April 2013

Lessons Learned from the 2012 Targeted Reviews of Emergency Preparedness for Severe Natural Phenomena Events at Select DOE/NNSA Nuclear Facilities

This report provides lessons learned from the 2012 reviews performed by Independent Oversight. The reviews performed during the fall of 2011 and throughout 2012 were at DOE/NNSA sites with hazard category 1 and 2 nuclear facilities, some of which also have significant quantities of hazardous chemicals on site. The purpose of the Independent Oversight review was to determine the state of emergency preparedness of selected sites by examining the sites’ processes for evaluating plausible severe NPEs; identifying, acquiring, and maintaining site response assets; assessing the sites’ abilities to quickly recognize when conditions beyond the site’s capabilities occur; and quickly and effectively integrating offsite response assets into the site’s response.