Are You Prepared For Are You Prepared For Increased Radiological Increased Radiological

Shipments?Shipments?

AgendaAgenda1.1. WEM presentation – Overview, notification, WEM presentation – Overview, notification,

etc.etc.

2.2. Radiation Protection Section’s PresentationRadiation Protection Section’s Presentation

3.3. Local HAZMAT team responder perspective Local HAZMAT team responder perspective – What is Prepared?– What is Prepared?

Introduction

Overview

Shipment methods

Who is impacted

Our objectives

Background

Regulatory obligation to notify

Previous shipments

Current shipments

Notification to State

Notification must be made in writing Must be received 4 days before the estimated

departure date Notification must include the following:

Contact info for the shipper, carrier, and receiver A description of the material contained in the

shipment Information about the departure, arrival at state

boundaries, and delivery dates.

Subsequent Notifications

WEM contacts the SRC on-call Are additional actions necessary? An E-Sponder Alert is sent out to the County

EM’s and Sheriff’s Offices, and the affected State Patrol Posts

A message is sent out to the County Sheriff’s and State Patrol via the TIME system

Shipment information is shared with TAG and the WEM Administrator

Training and Exercising

2002 – 2003 training and exercises

Recent training

Future training – why?

Information resources

Are You Prepared for Increased Are You Prepared for Increased Radiological Shipments?Radiological Shipments?

• 3 million radioactive material shipments annually in 3 million radioactive material shipments annually in U.S.U.S.

• Types of shipments include:Types of shipments include:– Spent reactor fuelSpent reactor fuel

– High level wasteHigh level waste

– Transuranic wasteTransuranic waste

– HRCQHRCQ

– Low-level wasteLow-level waste

– Medical isotopes, industrial devices, research, etc.Medical isotopes, industrial devices, research, etc.

Spent Reactor FuelSpent Reactor Fuel

• Enriched uranium fuel used in commercial, Enriched uranium fuel used in commercial, research and sub reactorsresearch and sub reactors

• Research reactor fuel shipments occurred Research reactor fuel shipments occurred from Wisconsin in 2009 and 2010 from Wisconsin in 2009 and 2010

High Level WasteHigh Level Waste

• Reactor fuel being shipped for disposalReactor fuel being shipped for disposal

• Waste materials from spent fuel reprocessingWaste materials from spent fuel reprocessing

Transuranic WasteTransuranic Waste

• Transuranic means ‘beyond uranium’Transuranic means ‘beyond uranium’

• Waste containing heavy elements (i.e., Waste containing heavy elements (i.e., plutonium) that are a byproduct of the plutonium) that are a byproduct of the production of nuclear weaponsproduction of nuclear weapons

Highway Route Controlled QuantitiesHighway Route Controlled Quantities

• HRCQ refers to radioactive HRCQ refers to radioactive material (not waste) material (not waste) shipments that exceed certain shipments that exceed certain quantity limits in regulationquantity limits in regulation

• Shipments often going to Shipments often going to industrial irradiators used to industrial irradiators used to sterilize medical suppliessterilize medical supplies

Low Level WasteLow Level Waste

• Not high-level wasteNot high-level waste

• Include contaminated and Include contaminated and irradiated itemsirradiated items

• Multiple disposal sites Multiple disposal sites available in United Statesavailable in United States

Everything ElseEverything Else

• Medical isotopes, industrial Medical isotopes, industrial devices, research materials, devices, research materials, etc.etc.

• Majority of shipmentsMajority of shipments

State Fee StructureState Fee Structure

• Federal law allows states to charge fees for Federal law allows states to charge fees for radioactive material/waste shipmentsradioactive material/waste shipments

• Corridor states charge feesCorridor states charge fees

• Wisconsin is not a corridor state – no feesWisconsin is not a corridor state – no fees

• Minnesota has limited feesMinnesota has limited fees

Radioactive Material Shipments Radioactive Material Shipments Increasing?Increasing?

