DOE G 151.1-2, Technical Planning Basis
Functional areas: Defense Nuclear Facility Safety and Health Requirement, Safety and Security
The Guide assists DOE/NNSA field elements and operating contractors in identifying and analyzing hazards at facilities and sites to provide the technical planning basis for emergency management programs.
Supersedes DOE G 151.1-1, Volume 2. Canceled by DOE G 151.1-1B.
Related To:
Version history and related documents
Supersedes
Earlier documents this one replaced.
- DOE G 151.1-1 V2Hazards Survey and Hazards Assessments (Jul 11, 2007)
Related documents
- DOE G 151.1-5Biosafety Facilities
- DOE G 151.1-1AEmergency Management Fundamentals and the Operational Emergency Base Program
- DOE O 151.1CComprehensive Emergency Management System
- DOE M 151.1-1Power Marketing Administration Emergency Management Program Manual
- DOE G 151.1-3Programmatic Elements
- DOE G 151.1-4Response Elements
Document text
Text extracted from the attached file. Refer to the original document for the authoritative version.
Section 1
NOT MEASUREMENT
SENSITIVE
DOE G 151.1-2
7-11-07
TECHNICAL PLANNING BASIS
Emergency Management Guide
[This Guide describes suggested nonmandatory approaches for meeting requirements.
Guides are not requirements documents and are not to be construed as requirements in
any audit or appraisal for compliance with the parent Policy, Order, Notice, or Manual.]
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: INITIATED BY:
www.directives.doe.gov National Nuclear Security Administration
Office of Emergency Management
i DOE G 151.1-2
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DOE G 151.1-2, Technical Planning Basis
Table of Contents
1. HAZARDS SURVEYS ....................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 General Approach ............................................................................................................1-2
1.3 Describe the Facility and Identify its Hazards (Step 1) ...................................................1-2
1.4 Screen Hazardous Materials to Determine Need for a Hazards Assessment (Step 2) .....1-3
1.5 Identify Applicable Types of Emergency Events and Conditions (Step 3) .....................1-4
1.6 Qualitatively Describe Potential Impacts (Step 4)...........................................................1-6
1.7 Identify and Document the Applicable Planning and Preparedness Requirements
(Step 5).............................................................................................................................1-6
1.8 Maintenance of Hazards Surveys.....................................................................................1-7
1.9 Hazards Survey Documentation ......................................................................................1-7
APPENDIX A. Hazardous Material Screening Process ..............................................A-1
APPENDIX B. Example Application of the Hazards Survey Guidance to a
Hypothetical DOE Facility................................................................. B-1
2. HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS ............................................................................................. 2-1
2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................2-1
2.2 General Approach ............................................................................................................2-3
2.3 Define and Describe Facility and Operations (Step 1) ....................................................2-5
2.4 Characterize the Hazardous Materials (Step 2)................................................................2-6
2.5 Select Scenarios for Analysis (Step 3).............................................................................2-7
2.5.1 Types of Events and Conditions to Be Considered..............................................2-8
2.5.2 Selection of a Spectrum of Scenarios.................................................................2-11
2.6 Analyze Scenarios (Step 4)............................................................................................2-15
2.6.1 Estimates of Source Terms.................................................................................2-15
2.6.2 Consequence Calculations .................................................................................2-18
Section 2
2.6.3 Identify Recognition Factors..............................................................................2-22
2.6.4 Finalize Technical Planning Basis Scenarios.....................................................2-22
2.7 Document the Results of the Analysis (Step 5) .............................................................2-23
2.7.1 General Scenario Documentation Guidelines ....................................................2-23
2.7.2 Documented Basis for Emergency Action Levels (EALs) ................................2-24
2.7.3 Basis for Planned Protective Actions .................................................................2-27
2.7.4 EPHA Document as a Response Reference .......................................................2-28
2.7.5 EPHA Document Format ...................................................................................2-28
2.8 Special Topics................................................................................................................2-28
2.8.1 Smoke from Ordinary Structure Fires................................................................2-28
2.8.2 Explosives ..........................................................................................................2-29
2.8.3 Aggregations of Small Quantities of Hazardous Materials................................2-30
2.9 Using Safety Analysis Results in EPHAs......................................................................2-31
3. EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONES............................................................................... 3-1
3.1 Background......................................................................................................................3-1
3.2 General EPZ Concepts.....................................................................................................3-2
3.3 Developing Facility EPZs................................................................................................3-3
4. MAINTAINING HAZARDS SURVEYS AND HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS.............. 4-1
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5. USING HAZARD SURVEYS AND HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS................................ 5-1
5.1 Hazards Survey ................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA) ........................................................5-1
APPENDIX C. Facility and Site Boundary Guidelines............................................... C-1
APPENDIX D. Onsite Transportation Analysis..........................................................D-1
APPENDIX E. Malevolent Events.............................................................................. E-1
APPENDIX F. Consequence Thresholds.................................................................... F-1
APPENDIX G. Combustion Products and Toxicity in Hazards Assessments ............G-1
APPENDIX H. Example Application of the Hazards Assessment Methodology to a
Hypothetical DOE Facility.................................................................H-1
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1. HAZARDS SURVEYS
1.1 Introduction
Section 3
The purpose of this Chapter is to assist Department of Energy (DOE) and National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) field elements in complying with the
DOE O 151.1C requirement that a hazards survey be prepared, maintained, and used for
emergency planning purposes. The Order requires that emergency management efforts
begin with the identification and qualitative assessment of the facility- or site-specific
hazards and the associated emergency conditions that may require response, and that the
scope and extent of emergency planning and preparedness at a DOE facility reflect these
facility-specific hazards. The first step in the implementation of this “commensurate with
hazards” approach to emergency management is a Hazards Survey.
The Hazards Survey, which is based on an examination of the features and characteristics
of the facility, identifies the generic types of emergency events and conditions (including
natural phenomena such as earthquakes and tornadoes, wildland fires, and other serious
events involving or affecting health and safety, the environment, and safeguards and
security at the facility) and the potential impacts of such emergencies to be addressed by
the DOE Comprehensive Emergency Management System. The Hazards Survey also
identifies key components of the Operational Emergency Base Program that provide a
foundation of basic emergency management requirements and an integrated framework
for response to serious emergency events or conditions. Much of the information to be
used in the Hazards Survey, and included in its documentation, should have already been
collected in the course of meeting other DOE, NNSA, and Federal, State, tribal, and local
authority requirements. For facilities involved in producing, processing, handling,
storing, or transporting hazardous materials that have the potential to pose a serious threat
to workers, the public, or the environment, the Hazards Survey provides a hazardous
material screening process for determining whether further analysis of the hazardous
materials in an Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA) is required.
This guidance is directed at operations and emergency management staff responsible for
DOE and NNSA facilities at field offices, service centers, and operating contractor
organizations. It is expected that emergency management staff will obtain support from
site and facility management and from a variety of scientific and technical disciplines
within their respective organizations to conduct and document the analyses described
herein. Appendix A provides a recommended screening approach for radioactive and
chemical hazardous materials. Appendix B illustrates the application of the suggested
Hazards Survey method to a hypothetical facility and site.
This guide cancels and supersedes DOE G 151.1-1, Volume 2, Hazards Survey and
Hazards Assessments, dated 8-21-97.
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1.2 General Approach
Every facility and activity on a DOE/NNSA site should be included in a documented
Hazards Survey. Much of the information necessary to generate a Hazards Survey will
already have been developed and documented in the course of meeting other DOE and
Federal agency requirements relating to facility safety, occupational safety,
environmental and effluent controls, and hazardous materials management. However, the
intent of the Order will not be met by simply defining existing documents or analyses as
the Hazards Survey document.
Section 4
The Hazards Survey document should be a distinct document and should contain, or
incorporate by reference, the information specified in this chapter. A tabular/matrix
presentation can be used to efficiently summarize and document the survey information.
The recommended steps in the Hazards Survey process are:
Step 1 Briefly describe each facility and identify its hazards
Step 2 Screen hazardous materials to determine the need for further analyses in a
facility-specific quantitative EPHA.
Step 3 Identify the generic types of emergency events and conditions that apply to
each facility.
Step 4 Qualitatively describe the potential health, safety, environmental, or
national security impacts of the applicable emergencies.
Step 5 Identify and document the applicable Base Program planning and
preparedness requirements.
A Hazards Survey may address one or more facilities. A single Hazards Survey
document may even cover an entire site. The tabular/matrix presentation format is a
particularly efficient method for documenting the survey information for a large number
of facilities.
1.3 Describe the Facility and Identify its Hazards (Step 1)
Each facility or activity covered by the Hazards Survey should be identified and a brief
description of its operations provided. Any detailed descriptive information should be
included by reference. Sufficient information to provide a general understanding of the
facility and its associated hazards can be adequately presented in a table or matrix. This
information should include:
• A general characterization of the facility and its operations (e.g., office building,
laboratory, warehouse);
• The number of workers normally assigned;
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• Any special designations, such as: nuclear facility, radiological facility, hazardous
waste site, Treatment, Storage, or Disposal (TSD) facility, etc.; and
• Whether hazardous materials, other than standard office products and cleaning
supplies, are used or stored in the facility.
The use or storage of radioactive or chemical hazardous materials in the facility should be
noted and described. Sources of information on hazardous materials include documents
such as Basis for Interim Operations (BIO) and Safety Analysis Reports/Safety
Assessment Documents/Documented Safety Analyses (SARs/SADs/DSAs), process
safety management/risk management analyses documentation, and databases, such as,
chemical and radioactive material inventories. In addition, facility walk-downs enable
emergency management staff and hazards analysts to familiarize themselves first-hand
with actual facility systems, processes, practices, equipment and, especially, material
inventories. Periodic walk-downs can provide checks on the accuracy of documentation
and material inventory databases and may identify additional hazards from by-products
of chemical processes or potential accidental mixing interactions.
If hazardous materials other than office products/cleaning supplies are identified, further
screening should be done in accordance with Section 1.4 to determine whether a facility-
specific quantitative EPHA is required.
1.4 Screen Hazardous Materials to Determine Need for a Hazards Assessment (Step 2)
Section 5
Because of the myriad forms and quantities of hazardous materials in use throughout
DOE/NNSA facilities and activities, the Comprehensive Emergency Management
System provides the opportunity to use a screening process to reduce the number of
hazardous materials quantitatively analyzed for emergency planning purposes. Use of the
screening process described here is not intended to avoid analyses of hazardous materials
that have the potential to harm workers or the public, but to allow emergency
management resources to be focused on analyzing materials that, because of their
quantity, toxicity and dispersibility, have the potential to harm people who are outside the
immediate workplace where the materials are used or stored. The hazardous material
screening process identifies inventories of specific materials in a facility/site or activity
whose release could cause a hazard significant enough to warrant specific consideration
in an Operational Emergency Hazardous Material Program.
To determine whether a facility requires a quantitative analysis of its hazardous materials
in an EPHA, the screening process must identify at least one hazardous material that
requires further analysis. The results of the EPHA will then determine if the release of
each identified material will cause a hazard significant enough to be included as part of
the Hazardous Material Program planning basis.
DOE O 151.1C requires a quantitative hazards assessment if the hazards survey screening
process identifies specific hazardous materials and quantities that could produce impacts
consistent with the definition of an Operational Emergency (OE). In general, an OE
involving an uncontrolled release of a hazardous material must: immediately threaten or
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endanger those in close proximity of the event; have the potential for dispersal beyond
the immediate vicinity of the release in quantities that threatens the health of onsite
personnel or the public in collocated facilities, activities, and/or offsite; and have a
potential rate of dispersal sufficient to require a time-urgent response to implement
protective actions for workers and the public.
All radioactive materials and chemicals with known or suspected toxic properties should
be subjected to a hazardous material screening process, which identifies all hazardous
materials in a facility/site or activity that are to be considered for further analysis in an
EPHA. Some materials may be excluded from analysis in an EPHA based on use, form,
dispersibility, or toxicity. Radioactive materials requiring further analysis include those
listed in DOE-STD-1027-92 in quantities greater than Category 3 values. Chemicals
assigned Health Hazard Ratings 0, 1, or 2 based on the handbook of the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 704, Standard System for the Identification of
Hazardous Materials for Emergency Response, may be excluded from further EPHA
analysis. With some exceptions for extraordinarily high toxicity, chemicals in quantities
less than those that can be “easily and safely manipulated by one person,” also referred to
as “laboratory scale” quantities, may be excluded from further analysis.
Section 6
In accordance with DOE O 151.1C, Chapter III, 3.b(2)(d), the possibility that excluded
materials “could initiate, through fires or explosions, the release of other hazardous
materials must be considered.” Although fires and explosions are the most obvious
examples, the release of other hazardous materials (e.g., materials with health hazard
rating <3) that could cause temporary incapacitation of workers resulting in a process
upset that releases a material with an NFPA health hazard rating = 3 or 4 should be
considered in the analysis. The release of a material with a health hazard rating that in
large quantities could pose an asphyxiation hazard to collocated workers should also be
considered in the analysis.
Appendix A provides a discussion of the hazardous material screening process and
describes a recommended screening approach. If the screening process identifies at least
one hazardous material requiring further quantitative analysis, the Hazards Survey should
indicate that an EPHA is needed for that facility/site or activity. A description of the
screening process and the results of its application should be provided in the Hazards
Survey or supporting documents.
1.5 Identify Applicable Types of Emergency Events and Conditions (Step 3)
The generic types of emergency events and conditions that may occur at each facility for
which some level of planning and preparedness may be required should be identified and
documented. Hazardous materials not specifically addressed in a quantitative EPHA
should also be considered when identifying the emergency conditions. As a minimum,
the following types of emergency conditions should be considered:
• Structure fires and explosions;
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• Natural phenomena impacts (wind, tornados, flood, earthquake, wildfire, snow
storms);
• Environmental releases (of oil or other pollutants that degrade the environment);
• Hazardous material (HAZMAT) releases;
• Malevolent acts (hostage-taking, sabotage, armed assault, initiation of hazardous
materials release);
• Workplace accidents/mass casualty events (explosion, release of toxic fumes, high
energy system failure);
• Hazards external to the facility/site (e.g., hazardous materials in near-by facilities,
transportation accidents, accidents involving utilities, etc.); and
• Accidental criticality.
The emergency condition of particular emphasis in the DOE/NNSA Comprehensive
Emergency Management System is the release of hazardous materials. The inventories
of materials in facilities will be subject to the screening process discussed above. If there
is the possibility that a potential release may cause a classified OE, then an EPHA is
required. If, on the other hand, the facility contains an aggregation of small quantities
(i.e., less than screening thresholds) that may be released during large-scale destructive
events, such as a fire or explosion in a laboratory, an aircraft crashing into a building, or
an earthquake that collapses a structure, this should also be indicated in the Hazards
Survey. A site may consider defining such events as categorized [but not classified] OEs,
if it appears that the condition would meet all the aspects of an OE. The potential
“HAZMAT” aspect of these destructive events may be used as a qualitative factor or
criterion (i.e., without the support of detailed quantitative calculations of consequences)
in defining specific OEs related to these events. However, even without the inclusion of
this category, a site may be required to categorize such an event as an OE under one of
the existing definitions contained in the Order.
Section 7
Some types of emergency conditions will apply to nearly every facility (e.g., fires), while
others will only apply to facilities that exceed a threshold inventory of some hazardous
material or environmental pollutant or are located near other hazards. Site-specific
potential hazards, such as flooding from a nearby dam failure, should be included in the
list of potential emergencies to identify the facilities that are potentially threatened.
Facility and site hazards can be identified by utilizing subject matter experts (SMEs),
BIO reports, SARs/SADs/DSAs, Vulnerability Assessments (VAs), chemical and
radioactive material inventory databases, etc. Also, Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), National Weather Service (NWS), and insurance industry documents
are all potential sources of information.
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Hazards originating outside the DOE facility and site that could impact the health and
safety of onsite personnel or other DOE interests should be identified and examined. As
a minimum, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) should be consulted to
identify nearby facilities having hazardous material inventories that could impact the
DOE site.
Railroads, highways, and other transportation arteries that pass through or near a DOE
facility or site should be considered as possible locations of hazardous material
transportation accidents. If the transportation artery is a known corridor for a particular
hazardous substance, identify the substance, quantities, approximate shipment
frequencies, and Protective Action Zone distance specified in the Department of
Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Protective Action Zone
distances may need to be calculated for hazardous substances not covered by the ERG.
Once this information is collected, determine whether specific arrangements should be
made for protection of onsite personnel. As a minimum, if no specific information can be
obtained, the transportation arteries should be identified as potential sources of hazards to
onsite personnel.
1.6 Qualitatively Describe Potential Impacts (Step 4)
Qualitatively describe the potential impacts of the emergency conditions identified in the
previous step. These descriptions should relate the potential impacts to the different
types of OEs identified in the Order. Consideration should be given to “cascade effects,”
where the emergency condition can result in plausible disruption of response capabilities.
For example, an earthquake could result in fires from downed power lines while
rupturing fire mains.
Following are examples of potential impacts of several emergency conditions:
Facility Type Emergency Qualitative Description of Impact Condition
Office building Structure fire Workers killed/injured by smoke inhalation and burns.
Waste incinerator Earthquake Workers killed/injured/ trapped by building collapse;
release of hazardous materials; contamination of facility
and surroundings; spill of fuel oil into streams/wetlands.
Onsite Transportation Collision Actual or potential release of hazardous materials;
Activity exposures exceeding Protective Action Criteria (PACs).
1.7 Identify and Document the Applicable Planning and Preparedness Requirements
(Step 5)
Various Federal, state, and local regulations include requirements that pertain to planning
and preparedness for emergencies. The Order recognizes these as Base Program
requirements and directs that they be incorporated into the site emergency management
programs. Emergency planners should correlate Hazards Survey results with the relevant
planning and preparedness requirements from other Federal, state, or local regulations
Section 8
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that apply to a particular facility, providing a summary of the required scope of
emergency planning and preparedness at the site. Examples of possible Base Program
planning and preparedness requirements are listed in the Order. When completed, the
Hazards Survey should document and serve as a guide for assessing site compliance with
a variety of DOE and non-DOE emergency planning and preparedness requirements that
are integral parts of the Comprehensive Emergency Management System.
1.8 Maintenance of Hazards Surveys
Hazards Surveys should be maintained to accurately reflect changes in the facility design,
operations, safety features, inventories of hazardous materials, and features of the
surrounding area. According to DOE O 151.1C, Hazards Surveys must be periodically
reviewed and, as necessary, updated prior to significant changes to the facility/site or to
hazardous material inventories, but not less than every 3 years. Examples of significant
changes are those changes which result in an Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ), as
defined in 10 CFR 830.3(a), or in an unreviewed safety issue for accelerator facilities, as
defined in DOE O 420.2B. This definition also applies to non-nuclear facilities.
Changes that result in a reduction of hazards with no adverse effect on safety or
emergency preparedness or response may be included in the next scheduled review and
update. The Hazards Survey can be effectively maintained through monitoring of
existing administrative processes and tracking systems [e.g., Integrated Safety
Management Systems (ISMS), hazardous material inventory systems, facility
authorization basis documentation].
Although most generic types of emergency conditions identified in a Hazards Survey will
remain unchanged throughout the useful life of a facility, the status of hazardous material
inventories within a facility may be the most variable and critical. The hazardous
material screening process provides the mechanism that examines facility hazardous
material inventories to determine the need for an EPHA, both on a periodic basis and, as
required, when notified of changes in operations and/or inventories.
1.9 Hazards Survey Documentation
As noted in Section 1.2, a single Hazards Survey document may address multiple
facilities and the results may be presented in any of several ways. The tabular/matrix
presentation format is a particularly efficient method of summarizing and documenting
the survey information for a large number of facilities. Using this approach, the Hazards
Survey document can consist of brief descriptions of the facilities, types of hazards that
apply, potential impacts of those hazards, applicable regulations, and other common
information, followed by a table or matrix indicating which items apply to each facility.
If the number of facilities is small, separate text section(s) can be devoted to each. For
facilities with hazardous materials, the Hazards Survey document should identify the
sources of inventory information and summarize the hazardous material screening
methods and results.
Sites are not expected to reproduce extensive texts from original sources to incorporate in
the Hazards Surveys. Existing site documents or record systems, such as facility
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Section 9
descriptions, building pre-fire plans, or hazardous material inventories, may be
incorporated into the Hazards Survey by reference in the table or matrix. Hazardous
material inventory information for a facility/site or activity should be documented to
support the results of the hazardous material screening process. However, the inventory
information need only be documented in the Hazards Survey to the extent necessary to
indicate whether a quantitative EPHA is required. If an EPHA is required, then the
results of the screening process for all materials in a facility/site or activity should be
included in the EPHA. Otherwise, the screening results can be included as part of the
supporting documentation for the Hazards Survey.
Sites should ensure that EPHA documentation is reviewed for classified or unclassified
controlled information prior to release, with particular emphasis on the quantity and
location of hazardous materials (especially nuclear materials) and malevolent event
scenarios associated with these materials.
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APPENDIX A. Hazardous Material Screening Process
A.1 Introduction
The purpose of this appendix is to provide background information on hazardous material
identification and to present a recommended approach for screening radioactive materials
and hazardous chemicals. The hazardous material screening process is intended to
identify specific hazardous materials and quantities that, if released in an uncontrolled
manner, could produce impacts consistent with the definition of an OE involving the
airborne release of a hazardous material. Specifically, the uncontrolled release of such a
hazardous material would:
• Immediately threaten or endanger those who are in close proximity;
• Have the potential to disperse beyond the immediate vicinity of the release point and
threaten the health and safety of onsite personnel or the public; and
• Disperse at a rate that requires time-urgent response to implement effective protective
actions for workers and the public.
Of primary concern are hazardous materials that are highly dispersible and have high
acute toxicity or high radio-toxicity. Adverse health effects, which “threaten or
endanger” the health and safety of workers or the public, occur where the consequences
of the release of a hazardous material approach or exceed the applicable Protective
Action Criterion (PAC). Such materials include, but are not limited to ⎯
• Radioactive materials listed in DOE-STD-1027-92 Attachment 1, Table A-1.
• Chemicals assigned a Health Hazard Rating of 3 or 4 based on NFPA 704, Standard
System for the Identification of Hazardous Materials for Emergency Response.
Some materials may be excluded from analysis in an EPHA based on use, form,
dispersibility, or toxicity. The criteria specified in this appendix can be used to make
definitive (yes-no) decisions on excluding materials from further consideration. The
screening criteria are sufficiently conservative that it is unlikely that a substance screened
out using those criteria could cause an OE. However, because the screening criteria are
generic and do not reflect exactly the hazard associated with each individual substance,
there may be facility-specific circumstances (e.g., specific release scenarios or
mechanisms, large quantities of asphyxiates or cryogenic materials) recognized prior to
application of the screening criteria, under which a particular substance that would
otherwise be excluded from consideration using the criteria might cause impacts
consistent with the OE definition. If, during the screening process, the facility/site or
activity recognizes the existence of process conditions or release mechanisms that might
exaggerate the impact of a particular substance, they may choose to analyze the material
in an EPHA even though it could meet one of the stated criteria for exclusion.
Section 10
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This appendix also recommends fixed minimum screening values for chemicals
determined in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1450 and referred to as
quantities that are “easily and safely manipulated by one person” (commonly referred to
as “laboratory scale” quantities.) The Order allows sites to determine values locally,
appropriate to the activities and operations at their facilities, but still satisfying the
provisions expressed in the CFR. Specific values will be recommended in this appendix
to demonstrate the intent of the Order. Use of those screening values will exclude from
further consideration small quantities of most hazardous materials that, in practice, have
little or no potential to cause impacts consistent with the general definition of OEs given
in DOE G 151.1-4, Chapter 4, and the specific OE definition given above for the airborne
release of hazardous materials.
Using this screening process, any chemical or radionuclide, which is identified as a
potential candidate for further analysis, should be examined in an EPHA. After
further consideration and analysis of the specific quantities and release scenarios,
some materials may be subsequently excluded from quantitative analysis in the
EPHA. Hazardous materials that are not identified as candidates for analysis should
be considered as possible initiators or promoters of a release of other toxic
substances.
The following sections contain background information on hazardous material screening
requirements and methods and present recommended screening approaches for
radioactive materials and hazardous chemicals.
A.2 Radioactive Material Screening
A.2.1 General Screening Discussion
All radioactive materials are to be initially considered for possible analysis in an EPHA.
However, DOE-STD-1027-92 allows exclusion of some materials for facility hazard
categorization purposes and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) provides for
similar exclusions when determining the need for material licensee radiological
contingency plans. Consistent with those precedents, the following materials may be
excluded from consideration during the screening process:
• Sealed radioactive sources that are engineered to pass the special form testing
specified by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 49 CFR 173.469 or testing
specified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard,
ANSI N43.6, Sealed Radioactive Sources - Classification.
• Materials in solid form for which there is no plausible dispersal mechanism.
• Materials stored in DOT Type B shipping containers with overpack, provided the
Certificates of Compliance are current and the Certificates authorize the stored
materials.
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• Radioactive materials used in exempted, commercially available products as
described in 10 CFR 30.11-30.19 (e.g., timepieces, illumination devices,
thermostats, etc.).
Small quantities of most radionuclides can be excluded from further consideration by the
use of threshold screening quantities. DOE-STD-1027-92, Attachment 1, Table A-1,
Category 3 threshold values were derived from the Reportable Quantities (RQs)
developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Whereas the
EPA based the RQs on a maximum individual dose of 0.5 rem (5m/Sv) by the most
limiting exposure pathway, DOE applied a dose criterion of 10 rem (100 mSv), consistent
with the EPA recommended dose limit for emergency workers engaged in “protecting
valuable property.” Accordingly, DOE multiplied the limiting release values from
the EPAs RQ background document by a factor of 20 (i.e., 10 rem/0.5 rem [100 mSv/
5 mSv]) to arrive at the Category 3 radionuclide thresholds. DOE-STD-1027-92 allows
for some exclusions and adjustments based on the material form and dispersiblity when
applying Category 3 thresholds.
Section 11
In a few circumstances, the chemical toxicity of a radioactive substance may actually be
of greater health concern than the potential radiation dose. Because the DOE Category 3
radionuclide thresholds are based on radiation dose alone, chemical toxicity may need to
be considered when applying the screening values to very low-specific-activity
radionuclides (or mixtures) that are known to also be chemically toxic. For practical
purposes, the concern is limited to uranium of low enrichment in the form of compounds
that are relatively soluble in body fluids (such as nitrates, fluorides, and sulfates).
Depending on the exact proportions of the different uranium isotopes, the chemical
toxicity concern becomes dominant as the nominal enrichment (235U weight percent)
decreases through the range from about 16 percent to 5 percent. [Cf. Stannard, J. N.,
Radioactivity and Health – A History, Chapter 2, IV. DOE/RL/01830-T59. Battelle
Memorial Institute. 1988].
