The U.S. Department of Energy Region 8 emergency response capability

Following radiological accidents, state and local governments, federal agencies, and facility owners may need assistance to monitor and assess the impact of the accident. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) field offices across the country maintain a response capability to provide such monitoring and assessment. This response may be developed to provide assistance following accidents at commercial nuclear power plants, accidents involving commercial nuclear waste, or any other accidents or incidents where emergency radiological monitoring and assessment is needed for protection of the public. Depending on the accident, this initial DOE regional response can range from advice and consultation over the phone to a regional response of perhaps 50 personnel. If additional support is required, DOE resources from outside the region may also be activated. This paper details the DOE regional response capability and some examples of exercise and real accident responses