Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant
Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant is a two-unit nuclear-fueled power plant located four and a half miles northwest of Glen Rose, Texas, in Somervell County and about 80 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, Texas. The plant is owned and operated by Luminant.
Radiation Control's Role
Radiation Control has responsibility for environmental surveillance outside the plant boundaries and involvement in emergency response exercises.
Before Comanche Peak could be licensed for start up and operation, a full-scale emergency response exercise had to be successfully staged. After start up, at periodic intervals, exercises must be performed to assure that public health and safety can be protected in the event of an emergency.
Two government agencies, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determine if the emergency response exercise is successful.
Nuclear power facilities are required to perform emergency response exercises at specific intervals: every year for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and every two years for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Response Exercises
Texas has a Radiological Emergency Plan that is used by Radiation Control and a team of state agencies to respond to any radiological emergency. Radiation Control participates by providing technical assistance and expertise. Under the direction of the Chief of Field Operations, the Radiation Control provides:
- Emergency operations coordinators
- Liaisons who work with the utility company
- Health physicists who assess the accident to determine what protection is necessary for the public
- Public information specialists
- Administrative support
- Field monitoring teams
- Liaisons to work with medical facilities
- Staff to advise about contamination control at roadblocks and reception centers
- Technicians
- Mobile laboratory to analyze samples of water, soil, vegetation and air