A.2.2 Recommended Screening Approach
This section presents a recommended screening approach that embodies the general
principles and considerations discussed previously in Section A.2.1. Figure A-1 shows
the steps in the radioactive material screening process.
From available process records and documentation, identify all radioactive materials
stored, used or produced within the facility/site or activity. Some materials that do not
represent the type or magnitude of hazard that is intended to form the technical basis for
hazardous material emergency management programs should be excluded from further
consideration, as follows:
http:30.11-30.19
A-4 DOE G 151.1-2
7-11-07
Figure A-1. Radioactive Hazardous Material Screening Process
License-Exempt Commercial Products. Radioactive materials used in license-
exempted, commercially available products as described in 10 CFR 30.11-30.19
(e.g., timepieces, illumination devices, thermostats, etc.) should be categorically excluded
from consideration.
Non-Dispersible Materials. The degree to which a substance represents an acute
airborne health hazard to humans is a major consideration in determining the need for
further analysis in an EPHA. Sealed sources and other materials engineered to meet
“special form” requirements may be excluded from consideration with documented
justification. Materials in solid form that cannot be reduced to small particles (less than
about 10 microns in diameter) by some plausible mechanism can be excluded from
quantitative analysis because they cannot be suspended and transported in air. Materials
stored in DOT Type B shipping containers with overpack may be excluded, if the
Certificates of Compliance are current and authorize the specific materials stored.
http:30.11-30.19
A-5 DOE G 151.1-2
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Apply Threshold Screening Quantities. Compare facility allowable radioactive
material inventories against Category 3 values in DOE-STD-1027-92, Attachment 1,
Table A-1; exclude from further consideration quantities less that those thresholds. The
DOE-STD-1027-92 Category 3 values should be used for initial hazards screening and
when updating existing Hazards Surveys. Widely separated units of inventory can be
considered separately for comparison to the screening list, even if the “facility” total
exceeds the listed quantity. Only the quantity that could realistically be considered part
of the Material-At-Risk (MAR) for a single release event should be compared to the
screening quantity. The threshold screening quantities should not be used to eliminate
from consideration very low-specific-activity substances such as depleted, natural or low-
enriched uranium in soluble forms. For those materials, chemical -- not radiological --
toxicity may actually be the dominant concern.
Section 12
If the physical properties of the material or the manner in which it is stored or packaged
indicate that the respirable release fraction would be significantly lower than the value
used in calculating the threshold screening quantity, those factors should be considered in
the quantitative analyses of release consequences in the EPHA.
When more than one radionuclide is present in the same location, it is appropriate to use
the summation-of-radionuclide-threshold-ratios approach specified in
DOE-STD-1027-92, Attachment 1. A quantitative hazards assessment is required if the
sum of the fractions of all radionuclides subject to the same release event equals or
exceeds one (1).
A.3 Chemical Screening
A.3.1 General Screening Discussion
For any chemical, the overriding emergency management concern is the acute human
toxicity of the substance by the airborne pathway (inhalation, dermal contact, absorption
through eyes and mucosa, etc.). Hazardous chemicals with local impacts on workers in
the immediate event scene (e.g., asphyxiation, frostbite) are not the primary concern of an
emergency management system, but are among the hazards addressed by worker health
and safety programs. The screening process examines potential chemical hazards and
eliminates materials from further consideration if they are commonly found in public use,
are not readily dispersed in the atmosphere, are not hazardous (toxic) to humans, or exist
in limited quantities. For such materials, response to any accidental release should be
within the management scope and technical capabilities of ordinary workplace safety and
hazard control programs. It is not expected that the hazardous material conditions
following such an accidental release would constitute a hazardous material (classifiable)
OE, the basic definition of which suggests that outside technical support, planning and
preparedness measures are needed to ensure an effective response [cf. DOE G 151.1-4,
Chapter 4].
Chemicals that do not represent the type or magnitude of hazard that is intended to form
the technical basis for hazardous material emergency management programs are excluded
from further consideration, as follows:
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Public Use. In general, materials should be eliminated as candidates for analysis if the
materials are commonly available to and used by the general public. This includes any
substance to the extent it is used for personal, family, or household purposes or is present
in the same form and concentration as a product distributed for use by the general public
(for example, bleach, motor oil, gasoline).
Dispersibility. The degree to which a substance represents an acute airborne health
hazard (toxic) to humans is a major consideration in determining the need for further
analysis in an EPHA. Solids that cannot be reduced to small particles (less than about
10 microns in diameter) by some plausible mechanism can generally be excluded from
quantitative analysis because they cannot be suspended and transported in air.
Section 13
The volatility of a chemical (i.e., how readily it evaporates) is normally expressed as the
vapor pressure (or partial pressure, if in a solution) at a given temperature. For liquid
spills, the rate at which the substance becomes airborne increases with increasing vapor
pressure and increasing pool surface area. As part of the creation of the Clean Air Act,
the EPA was chartered to create a list of hazardous substances and thresholds to focus
accidental release prevention efforts on those sources and substances that pose the most
significant risks to the community. The EPA established a vapor pressure cut-off value
of 10 millimeters (mm) of mercury (40 CFR 68.115) for chemicals to be listed.
However, experience indicates that some substances with lower vapor pressures may
represent a significant airborne source if the potential spill volume is sufficiently large.
Accordingly, a value of 1 mm of mercury is recommended as the cut-off value for EPHA
purposes. Substances with vapor pressures below this value pose little potential for air
releases due to an accidental spill. Although focused on the liquid spill scenario, a vapor
pressure below 1 mmHg at about 25oC can be used as a general criterion for excluding
liquids from EPHA analysis.
Human Health Hazard. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires that all chemicals in the
workplace be labeled in a manner that warns of any hazards the chemical may present.
The actual format and method of labeling is not specified, so there are several different
formats in use. The NFPA hazard diamond is one such method. NFPA 704 specifies a
system for identifying the hazards associated with materials.
The NFPA hazard ratings can be used for initial screening to determine when the acute
health affects of a chemical are severe enough to consider evaluation. Although the
system was developed primarily to serve the needs of fire protection agencies, it is useful
to anyone involved in the handling of potentially hazardous substances. The system
identifies the hazards of a material in terms of three principal categories: “health,”
“flammability,” and “instability.” It indicates the degree of severity by a numerical rating
that ranges from four (4), indicating severe hazard, to zero (0), indicating no hazard. In
general for each of the categories, levels 3 and 4 represent effects that are the most
severe, have the longest lasting impacts, impact the largest area and/or involve the largest
energy release. Chemicals without a health hazard rating should be retained for further
consideration. For purposes of screening, therefore, any chemical with a health hazard
rating of 0, 1, or 2 is presumed not to represent a significant toxic health hazard to
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humans and may be excluded from further analysis. Any chemical assigned a health
hazard rating of 3 based solely on cryogenic properties and the resulting frostbite hazard
may likewise be excluded.
Section 14
Quantity. Hazardous materials should be eliminated as candidates for analyses if the
materials are stored and used only in small quantities. From the definitions in 29 CFR
1910.1450, Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories, “laboratory
scale” means work with substances in which the containers, used for reactions, transfers,
and other handling of substances are designed to be “easily and safely manipulated by
one person.” The Order allows sites to determine values appropriate to the activities and
operations at their facilities, but still satisfying the provisions expressed in the CFR. In
general, about 5 gallons (19 L) of liquid or the corresponding weight of solid material
(about 40 pounds [18 kg]) is the maximum that can be safely handled by one person. For
compressed gases, cylinders with a full gross weight of 40 pounds (18 kg) will typically
contain 10 pounds (4.5 kg) or less of most common toxic gases. Hence, it is consistent
with the intent of the Order to screen out individual containers with capacities less than
approximately 5 gallons (19 L) for liquids, 40 pounds (18 kg) for solids, or 10 pounds
(4.5 kg) for compressed gases.
Individual containers that are being used, and small numbers of such containers kept in
ready storage within or very near an end-user facility, may be screened out. However,
larger numbers of such containers (capacity totaling greater than about 5-10 times the
applicable “laboratory scale” threshold) in warehouses or other storage locations should
be examined closely before screening them out. In these situations, if there are plausible
scenarios (excluding extreme malevolent acts and catastrophic release scenarios such as
major fires, airplane crashes and building collapse) that could release the contents of
multiple containers, the material should be retained for analysis.
A one (1) pound (0.45 kg) threshold value is recommended for substances that, because
of high acute toxicity and dispersibility, may represent an extraordinary toxic hazard
beyond the local event scene. Those substances should include, but may not be limited
to: chemical warfare nerve agents; any substance of similar toxicity [e.g., Acute Exposure
Guideline Level (AEGL)-3, Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG)-3, or
Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit (TEEL)-3 values less than about 3 ppm] that has
been “weaponized” or designed for efficient dispersal as a gas, vapor or aerosol; and,
compressed gases with acute toxicity in the same range.
The fact that a substance is flammable, combustible, or explosive is not by itself
sufficient cause to analyze it in an EPHA. However, a substance should be considered a
potential release initiator or promoter if it is combustible or capable of a violent chemical
reaction that could cause or enhance the release of other hazardous materials with the
ability to cause severe injury or death beyond the immediate vicinity of the release. If a
substance meets the following conditions, its flammable or explosive properties should be
noted for possible consideration in the EPHA as a factor potentially influencing the
release of existing toxic materials:
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• The substance is flammable or explosive and capable of a violent/energetic reaction
(e.g., BLEVE, deflagration, explosion, etc.), and
• The energy available in the substance could cause significant damage to
facilities/equipment and disperse other substances stored or used in close proximity to
it.
Section 15
The fact that a chemical reacts with other substances is not by itself sufficient cause to
analyze it in an EPHA. If an energetic reaction involving substance A could cause the
release of hazardous material B, then the reaction should be considered as a potential
initiator during the analysis of substance B. If an identified reaction creates an acute
inhalation hazard as a by-product and if the quantity created could be a significant hazard
beyond the immediate vicinity of the event, then the reaction and its by-product should be
considered for analysis in the EPHA. If a substance meets the following test, its
chemically reactive properties should be noted for possible consideration in the EPHA, as
the source of a toxic release:
• The substance will react with other chemicals or materials used or stored in the same
location, and
• The reaction could be sufficiently energetic to cause significant damage to
facilities/equipment and disperse other toxic substances stored or used in close
proximity to it, or
• The reaction products are toxic and pose an acute airborne hazard.
NOTE: The initial identification of potential chemical reactions could be made using the
Chemical Reactivity Worksheet developed at the Office of Response and Restoration,
National Ocean Service (NOS)/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) in cooperation with the Chemical Emergency Prevention and Preparedness
Office of the EPA. For chemicals not listed in the Chemical Reactivity Worksheet
database, information from the MSDS, SAX’s Dangerous Properties of Industrial
Materials, project documentation, and other available sources can be used to determine
potential interactions. Application of the Worksheet has some limitations. For example,
there is no way to adjust the results to account for specific chemical form, quantity, or
concentration, and reaction by-products are not explicitly identified. As a result, some
potential reactions identified by the Worksheet may require additional investigation to
determine if they are possible, to identify the toxic airborne by-products, and to estimate
the resulting consequences. Additional information on the limitations and possible
misapplications of reactivity worksheets can be found in the article titled Use and Misuse
of Chemical Reactivity Worksheets, published in the September/October 2006 Journal of
Chemical Health and Safety.
A brief statement of the rationale for the application of these exclusions should be
included in the Hazards Survey or EPHA to document which materials were considered
and excluded. The possible effect of such materials as an initiator or promoter of a
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release (for example, due to their combustible, explosive or corrosive properties) of other
more hazardous material should still be considered.
A.3.2 Recommended Screening Approach
This section discusses a recommended facility/site or activity chemical screening
approach that embodies the general principles and considerations discussed previously in
Section A.3.1. Figure A-2 shows the steps in the recommended screening process, as
applied to a single chemical.
All chemicals with known or suspected toxic properties should be subjected to screening.
Facility chemical inventory records, permits, licenses, shipping/receiving records,
Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), process standards and equipment specifications
and any other relevant sources should be used to identify such materials and the
maximum quantities of each.
Section 16
Chemicals should be excluded from further consideration if they do not represent the type
or magnitude of hazard that is intended to form the technical basis for hazardous material
emergency management programs, as follows:
Public Use. Eliminate from further consideration any material that is commonly
available to and used by the general public, if the formulation and concentration is the
same as for products that are distributed without significant restrictions to the public.
Examples include cleaning products, bleach, motor oil, gasoline, and pesticides not
designated “restricted use” by the EPA.
Dispersibility. Eliminate from further consideration any material that does not present
an airborne exposure hazard due to its physical form or other factors. Materials may be
eliminated if they meet one of the following tests:
• The substance is a solid at normal temperatures and does not contain or include a
significant fraction of small particles (less than about 10 microns in diameter) that can
readily be suspended in air.
• No plausible release mechanism/process is identified by which a large fraction of a
solid material can be reduced to small particles (less than about 10 microns in
diameter) to be suspended and transported in air.
• The substance is a liquid that exhibits a vapor pressure (or partial pressure of a
hazardous material in a solution) of less than 1 mmHg at about 25 degrees C.
A-10 DOE G 151.1-2
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Figure A-2. Chemical Hazardous Material Screening Process
These tests should be applied to a substance as it exists under normal conditions of use or
storage (i.e., temperature, pressure, particle size, concentration, etc.). The dispersiblity
determination should not assume any energetic or dispersive event/condition unless it
results from the inherent qualities of the material (such as pyrophoric properties) or
process conditions (for example, liquid pumped at high pressure that could, in event of a
leak, produce aerosol-sized droplets). To ensure that the dispersibility tests are applied
DOE G 151.1-2 A-11 (and A-12)
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correctly, the storage and use conditions may need to be determined (by physical
inspection, document review, or other means) during the screening process. Any reactive
properties that could result in a substance being converted from a non-dispersible to
dispersible state should also be understood before screening it out.
Human Health Hazard. Materials that have been assigned a NFPA health hazard
category rating (or a health hazard rating assigned locally using the criteria published in
NFPA 704) 0, 1, or 2 are presumed to not represent significant toxic health hazards to
humans. Such materials do not have toxic properties of the type that need to be
considered in a quantitative EPHA. Materials that have no assigned value for the health
hazard rating should be analyzed in the EPHA, if they exceed the small quantity
thresholds discussed below.
Quantity. Unit quantities (individual containers) smaller than those “easily and safely
manipulated by one person” (i.e., “laboratory scale” quantities) should not be analyzed
quantitatively in an EPHA. As used here, containers with capacities of no more than
5 gallons (19 L) for liquids, 40 pounds (18 kg) for solids, or 10 pounds (4.5 kg) for
compressed gases are defined as being “easily and safely manipulated by one person.”
Individual containers that are being used, and small numbers of such containers kept in
ready storage within or very near an end-user facility, may be screened out. As
previously noted, a one (1) pound (0.45 kg) threshold value should be used for substances
that, because of high acute toxicity (i.e., AELG-3, ERPG-3, or TEEL-3 < 3 ppm) and
dispersibility, may represent an extraordinary toxic hazard beyond the local event scene.
Section 17
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APPENDIX B. Example Application of the Hazards Survey
Guidance to a Hypothetical DOE Facility
B.1 Introduction
The purpose of this appendix is to illustrate the application of the Hazards Survey
guidance described in the main body of DOE G 151.1-2. Section 1.2 describes the steps
of a suggested approach to conducting a facility Hazards Survey. The steps were
described quite briefly and in sufficiently general language that they could be applied to a
broad variety of facility types. An example application of the approach is presented in
this appendix.
This appendix is presented in the format of a Hazards Survey Document for a single
operating area of a hypothetical DOE site, prepared in accordance with the suggested
methodology. Numbered sections (i.e., 1, 2, 2.1, etc.) are parts of the example Hazards
Survey Document.
The format and content of the example application, presented in the following pages,
should be viewed as an acceptable means of meeting the Hazards Survey requirement of
DOE O 151.1C and documenting its results. The main sections of the example Hazards
Survey are:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SCOPE
3. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SCREENING
4. SUMMARY
B-2 DOE G 151.1-2
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B.2 Example Hazards Survey
123 Area Hazards Survey
1. Introduction
This report documents the Hazards Survey for facilities in the 123 Area of
the DOE Erlenmeyer Site. The Hazards Survey was conducted in
accordance with the DOE Emergency Management Guide (EMG),
DOE G 151.1-2, Hazards Surveys and Hazards Assessments, Chapter 1, to
fulfill the DOE O 151.1C requirement that a Hazards Survey be conducted to
identify the conditions to be addressed by the comprehensive emergency
management program.
2. Scope
2.1 Site Description
The Erlenmeyer Site is described in Section 3 of the Site Comprehensive
Emergency Plan. The 123 Area is described in Section 3.2.2 of that document.
2.2 Facilities Covered
This Hazards Survey covers all facilities and operations within the 123 Area.
Included are research and development laboratories, warehouses, utility services,
and administrative offices. The facilities and the results of the survey are
presented in Table 2-1.
3. Hazardous Material Screening
Hazardous material screening for the 123 Area facilities was conducted in
accordance with the DOE G 151.1-2, Appendix A. Table 3-1 summarizes the
information sources used to determine the hazardous material status of each
facility. Each item or unit of radioactive material and potentially toxic
chemical encountered on the facility inventory records or during the walk-
down was evaluated using the screening guidelines from DOE G 151.1-2,
Appendix A, Section A.2 or A.3, as applicable. Radioactive items or
quantities were eliminated from further consideration (screened out) if they
were:
• Part of a license-exempt commercial product,
• In a solid, non-dispersible form, or
• In a quantity less than the DOE-STD-1027-92 Category 3 value.
A chemical was eliminated from further consideration if:
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• It was generally available without restriction to the public in the same
form/size,
• It was not dispersible,
• The health hazard rating was 2 or less, or
• The quantity was less than the applicable “laboratory scale” value (5 gallons
[19 L] for liquids, 40 pounds [18 kg] for solids, 10 pounds [4.5 kg] for gases).
Section 18
Based on hazardous material inventory information sources listed in Table 3-1,
only the ABC Facility and Building 152 (Water Treatment Plant) are determined
to have hazardous material inventories that require quantitative analysis. No
hazardous biological agents or toxins are used or stored in any facility within the
123 Area. The screening processes for facilities found to contain hazardous
materials are summarized in Tables 3-2 and 3-3. The results of the screening
found that the following substances should be quantitatively analyzed in an
EPHA:
Building 152 Chlorine (facility total = 600 pounds/272 kilograms)
ABC Facility Heat source Pu-238 (facility total = 10 kg (4.9E+15 Bq)
Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
(facility total = 1320 lbs/600 kg)
Methyl Ethyl Badstuff (275 gallons/[1041 L])
NOTE: Facilities are advised to list materials screened out, which are perceived
as being “high visibility” or of special interest to the site, facility or public, and
to give the specific reasons for the decisions. Examples include plutonium,
beryllium and any substance previously analyzed in an EPHA that is being
screened out using the most recent guidance. A complete list of the materials
considered and the basis for the screening disposition of each should be included
or referenced in the survey.
4. Summary
As a result of the qualitative Hazards Survey documented in Table 2-1, facilities
in the 123 Area can be grouped according to their emergency potential as detailed
below.
4.1 Facilities Having Potential for OEs Requiring Classification
Based on hazardous material inventory information sources listed in Table 3-1,
the ABC Facility and the Building 152 (Water Treatment Plant) are determined to
have the potential for OEs that would be classified as Alert, Site Area Emergency,
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or General Emergency. Quantitative EPHAs are required for these facilities. The
EPHA for the ABC Facility is documented in (reference) and for Building 152 in
(reference).
Because of the potential for OEs requiring classification, the planning and
preparedness requirements of DOE O 151.1C, Chapter IV, apply to the ABC
Facility, Building 152, and the site as a whole. The Erlenmeyer Site Emergency
Plan, ERL-EM-0001, provides for comprehensive and integrated site planning,
preparedness, and response for all potential emergency conditions involving the
release of hazardous materials on the site. The site plan and implementation
procedures, together with the Building/Facility Emergency plans and procedures
for the ABC Facility and Building 152, address each of the planning,
preparedness, and response requirements of DOE O 151.1C, Chapter IV.
4.2 Facilities Having No Potential for OEs Requiring Classification
The following facilities are determined to have the potential only for events or
conditions that would be categorized as OEs not requiring classification in
accordance with the criteria of DOE O 151.1C, Chapter V. The organization
component listed is responsible for maintaining planning and preparedness in
accordance with the applicable requirements identified in Table 2-1 and for
making specific provisions for timely recognition and reporting of OEs
originating in or affecting the facility.
Building Number
Responsible Organization and
Organization Code
101 Craft Services (SL40)
102 Emergency Services (SE55)
103, 104, 106, 108, 109 XYZ Operations (TK41)
113, 151, 152 Site Utilities Engineering (TZ30)
114 ABC Operations (TK44)
117, 118, 121 PQR Laboratory Operations (MX72)
999 Contract Services (CZ00)
Section 19
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Table 2-1. 123 Area Hazards Survey Summary
Bldg
ID Type/Use
Occupancy
(total/other
than ground
floor)
Special
Conditions/
Designations
Hazardous
Materials Emergency Conditions a Potential Impacts
Applicable
Requirements
101 Craft shop 12/0 Haz. waste
satellite
collection
point
Paints, solvents,
lubricants
1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
3. Environmental release
5. Malevolent acts
7. Workplace accident
8. External hazards
1,2,5,7,8 - Worker
death/injury.
3 -Pollution of water
way
Occupational Safety
and Health
Administration
(OSHA) Employee
notification & evac.
plan; 40 CFR 117
notification of
release to waters
102 Fire
Station
8/0 Buried
natural gas
main ~30m
west
None 1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
5. Malevolent acts
7. Workplace accident
8. External hazards
1,2,5,7,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan
103
104
108
109
114
117
Offices,
modular
24/0 (each) No None 1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
5. Malevolent acts
8. External hazards
1,2,5,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan
106
113
118
121
Offices,
multistory
45/20
60/30
45/15
90/48
No None 1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
5. Malevolent acts
8. External hazards
1,2,5,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan
ABC Laboratory
process
140/50 TSD Facility Radioactive
materials
Toxic
chemicals
1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
3. Environmental release
4. Haz. Mat. release
5. Malevolent acts
6. Workplace accident
7. External hazards
1,2,5,7,8 - Worker
death/injury
3 - Pollution of
water-way
4 - Onsite & offsite
personnel
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan; 40 CFR 302
reporting; 40 CFR
355 reporting;
40 CFR 117
notification of
release to waters
Table 2-1. 123 Area Hazards Survey Summary (cont’d)
Bldg
ID Type/Use
Occupancy
(total/other
than ground
floor)
Special
Conditions/
Designations
Hazardous
Materials Emergency Conditions a Potential Impacts
Applicable
Requirements
999 Offices,
multistory
310/150 No None 1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
5. Malevolent acts
8. External hazards
1,2,5,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan
151 River
water
pump
station
No routine
occupancy
No None 1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
5. Malevolent acts
7. Workplace accident
8. External hazards
1,2,5,7,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
plan
152 Water
treatment
plant
No routine
occupancy
No Water treatment
chemical
(chlorine)
1. Structure fire/explosion
2. Natural phenomena
4. Haz. Mat. Release
5. Malevolent acts
7. Workplace accident
8. External hazards
1,2,5,7,8 - Worker
death/injury
OSHA Employee
notification & evac.
Plan
a Descriptions of emergency conditions are taken from DOE G 151.1-2, Section 1.5, where:
1= Structure fires and explosions; 2 = Natural phenomena impacts; 3 = Environmental releases; 4 = Hazardous material releases; 5 = Malevolent acts;
6 = Workplace accidents; 7 = External hazards.
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Table 3-1. Sources of 123 Area Hazardous Material Inventory Information
Building Hazardous Material Inventory Information Sources
101 Site Hazardous Material Inventory and Tracking System (MITS), 6/5/06. Facility walk-through on 6/23/06.
102 MITS, 6/5/06. Facility walk-through on 6/23/06.
Section 20
103, 104, 108, 109,
114, 117
MITS, 6/5/06. Facility walk-through on 6/23/06.
106, 113, 118, 121 MITS, 6/9/06. Facility walk-through on 6/24/06.
ABC MITS, 6/4/06. ABC Hazards Assessment dated 1/05 and supplement dated 7/06. MWUPPPP Process safety assessment
dated 5/05. Facility walk-through on 6/22/06.
999 MITS, 6/11/06. Facility walk-through on 6/19/06.
151 MITS, 6/4/06. Facility walk-through on 6/19/06.
152 MITS, 6/4/06. Bldg 152 Hazards Assessment dated 4/05. Facility walk-through on 6/19/06.
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Table 3-2. 123 Area Chemical Screening Summary
Bldg
ID Type/Use
Hazardous
Chemical(s)
Public
Use Dispersible
NFPA Health
Hazard
Category
Less than
Laboratory
Scale Quantity?
Analyze
in
EPHA? Notes
101 Craft Shop Paints
Solvents
Lubricants
Adhesives
Yes N/A N/A N/A No Commercial products that are used
and stored in formulations and
quantities commonly available to and
used by the general public.
102 Fire
Station
Pesticides
Herbicides
Yes N/A N/A N/A No Used to control mice and eliminate
weeds. Commercial products used
and stored in formulations and
quantities commonly available to and
used by the general public.
103
104
108
109
114
117
106
113
118
121
999
Offices,
modular &
multistory
Janitorial
Supplies
(Dry/Liquid)
Yes N/A *N/A N/A No Commercial products used and stored
in formulations and quantities
commonly available to and used by
the general public.
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Table 3-2. 123 Area Chemical Screening Summary (cont’d)
Bldg
ID Type/Use
Hazardous
Chemical(s)
Public
Use Dispersible
NFPA
Health
Hazard
Category
Less than
Laboratory
Scale
Quantity?
Analyze
in
EPHA? Notes
ABC Laboratory
process
Anhydrous
Hydrogen
Fluoride
No Yes 4 No Yes Stored in sealed steel pressure cylinders
containing 100 kg (220 lb) each.
Maximum inventory allowed 6 cylinders.
Dimethylfor
mamide
No Yes Not Rated Yes No Used as a solvent for small-scale resin
production. Typically 1 – 2 gallons in
inventory. Therefore, less than laboratory
scale.
Isopropyl
Alcohol
No Yes 1 Yes No NFPA health hazard rating less than 2.
Used for cleaning, total quantity typically
less than 1 gallon. Therefore, less than
laboratory scale.
Methyl Ethyl
Badstuff
No Yes 4 No Yes Used in plastic production. Received and
handled in 55-gal steel drums, which hold
256 kg (564 lb). Maximum inventory is
5 drums.
152 Water
treatment
plant
Chlorine No Yes 3 No Yes Used for water purification. Stored in
150-lb cylinders of liquefied compressed
gas. Typical inventory is 4 cylinders.
ABC Laboratory
process
Cs-137 No No 6.0E+01 No No 100 mCi sealed source that is part of
densitometer instrumentation used for
testing components within Process
Number-2. The source has met sealed
source testing requirements specified in
ANSI N43.6.
