No. IV-09-019 

Contact: Victor Dricks 

Phone: (817) 860-8128 

June 4, 2009 

 E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov

NRC, FEMA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON JUNE 11 IN IRVING, TEXAS 

ON PROPOSAL TO AMEND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS

Staff from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) will hold two public meetings on June 11, in Irving, Texas, to 

provide information on a proposed agency rule that would change emergency preparedness 

requirements for operating nuclear power plants, for any that might be licensed and built in the 

future, and for research and test reactors. 

The meetings are scheduled for 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Westin Dallas 

Fort Worth Airport Hotel, 4545 W. John Carpenter Freeway. NRC representatives will discuss 

changes included in the proposed rule and in the supporting emergency preparedness program 

guidance. FEMA representatives will present information on a proposed supplement to a joint 

FEMA/NRC document that addresses criteria for preparing and evaluating emergency response 

plans for nuclear power plants, and on a draft revision of the Radiological Emergency 

Preparedness Program Manual. 

Developed over many years and with public input, the proposed NRC rule would limit the 

duties of a plant’s on-site emergency responders to ensure they are not overburdened during an 

emergency, and require specific provisions to protect them and other plant personnel during a 

hostile action event. In addition, the proposed rule would require all nuclear power plants to 

incorporate hostile action security scenarios in their drills and exercises, which at present focus 

primarily on nuclear safety-related scenarios. New requirements for back-up measures for 

alerting and notification systems are also included in the proposed rule. 

Attendees are encouraged to read the documents associated with the proposed rule on 

http://www.regulations.gov (Docket Nos. NRC-2008-0122 and FEMA-2008-0022) prior to the 

meeting. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on May 18. It can be viewed 

at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10947.pdf. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region IV 

 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 

 Arlington, TX 76011-4125 

Telephone: (817) 860-8128 
Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by Aug. 3. Citizens can submit 

comments over the federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov; by e-mail to 

Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov; or by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff; or by fax to 301-

492-3466. 

Interested members of the public unable to attend the meetings may participate via tollfree teleconference or web conferencing. For details, call Annette Stang at 1-800-368-5642 or 

send an e-mail to: Emergencypreparedness.resource@nrc.gov no later than June 8. 

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