26:2D-40. State radiation emergency response plan; preparation and adoption; revision and update

The department and the division, after consultation with the Departments of Health, Energy, and Transportation and after careful review of all relevant guidelines established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall, within 18 months of the effective date of this act, jointly prepare or cause to be prepared and adopt a State Radiation Emergency Response Plan. The plan shall be based upon planning criteria, objectives, requirements, responsibilities and concepts of operation for the implementation of all necessary and appropriate protective or remedial measures to be taken with respect to a radiation accident, or threatened radiation accident, at a nuclear facility or during the transportation of radioactive material, including but not limited to, the designation of all counties and municipalities which shall prepare radiation emergency response plans, the establishment and implementation of appropriate training programs for all personnel who may be involved in any aspect of radiation emergency planning and response, the establishment of an emergency operations headquarters proximate to the site of each nuclear facility from which emergency response operations can be coordinated efficiently and effectively, the development and installation of a mechanism to monitor all temporary circumstances or conditions such as road repairs, utility activities, and floods, which may impede or preclude implementation of the emergency response plan and apprise all relevant emergency response personnel thereof, the preparation and updating of an inventory of temporary housing facilities which may be required in the event of a radiation accident, the development and administration of a communications system to efficiently and effectively discharge all responsibilities and duties in the event of a radiation accident, the preparation of a public emergency response plan for residents of the affected area, the establishment of procedures and practices to review and monitor potential threats from nuclear facilities in neighboring states and to coordinate emergency response plans with any such plans established for such out-of-State-facilities, and a public emergency notification and public information and educational program to furnish all citizens who may be affected with information as they may require to act safely and prudently. The plan shall be revised and updated at least bi-annually; provided, however, that a thorough revision and updating shall be undertaken and completed at least 6 months prior to the projected commencement of operations of any new nuclear facility. The criteria, objectives, requirements, concepts of operation, and designations shall be published by the department and division within 3 months of the effective date of this act.

L.1981, c. 302, s. 4, eff. Oct. 27, 1981.