Pu-238 No Yes 6.2E-01 Yes Yes Used as the heat source in the
manufacture of prototype thermal-electric
generators in Process Number-2.
Maximum inventory allowed in the
facility is 10 Kg (1.3E+05 Ci).
Tritium Yes N/A 1.6E+04 N/A No Facility exit signs containing tritium.
Typical source strength ~0.5 Ci
(~20 GBq)/sign. NRC License-exempt
per 10 CFR 30.19.
B
-10
D
O
E G
151.1-2
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Table 3-3. 123 Area Radiological Screening Summary
Bldg
ID Type/Use
Radioactive
Material(s)
License
Exempt Dispersible
DOE-STD-1027-92
Cat 3 Threshold
(Ci)
Exceeds
Threshold?
Analyze
in
EPHA? Notes
ABC Laboratory
process
Cs-137 No No 6.0E+01 No No 100 mCi sealed source that is part
Section 21
of densitometer instrumentation
used for testing components
within Process Number-2. The
source has met sealed source
testing requirements specified in
ANSI N43.6.
Pu-238 No Yes 6.2E-01 Yes Yes Used as the heat source in the
manufacture of prototype thermal-
electric generators in Process
Number-2. Maximum inventory
allowed in the facility is 10 Kg
(1.3E+05 Ci).
Tritium Yes N/A 1.6E+04 N/A No Facility exit signs containing
tritium. Typical source strength
~0.5 Ci (~20 GBq)/sign. NRC
License-exempt per
10 CFR 30.19.
2-1 DOE G 151.1-2
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2. HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS
2.1 Introduction
The purpose of this Chapter is to assist DOE and NNSA field elements in complying with
DOE O 151.1C whenever a facility-specific quantitative assessment of the potential
release of hazardous materials is required. A hazards assessment must be performed for a
facility/site or activity when at least one hazardous material requiring quantitative
analysis is identified through the hazardous material screening process conducted as part
of the Hazards Survey. The Order requires special planning and preparedness for DOE
emergency management programs that need to respond to emergency events or
conditions involving the unplanned release of hazardous materials. The scope and extent
of these programs will be based on facility-specific hazards through a “commensurate
with hazards” approach. The first step in the implementation of this approach for
hazardous materials is the quantitative analysis of potential emergencies in an EPHA.
EPHAs involve the application of rigorous hazards analysis techniques that provide
sufficient detail to assess a broad spectrum of postulated events or conditions involving
the potential release of hazardous materials and to analyze the resulting consequences.
The screening process and the analysis of identified hazardous materials in a facility/site
or activity determine the potential for producing an OE classified as an Alert, Site Area
Emergency, or General Emergency. If a potential classifiable OE associated with a
facility/site or onsite activity is identified, an Operational Emergency Hazardous Material
Program needs to be developed and maintained that establishes additional, more detailed
emergency management program requirements than those imposed by the Operational
Emergency Base Program.
The EPHA performs three roles in a DOE emergency management program. First, by
summarizing the processes and systems associated with the hazardous materials, together
with the nature and magnitude of the hazards, the EPHA provides the technical planning
basis for determining the necessary plans/procedures, personnel, resources, equipment,
and analyses [e.g., determination of an Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)] that comprise
the Operational Emergency Hazardous Material Program. Second, the documented
EPHA provides an archival record of the data, assumptions, and methods used in
developing the technical planning basis for the program; it also reflects the reasoning
used to modify the program in response to changes in operations and hazards. The
documented EPHA should enable an emergency management program to survive the
inevitable turnover of hazards assessment personnel without the loss of continuity that
can result from uncertainty about past analyses and decisions. Third, the EPHA performs
a key readiness assurance role by providing clear and convincing evidence that facility-
specific hazards are well understood by the responsible emergency management planners,
and that, if used correctly, the EPHA represents a valid technical foundation for
developing an emergency management program that is “commensurate with hazards.”
Section 22
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Of particular importance in performing hazards assessments, especially for sites with
multiple facilities, is consistency in the selection and application of analysis techniques,
hazardous material release scenarios, and the assumptions and input data used in
consequence calculations. A recommended approach for ensuring consistency is to
standardize and document ground rules and criteria prior to performing the hazards
assessment analyses. The selection and subsequent documentation of EPHA release
criteria and analysis techniques, beforehand, ensures both consistency between EPHAs
for common scenarios and analyses and consensus among diverse site functions.
An effective method for accomplishing consistency and for ensuring consensus among
diverse disciplines involved with the EPHAs is through interaction and coordination with
a broad scope of interested facility and/or site functions, including operations, programs,
Safeguards and Security (S&S), safety, fire protection, and authorization basis and
emergency management analysts. Most sites, especially those with multiple facilities,
can benefit from the issuance of a formal site-wide procedure for performing hazards
assessments. Such a procedure should specify standard analysis methods, inputs, and
criteria for performing the hazards assessment analyses, as well as a step-by-step hazards
assessment approach and documentation standard that will ensure consistency among the
site’s EPHAs. This documented procedure can also streamline the required DOE review
and approval process for revised and updated EPHAs, which should significantly
decrease the time required to implement approved changes in emergency plans and
procedures and emergency response tools [e.g., Emergency Action Levels (EALs)], based
on updated and approved EPHAs.
To the maximum extent possible, the hazards assessment process should make use of
facility description and accident scenarios from SARs/SADs/DSAs, consequence
assessment methods used during emergency response, and existing hazardous materials
inventories maintained for other purposes. Information available from sources such as
SARs/SADs/DSAs, BIO documents, Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRAs), VAs, Fire
Hazard Analyses (FHAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and other documents
that address facility/site or activity hazards or potential consequences may be used to
ensure consistency of basic input data. The analyses contained in these sources should be
used with caution, however, because the assumptions and methodology applicable to
their intended purposes may not be fully compatible with emergency management
planning needs.
When scheduling EPHA preparation, the schedules for the preparation, review and
update of other safety and regulatory compliance documents should be considered.
Integrating the EPHA effort with these schedules can increase preparation efficiency and
reduce cost. Where possible, the same release parameters and analyses techniques may
be used to minimize the differences between the EPHAs and safety/authorization-basis
analyses.
In order to advance the level of understanding and the capability of performing integrated
hazards analysis, a handbook was developed by DOE to emphasize the efficiencies and
advantages associated with integrating the numerous hazard analysis methodologies
performed under various requirements. This handbook, DOE-HDBK-1163-2003,
2-3 DOE G 151.1-2
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Section 23
Integration of Multiple Hazard Analysis Requirements and Activities, focuses on data
exchange among the various analysis methodologies under multiple standards and
requirements, where applicable. It is the intention of the handbook to promote further
discussion and hands-on experience in encouraging the concept of the integration of
hazards analysis. The hazards assessment process for emergency management discussed
in this guide promotes this concept of analysis integration.
The guidance in this Chapter is directed at operations and emergency management staff
responsible for DOE and NNSA facilities at field offices, service centers, and operating
contractor organizations. It is expected that emergency management staff will obtain
support from site and facility management and from a variety of scientific and technical
disciplines within their respective organizations as they conduct and document the
analyses described herein.
Appendix C provides specific guidance related to the practical definition of “facilities,”
“facility boundaries,” and “site boundaries” for use in developing DOE emergency
management programs. Appendix D addresses the necessary modifications of the
hazards assessment guidance when applying the methodology to onsite transportation
activities. Appendix E addresses the development of malevolent event scenarios for the
analysis of potential hazardous material releases. Appendix F contains guidance on
selecting consequence criteria, computing time-weighted average concentrations, and
using the chemical mixture methodology. Appendix G provides backup analysis and
documentation supporting guidance related to the treatment of toxic combustion products
in EPHA analyses. Appendix H illustrates the application of the suggested hazards
assessment method to a hypothetical facility and site.
2.2 General Approach
DOE Emergency Management System policy and Order require that hazardous material
emergency management programs are responsive to the full range (spectrum) of potential
hazardous material release scenarios, including applicable hazardous material types,
release magnitudes, and initiating events. The term “release” is used here to mean,
primarily, an airborne release. The airborne release pathway typically represents the
most time-urgent situation and requires a rapid, coordinated, emergency response on the
part of the facility, collocated facilities, and surrounding jurisdictions to protect workers,
the public, and the environment. Releases to aquatic and ground pathways, although a
matter of serious concern in terms of potential environmental and long-term public health
consequences, in most instances do not have the same time urgency as the airborne
release. When a release to an aquatic or ground pathway could have a near-term effect
on the workers or the public (e.g., through a community water supply), then it should be
considered in the hazards assessment.
For a single facility (or activity), there may be hundreds of different possible hazardous
material release scenarios. To address this range of possibilities, facilities should develop
and document a technical planning basis for the facility-specific emergency management
program consisting of a manageable number of systematically selected and realistically
analyzed release scenarios to represent a spectrum of severity and initiators. The purpose
2-4 DOE G 151.1-2
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Section 24
of this Chapter of the EMG is to provide guidance that will address the process for
conducting and documenting the selection and quantitative analysis of potential release
scenarios associated with the hazardous materials identified by the Hazards Survey
screening process.
The recommended steps in the EPHA process are the following:
Step 1 Define and describe the facility and operations.
Step 2 Characterize the hazardous materials.
Step 3 Select scenarios for analysis.
Step 4 Analyze scenarios
- Estimate source term,
- Calculate consequences,
- Identify recognition factors, and
- Finalize technical planning basis scenarios.
Step 5 Document the results of the analysis.
Although the basic steps of the process should be accomplished and documented in the
order presented, within any given step of the process, there is substantial leeway within
which the unique features of the facility, operations, and site can be accommodated.
The EPHA should address factors such as initiating events, contributing events, accident
mechanisms, equipment or system failures, engineered safety system failures, source
terms, material release chemistry and characteristics, environmental transport and
diffusion, emergency event or condition observable indicators, exposure considerations,
and health effects. Conservative consequence calculations should be performed for the
purposes of event classification, initial protective action determinations, response
decision-making, and special planning (e.g., collocated facilities, special offsite
populations, EPZ determination). The results of the hazards assessment are to be used to
determine the EPZs for each facility and site, as well as the emergency classification and
initial protective actions for each analyzed event. The observable indicators, or
recognition factors, of each analyzed event or condition are identified for use as event
classification criteria (i.e., EALs).
EPHAs should be prepared and documented in a manner that permits critical review of
the analyses and results and, if necessary, reconstruction by independent analysts.
However, detailed descriptions of the methods, assumptions, and models need not be
included if they are documented elsewhere and referenced (e.g., site-wide procedure for
EPHAs).
In the remainder of this chapter, the steps in the EPHA process will be discussed.
Sections 2.3 and 2.4 address the facility description and the characterization of the
hazardous materials associated with the facility, respectively. The selection and analysis
2-5 DOE G 151.1-2
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of a spectrum of scenarios is covered in Sections 2.5 and 2.6. Finally, Section 2.7
provides guidance related to documentation requirements for EPHAs. The treatment of
several special hazards in the EPHA is discussed in Section 2.8, and Section 2.9 provides
guidance on using other sources of safety basis information to accomplish the steps in the
EPHA process.
2.3 Define and Describe Facility and Operations (Step 1)
A clear, accurate, and unambiguous written and schematic description of the facility,
activity, or operation that represents the scope of the EPHA should be provided. This
description should provide sufficient detail to support the identification, location, and
characterization of all hazards and their potential consequences. For many facilities, the
descriptions of the facility and its operations from current SARs/SADs/DSAs or
environmental reports should serve this purpose and may be briefly summarized and
incorporated by reference.
Section 25
In some cases, the boundaries of the facility and operations in question will have been
previously defined (e.g., by a security boundary or fence). Facility “definitions” used for
SAR/SAD/DSA purposes may be applicable. However, the boundaries should be
reexamined with the objectives of the EPHA in mind.
Sites may group their facilities, activities, and hazards in any of several ways for hazards
assessment purposes. Several structures or component units with a common or related
purpose may be defined as single “facility,” such as a waste tank farm consisting of a
number of units of approximately the same nature and purpose under common
management and operational control. On the other hand, a group of dissimilar buildings,
operations, and equipment, such as a research reactor with its associated cooling tower,
fuel handling and waste storage buildings, laboratory, and hot machine shop may also be
considered as one facility for purposes of the hazards assessment. Finally, all the hazards
within a single building or structure containing several tenant activities or units, such as
process lines, hot cells, or hazardous material storage may be analyzed and documented
as one facility, even though the tenant activities have little in common, technically or
organizationally. Additional guidance on facility definition is presented in Appendix C.
The written facility description should include general information related to the site
mission, operations, and physical characteristics, including an assessment of the site
exposure to external and natural phenomena hazards. It should include the location of the
facility relative to other facilities on the same site, the site boundaries, the nearest public
access locations, and transportation networks, such as highways, railroads, and rivers.
Particular attention should be paid to including facility specific information critical to
understanding and reconstructing the consequence calculations and to information
necessary to aid emergency planners in using the analysis results to develop other
emergency management program elements. This information should include, but not
necessarily be limited to: descriptions and physical parameters for facility containment/
confinement systems; potential leak paths and release points; protective/mitigative
systems or features; technical, physical or administrative limits on use/storage of
hazardous materials; and, installed process monitors, alarms and/or detection systems.
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2.4 Characterize the Hazardous Materials (Step 2)
After the facility hazards have been screened, information that describes and quantifies
the identified hazards should be assembled and documented to support the development
of scenarios and analysis of possible releases. During this step, some substances
originally retained for analysis during the Hazards Survey screening may be eliminated
from the EPHA scope based on a better understanding of their properties and quantities.
In this respect, another level of hazard screening may actually take place as part of the
characterization activity. The characterization of both radioactive and chemical
hazardous materials should include the following information:
• The maximum quantity of the material in appropriate units (pounds or kilograms,
curies or becquerels) and its storage or process locations.
Section 26
• A description of the conditions under which the material is stored or used, including
process systems or containers that hold the material and barriers that may impact its
release or dispersion, such as shipping containers, buildings, berms, sumps, or catch
basins. Where applicable, security and access controls for the storage and use
locations should be identified.
• The properties of the material that are needed for determination of source term and
consequence analysis, such as the physical form and chemical characteristics of the
material (e.g., solid, liquid, gaseous, particle size, flammability, chemical reactivity,
density), radiological characteristics, and the temperature and pressure conditions
under which it is stored, processed, used, or transported.
• A description of engineered controls, safeguards, or safety systems designed to
prevent or mitigate a hazardous material release. These may include both automatic
and manually activated mitigative systems (e.g., fire sprinklers, filters, scrubbers,
isolation dampers), as well as passive mitigative features and engineered geometry or
configuration controls for fissionable materials. Instruments and systems that would
detect actual or potential emergency conditions should be identified.
• A description of administrative controls that would prevent or mitigate the initiation
of a hazardous material release, such as limits on the total quantity of a material in a
single place or container, or restrictions on where certain materials can be used or
stored.
For criticality accidents, the “inventory” of interest is the total yield of gaseous and
volatile fission products from the postulated criticality event(s). Analyses of these
postulated criticality events would generally be available in the facility SAR, SAD, or
DSA.
Where the material consists of a reactor core or irradiated fuel containing mixed fission
products, the relevant factors that define the radiotoxicity of the mixture
(e.g., enrichment, burn-up, age) should be analyzed and the case that produces the largest
2-7 DOE G 151.1-2
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impact selected. The actual isotopic composition of the mixture used for consequence
calculations can then be included as an appendix and referenced.
For those facilities having a documented vulnerability analysis, the identified targets may
include both hazardous materials and essential parts of the system of barriers, controls,
and protection features that keep them in a safe condition. The target list is a potential
source of information regarding both the quantity of certain hazards and the conditions
under which they are stored, handled, and used.
Other materials and hazard sources, such as flammable or explosive materials, energy
sources, and non-toxic hazardous materials (i.e., NFPA health hazard rating < 3), should
also be included in the characterization. The potential for these materials/hazards
initiating releases of radioactive or chemically toxic materials contributing to the
dispersal of those materials, degrading the effectiveness of safety systems, incapacitating
workers causing a process upset, or posing an asphyxiation hazard to collocated workers,
should be considered. Available information concerning the reactive properties of the
hazardous materials should be assessed and the possibility of interactions between
substances considered.
2.5 Select Scenarios for Analysis (Step 3)
Section 27
The objective of this step in the hazards assessment process is to select, for detailed
analysis, potential release scenarios associated with the hazardous materials characterized
in Step 2. These analysis cases will ultimately represent a spectrum of possible scenarios
that will serve as the technical planning basis for the facility/site or activity emergency
management program.
The specific scenarios/cases to be analyzed in the EPHA should be chosen through a
systematic examination of:
• All the hazardous materials in the facility;
• Primary barrier(s) that maintain each material in a safe condition
• Modes by which each primary barrier could fail
• Initiating events or conditions that could cause barrier failure modes
• Release conditions associated with the failure mode or the initiating event, including
pathways and mitigation devices through which the substance could be released to the
environment
Applicable combinations of the hazardous materials in the facility and potential scenario
characteristics will define a set of analysis cases, where each release scenario will be
represented by combinations of the following four terms:
• Hazardous material [MAR]
2-8 DOE G 151.1-2
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• Failure mode
• Initiating event or condition
• Release condition(s)
This process of developing potential scenarios by constructing combinations of these four
parameters will ultimately lead to a complete listing of the applicable cases.
The next section introduces a recommended minimum set of event or condition types to
be considered for analyzing hazardous material releases. A systematic approach for
developing a manageable number of representative scenarios for each hazardous material
in a facility is introduced in Section 2.5.2.
2.5.1 Types of Events and Conditions to Be Considered
A set of events and conditions should be postulated and analyzed that represents the full
spectrum of possible initiators and severity levels involving releases of hazardous
materials that could affect workers, the public, or the environment. A spectrum of
potential events ranging from low-consequence, high-probability events to high-
consequence, low-probability events, including those considered to be beyond-design
basis, should be postulated and realistically analyzed. The spectrum of events and
conditions analyzed should include those exclusively affecting onsite personnel, as well
as those also affecting the offsite public. Analysis of a spectrum of events does not mean
analysis of every imaginable event. The goal is to create a comprehensive picture of the
types of events and a range of associated consequences that could occur at a facility.
This comprehensive picture of events and consequences will then serve as the basis for
emergency response planning.
The Hazards Survey described in Chapter 1 identifies the types of emergency events and
conditions and the potential impacts of such emergencies to be addressed by the DOE
emergency management program for the facility. If facilities have sufficient quantities of
hazardous materials, some of those types of emergencies (e.g., accidents, natural
phenomena, fires) will have the potential to cause the airborne release of hazardous
materials with significant health and safety consequences outside the facility. Thus, the
Hazards Survey for a facility provides an initial set of potential release events and
initiators to be considered for analysis.
Section 28
Initiating events and failure mechanisms considered in the hazards assessment should
include traditionally defined “accidents,” as well as events arising from external causes
and malevolent acts. Scenarios should be included that represent both the success and the
failure of control measures and engineered safety systems (e.g., containment systems, fire
suppression systems, filters, administrative controls, safeguards and security systems). A
minimum set of events is recommended for analyzing hazardous material releases
identified as candidates for a hazards assessment. The events that are appropriate to the
specific facility should be selected from the following groups:
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1. “Accident” Events:
• Fire
• Explosion
• Loss of confinement or containment (i.e., spill or atmospheric release)
• Process upsets
• Criticality
• Onsite transportation accidents
“Accident” event initiators include failure causes such as corrosion, manufacturing
defects, malfunctioning equipment or control systems, interaction of reactive
materials, external impact, incapacitation of workers, and procedural or human error.
(The analysis of onsite transportation accidents is addressed in Appendix D).
2. Natural Phenomena Events:
• Earthquakes
• Tornadoes
• Lightning and Hail
• Floods
• Winter Storms
Most natural phenomena events to be analyzed can be selected from the
SAR/SAD/DSA (if available) for the facility. Typically, two events are defined for
each type of natural phenomenon - DBE used to determine safety control systems, as
well as an “extreme,” beyond-DBE, considered “incredible” in SAR/SAD/DSA
analysis. Both events are derived from historical data. If no SAR/SAD/DSA is
available, the event(s) can be obtained directly from historical data for the region.
3. External Events:
• Wildland fires
• Aircraft crash
• Offsite transportation accidents
• Offsite commercial facility or utility accidents
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External events have the potential to be the initiating event for the onsite release or
loss of control of hazardous material, either directly or by disruption of operations or
processes onsite. Historical data can provide information on the susceptibility of the
area to wildland fires and potential aircraft sizes can be determined from experience
with aircraft operating in the vicinity. A review of road, river, and railway
transportation networks near the site boundary (or through the site) provides
indications of potential hazardous material transport accidents. In addition, nearby
commercial facilities or utilities (e.g., chemical plants, pipelines, water treatment
plants) may contain hazardous materials that pose a threat to facilities onsite.
4. Malevolent Events:
• “Minor” Scenario
• “Moderate” Scenario
• “Extreme” Scenario
Malevolent events (e.g., vandalism, sabotage, terrorism), including the use of
explosives or flammable material, are possible hazardous material release initiators
within the scope of the emergency planning and the EPHA. Appendix E provides
guidance on the selection of malevolent event scenarios.
Section 29
High-probability, low-consequence events should be addressed in facility emergency
plans (and in EPHAs) because of their potential impacts on workers in the affected
facility and those nearby. Both malevolent events, which are seldom analyzed in
SARs/SADs/DSAs, and beyond-DBEs should also be included in the EPHA. “Extreme”
malevolent events and beyond-DBEs typically represent the upper end of the
consequence spectrum for which prompt recognition and response may be essential to the
mitigation of both the event and its health and safety consequences. Emergency
management represents the “last line of defense” in protecting workers and the public,
and, hence, emergency events or conditions should not be excluded from EPHA analysis,
based solely on calculated occurrence probabilities or designation as “incredible” or
“beyond extremely unlikely”.
Some catastrophic events (e.g., a dam failure that floods an entire site, meteor strike,
nuclear detonation) may be candidates for exclusion from emergency management
planning, not simply based on a probability criterion, but on the grounds that the
consequences of the initiating event will effectively overwhelm or negate the planned
initial (early) phase response to any resulting release of hazardous materials. In such
circumstances, the initiating event itself and its immediate safety implications become the
overriding priority and focus of any initial response activities. For such events,
mitigation of which is expected to be well beyond any site’s response capabilities, the
principal function of the local (site/field element) emergency management component is
to recognize the occurrence and initiate earliest possible notifications of DOE
Headquarters and others. Those notifications may best be initiated by declaring an OE
classified as a General Emergency. However, it is neither necessary nor useful to attempt
DOE G 151.1-2 2-11
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a quantitative analysis of the hazardous material consequences of such catastrophic
events in the EPHA to provide a consequence estimate as the basis for the emergency
classification. General criteria for the classification of catastrophic events can be
included in site EAL procedures or higher-level management directives based on a
qualitative assessment of the type and magnitude of events and expected consequences.
2.5.2 Selection of a Spectrum of Scenarios
A process consisting of the following sequence of steps is an acceptable method for
selecting a spectrum of scenarios related to the hazardous materials in the facility:
identify MAR(s) in the facility; identify primary barrier(s); select failure mode(s);
identify initiating event(s); and identify release condition(s). This selection process is
described in detail below.
A. Identify MAR(s) in Facility
The selection process begins by identifying the hazardous substances at each location
within the facility. Each quantity or unit of a hazardous substance is the Material-at-Risk
(MAR), as that term is used in DOE-HDBK-3010-94 (and discussed in Section 2.6,
below), for one or more possible release scenarios. Examples of MARs include:
• Nitric acid in an outdoor storage tank
• Radioactive liquid in a waste processing system
• Chlorine in a cylinder attached to a gas manifold
• Solid radioactive waste in a waste accumulation area
A facility can contain one or multiple MARs. In some instances, the MAR for an event
affecting the entire facility (e.g., earthquake, fire) might include all the material located in
the facility. This will be addressed in the discussion of the source terms in Section 2.6.
Section 30
B. Identify Primary Barrier(s)
The physical or administrative features that maintain the hazardous substance in a safe
condition should be identified for each MAR. The primary barrier is generally the one
physically nearest to the material. In the case of gaseous or liquid materials, the tank,
cylinder, process piping, or other container is usually the primary barrier. For materials
that are prevented from being released by their own structure or physical form, that form
or structure can be regarded as the primary barrier.
C. Select Failure Mode(s)
Failure modes are the ways in which the primary barrier might lose its integrity or its
ability to perform the function of controlling or confining the hazardous material. Failure
modes should be selected that are applicable to the primary barrier for the particular
MAR being addressed. The following are examples of failure modes of the primary
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barrier that might apply to the MAR examples given above and the types of release that
might be produced:
• Puncture (of the nitric acid tank, causing spill of liquid)
• Fatigue crack (in the pipe carrying pressurized radioactive liquid, causing spray leak)
• Impact fracture (of the chlorine cylinder stop valve, venting a pressurized gas)
• Combustion (of solid radioactive waste material, releasing contaminants)
For radioactive materials, identification of the failure modes is necessary to make use of
the source term information from DOE-HDBK-3010-94. It also helps align the EPHA
consequence calculations with authorization basis safety analyses, a key element in the
integration of facility hazards analyses. See DOE-HDBK-1163-2003, Integration of
Multiple Hazard Analysis Requirements and Activities for guidance on this subject.
Selecting failure modes and their size/degree is also an initial step in modeling chemical
releases using calculation methods such as those described in EPA 550-B-99-009, Risk
Management Program Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis.
The first and most important failure mode to be identified for each MAR is the one that
produces the bounding (largest possible) source term, either in terms of total amount of
material released or the rate of release to the environment. For facilities covered by
authorization basis safety analyses, this case is likely to correspond to an analyzed
bounding event (DBE or Beyond-DBE). Using the earlier MAR and failure mode
examples, reasonable bounding source terms might correspond to the following cases:
• Spill of the entire contents of the nitric acid on a flat surface at the highest average
daily temperature, producing the largest expected evaporative (airborne vapor)
source;
• Spray from a pipe crack of the size that will produce the maximum mass release rate
of respirable-size aerosol droplets, continuing for a time corresponding to the
expected duration of the liquid transfer operation;
• Release of the entire contents of a chlorine cylinder over a period of 15 minutes (the
averaging time used for comparison with the applicable exposure criterion); and
• Burning of the entire contents of a waste accumulation area, with release of the
bounding fraction (from DOE-HDBK-3010-94) of the largest amount of radioactive
material expected to be in the waste material.
Section 31
Once the bounding release is identified, one or more additional cases may be needed to
adequately represent the range of possibilities. If the consequences of the bounding case
are below the threshold for classification at the Alert level, there is little reason to analyze
additional cases because any smaller releases will also fall below the threshold for
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classification. However, this may only become evident when final consequence
calculations are performed.
