NANTeL Emergency Preparedness and Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'ingestion pathway EPZ' radius typically used for at nuclear power plants?
- 2 miles
- 5 miles
- 10 miles
- 50 miles (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 50 miles
The ingestion pathway EPZ extends approximately 50 miles and addresses contamination of food and water supplies from radioactive deposition.
Question 2: What action does 'sheltering-in-place' provide protection against during a radiological release?
- Protection primarily against external gamma radiation from the plume
- Reduction of inhalation dose and some protection from direct radiation by keeping people inside buildings (Correct answer)
- Complete elimination of all radiation exposure pathways
- Protection specifically against ingestion of contaminated food
Correct answer: Reduction of inhalation dose and some protection from direct radiation by keeping people inside buildings
Sheltering reduces inhalation exposure and provides partial shielding from the plume by keeping people inside structures with windows and doors closed.
Question 3: Which Federal agency leads the off-site radiological emergency response and coordinates Federal support to state and local governments?
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Correct answer)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Correct answer: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA coordinates overall Federal emergency response under the National Response Framework and evaluates off-site radiological emergency planning adequacy.
Question 4: The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is used during nuclear emergencies primarily to:
- Notify NRC of emergency classification changes
- Alert the public and provide protective action instructions via radio and TV broadcasts (Correct answer)
- Communicate between plant emergency response facilities
- Trigger automatic reactor shutdown systems
Correct answer: Alert the public and provide protective action instructions via radio and TV broadcasts
EAS broadcasts emergency notifications and protective action instructions (e.g., evacuate or shelter) to the public through radio, television, and wireless alerts.
Question 5: What is a 'source term' in the context of nuclear emergency dose assessment?
- The legal terminology used in NRC license documents
- The quantity and type of radioactive material released or potentially released to the environment (Correct answer)
- The electrical power source for emergency diesel generators
- The origin point of a cybersecurity intrusion at the plant
Correct answer: The quantity and type of radioactive material released or potentially released to the environment
A source term quantifies the radionuclide inventory, timing, and magnitude of a release, forming the input to atmospheric dispersion and dose calculations.
Question 6: Under 10 CFR 50, how often must licensees conduct a full-scale exercise of their emergency plan?
- Every 6 months
- Annually
- Every 2 years (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
Correct answer: Every 2 years
10 CFR 50, Appendix E requires full-scale emergency preparedness exercises at least every two years, with FEMA evaluating off-site response.
Question 7: Which protective action is specifically designed to reduce thyroid dose from radioiodine exposure during a radiological emergency?
- Potassium Iodide (KI) ingestion (Correct answer)
- Wearing a full-face respirator
- Evacuating beyond the 50-mile EPZ
- Decontaminating with soap and water
Correct answer: Potassium Iodide (KI) ingestion
Potassium iodide (KI) saturates the thyroid gland with stable iodine, blocking uptake of radioactive iodine-131 inhaled or ingested during a release.
NANTeL Emergency Preparedness and Response 3
What is the 'ingestion pathway EPZ' radius typically used for at nuclear power plants?