Re: nuclear accidents / drills / realistic scenarios / media - public perceptions

["Jack Earley" <jearley@enercon.com>]

<<Conclusion ... we should only test potential and plausible accident

scenarios. Give the media and the public the best effort regarding

what can really happen, and then plan for worse case, but using

sanity checks. IF the govt. agencies want to test evacuation, use a

different scenario, non-radiological. In FL, they do evacuate for

hurricane, and other states have evacuated for chemical accidents.

Use real world scenarios, and don't mix a nuclear drill with a non-

realistic dose evacuation.>>



Thank you, Sandy. Finally, the voice of reason (but will it prevail . . .

?). Reminds me of the definition of insanity--doing the same thing but

hoping for a different result. Also reminds me of a Peach Bottom VP's

comments to plant staff about a year (ca. 1988) after their extended

shutdown: If it's the way we've always done it, it's probably wrong.



Jack Earley

Radiological Engineer



Enercon Services, Inc.

6525 N. Meridian, Suite 503

OKC, OK  73116

phone: 405-722-7693

fax:       405-722-7694

jearley@enercon.com



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----- Original Message -----

From: "Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>

To: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: August 16, 2001 4:31 p.m.

Subject: nuclear accidents / drills / realistic scenarios / media - public

perceptions





> > I believe that it is not

> > possible to create a realistic scenario that would hurt anyone.

>

> Ted,  I agree with this whole-heartedly. There was partial core melt,

> there were planned and unplanned releases throughout the initial

> phase of the incident, and beyond, and, in my opinion, nobody was

> hurt. I base this opinion on all of the follow-up epidemiological

> studies that have been conducted.

>

> I also recall some of the outrageous drill scenarios we had, post-

> TMI, to result in off-site as well as general pubic evacuations in

> the 10 mile EPZ. To get to this point, we had to release several 100%

> of actual core inventory. While this is ludicrous, it did result in

> evacuations :)  The problem I see from so doing, is that when the

> media attends the drill exercise, and they see and have a copy of the

> scenario and what the utility recommended for PARs, they rightly

> assume that this all CAN happen and this WOULD be the result of an

> accident. So, what does one do? You play the game as the scenario

> takes you. You treat the incidents as being valid, rational and real.

> At the end, you can't say, BUT this was all for play, and this CAN'T

> happen. The cat is already out of the bag, the 6PM news bite has

> already been produced.

>

> Conclusion ... we should only test potential and plausible accident

> scenarios. Give the media and the public the best effort regarding

> what can really happen, and then plan for worse case, but using

> sanity checks. IF the govt. agencies want to test evacuation, use a

> different scenario, non-radiological. In FL, they do evacuate for

> hurricane, and other states have evacuated for chemical accidents.

> Use real world scenarios, and don't mix a nuclear drill with a non-

> realistic dose evacuation.

>

> Anyone from the NRC/EPA listening?

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Sandy Perle Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100

> Director, Technical Extension 2306

> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service Fax:(714) 668-3149

> ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

> ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com

> Costa Mesa, CA 92626

>

> Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/scperle

> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

>

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>



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