The REPP is built on the premise that, as with any other emergency, all levels of government in concert with private sector organizations, have the responsibility for safeguarding the health and safety of the people through carefully planned and coordinated actions. To organize and coordinate actions taken by the utility licensee, federal and state agencies, local governments and support groups into a comprehensive, effective response. To effectively allocate and deploy resources and personnel in response to a radiological emergency. Under the REPP, the following organizations have predesignated radiological emergency roles. Local governments have developed explicit procedures that parallel state procedures to inform and protect the public.
State agencies support local governments by providing personnel and resource assistance.
According to the plan, the chief executive officer of each county within the 10-mile radius of a nuclear power plant has the responsibility for the first line of protection and may proclaim a local state of emergency to aid response efforts. With such action, the governor assumes the ultimate authority to command and coordinate the state and local agency response activities.