[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22259]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Radiological Emergency Preparedness: Review of Exercise 
Evaluation Criteria and Methodology

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing 
the opening of a 60-day comment period for a review of FEMA's 
radiological emergency preparedness (REP) exercise evaluation criteria 
and methodology. FEMA published a Federal Register notice entitled 
``Radiological Emergency Preparedness: Exercise Evaluation 
Methodology'' at 66 FR 47526, September 12, 2001, for FEMA's use when 
evaluating exercises. FEMA published a Federal Register notice with the 
same title at 67 FR 20580, April 25, 2002, correcting and superseding 
our notice of September 12, 2001. Since January 1, 2002, FEMA has 
evaluated REP exercises using the approach and criteria contained in 
the Federal Register notices, and it is appropriate at this time for 
FEMA to examine the results of their use. We invite your comments 
pursuant to our review.

DATES: Please submit your comments on or before November 3, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments to the Rules Docket Clerk, 
Office of the General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 
C Street, SW., Room 840, Washington DC 20472, or send them by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``REP: Review of Exercise Evaluation 
Criteria and Methodology'' in the subject line of your e-mail or 
comment letter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vanessa E. Quinn, Chief, Radiological 
Emergency Preparedness Branch, Technological Services Division, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington DC 20472; 
(202) 646-3664, or (e-mail) [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA, through its REP program, evaluates 
exercises of offsite response plans and procedures. The REP exercises 
test the capability of Offsite Response Organizations, which are the 
State and local agencies responsible for responding to incidents 
involving nuclear power plants, to perform in accordance with the 
provisions of their plans. This activity is undertaken pursuant to FEMA 
regulations, which appear in 44 CFR part 350, and a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) between FEMA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC), which appears at 44 CFR part 353, appendix A.
    In 1996, the FEMA Director announced a strategic review of the REP 
Program. FEMA then established a Strategic Review Steering Committee 
(SRSC), with membership from FEMA and the NRC, to carry out the review. 
The SRSC completed its work in 1999 and forwarded recommendations to 
FEMA management for implementation. A key SRSC recommendation, strongly 
supported by the REP community, called for FEMA to streamline its 
exercise program and change from an objective-based approach to 
exercise evaluation to a results-oriented approach. FEMA implemented 
the SRSC's recommendation in a Federal Register notice entitled 
``Radiological Emergency Preparedness: Exercise Evaluation 
Methodology'' at 66 FR 47526, September 12, 2001, for FEMA's use when 
evaluating exercises. FEMA published a Federal Register notice of the 
same title at 67 FR 20580, April 25, 2002, correcting and superseding 
our notice of September 12, 2001.
    The new approach and criteria have been in effect for over a year, 
and it is appropriate at this time to examine the results of their use. 
We are requesting comments on specific criteria that might require some 
fine-tuning, as well as comments on the efficacy of the outcome-
oriented methodology. The April 25, 2002, notice containing the 
criteria and methodology subject to review is posted on the REP home 
page at http://www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/repfrn.shtm#eval.

Coordination With the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    FEMA conducts the REP program in part under authority of an MOU 
with the NRC. The text of the current MOU is published in appendix A to 
44 CFR part 353. Section E of the MOU provides that each agency will 
provide an opportunity for the other agency to review and comment on 
emergency planning and preparedness guidance (including interpretations 
of agreed joint guidance) prior to adoption as formal agency guidance. 
FEMA has transmitted a copy of this document to the NRC and requested 
their comments no later than the date upon which the public comment 
period closes.

    Dated: August 12, 2003.
Michael D. Brown,
Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness & Response.
[FR Doc. 03-22259 Filed 8-29-03; 8:45 am]
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