The following represents a set of failure modes that might apply to a nitric acid tank:
• Puncture (or crack) low on the tank, which would produce an evaporative source
limited by the area of the confinement curb/berm
• Puncture/crack at a higher level, which would produce splash/spray source of
aerosols, in addition to the evaporative source
• Overturning/toppling, such that all or most of the tank contents end up outside the
curb, producing a larger evaporation surface and source
The choice of the spectrum of sizes or degrees of failure (modes) that will apply to the
MAR under consideration is the key to the selection approach. If this initial selection of
the “spectrum” of failure modes is done carefully and methodically, based on a clear
understanding of the features/characteristics of the primary barrier and the MAR, then
the spectrum of selected scenarios that is the final product of the process will provide a
solid foundation/basis for emergency planning.
The results of this step include combinations of MAR and failure mode for each MAR
and its associated failure modes identified in the facility.
D. Identify Initiating Event(s)
The next step in the process is to identify initiating events/conditions that could apply to
each failure mode (i.e., cause the failure). The analyst should postulate a range of
initiators applicable to the specific facility/site or activity, starting with the guidance
presented in Section 2.5.1 and identifying those that could produce the failure mode
under consideration. (Malevolent event initiators should not be considered at this time,
but will be addressed in accordance with the guidance in Appendix E.) In addition, the
analysis should indicate whether a specific failure mode would be exclusively or most
likely associated with a particular initiating event or condition, OR, conversely, if that
particular release could NOT result from a certain event/condition.
Examples of initiating events that might be considered include: fire, explosion, loss of
electrical power, material/manufacturing defect, operator error, and natural phenomena
impacts. (Cf. Section 2.5.1) For example, a “puncture” failure of the nitric acid tank
might result from impact by a truck or forklift, which, in turn, might be attributed to
human error. The puncture might also be caused by a natural phenomenon (wind-driven
missile) or an external event (gas explosion in a nearby facility). This step associates one
or more initiating events or conditions with the failure mode under consideration.
This step results in a set of failure modes (for a particular MAR), each associated with
one or more initiating event(s) or condition(s), that is, combinations of MAR, failure
mode, and initiating event. The next step identifies the last parameter(s), which
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represents factors that influence the release of the material to the environment
(i.e., outside the facility/building).
E. Identify Release Condition(s)
Section 32
Events or conditions that could influence the progression of the scenarios identified
above, or alter the magnitude or nature of the associated consequences, should be
identified in this step. These events or conditions, referred to as release conditions,
represent the status or functional condition of structures and mitigation systems
consistent with the impact/influence of the chosen initiating event. These release
conditions can affect the magnitude, rate or location (elevated vs. ground level) of the
release to the environment. For example, failure of fire suppression systems to activate
following initiation of a fire would change the event progression. Likewise, different
levels of combustible loading in a given area might increase or decrease the magnitude of
the fire. Either or both release conditions might affect the degree of damage to the
facility or quantity of hazardous material released.
In the nitric acid tank example, an installed curb or berm may limit the size of the spill
and hence the evaporative source. The release rate will depend on whether, for the
particular initiating event under consideration, the curb/berm can be expected to limit the
pool surface area. Whereas puncture of the tank by one event (missile) might reasonably
be expected to spill the contents within the curb/berm, thereby limiting the pool surface
area and evaporative source, a seismic event might overturn (topple) the tank, causing all
or part of the liquid to spill outside the curb where it could spread out and evaporate from
a larger surface area.
If the operation of an engineered feature can be determined at the time of an event, then
the performance of the mitigation feature (and the resulting source term mitigation) is
known. If the ultimate release to the environment accounting for the mitigation is
sufficiently different from any other analyzed case, then separate analysis cases should be
identified that represent the performance and the non-performance of the mitigation
function. For bounding events that correspond to a safety basis DBE, the performance of
the design features that were credited in that analysis can often be determined from the
SAR/SAD/DSA, and additional analysis cases can be constructed that take into account
different degrees of mitigation.
For example, a filtered ventilation exhaust via an elevated release point will reduce
consequences from a release inside a building by removing part of the airborne aerosol
and allowing greater dispersion of the plume before it encounters a ground level receptor.
If the spray leak discussed above occurs inside a building and the ventilation exhaust
function is maintained, one source term (and release point) would apply. If the exhaust
system does not operate and the structure is damaged, a second case would have to be
identified in which the release occurs at ground level and is unfiltered. If the exhaust
system does not operate but the structure remains intact, a third case may even be needed
to represent attenuation of the source term by static confinement.
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The identification of release conditions is the final step in the selection of a spectrum of
scenarios for analysis. The set of release scenarios (or cases) selected for detailed
analysis will consist of combinations of MAR, failure mode(s), identified initiating
event(s), and, finally, identified release condition(s) that may influence the location or
magnitude of the release. The next step (Step 4) involves the analysis of each release
scenario/case [i.e., MAR-failure mode-initiating event-release condition(s) combination]
to characterize the release to the environment by producing an estimate of the source
term, calculating the consequences, and identifying recognition factors (if available) for
each scenario.
Section 33
2.6 Analyze Scenarios (Step 4)
Once the full range of possible releases has been identified and representative cases
selected in accordance with the preceding sections, each case should be analyzed and the
potential consequences should be calculated to determine the areas potentially affected
and the need for personnel protective actions. In addition, the analysis includes the
identification of recognition factors for each scenario and the development of a final set
of technical planning basis scenarios using the previous analyses of consequences and
recognition factors.
This step in the hazards assessment process consists of the following analysis
components:
• Estimate source term
• Calculate consequences
• Identify recognition factors
• Finalize technical planning basis scenarios
Methods and models used to calculate consequences should be documented such that the
analyses and their results can be critically reviewed and, if necessary, reconstructed by
independent analysts. Detailed descriptions of the methods, assumptions, and models
(e.g., dispersion models, dose codes, or other complex calculation methodologies) need
not be included in the EPHA if they are documented elsewhere and appropriately
referenced.
2.6.1 Estimates of Source Terms
The source term (i.e., release to the environment) associated with MAR primary barrier
failure mode(s), initiating event(s), and release condition(s) should be calculated. For
each possible failure mode of the primary barrier (for example, puncture, corrosion/
oxidation, explosive shattering), the release fraction or release rate values from the DOE
source term handbook, DOE-HDBK-3010-94. can be used to estimate the amount of
radioactive material that would become airborne. Selection of failure mode and size are
implicit in the modeling choices that need to be made to calculate chemical releases using
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methods such as those described in EPA 550-B-99-009, Risk Management Program
Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis.
Radiological Source Terms. After failure modes have been identified for the primary
barrier or containment system associated with each hazardous material, a quantitative
estimate of the source term, the amount ultimately released (or rate of release) to the
environment, can be developed using the method described in DOE-HDBK-3010-94.
The source term is defined as follows:
ST = MAR x DR x ARF x RF x LPF
Or
ST = MAR x DR x (ARR x t) x RF x LPF
Where:
ST = Source Term (Ci or Bq)
MAR = Material-at-Risk (Ci or Bq)
DR = Damage Ratio (fraction)
ARF = Airborne Release Fraction
ARR = Airborne Release Rate (fraction/hour)
t = Release Duration (hours)
RF = Respirable Fraction
LPF = Leak Path Factor (fraction)
Material-at-Risk (MAR). For each initiating event, develop a quantitative estimate of the
Material-at-Risk (MAR), the amount of material available to be acted on by a given
physical stress. The maximum inventory that may be affected by the initiating event is
typically used to represent the MAR. For a given analysis, the MAR will be based on
factors such as the type and magnitude of the initiating event, the spatial distribution
(separation) of the inventory, and administrative controls. For example, consider a
facility with a process line producing items that are placed in shipping containers and
then transferred to a shipping/receiving area. The MAR for an event affecting the entire
facility (for example, a catastrophic earthquake) might include all the material in the
process line, all the product in shipping containers still within the process area, and all the
product material stored in the shipping/receiving area. The MAR for an explosion in the
process line might be the maximum quantity allowed by administrative controls for that
process. The MAR for a handling mishap involving a single shipping container might be
either the physical capacity or the licensed maximum contents for that type of container.
Section 34
Damage Ratio (DR). The Damage Ratio is the fraction of the MAR impacted by the
actual conditions under evaluation. The DR is usually estimated based on engineering
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analysis of the response of the materials involved to stresses of the type and level
generated by the event. The DR value will depend on the specific initiating event and the
definition of MAR for that event/condition. In the example above, if the MAR for a
handling mishap involving a single shipping container were defined as the contents of
one container, the DR for a puncture of that single container would be one (1). On the
other hand, if the MAR is defined to include all the material in “n” shipping containers
subject to handling mishaps, the DR for an event that punctures a single container is 1/n.
DOE-HDBK-3010-94 provides information on DRs for various phenomena.
Airborne Release Fraction (ARF). The ARF is the fraction of material suspended in air
following physical stress from a specific event. For events of short duration, the ARF is a
fraction of the material affected (i.e., of the MAR times DR). For processes that act
continuously over a period of time to suspend aerosols (such as aerodynamic entrainment
or resuspension) a release rate is required to estimate the consequences. Airborne
Release Rates (ARRs) are based on measurements over an extended period of time from
a particular mechanism. Recommended ARF and ARR values are published in DOE
HDBK-3010-94 for a variety of release phenomena.
Respirable Fraction (RF). The Respirable Fraction is the fraction of the airborne
material that can be inhaled and thereby contribute to the radiation dose to an exposed
person. The RF is commonly defined as the mass fraction of the airborne material that is
in the form of particles of 10 micron Aerodynamic Equivalent Diameter (AED) and
smaller. However, applying the source term equation to materials such as radioactive
noble gases that do not produce their effect by the inhalation pathway requires that a
somewhat more general definition of the RF be used. For such materials,
DOE-HDBK-3010-94 recommends the ARF value of 1.0 for condensable and
noncondensable gases. All materials in the gaseous state can be transported and inhaled;
therefore, an RF value of 1.0 is assumed for analysis purposes.
Leak Path Factor (LPF). The Leak Path Factor quantifies the combined effects of any
secondary barriers and other mitigating features. In the case of material aerosolized or
vaporized inside a glovebox within a building, the LPF represents the fraction of the total
aerosol or vapor that is ultimately released to the environment through exhaust filters,
door seals, and other leakage paths.
Realistic values should be used in developing the LPF for the particular event. To
determine the overall LPF, the effectiveness of individual barriers and mitigating features
should be estimated. For example, exhaust filters may have a rated or tested efficiency of
99.95 percent for the first stage and 99 percent efficiency for subsequent stages. The
building walls may be assumed to be intact in some scenarios with all the release through
the filters, while other scenarios may involve damage to the walls, resulting in part of the
release being unfiltered. The methods described in EPA 550-B-99-009, Risk
Management Program Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis, Appendix D, may be
used to represent the effect of building confinement.
Section 35
DOE-HDBK-3010-94 provides Airborne Release Fractions (ARFs), Respirable Fractions
(RFs), and Airborne Release Rates (ARRs) applicable to many types of releases. The
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bounding ARF, RFs, and ARRs listed in the DOE-HDBK-3010 are normally most
appropriate for use in hazards assessments. Accident-specific ARF, RF and ARR values
derived in other safety documents can also be used in the hazards assessment. If no
specifically applicable values can be found, the final release fraction values for Hazard
Category 2 cited in DOE-STD-1027, Attachment 1, may be used to represent the
ARFxRF.
Chemical Source Terms. The conceptual approach embodied in the source term
equations presented above for radioactive materials can also be applied to chemicals.
However, no compendium of values for ARF, ARR, and RF currently exists and it will be
necessary to derive values for these parameters from material properties using basic
physical and chemical principles. EPA 550-B-99-009, Risk Management Program
Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis, contains useful information on modeling a
number of different toxic gas and liquid release phenomena. Alternatively, any of several
computer codes can be used to determine chemical source terms and to model their
transport and dispersion. Many of the available models are described in Directory of
Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Consequence Assessment Models, FCM-I3-1999,
Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
(OFCMSSR), March 1999, available at: http://www.ofcm.gov/atd_dir/pdf/frontpage.htm.
Chemical source terms for reaction product formation (e.g., two chemicals spilling and
mixing) are normally determined by manual calculation using conservative assumptions
regarding the rate and completeness of the reaction. Models or analysis techniques used
to develop chemical source terms should be documented and the justification for their use
provided.
2.6.2 Consequence Calculations
After all identified combinations of MAR, failure mode(s), initiator(s), and release
condition(s) have been considered and the associated source terms recorded, the
consequences of each release scenario/case, for which a source term has been estimated,
should then be calculated and recorded.
Methods and Models for Consequence Calculations. The consequences of hazardous
material releases should be estimated using models and calculation methods that are most
appropriate to the material released and to the physical characteristics of the site and its
atmospheric dispersion conditions, and, if applicable, hydrologic dispersion conditions.
Generally, the consequence assessment models used for emergency planning and
response purposes at the facility should be used to conduct this hazards assessment. The
selection of dispersion and consequence models should be justified in the EPHA for each
facility. Specifically, the applicability of the model to the release mode, the site
geographic features, and atmospheric conditions typically experienced at the site should
be described. The results of any experimental verification or validation of the models
should be cited as well as any known limitations or sources of inaccuracy. The model
capabilities with regard to factors such as plume buoyancy, dense gas effects, building
wake, surface roughness, gravitational settling, and dry deposition should be described.
http://www.ofcm.gov/atd_dir/pdf/frontpage.htm
DOE G 151.1-2 2-19
Section 36
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As previously indicated, a listing of available codes is provided in Directory of
Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Consequence Assessment Models. The following
modeling recommendations are provided as guidance to consequence analysts:
• Use of a straight line Gaussian model as the atmospheric dispersion portion of the
code is acceptable in most cases for emergency planning.
• Dose Conversion Factors (DCFs) and exposure parameters embedded in radiological
computer codes should be verified to ensure that they are consistent with the desired
results [e.g., total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) or committed effective dose
equivalent (CEDE)]. DCFs from current International Commission on Radiological
Protection (ICRP) publications should be used for consequence calculations. The
same DCFs should be used to calculate onsite (worker) and offsite (public) doses for
the EPHA (see Appendix F).
• If computer codes are used to calculate chemical consequences, inputs and model
choices representing the release (source term) should be selected to ensure that the
output (predicted concentration) values are consistent with the criteria against which
they will be compared (15 minute time-weighted average concentration). See
Appendix F for additional guidance on selecting consequence criteria and computing
time-weighted average concentrations.
• For chemical mixtures and concurrent releases of different substances, the
consequences should be assessed using the SCAPA default methodology for analysis
of airborne exposures to mixtures (see Appendix F). Concurrent releases should
only be analyzed if a plausible scenario exists by which quantities of different
substances, each exceeding a laboratory scale threshold discussed in Appendix A,
could be released from the same location at the same time. Concurrent releases of
dissimilar substances that, because of separation by distance or physical barriers,
could result only from extreme malevolent acts or catastrophic events (such as major
fires, airplane crashes, severe natural phenomena impacts, and building collapse)
need not be analyzed.
• If a significant waterborne pathway exists (i.e., potential for a spill into a waterway
with a downstream public water supply intake), site-specific calculation of
downstream concentrations over a range of spill volumes should be performed.
Dispersion Conditions For EPHA Calculations. At least two sets of dispersion
conditions should be considered in computing consequence versus distance for each
source term:
• Conservative Conditions. The first case of an assumed ground level release should
correspond to the 95 percent worst-case relative concentration (X/Q) based on an
appropriate wind speed and stability combination for the particular site. If such a
determination has not been made for the site, default to a wind speed of 1 m/sec
(measured at a height of 10 meters) and Stability Class F to approximate the
95th percentile X/Q.
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For an elevated release, the conservative condition may need to be determined by trial.
In general, the conservative condition should be the combination of stability class and
wind speed that results in the ground level consequence exceeding the Protective Action
Criterion (PAC) at the greatest distance from the source. However, if the PAC is not
exceeded at ground level, the conservative condition should be that which produces the
highest consequence to a ground level receptor. If the dispersion condition meeting the
above criterion occurs significantly less than 5 percent of the time at the source location,
a less severe combination of wind speed and stability that might be expected
approximately 5 percent of the hours in a year may be selected for the conservative case.
Section 37
• Average Conditions. The second case should approximate a typical set of conditions
for the site, such as the average wind speed and most prevalent Stability class
averaged over the compass sectors. If such information is not available, D stability
and 4.5 m per second wind speed are acceptable assumptions.
Consequences calculated using the selected conservative dispersion condition should be
used to develop EALs and default (i.e., pre-planned) initial protective actions and to
determine the size of the EPZ. Use of direction-specific atmospheric dispersion factors
for these purposes is strongly discouraged. Consequences calculated using average
dispersion conditions are for general reference and response planning purposes only. The
“typical” or “average” results are used in conjunction with the “conservative” case results
to provide perspective on the risk associated with each scenario. These results may be
useful in offsite planning discussions with local authorities and as a resource for
emergency response personnel.
In general, the use of real-time meteorological conditions as a factor in determining event
classification and initial protective actions is not encouraged. Doing so requires a
sophisticated understanding of the local atmospheric transport/dispersion environment, as
well as accurate information on current meteorological conditions and a high degree of
confidence in the forecast. It also complicates, and potentially lengthens, the decision
processes. The need for reliable real-time weather information and on-call
meteorological expertise, together with the added complexity of the decision process,
make such an approach unsuitable for reaching timely, conservative and anticipatory
classification and protective action decisions as required by DOE emergency
management policy.
Consequence Calculations for EPHAs. Consequences of each radiological and
chemical release should be calculated and summarized in the form of a graph or table that
gives the dose (TEDE) or concentration (the highest 15-minute time-weighted average
concentration) versus distance, extending out to a distance beyond which PACs
[i.e., (Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for radioactive materials; and AEGLs, ERPGs, or
TEELs for chemicals] are exceeded (Cf. Appendix F). These summarized results can
then be used to estimate consequences at receptor locations relevant to each facility,
including the facility boundary and nearest site boundary. This data can be used during a
response to estimate (interpolate) consequence values at other locations rapidly.
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Consequences at the facility boundary and nearest site boundary are used for determining
the emergency classification and developing EALs corresponding to each analyzed event.
In addition to calculating consequences at specific receptors, the maximum distances at
which consequences exceed the applicable PAC are used to develop default (i.e., pre
planned) initial protective actions. Maximum distances at which consequences exceed
the PACs and Thresholds for Early (acute) Lethality (TELs) (Cf. Appendix F) are both
considered in developing EPZs. The distances at which PACs and TELs might be
exceeded under the most severe credible accident conditions are important considerations
in defining the EPZ.
Consequences at Receptors of Interest. Calculation of consequences at key receptors
provides the emergency planner with essential parameters that impact classification
decisions and protective action determinations.
Section 38
Facility Boundary. Conceptually, the facility boundary is the line of demarcation
between the facility, together with its immediate vicinity, and the remainder of the site.
The consequences at the facility boundary distance are used to distinguish between events
that have only a local impact (i.e., on the facility occupants and associated workers at or
near the scene of the event) and events that impact areas of the site outside the immediate
vicinity of the affected facility. For purposes of determining the appropriate emergency
class for postulated hazardous material releases, a distance of 100 m should be used to
represent the facility boundary. Other considerations in defining the facility boundary are
discussed in Appendix C.
For determining which release scenarios warrant declaration of an Alert, the analyses
should estimate the doses and concentrations at the facility boundary or within the facility
boundary at about 30 m from the point of release, depending on the specific criteria
selected for defining the Alert for all facilities at the site (Cf. DOE O 151.1C).
Other Onsite Receptors. Other onsite receptor locations of interest should be identified
for each facility, including:
• Adjacent facilities with significant occupancy;
• Protected area boundaries;
• Any locations accessible to the general public, such as roads, visitor centers, parking
lots; commercial (non-DOE/NNSA) facilities and operating areas on the site; and
• Emergency response facilities, such as Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs),
evacuation staging areas, medical aid stations, or fire stations.
Site boundary. The site boundary receptor is the nearest location to the facility where
DOE does not have full ownership and control over access to the property. An event that
may produce consequences exceeding a PAC at or beyond the site boundary is to be
classified as General Emergency because of the need for full involvement of offsite
authorities in the protective response. In some cases, it may be reasonable to treat onsite
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locations that are accessible to the general public, such as roads, visitor centers, parking
lots, or non-DOE (commercial) facilities, as site boundary receptors. Additional
considerations in defining site boundary receptors are discussed in Appendix C.
Other Offsite Receptors. These include locations or facilities that represent specific
emergency planning/response problems or issues, such as schools, hospitals, nursing
homes, prisons, industrial complexes, evacuation routes, major transportation facilities,
EOCs, and concentrations of population. Offsite receptors relevant to the ingestion
exposure pathway should include dairy farms, orchards, truck farms, and public water
supply intakes.
2.6.3 Identify Recognition Factors
While identifying and analyzing potential release scenarios and their consequences, any
means or recognition factors (i.e., observable indicators) by which an analyzed scenario
or a distinct variation of it might be detected and recognized should be recorded. These
recognition factors may include such things as direct human observation of the initiating
event or the barrier failure, effluent monitoring instrument readings, physiological effects
experienced by persons exposed to the hazardous material, or building (structure) damage
expected to cause failure of the barrier (such as roof collapse on a building with
contaminated ventilation ducts and filters). To the degree possible, the analyst should
record the level or value for each indication that would be associated with the analyzed
scenario (such as the specific reading on a pressure gage or observed liquid level in a
tank). Many hazardous material releases will be first identified and recognized by
outward indications of the “initiating event.”
Section 39
Although the analysis and documentation of recognition factors is completed only after
the source term estimate and consequence calculations are done for the final set of
scenarios, the validity of the observables (as indicators for specific scenarios) will have
been examined to some degree during the process of scenario selection. Recording the
results of that examination as it is being done can eliminate the need to repeat the effort
during the final phase of the scenario analysis.
For each analyzed scenario (i.e., for each combination of MAR, failure mode, initiating
event, and release condition), recognition factors should be identified, if available.
DOE G 151.1-4, Chapter 4, provides further guidance on the nature of the recognition
factors and how they are used in developing EALs.
2.6.4 Finalize Technical Planning Basis Scenarios
The final step in the analysis involves the exclusion of scenarios that represent nearly
duplicate consequences or no unique observable indicators that allow them to be
distinguished from another case. This review process causes each possible combination
of MAR, barrier failure mode, initiating event and release condition(s), including the
consequences and recognition factors, to be actively considered and then either retained
as part of the technical planning basis or discounted. In general, a case would be retained
if:
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1. The consequences are sufficiently different from other case(s) that it would be
classified at a different level,
AND
2. The recognition factors are sufficiently different that the case could be reliably
classified at a level different from other case(s) (i.e., the case could be distinguished
from other analyzed cases within a short time after occurrence).
In other words, all of the scenarios might not be unique in terms of the key emergency
management characteristics, namely, the consequences and the recognition factors. If
two scenarios were not distinguishable using observable indicators, then the one with the
most severe consequences would be selected. On the other hand, if two cases have nearly
the same consequences, then only one need be included in the planning basis. The
general or specific reasons for discounting cases (or groups of cases) should be recorded
for future reference.
If the selection of analysis cases is done by applying the above tests to each possible
combination of MAR, failure mode, initiator, and release condition(s) at the time the case
is conceived in the logical sequence of steps of the methodology, then it may not be
necessary to describe and tabulate the entire set of combinations. Many combinations
could conceivably be eliminated as the step-by-step process is accomplished using the
criteria described above. The approach described in this section lends itself to this
modification for the experienced analyst or as the analyst becomes more experienced
with the process and analysis results. Using either approach, however, the analyst should
arrive at the same final set of analyzed scenarios.
2.7 Document the Results of the Analysis (Step 5)
Section 40
In documenting EPHA results, it is necessary to consider the different uses of the
information developed by the hazards assessment process. The emergency planning and
preparedness staff will use the information to create emergency plans and response
procedures that are commensurate with the analyzed hazards. As the facilities and
hazards evolve over time, future planners (and future hazards assessment analysts) will
need to maintain and update the EPHA, plans, and preparedness elements. The
emergency management staff may be called upon to explain and defend the hazards
assessment process and results to their own management or to evaluators, both internal
and external. The documented EPHA should provide solid and convincing evidence that
the emergency management program is based on a thorough understanding of the facility-
specific hazards.
2.7.1 General Scenario Documentation Guidelines
Each analyzed scenario should be documented in enough detail that, if necessary, the
consequence calculations can be modified or recreated later by someone who does not
have access to the original analyst or the supporting non-report documentation
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(e.g., notes, printouts). Scenario information needed to explain, reconstruct, and revise
the analysis should include:
• A brief narrative containing key facts that define each scenario, such as the location,
the hazardous material, initiating event (including size or magnitude) and any
contributing or mitigating factors. If applicable, the origin of the scenario
(SAR/SAD/DSA section, hazards analysis, etc.) should be identified.
• Any assumptions (explicit or implicit) that enable or support the analyses.
• The source terms, including the SAR/SAD/DSA scenarios (if any) to which they
correspond. If applicable, values for the MAR, DR, LPF, ARF/ARR, and RF should
be recorded, along with the bases for their selection.
• Release characteristics (such as effective height, duration, building wake effects,
stack exit velocity, plume buoyancy) and reasons for making the necessary modeling
choices.
• Atmospheric transport and exposure model inputs (such as wind speed measurement
height, surface roughness, sampling time, exposure pathways, dose conversion
factors) and the bases for their selection.
• The consequences of the release at distances and locations of interest.
2.7.2 Documented Basis for Emergency Action Levels (EALs)
Background. Frequently, the emergency planning staffs develop facility EALs, in
concert with facility personnel. Because the analyst(s) responsible for producing the
EPHA may not be available to contribute to EAL development, the documented hazards
assessment should include all the information needed by the planning staff to construct an
integrated set (system) of EALs covering the full range of possible facility emergencies.
In addition to factual information and descriptions (from the facility description and
hazard characterization sections) and the calculated consequences of postulated events,
analysts should document their reasoning and insights. Of particular importance to EAL
development are analyst insights and conclusions regarding similarities and differences
between the analyzed scenarios, the features or elements that comprise each scenario, the
outward indications and the consequences associated with those scenarios. For example,
the analyst might note that the same event occurring in two different locations (and thus,
involving different MAR or different degrees of mitigation) will have very different
consequences. If the analyst further determines that there are indications by which one
variation of the scenario might be promptly distinguished from the other at the time of
occurrence, the two events can be placed in different emergency classes for planning
purposes. However, if the analyst determines that there would be no timely, reliable
means of distinguishing between the two scenario variations, that conclusion should be
documented as part of a rationale for conservatively applying the higher classification to
both events.
Section 41
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All relevant facts and analysis results, including the analysts’ insights, interpretations,
and conclusions should be summarized in an “EAL logic” section that provides essential
information needed by the planning staff to develop and maintain facility EALs. The
EAL logic should be a concise presentation of the rationale by which the results of the
representative analysis cases can be used to create EALs to classify the full range of
possible emergency conditions. The EAL logic is the documented link (or “bridge”)
between the EPHA results and the EAL statements.