• In 2010, large quantity shipments thru In 2010, large quantity shipments thru Wisconsin increasedWisconsin increased

• Commercial irradiator sources (HRCQ)Commercial irradiator sources (HRCQ)

• Shipped in Type B containers – Radioactive Shipped in Type B containers – Radioactive Yellow II & IIIYellow II & III

Labels and PlacardsLabels and Placards

LabelLabel Exposure LevelExposure Level SymbolSymbol

Radioactive Radioactive White - IWhite - I

Almost no exposure – Almost no exposure – maximum exposure on surface maximum exposure on surface

0.5 mrem/hr ( 5 uSv/hr)0.5 mrem/hr ( 5 uSv/hr)

RadioactiveRadioactiveYellow - IIYellow - II

Low exposure levels – Low exposure levels – maximum exposure on surfacemaximum exposure on surface

50 mrem/hr ( 0.5 mSv/hr); 50 mrem/hr ( 0.5 mSv/hr);

No greater than 1 mrem/hr (10 uSv/hr) No greater than 1 mrem/hr (10 uSv/hr) at 1 meterat 1 meter

Radioactive Radioactive Yellow - IIIYellow - III

Higher exposure levels – Higher exposure levels – maximum exposure on surface maximum exposure on surface

200 mrem/hr ( 2 mSv/hr)200 mrem/hr ( 2 mSv/hr)

No greater than 10 mrem/hr (0.1 mSv/hr) at No greater than 10 mrem/hr (0.1 mSv/hr) at 1 meter1 meter

If you had to respond to a transportation If you had to respond to a transportation accident involving higher activity radioactive accident involving higher activity radioactive material, do you feel that you have sufficient material, do you feel that you have sufficient training and resources to initially respond to training and resources to initially respond to a higher security, high activity shipment, and a higher security, high activity shipment, and do you know who to call for assistance?do you know who to call for assistance?

Wisconsin Hazmat Response

Mission

The purpose of the Hazardous Incident Team is to identify, locate, confine, and contain the hazardous material during initial emergency operations, if the capability exists to complete tasks safely, to the extent necessary to protect human health and property

County Teams

72 Counties•Blue Counties have their own team•Yellow Counties contract for services•White Counties are without contracted services.•Provide Level B capabilities

Regional Hazmat Teams

• Southwest• Milwaukee• Racine• Appleton/Green Bay/Oshkosh• LaCrosse• Eau Claire• Superior• Wausau

History

Contracted with the State of Wisconsin in 1994

Contracts have been continually renewed usually on a bi-annual basis.

Personnel and Training (example) Madison Hazmat currently has 72 personnel;

Division Chief Code Inspection Position 3 Shifts of 23 personnel each

Core personnel Satellite personnel Training is constant and on-going

Response Considerations

Call 911 in Madison and Dane County To request a regional team call the Wisconsin

Emergency Management Hotline at;

1-800-943-0003 and then press 2 MFD Station 6 at 608-266-4628/608-266-4306 Call anytime assistance is needed with

hazardous materials leaks, spills, or exposures

Provide Information

Location, known incident information, name and contact number

Product information Quantity involved Type of container and damage Injuries and exposed populations Weather conditions and route to scene Special considerations

Needs of HIT

Directions to the scene Liaison person name and contact

number Water for decontamination Decontamination personnel (4) Assistance with equipment set-up (2 to

4) Creature comfort resources

Local Jurisdiction

Responsible for; Incident management HIT acts as a resource and will not

assume control of incident Scene security, traffic, and evacuations Ambulance and EMS service Fire control

HIT Operations

HIT will respond with a MFD Duty Chief to coordinate with local agencies

Duty Chief and Safety Officer may respond ahead of HIT response vehicles

HIT will maintain contact and advise on response actions as necessary

HIT will develop an action plan for the hazmat emergency

Radiation Response

Fire Department based response systems have a limited response capability.

Possess the ability to detect Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiation and provide for public safety.

Possess no radiation protective clothing or shielding containers.

Interstate Highway System

Discussion

Are we prepared?

What can we do to be more prepared?

What resources do we need?

How do I learn more?