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Technological Hazards

Overview

The Technological Hazards Section program provides necessary direction and planning concerning potential accidents involving hazardous substances such as toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, and potential releases from nuclear power plants. In addition, the section is responsible for providing technical assistance related to chemical and radiological vulnerability planning, emergency notification, incident management, exercise evaluation and statewide emergency coordination.

This program is responsible for maintaining a Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant emergency response plan, accident management off-site, and statewide emergency notification. In addition, this section stores, repairs and lends radiation detection devices for use by various public agencies in case of radiological materials accidents. Approximately 70,000 radiation detection devices have been made available to the State. These are small, portable units that can be used with minimal training by State and Federal agencies, local fire services, local law enforcement officials, local emergency management organizations, and others to determine whether radiation exists and if it is a public safety threat. These devices are serviced and calibrated regularly by this section to ensure that the devices accurately register radiation. In addition, this section conducts training in the use of these devices and in the hazardous situations where their use may be necessary. Because of the expertise of the individuals, this section trains and certifies Radiological Defense Officers and Radiological Response Teams statewide.

Also included as part of the Technological Hazards Section is the administration of the Hazardous Material Emergency Preparedness Grant Program (HMEP) of 1990 (referred to as HMTA in the past). This Act authorized the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide assistance to states for emergency response planning and training. The Act increases emphasis on transportation and is designed to improve the capability to communities to plan and train for the full range of potential risks they face -- regardless of the source.

In its spring, 1993 session, the Kansas state legislature passed House Bill 2429, the Kansas Nuclear Safety Emergency Preparedness Act. The Act makes the Adjutant General responsible for managing the Nuclear Safety Emergency Preparedness Fee Fund to disburse funds to state agencies and local governments for financing the development, maintenance, and implementation of the plans and programs necessary for preparedness for an accident at a nuclear facility. Through this program, the Adjutant General is responsible for collecting the fee payments from the nuclear facilities for whom state and local emergency preparedness is maintained. The Adjutant General must determine how these fees will be disbursed and must ensure that these fees are used for unclear emergency preparedness only. Any funds remaining unused at the conclusion of the fiscal year must be credited toward the next fiscal year. The Adjutant General must also ensure there is no duplication of services between the various agencies and organizations involved in nuclear emergency preparedness. Responsibility for ensuring the Adjutant General has the necessary information to accomplish these duties lies with the Technological Hazards Management Program.

Functions Carried Out In This Section:

  1. Maintenance and calibration of radiation monitoring instruments or use by local, State and Federal Government (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  2. Distribution of radiation monitoring instruments (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  3. Response to Wolf Creek Generating Station emergency planning (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  4. Maintain and upgrade a Wolf Creek Emergency Response Plan (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  5. Wolf Creek Generating Station Exercises (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  6. Maintain and upgrade four host County Plans in relation to Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  7. Response to Cooper Nuclear Station emergencies (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  8. Cooper Nuclear Station emergency planning (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  9. Cooper Nuclear Station exercises (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  10. Radiological training instruction (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  11. Radiological protection planning (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  12. Radiological emergency exercises (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  13. Route control of high level radioactive material shipment (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  14. Response to radioactive materials accidents/incidents in transportation throughout the state (Article 9 Chapter 48 of K.S.A.)
  15. Planning assistance to local communities (counties) (K.S.A. 65-5705 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 301)
  16. Training of Planners (K.S.A. 65-5705 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 305)
  17. Training of First Responders (K.S.A. 65-5705 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 305 and 29 CFR 1910.120)
  18. Approval of county plans (K.S.A. 65-5705 and P.L. 99-499 sec 303)
  19. Organizational assistance to local committees (K.S.A. 65-5705 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 305)
  20. Membership on the State Emergency Response Commission (K.S.A. 65-5703 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 301)
  21. Response to chemical accidents and incidents statewide (K.S.A. 65-5708 and P.L. 99-499 sec. 304)
  22. Administer the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety program for the state which includes:
    1. Budget preparation and disbursement of funds to the LEPC's.
    2. Manage hazardous materials training programs for the state.
    3. Coordinate grant reimbursement with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
    4. Assist contractors and LEPC's in risk and vulnerability assessments.
    5. Conduct project review of LEPC hazardous materials safety projects.
    6. Conduct hazardous materials regionalization response assessment.
    7. Review state hazard mitigation plans.
  23. Administer the provisions of the nuclear safety emergency preparedness act which includes:
    1. The collection of fees from the nuclear power facilities.
    2. Budget preparation and disbursement of these fees to the various organizations involved in nuclear emergency preparedness.
    3. The management of the plans and response programs developed for nuclear emergency preparedness to ensure state and local agencies are prepared to meet an emergency at a nuclear facility and to ensure there are no duplication in services.

This program then couples with the Operations and Administration program in providing the actual responses. Physical response to a Wolf Creek Generating Station or a Cooper Nuclear Station accident/incident is headed by this program with backup from the Operations and Administration program. This program provides on the scene coordination and technical support for transportation accidents/incidents involving medical and industrial radioisotopes, nuclear fuel, radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

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