Information Requirements. Much of the information needed to support development of
EALs is not directly utilized or produced in the process of selecting scenarios and
calculating consequences. Therefore, it will not necessarily be completely captured and
documented during those steps of the hazards assessment effort. In order for analysts to
recognize and preserve key information, they should understand how the products of their
efforts would ultimately be used to develop EALs and other elements of the emergency
management program. Following are specific types of information that analysts should
recognize and preserve for later use in constructing the EAL logic.
• Any means (indications) by which an analyzed scenario or a distinct variation of it
might be detected and recognized. Examples include noise, direct visual observation,
instrument readings, alarms, and physiological effects on exposed people. To the
degree possible, the analyst should record the level or value for each indication that
would be associated with the analyzed scenario (such as the specific reading on a
pressure gage or observed liquid level in a tank).
• The timeliness and certainty with which each indication would/could be recognized at
the time of, or shortly following, onset of the scenario. The analyst should record
whether a particular indication would or might (and under what conditions) be
associated with the analyzed scenario. Indications that would not be available within
minutes of an occurrence (such as results of laboratory analysis of samples) should be
noted. The analyst should understand that while any indications of the analyzed
event/condition may be useful to the planners developing EALs, indications that are
prompt, unambiguous, and reliably associated with the event/condition will be most
useful.
• Any other events or conditions that would have the same consequences, or for which
the consequences can be inferred or extrapolated from the results of an analyzed
scenario. Consider, for example, an earthquake-induced building collapse scenario,
the source term for which is largely attributable to the crushing of contaminated
ventilation ducts and filters. The analyst should recognize that any other event
causing major damage to the structure would affect the same MAR (material in ducts
and filters), produce the same failure mode (shaking/crushing) and the same
status/functional condition of mitigative features (direct release to atmosphere). The
analyst might reasonably conclude that any event involving building collapse or
major structure damage would be modeled using about the same parameter values and
assumptions used for the earthquake case, thereby yielding the same consequences.
Accordingly, the analyst should conclude that the consequences of building/roof
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Section 42
collapse due to high wind or snow/ice buildup would be about the same as for the
earthquake, and that the earthquake consequence calculation adequately “represents”
that type of initiator and portion of the severity spectrum. By identifying different
events/conditions expected to produce source terms that are similar or proportional to
those from an analyzed scenario, a small number of carefully chosen representative
analyses can provide suitable bases for classifying events across the full spectrum of
possible initiating events and severity.
Documentation Approach. The EAL logic should be arranged according to event types
sometimes termed “recognition categories” that are used to organize EALs in the facility
classification procedure. The event type/recognition category is a short descriptive title
or name (such as “fire/explosion,” “process upsets” or “natural phenomena”) that leads
the user of the classification procedure directly to the most applicable EALs, based on the
most obvious characteristics of the event/condition. See DOE G 151.1-4, Chapter 4, for
suggested EAL groupings.
For each event type the analyst should briefly describe the kinds of events and conditions
that make up the event type/recognition category. For example, the “process upsets”
event type is usually defined to include events caused by equipment failures, material
defect, personnel error, control system failure and loss of power, and so forth. The
analyst should then list the scenarios of that type that were analyzed in the hazards
assessment and the classification that is indicated by the calculated consequences.
Beginning with the highest classification indicated for any analyzed scenario, the analyst
should discuss briefly each of the analyzed scenarios that yielded that classification.
Compare and contrast the scenarios with respect to factors such as:
• MAR
• Type and magnitude of the initiating event(s)
• Values of the other parameters that comprise the source term (DR, ARF/ARR, RF,
LPF)
• Release pathway and mitigation features
• Time progression of events leading to a release
• Indications by which the event, as well as similar events with higher or lower
consequences, could be detected and recognized, including any limitations on the
usefulness of those indications as EALs.
Because this discussion is the heart of the documented EAL logic, it should describe the
features of each analyzed scenario and what portion of the event spectrum it represents.
Events of higher or lower classification involving the same material (MAR) or type of
initiating event should be noted. After the EAL “basis” statement is developed (as
described below), the discussion should be reviewed and modified as necessary to make
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sure that the “basis” statement follows logically from information presented in the
discussion.
The analyst should describe the events/conditions of each particular type that require
declaration of this emergency class. These descriptions may take several different forms.
They may be very specific to a particular analyzed event (such as, “spill of more than
about X gallons of acid”), they may broadly specify an entire group of events that should
be classified at the same level (“any fire in X Building that is not declared controlled
within 10 minutes of initial recognition”) or they may be expressed in terms of an
indication that warrants the emergency declaration without reference to the cause
(“release to the environment equal to or greater than X Becquerels per second”).
Section 43
For each such description, the analyst should provide a succinct “basis” statement that
summarizes the information, insights and inferences that support the recommended
classification. The basis statement should refer to the facts and insights presented in the
“discussion.” The basis statements and “discussion” should provide the planning staff
with a clear and logical argument for selecting EALs to classify emergencies at each
level.
2.7.3 Basis for Planned Protective Actions
As detailed in DOE G 151.1-4, Chapter 7, planned (or “default”) initial onsite Protective
Actions (PAs) and offsite Protective Action Recommendations (PARs) associated with
each EAL should be based on several factors, including:
1. The type of hazardous material involved (radioactive, chemical)
2. The affected area and population characteristics (onsite, offsite, time needed for
warning and evacuation)
3. Available options for protective actions (practicality of evacuation, suitability of
structures for sheltering, effectiveness of ad hoc measures)
4. The nature of the release implied by the EAL (in progress or imminent, short or long
duration, ground level or elevated)
Beyond the documentation suggested earlier in this chapter, little additional information
from the hazards assessment process is needed to specifically support development of
planned protective actions. The type of hazardous material that would be involved in a
particular event should be obvious from the facility description, hazard characterization,
and event scenarios. The affected area and population characteristics will come from the
results of the consequence calculations, specifically, the distance at which the PAC will
be exceeded under adverse dispersion conditions. The available options for protective
actions will be determined by the planning staff based on their knowledge of the affected
area and population and the locations and types of structures available for sheltering.
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In item 4 above, much of the information implied will also be obvious to the planners
based on facility descriptions and hazards assessment scenarios. However, the hazards
assessment analyst should take care to document any scenario-specific information that
will help correlate potential EALs (i.e., the indications by which an actual or potential
release would be recognized) with scenario factors that should be considered when
selecting planned protective actions. The use of scenario information to develop
optimum EAL-specific pre-planned protective actions is discussed in the DOE G 151.1-4,
Chapter 7, Protective Actions and Reentry.
2.7.4 EPHA Document as a Response Reference
In the early phases of response to a real event, emergency personnel will often utilize the
EPHA document in an attempt to understand the event and possible consequences. With
scenario information and consequences summarized, the document should serve as a
useful tool for initial consequence assessment efforts. Features and information that are
particularly useful in this regard include:
• The analyzed scenarios identified using short, descriptive names
• Tabulated consequences of each scenario at key receptor locations
• Graphic or other similar presentations of scenario consequences vs. distance under
conservative (adverse) and average (typical) dispersion conditions, including the
distances at which the PAC and TELs would be exceeded
2.7.5 EPHA Document Format
Section 44
The EPHA document should either stand alone as the technical planning basis or
incorporate by reference other documented analyses, descriptions, explanations, or
justifications. If the latter format is used, the EPHA document should contain all results
necessary for directly meeting the emergency management program planning
requirements, as would be presented in a standalone version.
If the results of a facility EPHA are included in a site-wide EPHA document, the same
documentation of the facility EPHA should be totally included in the site-wide version or
fully referenced. A site-wide EPHA document should contain all results necessary for
directly meeting the emergency management program planning requirements for each
facility covered.
2.8 Special Topics
2.8.1 Smoke from Ordinary Structure Fires
Any structure fires will produce toxic products of incomplete combustion or by-products
from the burning of structural materials, preservatives, refrigerants, paint, and so forth.
Although fires in office buildings or industrial facilities that do not contain large
inventories of hazardous materials may be categorized as OEs, if they result in significant
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structural damage with suspected personnel injuries or death, they should not be
classified on the basis of the “incidental” hazardous material release.
To determine if a hazards assessment is needed to analyze the release of toxic materials
from fires, the results of any formal FHA conducted to meet the requirements of
DOE O 420.1B, or the professional judgment of fire protection staff (as may be
documented in a building fire pre-plan or run plan) should be considered. If the FHA
results or the fire protection staff’s assessment suggests that protective actions beyond
those normally applied to structure fire response will be needed, the toxic material release
should be addressed in an EPHA. (Cf. Appendix H)
2.8.2 Explosives
In general, the blast, missile and burn hazards posed by conventional explosives (and
certain other materials like natural gas and propane) are outside the scope of the
Hazardous Material emergency management program specified in DOE O 151.1C. Any
analysis of hazards from conventional explosives should focus on blast, missile and burn
hazards, not the potential airborne release of toxic chemicals. Analysis and planning for
those hazards should be done in the context of the facility/site Fire Protection program or
other safety programs. Fires involving or threatening conventional explosives should be
regarded as imminent blast/missile hazards.
Results of research by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) and
the U.S. military, as well as Department of Defense (DoD) standards and DOT
emergency response guidance clearly indicate that the toxicity hazards from burning
explosives are no greater than for many common materials used in structures and
furniture and that hazards associated with blast and fragments should dominate the
emergency planning concerns for explosives. (Cf. Appendix H)
Based on the above information, conventional (chemical) explosives should be addressed
in the following manner:
1. In general, safety/emergency planning for any conventional explosives should be
based on the blast and missile hazards and not on the potential for airborne release of
toxic chemicals. Any fire involving an explosive should be treated as an imminent
blast/missile hazard and the necessary safety measures for the blast/missile hazard
implemented.
Section 45
2. An explosive should be analyzed as a dispersible toxic chemical hazard in an EPHA
only if it is used or stored in a form (such as a powder or liquid) that represents a
plausible air-dispersible source of the substance.
If an explosion has occurred and there is no potential for another, the most significant
safety impacts (blast, shock, missiles) will already have ended and therefore will not be
mitigated by the same kinds of protective actions and response measures that are usually
applied to hazardous material emergencies (evacuation, sheltering).
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2.8.3 Aggregations of Small Quantities of Hazardous Materials
The release of inventories of multiple small quantities of like or unlike hazardous
materials (all below the “laboratory scale” threshold) poses an analysis problem in
hazards assessments for some DOE/NNSA facilities. A simultaneous release of these
quantities of hazardous materials from the same facility or location requires a destructive
or energetic event (e.g., fire, explosion, earthquake, structure collapse.) Although such
destructive events have the potential to breach multiple containers, the assessment of the
impacts resulting from a simultaneous release producing additive effects beyond the local
event scene is particularly difficult to quantify because of spatial and temporal separation
of individual unit releases, inhibition of the release by structure or rubble, reduction
through various release conditions (e.g., scrubbing by fire sprinklers), and other factors.
The uncertainties associated with consequence estimates for these events will be very
large and analyses using conventional models and assumptions add little to understanding
the hazard. In addition, quantitative analyses are not needed for development of event
recognition criteria (EALs) because destructive events necessary to release multiple small
quantities are readily recognized by persons most likely to be affected by those releases
(i.e., workers in the immediate area and first responders). Conservative, worst-case
analyses for simultaneous releases of multiple small quantities cause expenditure of
resources on hazards and scenarios of minimal significance and provide little or no useful
information to improve planning or response.
The following steps represent a reasonable approach for addressing aggregations of small
quantities of like or unlike hazardous materials, each of which is below the “laboratory
scale” threshold, in DOE/NNSA emergency management programs. The approach may
also be applied to fires that are judged by local fire protection establishment to have the
potential for “extraordinary” emissions of toxic combustion products (see Section 2.8.1).
1. In the Hazards Survey, recognize and document the “HAZMAT” aspect of possible
destructive events involving multiple small quantities of hazardous materials.
Building emergency plans and pre-fire plans are the appropriate vehicles for
identifying and planning responses to destructive events that would have major, direct
human health and safety impacts (blast, burns, entrapment, etc.) and for which
hazardous materials in modest quantities would be of secondary concern. Throughout
the non-DOE emergency management community such events are routinely managed
using standard fire and HAZMAT response methods.
Section 46
2. Define certain destructive events (large fire, structure collapse, etc.) to be OEs if it
appears that the condition would meet all aspects of the OE definition. The potential
“HAZMAT” aspect of a destructive event may be used as a qualitative factor
(i.e., without resorting to quantitative calculations of impact) in defining certain
events as OEs.
Quantitative analyses of concurrent releases of small quantities (all below the “laboratory
scale” threshold) are typically not warranted because the cost and effort involved in
accurately modeling accident phenomenology on a small scale and the limited
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geographic area that could be affected do not add value to the planning and response
process.
2.9 Using Safety Analysis Results in EPHAs
To the extent practicable and available, the hazards and accident analysis results from
current facility SARs/SADs/DSAs should be used to ensure consistency of the
emergency technical planning basis with the facility authorization basis. Careful
consideration to use of safety analysis information can both enhance the quality of the
EPHA and greatly reduce the effort required for its preparation.
Facility/Process Description. The written description of the facility, processes,
hazardous materials and controls can generally be incorporated, in full or in abbreviated
form, to provide the most credible and technically sound basis for the EPHA. Properties
of hazardous materials (such as concentration, vapor pressure, or unit dose) used for the
safety analysis may be adopted for the EPHA without further justification.
Hazards Identification and Analysis. The Hazards Analysis that forms the basis for
SAR/SAD/DSA accident selection should be a primary reference for facility hazards
identification. The rigorous analysis techniques used for facility/process hazards
identification, such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) or Hazards and
Operability Studies (HAZOPs), will often yield a lengthy and detailed list of potential
hazards and accidents, along with a qualitative assessment of their consequences. From
that list, a few (discussed above) are selected for analysis in the SAR/SAD/DSA to
provide the technical justification for engineered and/or administrative controls to prevent
or mitigate the hazard. Many of the hazards and accidents identified in the Hazards
Analysis will therefore not be addressed in the SAR/SAD/DSA accident analysis section.
Events having only non-radiological consequences, those that do not have significant
consequences outside the facility, and events that are similar to but with lower
consequences than the bounding event of a given type are among those unlikely to
receive detailed analysis in the SAR/SAD/DSA. In order for the EPHA to represent the
full spectrum of hazards and event severity, hazards identified by the SAR/SAD/DSA
Hazards Analysis process (but not addressed in the accident analysis) should be selected
for inclusion in the EPHA as needed to fill out the range of potential hazards,
consequence/severity levels, and event types.
Section 47
Accident Analysis. The scenarios and corresponding source terms analyzed in current
facility safety analysis documents should be incorporated into the EPHA if consistent
with emergency planning requirements and needs. DCFs and exposure parameters
embedded in radiological computer codes should be verified to ensure consistency
between emergency management and SAR/SAD/DSA results. The SAR/SAD/DSA
scenarios will typically represent the maximum or “bounding” event of a given type. If
possible, information from the SAR/SAD/DSA discussion or supporting documents can
be used to develop variations of the bounding scenario that have different consequences,
indications, or initiating events. Results of existing analysis may be incorporated by
reference or, under some circumstances, the consequences of newly postulated scenarios
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may be derived from the results of existing analyses (e.g., by adjusting for different
source terms).
The following examples demonstrate variations in SAR/SAD/DSA scenarios that can
provide additional EPHA scenarios without further extensive analysis.
Example 1: The SAR/SAD/DSA calculates the source term for a release to the
environment that is mitigated by an isolation system. A second (unmitigated release)
case can be inferred from the credited performance characteristics of the isolation
system. The unmitigated case would provide a second point on the severity spectrum.
The second case will provide information that is most useful for event recognition
and classification if response personnel would be able to determine the isolation
status at the time of an event.
Example 2: The SAR/SAD/DSA calculates the design-basis fire source term by
using the largest of the MAR values associated with several different process areas
that are separated by rated fire barriers. Additional cases representing fires in other
process areas holding less MAR may be inferred by scaling the source terms for the
different MAR values. A catastrophic fire scenario, such as could be attributed to an
aircraft crash or extreme malevolent act, might be represented by a source term based
on the MAR total for the structure.
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3. EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONES
3.1 Background
The DOE Comprehensive Emergency Management System requires the integration of
emergency management programs for both radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous
materials. Consistent with this approach, an EPZ concept that integrates protective action
planning related to all potential hazardous material releases is endorsed as a planning
tool. The EPZ is an area within which the facility/site should support the local, state,
and/or tribal authorities in planning and preparedness activities to protect people living
and working there. Among these activities are: identification of response organizations;
establishment of effective communications to notify the public and the responsible
authorities within the EPZ; development of public information and education materials;
training and provision of equipment for offsite emergency workers; identification of
predetermined response actions; and development and testing of response procedures.
DOE facilities are subject to EPA emergency management requirements for non
radioactive hazards. It is DOE policy that emergency management for DOE/NNSA
nuclear facilities should be consistent with the requirements of the NRC related to
radioactive hazards to the extent practicable. Basic planning and response principles, as
well as the NRC and EPA requirements and their bases, are considered as background for
the guidance provided in this chapter.
Section 48
The NRC and FEMA have established EPZ requirements for commercial power reactors.
The analysis that led to the establishment of the standard radioactive plume exposure and
ingestion pathway planning zones for large, domestic power reactors is documented in
NUREG-0396/EPA 520/1-78-016. The report concluded that a 10-mile (16 km) plume
exposure (airborne) pathway EPZ was adequate because:
1. Projected doses from the traditional design-basis accidents would not exceed PAG
levels outside the EPZ;
2. Projected doses from most core melt sequences would not exceed PAG levels outside
the EPZ;
3. For the worst case core melt sequences, “immediate life-threatening doses” would
generally not occur outside the EPZ; and
4. Detailed planning within the EPZ would provide a substantial base for expansion of
response efforts in the event that this proved necessary.
These criteria were developed using the higher PAG levels then in effect (5-rem
[50 mSv] whole body, 25-rem [250 mSv] thyroid dose) and are also satisfied relative to
the current lower PAG values (1-rem [10 mSv] whole body, 5-rem [50 mSv] thyroid).
The 50-mile ingestion pathway planning zone was largely based on a judgment that the
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likelihood of exceeding ingestion pathway PAG levels at that distance was comparable to
the likelihood of exceeding plume exposure pathway PAG levels at 10 miles (16 km).
The EPA has published guidance that leads to the determination of a vulnerable zone for
non-radioactive hazards. This zone is described by the EPA as the area that may be
subject to concentrations of an airborne, Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS),
following an accidental release, at levels that could cause irreversible acute health effects
or death to human populations within the area. The EPA guidance defines the vulnerable
zone in terms of the distance at which a “level of concern (LOC)” would be exceeded
because of a release of the hazardous material under severe (conservative) dispersion
conditions. A LOC is defined as the concentration of an EHS in air above which there
may be serious irreversible health effects or death because of a single exposure for a
relatively short time period. LOCs are identified in the EPA guidance for the EHSs listed
in 40 CFR 355, Appendix A. The vulnerable zone was developed for use by community
emergency planners in evaluating the risk of and planning for response to hazardous
material releases. Because of differences in both the impact (concentration) criteria and
the methods used, the vulnerable zone does not directly correspond to the EPZ concepts
developed for DOE facilities.
In the following sections, an EPZ methodology is recommended for DOE facilities that
uses the underlying NRC/FEMA/EPA bases for the radioactive plume exposure
(airborne) pathway EPZ and incorporates planning for both radioactive and non
radioactive hazardous material releases.
3.2 General EPZ Concepts
The designation of an EPZ and the related detailed planning and preparedness activities
are not intended to ensure complete protection of all persons who might be affected by
the largest conceivable hazardous material release under the most severe meteorological
conditions. The EPA Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for
Nuclear Incidents, EPA 400-R-92-001, May 1992, states, “It is not appropriate to use the
maximum distance where a PAG might be exceeded as the basis for establishing the
boundary of the EPZ for a facility.”
Section 49
In addition, those responsible for establishing the geographic extent of any facility EPZ
should note that a larger EPZ does not necessarily provide better protection of the
population than a smaller one:
• For a given wind speed, the elapsed time between initiation of a hazardous material
release and the onset of consequences at a receptor location is directly proportional to
the distance between the source and receptor. Hence, the greater the distance from
the source, the more time will be available to carry out protective actions.
• If distance (and available time) is great enough, ad hoc protective actions will be
approximately as effective in reducing health impacts as those actions that have been
planned and prepared for in detail. As the effectiveness of a preplanned protective
action approaches that of an ad hoc action, the efficiency of planning/preparedness
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efforts (expressed in terms of reduced health impacts per unit investment in
planning/preparedness) approaches zero.
• Because resources available for protective action planning and preparedness are
always limited, use of those resources should be concentrated in the geographic areas
where the greatest reduction in health impact per unit expenditure can be achieved.
In some cases, specifically the most severe release conditions, protective actions may be
needed in areas outside the EPZ. Therefore, the EPZ should be sufficiently large that the
planning and preparedness for actions within the defined EPZ provide authorities with a
reasonable basis for extending their preplanned response activities to areas outside the
EPZ, if warranted by the actual conditions.
3.3 Developing Facility EPZs
An EPZ associated with a particular DOE facility or site is an area within which
government and facility managers determine that special planning and preparedness
efforts are warranted as a means of apportioning preparedness resources to the areas
where they are most needed. As a matter of practical necessity, the EPZ should be
developed in cooperation with the responsible local, State, and Tribal authorities, since
each has a statutory responsibility to protect its citizens.
Facility EPZs may be based on risk criteria agreed upon by State and local authorities.
Risk-based methods of prioritizing emergency planning and preparedness efforts provide
assurance that resources are dedicated to the proper areas and issues. However, such
methods require a major investment in a comprehensive Probabilistic Risk Assessment
(PRA) for the facility. Facilities for which a PRA has already been prepared, or is in
progress, may choose to use the results to establish their EPZs in cooperation with local
and State authorities.
For those facilities that do not choose the risk-based approach, the EPZ should include as
a minimum the area where people would be at risk of death or severe injury from the
severe releases under severe meteorological conditions. It may also include part of the
area where protective actions would be warranted for the same release and
meteorological conditions. Hence, the EPZ for each facility should be based on objective
analyses of the spectrum of hazards associated with that facility, not on arbitrary factors
such as historical precedent or distance to the site boundary. The results of the
consequence calculations described in Section 2.6, geographical and jurisdictional
factors, as well as other factors detailed in this guidance can be used to define the facility
EPZ.
Section 50
Following the underlying rationale for establishing the EPZ for commercial nuclear
reactors, the integrated EPZ for DOE facilities, which is based on the spectrum of
potential radioactive and chemical hazardous material releases, should be of sufficient
size that:
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a. Protective actions are not likely to be required beyond the EPZ for most analyzed
events (i.e., consequences from most analyzed events are not likely to exceed PACs
outside the EPZ);
b. Measures taken within the EPZ would provide for substantial reduction in early
lethality for all analyzed events (i.e., consequences from all analyzed events would
not exceed TELs outside the EPZ); and
c. Planning efforts within the EPZ provide a substantial basis for expansion of
response efforts beyond the EPZ, if necessary.
d. The maximum EPZ for any DOE or NNSA facility/site should not exceed a nominal
radius of 10 miles (16 kilometers).
The following steps provide a methodology for developing a candidate, technically
defensible plume exposure pathway EPZ for DOE/NNSA facilities that implements the
basic characteristics of the integrated EPZ as given above.
1. If the results of consequence calculations, done in accordance with Section 2.6,
indicate no OE higher than an Alert classification, then an EPZ need not be defined
for the facility.
2. From the results of consequence calculations, done in accordance with Section 2.6,
determine the maximum distance at which a TEL would be exceeded for the most
severe analyzed release (excluding those, which result from extreme malevolent acts
discussed in Appendix E) under severe meteorological conditions. This distance, the
smallest EPZ radius that should be considered, is denoted EPZMIN.
3. Next, determine the maximum distance at which a PAC would be exceeded for the
most severe analyzed potential release (excluding those that are “beyond-design
basis” natural phenomena events or which result from extreme malevolent acts
discussed in Appendix E) under severe meteorological conditions. This distance, the
maximum EPZ radius that should be considered, is denoted EPZMAX.
4. If EPZMAX is greater than 10 miles (16 kilometers), then the EPZMAX is set equal to
10 miles (16 kilometers). The value for the EPZ is within the limits EPZMIN to
EPZMAX.
5. Within the limits of the largest and smallest EPZ radii, EPZMIN to EPZMAX, consider
other factors and adjust size and shape in accordance with the following principles:
• The full spectrum of emergencies that contribute to facility/site offsite risk should
be considered. Even if a comprehensive PRA has not been done, local knowledge
of the probability or risk contribution of the most severe analyzed event relative to
the other events that comprise the balance of the facility/site risk may be used in a
semi-quantitative way to determine whether the EPZ size should be closer to the
maximum or minimum values as determined in Steps 1-4, described above:
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– If the most severe analyzed release would result from a single failure event or
is believed to have a relatively high probability of occurrence, an EPZ radius
closer to the maximum than the minimum value should be selected.
– If the probability of the most severe analyzed release is judged to be
extremely low or if it contributes a minor fraction of the total offsite risk from
site emergencies, an EPZ radius closer to the minimum than the maximum
value is indicated.
Section 51
• The hazards judged to contribute most heavily to the offsite risk should be
considered, as follows:
– If the hazard is radiological, an EPZ radius closer to the minimum than the
maximum value should be selected because of the wide margin (a factor of
greater than 100) between the thresholds for protective action and early
lethality.
– If the hazard is non-radiological, an EPZ radius closer to the maximum than
the minimum value should be selected because of the narrower margin
(typically a factor of 3 to 10) between the concentration thresholds for
protective action and lethality (as defined in Appendix F), and the potential
for severe irreversible effects resulting from exposure to concentrations
between the protective action and lethality thresholds.
• The definition of an EPZ is meaningful only if significant planning and
preparedness measures are implemented within it. This commitment and the
responsibility to expend resources planning and preparing for the protection of
people should be factored into EPZ size. The planning and preparedness
activities that the facility/site should expect to support on behalf of the population
within the EPZ include the following:
– Identification of responsible onsite and offsite emergency response
organizations and the mechanisms for activating their services.
– Establishment of effective communication networks to notify the public
within the EPZ and the responsible authorities promptly.
– Development and delivery of public information and education materials to
ensure timely and correct response to warnings.
– Implementation of training programs and provision of equipment for offsite
emergency workers.
– Identification of predetermined response actions.
– Development and testing of response procedures.
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• The cost of implementing an EPZ is usually directly related to the geographic size
of the EPZ. If creating a larger EPZ means that scarce resources are allocated to
the protection of people who are at minimal risk, a larger EPZ may actually be
less effective at mitigating overall risk to the population than a smaller one.
