that are either under the Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) purview or for which it monitors emergency management activities in conjunction with other program offices. Key program offices involved are Environmental Management (EM), Science (SC), and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Other relevant offices and personnel include the Office of Emergency Operations, various operations offices, the relevant site's emergency management personnel, and other groups.
Examples of facilities or programs mentioned above include the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HIFR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) at the Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), and several facilities at INL. Other examples include programs or facilities associated with Space and Defense Power Systems, the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative, and the Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Program.
NE-43's responsibilities also include making arrangements for NE personnel to participate in postulated emergency response drills and exercises, interfacing with the Office of Operations Support to provide corresponding training to the NE personnel, functioning as NE point of contact for those exercises, and maintaining up-to-date references of NE personnel to be called in case of emergencies.
A wide range of emergency response issues, the overall status of DOE's emergency management system, fundamental policy issues, and other considerations are regularly analyzed, evaluated, and reported to DOE's senior management through the efforts of several DOE committees and working groups. The results are embodied in documents that are regularly prepared and submitted to DOE's senior management in accordance with DOE O 151.1B and other documents.
A major NE responsibility is to actively participate in these groups and be cognizant of the relevant emergency management issues, policies, and other related items. Examples of groups in which NE-43 participates in carrying out that responsibility include the Emergency Management Advisory Committee prescribed by DOE O 151.1B, the Emergency Management Issues Special Interest Group maintained by the Office of Emergency Operations, and the Emergency Management Coordinator's working group.
Examples of documents that are regularly prepared and submitted to DOE's senior management in accordance with DOE O 151.1B include DOE's Annual Report on the Status of DOE's Emergency Management System, submitted to the Deputy Secretary, and the Emergency Management Readiness Assurance Reports describing the status of emergency readiness at various facilities, submitted to the Director of Emergency Operations.