• If distance from the source and the time available to respond are great enough,
protective actions carried out on an ad hoc basis will be approximately as
effective in reducing risk as those actions that have been planned and prepared in
detail. Also, planning and preparedness for the EPZ will provide a basis for more
effective response activities outside the EPZ if conditions should warrant.
• The EPZ should conform to the physical and jurisdictional realities of the site and
surrounding area.
• The EPZ size should give confidence that planning and preparedness will be
sufficiently flexible and detailed to deal with a wide range of types and
magnitudes of emergency conditions. Four significant considerations that cannot
be readily stated as quantitative guidance are presented below in the form of
questions to be used as “tests of reasonableness” for the proposed EPZ size.
– Is the EPZ large enough to provide a credible basis for extending response
activities outside the EPZ if conditions warrant?
– Is the EPZ large enough to support an effective response at and near the scene
of the emergency (i.e., to preclude interference from uninvolved people and
activity, to facilitate onsite protective actions, to optimize on-scene command,
control, and mitigation efforts)?
– Is the EPZ likely to meet the expectations and needs of offsite agencies?
Section 52
– What enhancement of the facility and site preparedness stature would be
achieved by increasing the size of the EPZ? What resources, costs, and
liabilities might a larger EPZ engender? Would a larger EPZ result in a large
increase in preparedness without correspondingly large increases in cost or
other detriment?
As a last consideration, ensure that the underlying rationale for establishing the
integrated EPZ for DOE facilities (a. through d., page 3-4 above) is generally satisfied for
the EPZ determined from Steps 1-5. Document the consideration of each of the tests and
any adjustments made to the EPZ. The resulting EPZ and its bases provide the beginning
point for discussions with Tribal, State, and local authorities.
Where several facilities are located in close proximity to one another and the nature of
the hazards is the same at each, the largest impact from an event at any of the facilities
may be used to define the EPZ for the entire area. Though it is possible that under certain
conditions (e.g., major earthquake) releases from several facilities might occur at the
same time with consequences that are additive, the EPZ size should not be based on
DOE G 151.1-2 3-7 (and 3-8)
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concurrent events at separate facilities. Where a number of individual facilities and
activities are located in close proximity to one another, a composite EPZ for the group of
facilities or the entire site should be defined to simplify communications and offsite
interactions. Also, the EPZ for a site should not be extended beyond the site boundary
solely on the basis of potential consequences of a transportation accident, if the
transportation activity is comparable (in terms of materials, quantities, and mode of
shipment) to that normally conducted on public routes.
Finally, the planning process should recognize and provide for the need to refine the
initial default protective actions and carry out protective actions in limited portions of the
EPZ for specific events or conditions. Dividing the EPZ into sectors by direction and
radial distance and using natural or jurisdictional boundaries to define protective action
zones are suggested ways to assist offsite authorities by providing a finer planning and
response structure.
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4. MAINTAINING HAZARDS SURVEYS
AND HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS
Hazards Surveys and EPHAs should be maintained so that they accurately reflect changes
in the facility design, operations, safety features, inventories of hazardous materials, and
features of the surrounding area. In the absence of other overriding requirements on the
mechanics of this maintenance process, the following guidelines should be applied.
• Hazards Surveys and EPHAs should be reviewed and, as necessary, updated at least
every 3 years, and prior to significant changes to the facility/site or to hazardous
material inventories. For example, significant changes are those changes which
would result in an unreviewed safety question for nuclear facilities, as defined in
10 CFR 830, or in an unreviewed safety issue for accelerator facilities, as defined in
DOE O 420.2B. If the change reduces hazards with no adverse effect on safety or
emergency preparedness and response, the modifications may be performed at the
next scheduled review and update.
Section 53
• Maintenance of the Hazards Surveys and EPHAs should be monitored through
existing administrative processes and commitment tracking systems. A reliable,
efficient, and timely method for tracking changes in facility/site or activity operations
or processes that involve hazardous materials (e.g., introduction of new materials,
new uses, changes in inventories, modification of material environments) should be
established and maintained for each facility/activity.
• The method for tracking changes in facility/site or activity operations or processes
that involve hazardous materials should allow sufficient transition time for emergency
management personnel to review the EPHA and modify plans or procedures, as
necessary, to account for changes in the hazardous material situation.
• Methods for tracking changes in facility/site or activity operations may include
regular access to current site-wide inventory records, special notification procedures
for operation or process changes, and/or active involvement of emergency
management personnel in the facility/site or activity ISMS. The method can also be
linked to the USQ process, which identifies changes in the safety basis of the
facility/site or activity.
• Changes in the facility/site or activity safety analysis reports, probabilistic risk
assessments, vulnerability assessments, fire hazard analyses, environmental impact
statements, and other documents that address facility/site or activity hazards or
potential consequences should be integrated with maintenance of the EPHA.
• The review schedule should be specified in the Emergency Readiness Assurance Plan
(ERAP). Reviews should be coordinated and planned to take maximum advantage of
other required periodic safety reviews, such as the annual Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act hazardous material inventory, nuclear facility safety reviews,
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required by 10 CFR 830.202 and 830.204, and reviews required by 40 CFR 122,
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or other permit processes.
Reviews should be done whenever significant changes to facility, process, or
materials inventory occur. For example, significant changes are those changes that
would result in an USQ for nuclear facilities, as defined in 10 CFR 830.3(a), or in an
unreviewed safety issue for accelerator facilities, as defined in DOE O 420.2B.
• Transitory hazards, such as short-duration storage of large quantities of hazardous
materials or the short-term assembly and testing of nuclear explosive devices, may be
covered in several ways. If an EPHA exists for the facility, the EPHA and associated
emergency planning documents can be updated. For ease of maintenance and to
avoid duplication of effort, the test plans or other controlling safety documents for
such transitory hazards may be configured to serve as temporary addenda to the site
and/or facility emergency plans. Another option is to issue a special abbreviated
assessment that contains a description of the activity or operation and its expected
duration, discussion and results of the hazards screening and characterization,
scenario descriptions, consequence calculations, and EALs.
• Major changes in offsite or onsite population or in transportation features of the site
and environs, such as the construction of major facilities or new highways, should
also cause the EPHA to be reviewed.
Section 54
• The hazardous material emergency potential associated with facilities undergoing
decommissioning or remediation will decline and become static as the process nears
completion. The review and maintenance effort may then be substantially reduced
without detriment to the emergency management program by creating a single
documented hazards assessment covering a number of facilities of the same general
hazard profile and inactive (non-operational) status.
• The results of each review should be documented and reported to the management
responsible for facility operations and emergency preparedness. If a review identifies
no significant changes in facility, process, or potential emergency consequences, a
finding to that effect should be documented.
• If the review identifies significant changes, they should be documented and reported.
The report should address (1) the possible effects on the adequacy of facility and site
emergency plans, (2) any temporary compensatory measures that are being
considered or implemented, and (3) a schedule for updating the analysis, reporting the
results, and proposing any needed changes to the site's emergency planning or
response program.
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5. USING HAZARD SURVEYS AND HAZARDS
ASSESSMENTS
5.1 Hazards Survey
It is expected that DOE facilities already meet most Base Program planning requirements
through building fire preplans, building evacuation plans, building warden systems,
employee emergency notification systems, onsite medical and security plans, and mutual
aid agreements with offsite organizations. The Hazards Surveys identify the generic
types of emergencies applicable to the facility. From these emergencies, potential OEs
can be identified and categorization criteria developed to ensure that the prompt
notification requirement for OEs is met. DOE G 151.1-4, Chapter 4, provides guidance
on categorization of OEs that do not require classification. Existing site-specific
Occurrence Reporting and EAL procedures provide a framework within which the
categorization requirement can be implemented.
Using the results of the Hazards Survey, the “Notification” element of the site emergency
management program should be reviewed and responsibility assigned for completing the
30-minute notifications of OEs not requiring classification. Some sites assign the
responsibility for all notifications to a single “Notification Center,” whereas others split
the responsibilities for occurrence and emergency reporting. If the responsibility is split,
reporting of OEs not requiring classification should be assigned to the organizational
entity currently responsible for reporting emergencies that are classified as Alert and
higher.
The Hazards Survey process will involve the review of facility programs already in place
to meet Federal, State, and local requirements related to worker health and safety,
environmental protection, and hazardous materials reporting. It is not suggested that
emergency management departments assume increased responsibility and authority for
ensuring compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
CERCLA, NPDES, and OSHA requirements. However, the Hazards Survey and its
periodic updates, as a minimum, should serve as an internal quality assurance check on
compliance with those regulations. Facility/site management may find it useful to
incorporate the Hazards Survey process into its program of internal oversight and
compliance monitoring for hazardous materials, environmental protection, and worker
safety regulations.
Section 55
5.2 Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA)
Since 1991, DOE emergency management orders have incorporated the concept of
tailoring requirements to specific hazards through the “commensurate with hazards”
approach. The approach begins with a complete understanding of the emergency
situations that could impact DOE facilities/sites or activities, followed by analyses of the
resultant hazards to workers, the public, and the environment. Based on completed
EPHAs, the requirements in the current Order (i.e., DOE O 151.1C) are tailored to
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develop an emergency management program (e.g., plans, tools, training, response,
resources) that addresses the unique hazards and operating environment of each facility
or activity and consists of the following program elements: program administration,
training and drills, exercises, readiness assurance, emergency response organization,
offsite response interfaces, emergency facilities and equipment, emergency categorization
and classification, notifications and communications, consequence assessment, protective
actions and reentry, emergency medical support, emergency public information, and
termination and recovery.
Examples of the use of the EPHA output to develop selected program elements are
provided below.
• Training and Drills. The Training and Drills program, ranging from “general
employee training” to Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Manager training
should be customized around the EPHA and the Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) programs and their associated program
elements.
• Exercises. The EPHA provides a ready source of scenarios and source terms for use
in developing facility-specific drills and exercises.
• Emergency Response Organization (ERO). The nature and severity of the events
analyzed in the EPHA should provide the basis for both on-shift and on-call ERO
staffing. Required staffing levels and expertise for functions such as consequence
assessment and emergency medical support are directly determined by the hazards
present at the facility/site.
• Offsite Response Interfaces. In addition to identifying the offsite parties to whom
prompt emergency notifications should be made, the EPHA should be used to define
needs for specialized offsite support, such as ambulances, medical facilities and
personnel, hazardous materials response teams, firefighting support, and public affairs
interfaces.
• Emergency Facilities and Equipment. The nature and potential for release of the
hazards analyzed in the EPHA should dictate many of the specifications for facilities
and equipment. Overall facility and site emergency potential will help define general
needs, such as communications equipment and EOC size, while specific hazards may
indicate need for specialized equipment, such as protective clothing, portable
monitoring instruments, decontamination supplies, consequence assessment models,
HAZMAT response vehicles and supplies, and facility data acquisition systems.
• Classification. The EPHA provides the quantitative relationships between hazardous
material airborne release events and their consequences, as well as the event
descriptions and indications that serve as event classification criteria, the EALs.
• Notification and Communications. For facilities subject to hazardous material OEs
requiring classification, the potentially affected areas, the impacts of hazardous
DOE G 151.1-2 5-3 (and 5-4)
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Section 56
material releases, and the time available to respond will determine the functional
requirements for notification systems, procedures, and staff. The need for rapid
warnings, notifications, and requests for assistance will determine the required level
of sophistication and reliability in communications systems.
• Consequence Assessment. The source terms and consequence calculations required
for the EPHA will establish the performance requirements for emergency response
consequence assessment models and/or methods. Specifically, the response models
and methods need to be suitable for the specific hazardous materials addressed by the
EPHA over the range of possible release and transport conditions. The EPHA
document, or a summary of scenario data and consequences, should be available to
responders as a ready source of data on each facility's hazardous material inventory
and potential release scenarios.
• Protective Actions and Reentry. The EPHA consequence calculation results should
be used directly to determine initial, pre-planned (default) onsite PAs and offsite
PARs that are specific to each analyzed condition and EAL.
• Emergency Medical Support. The hazards analyzed in the EPHA will define the
emergency medical support needs, including special preparations such as
decontamination supplies; chelating, neutralizing and blocking agents; and medical
staff training in treatment of victims exposed to specific hazardous substances.
• Emergency Public Information (EPI). The hazards analyzed in the EPHA and the
extent of their impacts will determine the content and geographic coverage of the EPI
program. Information will be required on topics such as the nature of the potential
hazards, the notifications and communications systems, and protective action plans
(e.g., evacuation routes, guidelines for sheltering in place).
Other uses of the EPHA results include:
• Verification and monitoring of facility hazardous material inventories.
• Confirmation of or input to the authorization basis safety analysis.
• Recommendations for minimizing or segmenting hazardous materials inventories.
• Identification and ranking of hazardous material targets to reduce risk and
consequences associated with potential malevolent events.
• Inputs to the fire pre-planning and hazardous material spill prevention/cleanup plans.
• Assessing the capability of instruments and effluent monitors to quantify emergency
releases.
• Identification of facility and/or procedures changes that would help prevent or
mitigate the events analyzed.
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APPENDIX C. Facility and Site Boundary Guidelines
C.1 Introduction
The Order defines the OE Alert classification in terms of releases of hazardous materials
to the environment for which it is expected that the radiation dose or concentration in air
(of other hazardous materials) is expected to exceed either “10 percent of the applicable
PAC … at or beyond the facility boundary” or “the applicable PAC … at or beyond
30 meters from the point of release to the environment.” The terms “releases” and
“environment” clearly indicate that the Order intends the consequence criteria to apply
only to exposures outside structures or enclosures.
For purposes of emergency planning and classification, the maximum consequences to a
hypothetical individual at ground level outside a structure are to be calculated. The
hypothetical individual will be standing at a distance of 30 m from the point of any
ground-level release to the environment or at the point of maximum ground-level impact
(in terms of radiation dose or concentration) for any elevated release.
Section 57
As used in the Order, the term “facility boundary” denotes a line of separation between
the facility (and its immediate environs) and the remainder of the site. The “facility
boundary” discussed in this guidance is intended only for use in hazardous material
emergency planning and analysis. It is not intended to correspond to the exclusion zone
normally established by the on-scene Incident Commander for a fire response.
Implicit in the DOE Order emergency class definitions and discussion is the assumption
that DOE facilities are located within larger tracts (sites) over which DOE has access
control authority. There is a logical progression in severity from events that affect the
facility but not the larger site (Alert), to those that affect the site outside the facility but
not offsite areas (Site Area Emergency), to those that affect offsite areas (General
Emergency). This progression reflects the assumption that a buffer of DOE-controlled
land exists between each DOE facility and the site boundary. Some DOE facilities may
not have this buffer, and the relationship between facility boundary, site boundary and the
emergency classes should be carefully considered when defining facility boundaries and
determining the emergency classes that best describe facility events.
C.2 Selection of Facility Boundary Distance
For emergency planning purposes, several structures or component units with a common
or related purpose may constitute a single facility. On the other hand, a complex of
dissimilar buildings, processes, and equipment may be considered as a single facility if
they are physically adjacent, under common management, and contribute to a common
programmatic mission.
To promote consistency of event classification, a standard “analysis radius” of 100 m
should be used to represent the facility boundary receptor for all facilities. Using the
same facility boundary analysis radius for all facilities ensures that the relationship
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between emergency class and consequences is consistent throughout the DOE/NNSA
complex.
In a few cases, it may be useful to define a “facility” to include the entire fenced security
area that surrounds the structures or activities of interest. If the facility boundary is
defined in this way, the minimum distance to the facility boundary from the likely release
point(s) should be used as the analysis radius for all consequence calculations. This
approach is reasonable if it leads to selection of an analysis radius of at least 100 m, but
less than about 200 m, and the security area is small with respect to the size of the site
(i.e., distance to the facility boundary is short with respect to the site boundary distance).
C.3 Definition of Site Boundaries
In general, the perimeter enclosing the area where DOE has the responsibility for
implementing protective actions will be the site boundary. DOE facilities occupied by
vendors or contractors with which agreements have been reached regarding emergency
notification and protective action responsibilities should be considered “onsite” for
purposes of analysis and event classification. However, there are several possible
situations that could require adjustments to achieve overall consistency with the intent of
DOE Orders and with sound emergency management principles.
Section 58
• If the general public can gain unescorted access to areas of the DOE site, such as
public highways or visitor centers, those areas should be considered as “offsite” for
purposes of emergency class definition, unless it is ensured that those areas can be
evacuated and access control established within about one (1) hour of any emergency
declaration.
• Any non-DOE facility or activity located within a DOE site may be considered as
“offsite” for purposes of emergency class definition. The potential effect on the non-
DOE facility of a hazardous material emergency originating at a DOE facility may
necessitate the type of coordinated response characteristic of a General Emergency.
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APPENDIX D. Onsite Transportation Analysis
D.1 Introduction
Planning and preparedness for transportation-related hazardous material emergencies
on DOE or NNSA sites should be an integral part of the site comprehensive
emergency management program. Successful integration requires that the approach
to hazard identification, analysis, and the application of the results be consistent with
the process used for fixed-facility EPHAs. The purpose of this appendix is to provide
specific guidance on the analysis of hazardous material transportation activities on
DOE/NNSA sites and the use of the analysis results in emergency management
programs.
This appendix is applicable only to onsite transportation activities involving between-
facility transfers of hazardous materials. Non-DOE (commercial) shipments of
hazardous materials to, from, or across the site are governed by DOT regulations and
specifications for commercial hazardous materials transport and do not require a Hazard
Survey or Hazards Assessment. Also exempt from the Hazards Survey/Hazards
Assessment requirements is inter-facility transport of hazardous materials that complies
with all DOT regulations and specifications applicable to the movement of those same
materials over public transportation arteries. Protective actions (i.e., applicable “Initial
Isolation” and “Protective Action” distances) for emergencies involving these shipments
on DOE/NNSA sites should be determined by information in the DOT ERG, using the
substance ID number and Guide number. Analysis requirements for DOE or NNSA
shipments moving on or off the site will also depend on the governing DOT regulations
and specifications. However, these DOE/NNSA shipments are not covered by this
appendix.
The onsite transportation of hazardous materials not exempted by the above criteria may
be addressed either in the EPHAs for fixed-facilities with which the materials are
associated or in a stand-alone site transportation hazards assessment. In either case, a
Hazards Survey of transportation activities is required. The screening process conducted
as part of the Hazards Survey effort identifies those hazardous materials involved in
onsite transportation activities that require quantitative assessment. If the quantitative
analysis of site transportation hazards is documented in one or more of a site’s fixed-
facility EPHA or in the site’s Transportation Safety Document, the transportation
Hazards Survey should identify and reference the specific EPHA documents or
Transportation Safety Document section in which specific transportation hazards are
addressed.
D.2 Hazards Survey
The Hazards Survey for onsite transportation activities should follow the general steps
outlined in Section 1.2, with the following clarifications:
Section 59
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Identify and briefly describe each facility (Step 1).
Instead of “facilities,” it is the onsite hazardous material “transportation activities” that
should be identified and briefly described. The description of each identified
transportation activity need only include a brief characterization of the hazardous
substance(s) involved, the origin, destination, and mode/method of transport.
Screen hazardous materials to determine need for a quantitative EPHA (Step 2).
In general, hazardous materials in transport are vulnerable to the same types of release
and dispersal events/conditions considered in fixed-facility hazards assessments
(e.g., fire, spill, breach of containers). Therefore, screening of transportation hazards
should follow the process outlined in Appendix A.
Any onsite shipment of hazardous material in a quantity exceeding the applicable
screening quantity needs to be quantitatively analyzed in an EPHA to provide the
technical planning basis for response.
Identify the generic types of emergency events and conditions that apply (Step 3).
The only type of emergency event that need be identified is “release/loss of control over
hazardous materials.”
Identify the types of potential impacts of the applicable emergencies (Step 4).
The only potential impacts of the identified types of emergencies that need be identified
are “exposure of people to radioactive or other hazardous substances” and
“environmental damage/degradation.”
Identify and document the applicable Base Program planning and preparedness
requirements (Step 5).
List any Federal, State or local planning/preparedness requirements that apply
specifically to the transportation of hazardous materials on the site. Such requirements
may include:
• Driver certification/training on emergency notification and response;
• Vehicle specifications for certain cargos;
• Means for notifying site authorities in the event of an accident;
• Notification of site authorities prior to specific shipments entering the site;
• Safety/security escorts or route control;
• Emergency management oversight of specific shipments; and
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• DOT standards for placards, labels and manifests.
D.3 Hazards Assessment
Repetition should be avoided by consolidating material that applies to all site
transportation activities (site description, methodology, etc.) in a single document section,
then devoting a separate Chapter or annex to the quantitative analyses of each particular
transportation activity. The quantitative hazards assessment for onsite transportation
activities should follow the general steps outlined in Section 2.2, with the following
clarifications:
Define and describe the facility and operations (Step 1).
The definition and description should be specific to each particular transportation
operation involving hazardous material quantities in excess of the applicable screening
threshold quantity. The “definition” statement should give the scope of the particular
analysis in unambiguous terms. For example: “This analysis addresses the transport of
solid radioactive waste generated by the decommissioning activities in the ____ Area to
the _____solid waste burial ground.”
At a minimum, the “description” of the activity should include:
• The hazardous substance(s) being transported (Examples: sulfur dioxide gas, low-
level radioactive waste from laboratory operations);
Section 60
• General packaging type or container information (Examples: 55 gallon drums, DOT
spec 3AL2015 gas cylinders);
• Mode of transport or type of vehicle used (Examples: 2000 gallon tanker truck,
enclosed van)
• Onsite route(s) used, including any restrictions (Example: Building 340 to Central
Waste Management, via Hazel Street and Route 4. Daylight only)
• Any other controls or restrictions applicable to this shipment type (Example: Driver
to notify Security 60 minutes before departure. Speed limit of 35 mph to be
observed)
Characterize the hazardous materials (Step 2).
As in fixed-facility analyses, the hazardous material characterization should include those
facts and information necessary to support the quantitative assessment of release
consequences. Specifically:
• The common name, CAS number, and concentration of hazardous chemicals;
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• Radionuclide(s) and concentration, specific activity or unit dose (i.e., dose-per-unit
intake);
• Properties related to release potential and dispersibility (e.g., vapor pressure, boiling
point, particle size);
• Typical and maximum (if known) quantities in each package and shipment; and
• Packaging or container information that will help define DR and LPF for different
accident types (e.g., cardboard cases of glass bottles, 55 gallon drums, special
shipping containers).
Select and analyze emergency events and conditions (Step 3).
The events and conditions that could lead to the release of hazardous materials in
transport may be different from those selected for fixed-facility analyses. The following
release events should be considered, as applicable:
• Puncture of one or more individual packages/containers during handling;
• Energetic impact of container(s) during collision (crush, rupture);
• Involvement of the entire shipment in fire;
• Detonation/deflagration of materials (if applicable);
• Spill of dry materials; and
• Spill/venting of tanker contents (liquids and pressurized gases).
One or more releases of each applicable type should be analyzed. For a given type of
event, only the bounding event need be analyzed if it is determined that there would be
no way to distinguish between different release magnitudes at the time of the event (for
example, the number of packages breached in a crash followed by fire).
Estimate the consequences (Step 4).
In general, the calculation models and approaches used for fixed-facility analyses are
appropriate for transportation analyses. However, because transportation accidents may
occur anywhere on the travel route, distances from the point of release to key receptors
are not fixed. Consequences of each postulated release should therefore be calculated at
30 m, 100 m, and several other distances extending out to the maximum distance at
which the PAC would be exceeded under the “conservative” dispersion conditions.
Transportation event releases to the atmosphere should be modeled using a “standard” or
“open country” terrain factor unless the transportation route is entirely within a built-up
DOE G 151.1-2 D-5 (and D-6)
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area of the site where the “urban” terrain factor better represents the local dispersion
environment.
Document the results of the analyses (Step 5).
Section 61
The results of the consequence calculations should be documented in a manner that
makes them useful for interpolating the consequences of actual events at specific
locations. Tabular or graphic representations of the data can be very useful to responders
for determining the area potentially affected by a release and for executing protective
actions. The distance at which the PAC will be exceeded for each scenario should be
clearly identified. If an event occurs and the distance to the site boundary or other
“public” receptor location) is within the distance at which the PAC will be exceeded,
classification as a General Emergency is indicated.
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APPENDIX E. Malevolent Events
E.1 Introduction
Malevolent events (e.g., vandalism, sabotage, terrorism), including the use of explosives
or flammable material, are potential initiators of hazardous material releases within the
scope of emergency planning. In contrast to the randomness of initiators associated with
accidents, natural phenomena and other external events, a malevolent, intelligent initiator
can determine where to place explosives or start fires and/or how to use site systems and
equipment to deliberately initiate or exacerbate emergency events or conditions. Such
premeditated, even suicidal, malevolent events can maximize the impact of a release of
hazardous material ranging from use-denial by contamination to serious harm to workers
or the public.
The objective of this appendix is to provide guidance for selecting the set of malevolent
events to be included in the technical planning basis to ensure that a range of potential
releases from malevolent events are reflected in the emergency management program.
Not all inventories of hazardous materials have to be evaluated with malevolent event
initiators and not all potential malevolent events in a facility have to be analyzed and
included in the planning basis or in the set of EALs. In many cases, malevolent event
scenarios will produce releases and consequences similar to those that could be caused by
accidental, natural phenomena, or other external initiating events. Identifying a
malevolent event as a potential initiator does not necessarily mean that a separate detailed
analysis of that scenario is needed. For example, an explosion and fire that releases a
hazardous material from a storage location might be postulated to result from an aircraft
or vehicle crash. However, if nearly the same level of damage and resulting source term
might also be caused by an act of sabotage involving an explosion and fire in the same
location, the malevolent event might simply be considered a second initiator for the same
basic fire/explosion condition. In that case, there need be no explicit component in the
EAL that reflects the cause of the initiator, because the recognition indicator is the
explosion/fire itself, not whether the initiator is an accident or malevolent event.
The selection and analysis of malevolent events, which represents the final step in the
development of the technical planning basis, can benefit from the cooperative
involvement of facility and site experts representing a broad scope of interested
functions, including Operations, programs, S&S, and safety, in addition to emergency
management analysts. Of particular importance is the cooperation and active assistance
of S&S personnel, who provide essential expertise for interpreting the current
Departmental Design Basis Threat (DBT) policy as it is applied to the specific facility.
Section 62
An additional benefit of the hazards assessment process is the possibility of revealing
opportunities to decrease the likelihood or magnitude of potential malevolent events by
implementing active or passive security measures or modifying facility features or
procedures. The responsible S&S staff should be made aware of this potentially valuable
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byproduct and the hazards assessment analysts should be encouraged to identify such
opportunities for improvements.
A general approach is presented in the next section for selecting malevolent events to
incorporate in the planning basis for an emergency management program. This selection
of malevolent event scenarios is intended to follow the completed selection and analyses
of scenarios that represent the technical planning basis for the emergency management
program based on events from Groups 1, 2 and 3 [Cf. DOE G 151.1-2, Sections 2.5 –
2.6].
E.2 Scenario Selection
The first step in the selection of malevolent events involves the identification of potential
threats to each facility involving the dispersal of hazardous materials. Emergency
planning analysts should consider any facility with significant quantities of hazardous
materials as a potential target of malevolent action. The current Departmental DBT
should be consulted for the characterization/description, capabilities, resources, and intent
of potential threats that might be applicable to each facility and its associated hazards.
Based on these potential threats, candidate malevolent event scenarios ranging from
minor to extreme severity should be developed. Associated with this range of scenarios
should be estimates of event initiator capabilities (e.g., explosive capability, flammable
material availability, intrusion/disruption capabilities, etc.) that will provide necessary
failure modes and source term estimates associated with potential hazardous material
releases. If a facility VA is available, analyzed release scenarios should be considered
candidates for inclusion in the spectrum events for emergency planning purposes, either
as separate analysis cases or by comparison with other cases already analyzed.
The next step in the malevolent event selection process involves applying the malevolent
event scenarios to the respective hazardous material facilities and determining the
resulting source terms. The estimated malevolent event source terms are then compared
with source terms for identified accidental, natural phenomena, or other external initiator
scenarios. Where the source term and subsequent dispersal of a potential malevolent
event compare closely to other analyzed scenarios, additional quantitative analysis of the
malevolent event is not necessary. Any observable indicators uniquely associated with
these malevolent event scenarios, however, should be documented for use in EAL
development. Malevolent event scenarios with consequences close to other types of
scenarios, but having no unique observable indicators, will not appear separately in the
EAL set. For example, if a release can be attributed to an accident (e.g., corrosion,
human error) or to a malevolent event scenario (e.g., deliberate tampering with controls),
and detection of the release itself is the only observable indicator, then a unique
malevolent event EAL will not be added to the set of EALs.
Section 63
Malevolent event scenarios, whose resulting consequences differ significantly from other
types of scenarios analyzed, should be analyzed quantitatively, documented, and included
in the technical planning basis. [Note that extreme malevolent events (i.e., events within
the DBT that result in consequences that exceed the largest release from other initiators)
are treated separately in Section E.3, below.] Unique indicators for those malevolent
DOE G 151.1-2 E-3 (and E-4)
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events should be documented and will become the basis for stand-alone EAL statements.
Denoting the malevolent cause of the initiator (e.g., malevolent event involving an
explosion) is usually not necessary, since the initiator (e.g., explosion) will become the
recognition indicator for the associated EAL. For all malevolent events added to the
technical planning basis and EAL set, initial onsite PAs and, as required, offsite PARs
should be developed.
E.3 Extreme Malevolent Events
Special consideration should be given to extreme malevolent event scenarios, which are
within the constraints of the DBT and result in consequences that exceed the largest
release from other scenarios. Facility VAs may provide a representative extreme
malevolent event scenario(s), with the associated calculation of potential release
consequences. This scenario will also represent an extreme malevolent event for
emergency planning purposes. However, the analyst should ensure that the source term
and the transport/dispersion parameters and meteorological assumptions used in the VA
analysis are consistent with those used in calculations for emergency planning. If the
parameters used in the VA calculations are not consistent, then the consequences should
be recalculated using the same MAR but with emergency planning assumptions. [Cf.
DOE G 151.1-2, Section 2.6] If a VA is not required for the facility, then consequences
from postulated extreme malevolent event scenarios within the DBT (as identified by
emergency planners in collaboration with site security professionals) will be analyzed
following emergency planning guidance.
Sites and facilities are not expected to include these extreme malevolent events in the
technical planning basis or in determining the EPZ. However, recognizing that such
events may require response measures that exceed site and EPZ planning and could
require the involvement of multi-jurisdictional and even State and Federal response
authorities, these events should be part of the site-wide EAL set to ensure prompt
recognition. In addition, as is the case for all events included in the EAL set, initial
onsite PAs and offsite PARs should be developed for these analyzed extreme malevolent
events. The key to response for scenarios whose consequences extend beyond the EPZ is
that planning efforts within the EPZ provide a substantial basis for expansion of response
efforts beyond the EPZ, if necessary, as more accurate information on the nature of the
event and its potential consequences become available.
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APPENDIX F. Consequence Thresholds
F.1 Introduction
The purpose of this Appendix is to provide additional guidance regarding the definition
and use of the terms: Protective Action Criteria (PACs), Protective Action Guide (PAG),
Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL), Emergency Response Planning Guideline
(ERPG), Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit (TEEL), and Threshold for Early
Lethality (TEL), as consequence thresholds for hazardous material effects.
Section 64
The Order specifies the consequences of an actual or potential hazardous material release
as a key determinant of the emergency class. The PAGs published by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) are specified as the applicable consequence thresholds for
radiological exposures. The AEGL-2 published by the EPA, the ERPG-2 published by
the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the TEEL-2 developed by
DOE are identified, in order of preference, as the corresponding consequence thresholds
for chemical hazards. The Order does not address the limitations of these standards or
describe the precise manner in which they are to be used for hazards assessments and
emergency planning.
Section 2.6, DOE G 151.1-2, directs the user to calculate the consequences of hazardous
material releases at several locations and compare the results with the applicable
threshold in order to determine the appropriate emergency class. The user is also directed
to calculate the maximum distance at which PACs and TELs would be expected and to
use those distances in determination of Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs).
F.2 Protective Action Criteria (PACs)
PAC is the general term for the level of hazardous material impact that, if observed or
predicted, indicates action is needed to prevent or limit exposure of people to the hazard.
“PAC” is used for both radiological and non-radiological consequence criteria in DOE
facility emergency planning and response.
F.2.1 Radiological PAC
DOE O 151.1C specifies that the PAGs published by the EPA in its Manual of Protective
Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents (EPA 400-R-92-001) should
be used for comparison with exposures resulting from radiological releases to determine
the appropriate emergency classification. These PAGs are intended to apply only to
projected doses resulting from exposures to airborne releases of radioactive materials
during the early phase of an emergency. The pathways considered include the external
gamma and beta dose from direct exposure to airborne and deposited material and the
committed dose to internal organs from inhalation of radioactive material.
The projected dose value for initiating protective actions (evacuation or sheltering)
specified in Table 2.1 of EPA-400 is 10 to 50 mSv (1 to 5 rem), where the projected dose
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represents the sum of the effective dose equivalent (EDE) resulting from exposure to
external sources and the 50-year committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) from all
significant inhalation pathways during the early phase. The sum of the EDE and CEDE
is the Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE). The PAG values for committed dose
equivalent to the thyroid and the skin are 50 to 250 mSv (5 to 25 rem) and 500 to
2500 mSv (50 to 250 rem), respectively.
The terms “PAG” and “EPA Protective Action Guides” used in the Order should be
interpreted as follows:
• A projected dose equivalent of 10 mSv (1 rem) TEDE to reference man, where the
projected TEDE is the sum of the EDE from exposure to external sources and the
CEDE from inhalation during the early phase; or
• A projected committed dose equivalent (CDE) to the adult thyroid of 50 mSv (5 rem);
or
• A projected CDE to the skin of 500 mSv (50 rem).
EPA 400-R-92-001 states that for planning purposes, “... it will usually be convenient to
assume that the early phase will last for four days.” However, it also states that the
assumed time of exposure to deposited materials may depend on “... unique
characteristics of some facilities or situations...” and that exposure pathways contributing
less than 10 percent of the dose in the early phase need not be considered.
Section 65
External exposure to deposited materials may be excluded from the early phase dose
projection if the exposure for a period equal to the estimated EPZ evacuation time (or a
maximum of four days) can be shown to contribute less than 10 percent of the TEDE. If
no official prior estimate of EPZ evacuation time exists, an estimate may be developed
and documented within the EPHA.
Facilities having substantive and persuasive arguments for using other protective action
threshold values may propose values that are specific to their radioactive material
holdings and operations. Requests for exemption from the Order requirement should be
submitted in accordance with the procedure specified in the Order. Any exemption
request should be supported by an analysis that addresses the four principles that form the
basis for the selection of the EPA PAG values and the other considerations utilized in the
selection process, as discussed in Appendix C of the EPA 400-R-92-001.
For ingestion pathway exposure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
issued recommended PAGs that correspond to the “intervention levels of dose”
consensus values set by international organizations (FDA 1998). Those PAGs are 5 mSv
(0.5 rem) for CEDE or 50 mSv (5 rem) committed dose equivalent to an individual tissue
or organ, whichever is more limiting. The FDA also recommended Derived Intervention
Levels (DILs) corresponding to the PAGs for several groups of radionuclides. DILs
corresponding to the ingestion pathway PAGs may be derived locally according to the
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FDA recommendations for specific radionuclides, foodstuffs, and animal feeds of
interest.
F.2.2 Non-radiological PAC
DOE O 151.1C specifies that AEGL-2, promulgated by the EPA; ERPG-2, published by
the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); and TEEL-2, developed by DOE
are to be used, in order of preference, as PACs for non-radioactive hazardous materials.
AEGLs are guideline levels for once-in-a-lifetime, short-term (not repeated chronic)
exposures to airborne concentrations of acutely toxic chemicals. These exposure limits
are intended to protect most individuals in the general population, including those that
might be particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of the chemicals. However, certain
individuals could experience effects at concentrations below the corresponding AEGLs.
AEGL-1, -2 and –3 values are being developed for each of five exposure periods, ranging
from 10 minutes to eight hours.
AEGLs are first published as “proposed” in the Federal Register for a review and
comment period. Following resolution of relevant issues raised through public review,
the values are classified as “interim.” The interim values are available for use, as deemed
appropriate, on an interim basis by Federal and state regulatory agencies and the private
sector. When concurrence by the National Research Council AEGL Subcommittee is
achieved, the AEGL values are published as “final.” Final AEGL values may be used on
a permanent basis by all Federal, state and local agencies and private organizations.
Within the ERPG system, three biological reference values are defined for each material
as follows:
• ERPG-1 is the maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that
nearly all individuals could be exposed for up to 1 hour without experiencing other
than mild transient adverse health effects or perceiving a clearly defined
objectionable odor.
Section 66
• ERPG-2 is the maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that
nearly all individuals could be exposed for up to 1 hour without experiencing or
developing irreversible or other serious health effects or symptoms that could impair
their abilities to take protective action.
• ERPG-3 is the maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that
nearly all individuals could be exposed for up to 1 hour without experiencing or
developing life-threatening health effects.
ERPGs have been issued for approximately 130 chemicals as of 2006, and about
185 interim and final AEGLs have been published. Because there are no approved ERPG
or final AEGL values for many hazardous chemicals of particular interest to DOE and its
operations, the Chemical Exposures Working Group of the DOE Emergency
Management Issues Special Interest Group (EMI SIG), Subcommittee on Consequence
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Assessment and Protective Action (SCAPA), developed and published a method for
determining alternative planning values. The system of alternative values, termed
Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs), includes three biological reference
values (TEEL-1, -2 and -3) for each substance, each with a definition similar to the
corresponding ERPG value. TEEL values and the development methodology are
disseminated for use within DOE via the DOE Chemical Safety web site:
http://www.eh.doe.gov/chem_safety//teel.html.
DOE facilities/sites or activities in need of PAC values for other substances should
request that SCAPA develop and publish the TEELs. TEEL requests are submitted via
the SCAPA website http://www.orau.gov/emi/scapa/index.htm. Future requests for
TEELs should be for chemicals that are used in sufficient quantities that could result in
an Operational Emergency.
In the event that PAC values cannot be obtained using the TEEL methodology, users may
select from one of the sets of chemical exposure guidelines issued by other agencies that
are sometimes used as emergency planning criteria. These include the short-term public
emergency guidance levels (SPEGLs) and emergency exposure guidance levels (EEGLs)
developed by the National Research Council, and the LOCs published jointly by the
EPA, FEMA, and DOT.
To determine whether a chemical consequence exceeds PAC, the highest time-weighted
average (TWA) concentration predicted or measured for any 15-minute period (i.e., the
maximum or peak 15-minute TWA concentration) should be compared to the PAC. For
exposure periods of less than 15 minutes, concentrations for comparison with the
guidelines may be calculated over a shorter time period (e.g., the exposure duration).
Some consequence assessment dispersion codes will calculate the desired maximum
15-minute average concentration directly, by allowing the analyst to specify the
averaging period.
To determine the average concentration manually, the following formula can be used.
C1T1 + C2T2 + . . .+ CnTn E CnTn
TWA = -------------------------------- = -----------
T1 + T2 + . . . + Tn E Tn
Where:
C = Concentration (ppm or mg/m3), and
T = Time period of exposure (min)
It is not recommended that individual time intervals less than 1 minute be used in the
numerator of the above formula for calculating the TWA. For the peak 15-minute TWA,
the 15-minute period of maximum exposure (concentration) is selected and input (as
15 one-minute segments) into the above formula. For exposure periods of less than
15 minutes, the product of CxTx may equal zero during the exposure period. These
“zero” results may be factored into the 15-minute average or the use of a shorter
Section 67
http://www.orau.gov/emi/scapa/index.htm
http://www.eh.doe.gov/chem_safety//teel.html
F-5 DOE G 151.1-2
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averaging duration, such as the actual exposure period, may be warranted depending on
the acute toxicity of the chemical of interest and the peak concentration observed.
For purposes of applying the Order emergency class definitions, the term PAC should be
interpreted to mean the following:
A 15-minute TWA concentration of the substance in air that equals (in order of
preference) the Final or Interim AEGL-2 (60-minute), the ERPG-2, or TEEL-2 value
for that substance; if none of these values is available, an alternative concentration
criterion may be selected in accordance with this guidance.
F.3 Threshold for Early Lethality (TEL)
Chapter 3, DOE G 151.1-2, specifies use of the maximum distance at which facility
emergency consequences could exceed a TEL as one element in the determination of
EPZ size. In general, early lethality is equated with deterministic processes (i.e., a
threshold of exposure exists below which the effect is not observed and the severity of
the effect is related to the dose or exposure).
As used here, the early lethality threshold applies to the general population and is
intended to approximate the level of dose or exposure at which the sensitive groups
within any large population would begin to show an increase in mortality. The
definitions below are intended only for use in the facility hazards assessment process.
For purposes of conducting facility hazards assessments, the term “TEL” should be
interpreted as follows.
For radioactive releases, the TEL is:
A projected dose (TEDE) of about 100 rem (1 Sv) to reference man, where the
projected TEDE is the sum of the EDE from exposure to external sources and the
CEDE from inhalation during the early phase.
The using 100 rem (1 Sv) TEDE as an approximation of the TEL is conservative.
Radiation effects studies have estimated a 5 percent risk of early fatality following a
140 rem (1.4 Sv) acute dose, with a smaller, indeterminate risk expected for lower doses.
Little if any risk of early fatality would be associated with a TEDE equal to 100 rem
(1 Sv), if the dose were received over a period of time from radioactive material taken
into the body.
For chemical releases, the TEL is
A projected 15-minute average concentration of the substance in air that equals (in
order of preference) the Final or Interim AEGL-3 (60 minute), the ERPG-3, or
TEEL-3 value for that substance. If none of these values is available, an alternative
concentration criterion may be selected in accordance with this guidance.
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F.4 Chemical Mixtures
For chemical mixtures and concurrent releases of different substances, consequences
should be assessed using the Mixture Methodology “Hazard Index” approach
recommended by the SCAPA Chemical Mixtures Working Group (Craig, et al., 1999). A
brief explanation of this approach and the published journal article are available on the
SCAPA website, http://www.orau.gov/emi/scapa/index.htm, under Health Code Numbers
(HCNs). An EXCEL workbook that automates the implementation of the approach is
also available on the SCAPA website.
Concurrent releases should be analyzed if a plausible scenario exists by which quantities
of different substances, each exceeding a laboratory scale threshold discussed in
Appendix A, could be released from the same location at the same time. Concurrent
releases of dissimilar substances that, because of separation by distance or physical
barriers, could result only from extreme malevolent acts or catastrophic events (such as
major fires, airplane crashes, severe natural phenomena impacts, and building collapse)
need not be analyzed.
Section 68
http://www.orau.gov/emi/scapa/index.htm
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APPENDIX G. Combustion Products and Toxicity
in Hazards Assessments
G.1 Introduction
The DOE Emergency Management system provides for analysis of hazards and hazard-
specific planning to prevent or reduce negative impacts on people and the environment.
Of paramount concern is the prevention of death, injury and serious near-term health
effects in populations that may be exposed to hazardous material releases originating
from DOE facilities/sites or activities. To ensure that DOE/NNSA hazardous material
identification and screening approaches remain consistent with the historical and policy
bases of the DOE Orders and with current Federal, State and local emergency
management requirements and practices, this appendix clarifies how certain toxic hazards
should be assessed and the results used in emergency planning and response.
G.2 Background
DOE hazardous material emergency planning and response requirements were originally
specific to the radiological hazards posed by weapons materials production and research
activities. In the early 1980’s, the requirements were modified to bring them generally
into alignment with NRC emergency preparedness regulations that applied to commercial
nuclear power reactors and radioactive material facilities. The DOE Orders were further
revised in 1991 to place toxic chemicals on a par with radioactive materials for purposes
of analysis, planning and response. As with the earlier modifications, the 1991 changes
helped align DOE requirements with regulations being implemented by other Federal
agencies, including the EPA, DOT, and Department of Labor (DOL). Throughout their
evolution to the present date, the DOE Order requirements were (and continue to be)
primarily intended to apply to toxic substances that, if released to the atmosphere, could
pose an imminent health hazard to persons beyond the immediate vicinity of the release.
The process of determining whether a substance should be considered a “hazardous
material” for DOE emergency management purposes is complicated somewhat by the
fact that many very ordinary and ubiquitous substances are, in fact, toxic to humans or
have other hazardous properties under specific conditions of exposure or misuse. In
addition, other substances that are generally regarded as hazardous for one specific
reason may have several different hazardous properties. [Note: Gasoline is a classic
example. It is acutely toxic by ingestion and inhalation, environmentally destructive,
highly flammable, explosive (when vaporized), and contains a known human carcinogen
(benzene). Flammability dominates the safety/handling concerns and it is generally
excluded from the domain of hazardous material emergency planning under
DOE O 151.1C.]
Finally, burning almost anything will produce combustion products that meet the basic
definition of “hazardous material” as that term is used in the context of emergency
planning. In recent years, it has become apparent that by taking certain passages from
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DOE Orders and guidance documents in isolation and interpreting them narrowly, many
commonplace substances can be deemed “hazardous materials” and almost any fire can
be considered a “hazardous material emergency.” However, that kind of narrow and
selective interpretation is not consistent with DOE emergency management policy and
the intent of the Order.
G.3 Chemical Explosives
Section 69
As part of their weapons development and research missions, several DOE facilities and
activities store, process or dispose of chemical explosives in substantial quantities.
Beyond the obvious danger from inadvertent explosions, some chemical explosives are
also acutely toxic if inhaled or taken into the body by other routes. Most chemical
explosives are solids with low vapor pressures at ambient temperatures and therefore do
not conform to the general definition of a “dispersible” toxic substance upon which the
DOE emergency management requirements are based. Historically, the toxic effects
have been observed only in persons involved in directly handling or fabricating the
materials without adequate workplace environmental controls or personal protective
equipment. Accordingly, chemical explosives are not normally considered “dispersible”
toxic substances requiring analysis and hazardous material emergency planning.
Another aspect of the hazard associated with chemical explosives is the production of
toxic combustion products when they burn. Many explosives burn readily in air and open
burning is, in fact, a common disposal method for surplus explosives. Several DOE
activities have recognized the potential hazard posed by the combustion products and
attempted to quantify it as a basis for emergency planning. Using combustion yield data
derived from theoretical studies and field experiments, the amount of nitrogen oxides and
other toxics produced by burning of explosives can be calculated. Taken as a potential
airborne source, the toxics associated with combustion of a few pounds of TNT, RDX or
any of several other commonly used explosives can exceed applicable PAC at significant
distances, implying that categorization and classification as OEs may be required.
However, it is established fact that many other materials used in building construction,
furniture and fabrics produce copious amounts of toxics if burned. Therefore, the
question: Is there any rational basis for applying the “hazardous material emergency”
definition to fires involving explosives and not to other “ordinary” fires that represent
equal or greater toxic sources? In an attempt to answer this question, the following
section examines the toxic hazard from “ordinary” fires and compares it with that
produced by burning explosives.
G.4 Toxic Release Comparison
Any structure fire will produce toxic products of combustion from the burning of
structural materials, preservatives, refrigerants, paint, plastics, and so forth. Dangerous
concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, oxides of
nitrogen, and various organics can be expected in the vicinity of even the most “ordinary”
structure fire and profound respect for the toxic properties of all smoke is a guiding
principle of modern firefighting and Incident Command practice. The position of the fire
protection community is made perfectly clear in the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook,
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which concludes its discussion on smoke toxicity (Section 3, Chapter 1) with the
following unambiguous statements:
Combustion products produced in a fire are always toxic and extremely
hazardous to life safety,
AND
Smoke, even of “average” toxicity is still very toxic.
Section 70
To quantitatively assess whether the toxic releases from burning of explosives was
substantially different from what might be expected from an “ordinary” structure fire,
data on the combustion yield of toxics for different materials was sought from a variety
of sources. The yield of various products depends greatly on the combustion conditions
(temperature, surface area, excess oxygen, etc.) under which the fuel is burned, and the
yield under bench-top experiment conditions may be much different than would be
typical in a real-world fire condition. In April 2003, the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) published Technical Note 1453, Smoke Component Yields from
Room-Scale Fire Tests. The report presented the methodology and results for a series of
room-scale fire tests conducted by the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory to
produce data on the yields of toxic products in fires. The combustibles examined in the
tests included a sofa made of upholstered cushions, particleboard bookcases with a
laminated finish, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet, and household electrical cable. The
report gave results in terms of yields (gram of toxicant per gram of fuel) for each of
several highly toxic substances, including HCN and HC1. The yield values were based
on analysis of the exhaust smoke stream in both the pre-flashover and post-flashover
phases. The pre- and post-flashover HCN and HC1 yield values for the sofa, bookcase
and electrical cable are presented in Table 25 of the NIST report and summarized in
Table G-1. The higher yield values for each gas and fuel are shaded.
Nearly all of common explosives are nitrogen-rich compounds and the toxic combustion
products are primarily NO and NO2. Because the yield of NO was not reported in the
NIST room fire tests and the NO2 results were reported only as “less than” values, HCN
and HC1 yields from the test fuels were used to represent smoke toxicity in this
comparison. First, the amounts of NO2, HCN and HCl needed to produce a 15-minute
average concentration equal to the ERPG-2/TEEL-2 value at various distances were
calculated using EPIcode, version 2.0 (under conditions of 1 m/s, F stability and a 4 m by
10 m “surface area source”, simulating release from a fire in a trailer or small building).
Table G-1. Yields of Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrogen Chloride from
NIST Room Fire Tests (grams of combustion product/grams of test fuel)
Gas Fire Stage Sofa Bookcase Cable
HCN Pre-flashover 3.5E-3 ± 50% 4.6E-4 ± 10% 6.3E-4 ± 50%
Post-flashover 1.5E-2 ± 25% 2.5E-3 ± 45% 4.0E-3 ± 30%
HCl Pre-flashover 1.8E-2 ± 30% 2.2E-3 ± 75% 6.6E-3 ± 35%
Post-flashover 6.0E-3 ± 35% 2.2E-3 ± 65% 2.1E-1 ± 15%
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Table G-2 presents the results of the EPIcode trials in which the amount of toxic gas
needed to produce a concentration equal to applicable ERPG-2/TEEL-2 at 100 m, 800 m,
and 1600 m were calculated.
Table G-2. Amounts of Toxic Gases Needed to Exceed Applicable ERPG-2
Value at Various Distances
Gas ERPG-2 (ppm) *Q (100m) (kg) *Q(800m) (kg) *Q(1600m) (kg)
HCN 10 0.33 5 15
NO2 15 0.85 14 38
HCl 20 0.9 14.4 42
*Q(___m) = amount (kg), if released under the specified conditions, will produce 15-minute
average concentration equal to the applicable ERPG-2 value at the specified distance.
Section 71
Using the bounding values for combustion yields for the three test fuels from Table G-1
(sofa cushions, book cases and electrical cable) and four common explosives (TNT,
RDX, TATB and HMX), the amount of each substance that would need to be burned in
15 minutes to release that amount of the particular toxic gas was calculated. The values
of Y (combustion yield) used for explosives are “burn emission factors” provided by the
Pantex Plant (Environmental) Regulatory Compliance Department, which has developed
a spreadsheet to calculate emissions from HE detonation and combustion. The emission
factors are used to document the compliance with environmental permits for the Pantex
Firing Sites and Burning Grounds. The spreadsheet value for “oxides of nitrogen” was
used to calculate a yield of nitrogen dioxide. This is a conservative approach because
NO2 is more toxic than NO. The amount of combustible substance is given by the
following equation:
Mcomb = MTox /Y
Where
Mcomb = Mass of the combustible required to produce toxic release of MTox
MTox = Mass of toxic gas necessary to produce 15-minute average
concentration equal to the ERPG-2 value at the specified distance
Y = Combustion yield of the toxic gas (mass of combustion
product/mass of fuel)
For this comparison, the values of Q(100m) from Table G-2 are used to represent MTox.
The masses of combustibles thus calculated correspond to the amount of each substance
that would have to be burned in a period of 15 minutes or less to yield enough of the
particular toxic gas to produce a concentration just equal the applicable ERPG-2 value at
100 m under the specified release and atmospheric transport conditions.
Table G-3 presents the calculated values of Mcomb for the three test fuels used in the
NIST experiment and the four common explosives.
G-5 DOE G 151.1-2
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Table G-3. Mass of Combustibles to Produce a 15-Minute Average
Concentration of Specified Toxic Gases Equal to ERPG-2 at 100 meters
Combustible Toxic Gas Q(100m)(kg) Y Value Mcomb (kg)
Sofa HCN 0.33 1.5E-2 22
HCl 0.9 1.8E-2 50
Bookcase HCN 0.33 2.5E-3 132
HCl 0.9 2.2E-3 409
Electrical cable HCN 0.33 4.0E-3 82.5
HCl 0.9 2.1E-1 4.3
TNT* (explosive) NO2 0.85 6.62E-2 12.8
RDX (explosive) NO2 0.85 2.12E-2 40
TATB (explosive) NO2 0.85 4.27E-2 19.9
HMX (explosive) NO2 0.85 2.10E-2 40.5
*Although little if any TNT is currently used in DOE weapons programs, it is included here
for comparison because it is the most oxygen-deficient of common explosive compounds and
therefore produces the highest yield of nitrogen oxides.
When the values in the final column are viewed as an index of combustion toxicity
(lower values mean higher toxic impact per unit mass of combustible), it can be seen that
ordinary household electrical cable (the insulation and sheathing of which is primarily
polyvinyl chloride) is by far the worst actor in this group, its combustion products having
about 3 times the toxic impact of the worst explosive (TNT) on a burned-weight basis.
Based on HCN alone, the polyurethane sofa cushions are about equal to the next worst
explosive (TATB). On a pound-for-pound basis, the particleboard bookcases have about
10 to 30 percent the toxic yield of the explosives. From this small sampling alone, it can
be seen that the constituents of “ordinary” smoke are indeed extremely toxic, and that the
toxic impact of gases generated by burning explosives is of the same order of magnitude
as for several of the mundane articles used in the NIST test.
Section 72
G.5 Other Hazards and Planning Considerations
The most obvious hazard from explosives is the blast or shock wave produced by an
explosion or detonation. Although many explosives will burn evenly if unconfined,
explosion should always be considered a possibility. In addition to the blast/shock
effects, flying objects (missiles) may also be propelled outward from the explosion at
high speeds and hazardous objects, such as rounds of ammunition, and fragments of
explosive may be spread over a wide area. Having been subjected to the effects of a
blast, such unexploded materials may be very sensitive to shock, friction, or temperature
change, and therefore dangerous to personnel.
As introduction to the topic of “Effects of Explosions and Permissible Exposures”, DOD
6055.9 STD, DOD Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards, (Chapter 2) states: “In
the assessment of the hazard associated with a given situation, the principal effects of the
explosive output to be considered are blast pressure, primary and secondary fragments,
thermal hazards, and chemical agent hazards.” “Chemical agent hazards” refers not to
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the intrinsic chemical toxicity of the explosives but to chemical warfare agents, such as
nerve gas or blister agents contained in munitions that also include an explosive charge.
The standard describes the expected damage and injury from blast and fragments and
specifies storage separation and other controls for munitions based on those specific
effects and the quantity of explosive. (Note: At least one DOE activity has used the
DOD standard to specify facility-specific setback and emergency withdrawal distances
for the protection of firefighters and others against blast and fragments.)
The DOT ERG provides first responders with information on the specific or generic
hazards of the materials involved in a transportation incident and recommendations for
protecting themselves and the public. Guide number 112 applies to all explosive groups
except 1.4 (no blast potential). Guide 112 uses the highest degree of typographical
emphasis (all capitals, bolded) to identify the chief potential hazard associated with such
shipments, specifically: “MAY EXPLODE AND THROW FRAGMENTS 1600 METES
(1 MILE) OR MORE IF FIRE REACHES CARGO.” In case of fire, Guide 112 goes on
to recommend that responders NOT fight the fire when the fire reaches the cargo, but to
isolate and evacuate the area out to a distance of 1600 meters (for heavily encased
explosive) in all directions. Although the Guide states that fire “. . . may produce
irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases,” it clearly represents blast and fragments as the
dominant hazards. In addition, the firefighting guidance section of Guide 112 makes it
clear that if fire reaches the cargo, explosion should be considered imminent.
G.6 Summary
All fires produce dispersible toxic substances. Toxic impacts from combustion of
commonplace materials like particleboard, polyurethane foam and polyvinyl chloride
appear comparable to impacts from burning the same weight of explosives. If explosives
are singled out as “hazardous material release” hazards when burned, then many other
substances (including diesel fuel and rubber tires) could likewise be analyzed and brought
under the hazardous material emergency planning program based on the toxicity of their
combustion products. Selective reading of certain parts of DOE O 151.1C and Chapter 2,
DOE G 151.1-2, can lead to even the most “ordinary” fires being characterized as DOE
hazardous material release events. However, DOE emergency management does not
exist in isolation. The DOE definitions and conventions regarding what is and is not a
hazardous material emergency need to be consistent with established Federal, State, local
and industry programs and standards and with the historical roots of hazardous material
emergency management, in general.
Section 73
The toxic impact of smoke from “ordinary” fires is currently managed through standard
fire fighting and Incident Command practices. Trained firefighters and Incident
Commanders understand that: a) all smoke is toxic, b) exposure to well-defined smoke
plumes should be avoided, by response personnel and others, and c) protection of nearby
people is an express responsibility of the Incident Command organization. In addition,
fires tend to be energetic events, announced by flames, smoke, fire alarms, sirens, the
arrival of fire apparatus and the attendant actions of firefighters. Smoke itself tends to
give direct visual and olfactory evidence of its presence and relative concentration,
allowing firefighters and others to avoid exposure or remove themselves from areas of
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highest concentration. These facts contrast starkly with the picture of a silent, unnoticed
threat from airborne radioactive materials or toxic chemicals that forms the doctrinal
basis for current hazardous materials emergency management practice. At this time,
there is no compelling evidence that exposure to toxics in smoke from ordinary fires is a
significant source of human health risk that is not being adequately managed by
firefighting and Incident Command practices, or that application of hazardous material
models, planning criteria and response practices to ordinary fires would do anything to
enhance protection of workers and the public.
For military personnel and transportation emergency planners, blast and fragments are the
hazards of greatest concern from explosives, and any fire that involves or threatens
explosives should be treated as an imminent explosion. As with numerous other
hazardous substances, the toxicity of combustion products is recognized but is clearly of
secondary concern and is not a prominent consideration in planning for emergencies.
G.7 Conclusions
1. Fires in buildings or facilities that do not contain large inventories of hazardous
materials may need to be categorized as OEs if they result in significant structural
damage with suspected personnel injuries or death (DOE O 151.1C, Chapter V).
However, even if they are categorized as OEs, “ordinary” fires should not be
classified on the basis of “incidental” releases of hazardous materials (combustion
products, etc.). If a documented Fire Hazards Analysis or an assessment by a
qualified fire protection engineer suggests that there is an extraordinary toxic release
potential and that protective actions beyond those normally implemented for structure
fires will be needed, the toxic material release should be addressed in an EPHA.
2. In general, the blast, missile and burn hazards posed by conventional explosives (and
certain other materials like natural gas and propane) are outside the scope of the
Hazardous Material emergency management program specified in DOE O 151.1C.
Any analysis of hazards from conventional explosives should focus on blast, missile
and burn hazards, not the potential airborne release of toxic chemicals. Analysis and
planning for those hazards should be done in the context of the facility/site Fire
Protection program or other safety program(s). Fires involving or threatening
conventional explosives should be regarded as imminent blast/missile hazards. The
chemical toxicity of explosive residue and combustion products will be of secondary
concern compared to the inherent blast and missile hazard and can be adequately
managed by trained Incident Commanders using standard and accepted firefighting
and HAZMAT response practices.
Section 74
3. An explosive should be analyzed as a dispersible toxic chemical hazard only if it is
used or stored in a form (such as a powder or liquid) that represents a plausible air-
dispersible source of the substance.
4. If an explosion has occurred and there is no potential for another, the most significant
safety impacts (blast, shock, missiles) will already have ended and therefore will not
be mitigated by the same kinds of protective actions and response measures
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(evacuation, sheltering, etc.) that are usually applied to hazardous material release
emergencies. However, the distribution of unexploded material and items around the
vicinity of an explosion is analogous to the situation existing after a chemical or
radiological release (i.e., hazardous contamination requiring control of personnel
access, planned reentry and recovery actions, and response by specialized support
personnel). Accordingly, as a means of facilitating response, individual facilities and
sites may choose to classify OEs involving actual or potential explosions that could
distribute explosive materials outside the immediate vicinity of the explosion. The
classification should be at a level that is consistent with the size of the affected area
and the resources that will be needed to deal with the consequences.
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APPENDIX H. Example Application of the
Hazards Assessment Methodology to a Hypothetical DOE Facility
H.1 Introduction
The purpose of this appendix is to illustrate the application of an integrated approach to
conducting a facility EPHA suggested in the main body of DOE G 151.1-2, Sections 2.3
2.7, which describe the steps of a suggested approach for conducting a facility
Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA). The approach was described quite
briefly and in sufficiently general language that it could be applied to a broad variety of
facility types. An example application of the approach is presented in this appendix.
This appendix is presented in the format of an EPHA document for a hypothetical DOE
facility and site, prepared in accordance with the suggested methodology. Numbered
sections (i.e., 1.1, 1.2, etc.) are parts of the example EPHA document. The format and
content of the example application, presented in the following pages, should be viewed as
an acceptable means of meeting the EPHA requirement of DOE O 151.1C and
documenting its results. The table of contents for the example EPHA is given below.
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SITE, FACILITY AND PROCESS DESCRIPTION
3. HAZARD CHARACTERIZATION
4. SCENARIO SELECTION
5. ANALYSIS OF SCENARIOS
6. EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONE (EPZ)
7. EMERGENCY ACTION LEVEL (EAL) BASIS
8. MAINTENANCE/REVIEW OF THIS HAZARDS ASSESSMENT
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H.2 Example EPHA
EMERGENCY PLANNING HAZARDS ASSESSMENT
FOR THE ABC FACILITY
1. Introduction
This report documents the EPHA for the ABC Facility located on the DOE XYZ
Site. The facility-specific EPHA was conducted in accordance with DOE
guidance to fulfill the DOE O 151.1C requirement to provide the technical basis
for facility emergency planning efforts.
2. Site, Facility and Process Description
Detailed descriptions of the ABC Facility and the XYZ Site are found in Sections
2 and 3, respectively, of the ABC Facility Documented Safety Analysis
(Reference ). The following summary is derived from that description.
NOTES:
Section 75
1. It is not intended that the facility and site description section be voluminous.
If suitable facility and site descriptions are not available for reference, a
maximum of 5 to 10 pages of text plus 2-4 maps or figures showing the facility
and site layout should suffice for most facilities. If a reasonably complete and
current facility and site description is available in a published Safety Analysis
Report (SAR), Safety Assessment Document (SAD), Documented Safety
Analysis (DSA) or similar document, it should be introduced by reference and
summarized as shown here.
2. The site description should include a brief description of the climate,
geography, hydrology, seismology, and land use on and near the site.
3. After the analysis of release scenarios (Section 5) and the Emergency Action
Level basis (Section 7) are completed, this section of the Hazards Assessment
document should be reviewed and expanded as necessary to describe any
features and systems that are significant to the analyses (engineered
protective features, ventilation system flow rates, filter efficiencies, etc.) or to
the detection and recognition of the releases (monitoring instruments and
alarms).
2.1 Facility Mission
The ABC Facility is a chemical and materials engineering laboratory that
provides a diversified capability for chemical processing and materials
engineering studies involving radioactive materials and other hazardous materials.
Among the activities in progress are development of treatment processes for
hazardous wastes and fabrication of prototype thermal-electric generators
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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powered by long-lived radioisotopes. The ABC Facility is operated by (operating
contractor) for the DOE.
2.2 Location
The ABC Facility is located in the southeast part of the 123 Area of the DOE's
XYZ Site. The 123 Area is a limited access area of about 200 hectares
(500 acres) located about 10 km (6 miles) north of Anytown. Figure 2-1 shows
the location of the ABC Facility with respect to the other facilities in the 123 Area
and the immediate surrounding area. Figure 2-2 shows the location of XYZ Site
and approximate distances to cities and towns in the region.
2.3 Facility Description
For purposes of this EPHA, the ABC Facility consists of the main ABC Building
and the ABC Vent Stack (both described the DSA) plus the ABC Warehouse
Annex and office trailers ABC1 through ABC6. The entire facility is within a
protected area, defined by the security boundary fence shown in Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-1. Location of the ABC Facility in the 123 Area
(Local area map showing facility, security boundary, adjacent facilities and occupancy,
receptors of interest identified in Section 6, and site boundary.) [Map not included in this
document.]
Figure 2-2. Location of the XYZ Site
(Map showing location of the site with respect to the State, towns, and offsite receptors
identified in Section 6.) [Map not included in this document.]
Section 76
NOTE: The hypothetical facility in this example illustrates the inclusion of
several ancillary structures as part of the “facility” for purposes of the EPHA. In
the case of both the warehouse and the office trailers this is judged to be
reasonable because the ancillary structures are: (1) physically close to the main
building, (2) within the same protected area fence, (3) directly in support of the
facility mission (storage for equipment and materials used routinely in the main
building and office space for facility staff), and (4) under the responsibility of the
same functional (line) organization and building manager. There is another
major facility only 75 m away within the same protected area, and for purposes of
this EPHA, the facility boundary is defined as a 100-m radius from the point of
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release. See Appendix C of the guidance for additional discussion of facility
boundaries.
The ABC Building is a 62-m × 70-m (200-ft × 240-ft) two-story structure (with
partial basement and third floors) constructed of insulated steel panels on a
structural steel frame. The foundation is poured, reinforced concrete. The roof is
gravel-finished, class II, 20-year built-up roofing. The building was constructed
in 1964 and was designed to the requirements of the Uniform Building Code.
The ABC Stack is a 2-m diameter, 60-m (195 ft) tall reinforced concrete stack,
located 30 m north of the northeast corner of the ABC Building proper.
Ventilation exhaust fans in the basement of the building exhaust through a tunnel
to the stack. A 2.4-m × 4-m concrete block structure at the base of the stack
houses the stack effluent sampling and air flow measuring instruments.
The ABC Warehouse Annex is a 10-m × 30-m steel frame and panel single-story
structure (5 m eave height) built on a concrete floor slab. It is located inside the
protected area adjacent to the southeast corner of the ABC Building proper. Its
primary use is the receipt and storage of materials and equipment used in the ABC
Building operations. Among the materials and equipment normally stored there
are industrial chemicals and gases, packaged samples of hazardous waste for use
in process testing, shipping casks used for transporting radioactive material
specimens and packaged low level and mixed waste awaiting transportation to
disposal sites.
Office trailers ABC1 through ABC6, clustered near the southwest corner of the
building, are of conventional modular (mobile) home frame construction on
concrete-block foundations. Of the approximately 80 offices in the trailers, about
half are assigned to employees directly associated with the ABC Building
operations. The office trailers are served by the ABC Building fire alarm and
public address/announcing systems.
The protected area security fence shown on Figure 2-1 encloses the ABC Facility
as well as two adjacent facilities, a radio-metallurgical laboratory, and the
123 Area water treatment plant. Entry for both personnel and vehicles to the
protected area is gained by way of the central access portal, which is manned full-
time by site security forces. Persons entering through the central access portal
require valid identification with a special access authorization and are screened
for weapons or prohibited articles. Once inside the protected area, a key card is
required to gain access to the ABC Building, the warehouse annex, or office
trailers.
Section 77
Figure 2-1 shows the facilities and other features of the 123 Area, including the
number of persons normally present during working hours and off hours. The
nearest site boundary, and hence, the point closest to the ABC Facility where
members of the public can gain uncontrolled access, is the near bank of the Big
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River, 500 m to the east. The nearest public road access is a parking lot 350 m to
the southwest.
The potential effects of natural phenomena and external hazards on the ABC
Facility are described and analyzed in Section of reference (the DSA). The
ABC Facility is a Category 2 nuclear facility
2.4 Processes and Operations
NOTE: For purposes of illustration, this section describes two separate
hypothetical processes that involve hazardous materials. The processes described
are not intended to resemble any specific operations carried out at DOE sites.
The example is intended to illustrate the possibility of two or more basically
different types of operations coexisting in the same facility and being treated in
one facility Hazards Assessment.
Process Number 1 (Non-radiological). Process number 1 involves the
development and testing of methods for treating hazardous waste to reduce its
volume and facilitate its storage and disposal. Specifically, soil and building
materials contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals
are used to develop and demonstrate the treatment processes.
The process begins with the receipt of samples of contaminated materials
packaged in 208-L (55-gal) steel drums with plastic liners at the ABC Warehouse
Annex. The containers are inspected and stored in the warehouse until needed as
feed material for the development process. Typically, 12 to 30 drums containing
50 to 150 kg (110 to 330 lb) of soil, concrete, brick, wallboard, lumber, and
insulation material are stored in the warehouse at any time. These materials
contain from 100 to 5000 parts per million (ppm) by weight of PCBs and up to
2000 ppm of lead and cadmium.
The waste material is transported, one drum at a time, into Room 101 of the ABC
Building. There, the drums are opened in a ventilation booth and emptied on a
sorting conveyer where the contents are characterized. The sorting conveyer
carries the material into a rotating drum incinerator. The incinerator, fueled by
propane gas, heats the material to 1000°C for 60 minutes, destroying all PCBs and
other organic contaminants. The off-gas from the incinerator is passed through
HEPA filters and scrubbed prior to being released to the environment by way of
the building main stack.
After cooling to 200°C, the solid residue from the incinerator is passed through a
grinder that reduces it to particles of 5 mm or less in size. The residue then is
injected into a continuous mixer with various prepolymers, catalysts, and
stabilizers and extruded as durable, high-density plastic shapes suitable for
landfill disposal or other use.
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A detailed description and material flow diagram for Process No. 1 is in
reference _____.
Process Number 2 (Radiological). Process number 2 involves the fabrication
and testing of prototype thermal-electric generators powered by Pu-238, a long-
lived radioisotope.
The process begins with the receipt of plutonium nitrate solution. The nitrate
solution is received in 1-L bottles in large shipping containers and subjected to
receipt inspection and assay in another facility. The bottles are then transferred
directly to the ABC Building storage vault, Room 109.
Section 78
As needed, the nitrate solution is removed from the storage vault to Cell 1, where
it is converted to an oxide powder by the MAGIC process. The powder is then
calcined, blended, pressed with a binder, and granulated in Cell 2. The granulated
material is then pressed into pellets and sintered in Cell 3. The sintered pellets are
transferred to the grinding and inspection glovebox in Room 110, where they are
ground to final dimensions, weighed, and visually inspected for defects.
The finished pellets then are transferred to the RTG fabrication area, Room 111,
where they are incorporated into RTG assemblies. The assemblies, of various
designs, may contain from 4 to 800 g of Pu-238 pellets each.
Following fabrication, the RTGs are transferred to the RTG test laboratory,
Room 115, where they are subjected to a variety of mechanical, thermal and
electrical performance tests. First, the electrical output of the RTG is measured
and compared to design performance specifications. Then, the device is subjected
to the temperature extremes (24 hours in a 300°C oven followed by 24 hours in a
liquid nitrogen bath), vibration (10 × gravity at 20 Hertz for 24 hours), impact
(equivalent to being dropped on concrete 8000 times from a height of 10 m), and
penetration (equivalent to being struck by 12 armor-piercing 7.62-mm bullets).
If the electrical performance of a device is satisfactory after the tests, it is placed
under long-term evaluation, where the output is monitored under a variety of
expected operating conditions for up to 5 years. Devices that fail one or more of
the physical integrity or performance tests are disassembled and the Pu-238
pellets recovered for reuse.
A detailed description and material flow diagram for Process No. 2 is in
reference __.
3. Hazard Characterization
The screening process described in the ABC Facility Hazards Survey (ref.)
identified two substances that exceeded the screening thresholds. They are
anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and Pu-238.
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3.1 Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride
Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) is an extremely hazardous substance used in
Process No. 2. It is received and handled in sealed steel pressure cylinders
containing 100 kg (220 lb) each when full.
Inventory. The maximum quantity of HF in the facility at any time is six full
cylinders containing 600 kg (1320 lb). Of these six cylinders, four cylinders
(400 kg) are located within the warehouse and two cylinders (200 kg) are located
in the operating gallery outside Cell 1.
Properties of HF. HF is a nearly colorless, fuming liquid or gas with a pungent
irritating odor. It is perceptible by smell above about 0.04 ppm. The boiling
point of HF at 1 atmosphere is 19.5°C (67.1°F). HF is highly reactive and attacks
glass, concrete, certain metals, natural rubber, and many organics. HF itself is not
flammable but in its concentrated form it can attack certain metals and release
explosive hydrogen gas. It is hygroscopic, forming an acid solution when it reacts
with water and releasing large amounts of heat. Water contamination of
pressurized containers or piping systems can permit formation of an acid solution
with subsequent acid attack on metals and generation of hydrogen. The
60-minute AEGL-1, -2 and -3 values for HF are 1, 24 and 44 ppm, respectively.
Section 79
Conditions of Storage and Use. The inventory in the warehouse is limited to
four cylinders by the number of specially designed storage racks to which the full
cylinders are bolted. One cylinder at a time is removed from the storage rack and
transported by forklift into the ABC Building, where it is bolted to a storage rack
outside Cell 1 and connected to the manifold serving Process No. 2. A second
full cylinder is kept connected to the same manifold, ready to be placed in service
when the on-line cylinder is empty. The inventory limits are maintained by a
combination of engineered means (i.e., limited by the number of special storage
racks for the cylinders) and facility procedures, which permit HF cylinders to be
stored only in the special storage racks. Each cylinder stop valve has an integral
orifice that limits the flow rate to 2.1 kg per minute (35 g/s) with the valve fully
open.
The warehouse is open to the atmosphere much of the time. Although heated in
the winter to keep temperatures above the freezing point, the building is cooled
only by the use of roof ventilators. Except during inclement weather, one or both
of the large roll-up doors (located at the north and south ends of the building) is
normally open during working hours to facilitate access. When one or both of the
large doors are open, the building provides no appreciable confinement of a gas or
vapor release. However, if both doors are closed, the structure will provide a
mitigation factor of 0.55 for any releases into the building. This mitigation factor,
as suggested by EPA 550-B-99-009, applies to the release of gases or vapors
inside the building (i.e., release rate to the environment is 0.55 times the release
rate into the building).
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The Cell 1 operating corridor is part of ventilation Zone B of the ABC Building.
It is maintained at 19-22°C and 40-60% relative humidity by the building heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The volume of the operating
corridor is 375 m3, and it is exhausted by way of the Zone B exhaust system at a
rate of 12 m3 per minute. The Zone B exhaust is filtered through two stages of
HEPAs. The Cell 1 exhaust flow passes through a cell exhaust prefilter (single
HEPA) then through two stages of Zone A HEPA filters before it is discharged to
the building stack.
3.2 Plutonium
The heat-source plutonium received at the ABC Building contains about 90%
plutonium 238 with small fractions of other isotopes, and has an average alpha
specific activity of 4.9 E+11 Bq/g (13.2 Ci/g) of plutonium. Plutonium-238
(Pu-238) is an alpha-emitting radionuclide with a half-life of 87.7 years. Its high
specific activity, 6.3 E+11 Bq/g (17.1 Ci/g) makes it very useful as a long-lived
heat source for thermal-electric generating devices. The material is received as a
nitrate solution and converted to oxide pellets before being incorporated into
generating devices. Plutonium dioxide produced from this material contains
88.1% Pu by weight. For dose calculation purposes, source terms given in mass
units (mg) are represented as Pu-238 oxide with an average specific activity of
4.3 E+11 Bq/g (11.6 Ci/g) of oxide.
Inventory. The maximum inventory of plutonium allowed in the ABC Building
under the current Authorization Basis is 10 kg or 4.9 E+15 Bq (1.3 E+5 Ci). The
Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs) further limit the quantities in each location
as follows.
Section 80
Location kg Bq
Room 109 (vault) 3 1.5E+15
Cell 1 2 9.8E+14
Cell 2 1 4.9E+14
Cell 3 1 4.9E+14
Room 110 1 4.9E+14
Room 111 1 4.9E+14
Room 115 1 4.9E+14
Properties of Plutonium. The material is received and stored as a 200 g/L
nitrate solution. It is then converted to PuO2 powder and pellets in a series of
steps. The density, particle size distribution, and solubility characteristics of the
oxide at each stage of the process are detailed in section of reference (the
facility DSA).
Conditions of Storage and Use. All process areas authorized for plutonium
storage and handling in the ABC Building are within ventilation Zone B. These
process areas are maintained at negative pressure with respect to adjoining office
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and service areas and are exhausted through two stages of HEPA filtration to the
building stack. The Zone A exhaust system maintains a negative pressure (with
respect to Zone B) in the shielded cells and glove boxes where plutonium
conversion and pellet preparation are carried out. The exhaust air from each
glovebox or shielded cell passes through an individual cell/glove box preliminary
HEPA filter prior to being exhausted to the stack through the two stages of
Zone A HEPA filters.
The nitrate solution is received for storage in 1-L plastic bottles sealed in metal
cans (for physical protection during handling). The cans are not opened until the
nitrate solution is needed in the conversion process. At that time, they are
removed one at a time and transferred into Cell 1 by way of a transfer lock.
Inside Cell 1, the bottles are removed from the can and opened using remote
manipulators, and the contents are emptied into the process feed tank.
The oxide powder produced in Cell 1 is placed in steel cans and sealed with tape.
The cans are then bagged out of Cell 1 and into Cell 2 for the calcining, blending,
pressing, and granulation steps. The granulated material is again sealed in steel
cans, and bagged out of Cell 2 and into Cell 3, where the pellet press and sintering
furnace are located. The sintered pellets are sealed in cans, bagged out of Cell 3,
and into the grinding and inspection glovebox in Room 110. The finished pellets
then are sealed in cans, bagged out of the grinding and inspection glovebox, and
into one of the assembly gloveboxes in Room 111. When RTG assemblies are
completed, the finished units, containing 4 to 800 g of oxide pellets each, are
decontaminated, surveyed, and removed from the assembly gloveboxes for
testing.
In addition to the protected area security controls described previously, only
specifically authorized workers are permitted access to the Pu processing areas
within the ABC Building. Card-key and/or biometric entry controls on each room
ensure that only authorized workers gain access to these areas.
4. Scenario Selection
This section details the selection of scenarios for quantitative analysis. The
selection process involves a systematic examination of ⎯
• Each quantity or unit of a hazardous material in each storage or use location (a
particular MAR);
• The primary barrier that contains the material in that location;
• Failure modes that apply to that barrier;
• Initiating events or conditions that could cause barrier failure by each mode;
and
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• Release pathways, mitigation systems and other features that would or could
modify the consequences of a given primary barrier failure.
Section 81
NOTE: For purposes of illustration, only parts of the scenario selection process
for the hypothetical facility are presented here. The italicized text explains the
reasoning and illustrates documentation of scenario selection, which is then
summarized in the tables. Analysts should document their selection process in
sufficient detail that reviewers and later analysts can follow the reasoning and
revise the selection as conditions change.
Whereas the hazards survey may simply identify a substance as requiring
quantitative analysis, the substance may actually exist in several different
locations within the facility. As a starting point in the selection of release
scenarios, each location should be considered individually with regard to quantity
of material, number of individual containers, barrier failure modes and initiators,
mitigative features, and other factors that bear on the release potential or
consequences. In Tables 4-1a and 4-1b, the analysis of HF in the warehouse and
plutonium in Cell 1 are used to illustrate the scenario selection process. Separate
tables should be used to summarize the analysis of each identified hazardous
material in its various use and storage locations.
The following discussion explains Table 4-1a and illustrates how the scenario
selection reasoning process can be documented.
Column 1: Material At Risk (MAR). The material in a particular location may
constitute different quantities of Material at Risk depending on the initiating event
and release scenario. For any given scenario, the MAR and Damage Ratio (DR)
are interdependent (see Section 2.6). In this hypothetical case, the most obvious
choice of MAR to be considered first is the quantity contained in one full
container. Other MAR choices that will be considered in succession are the
quantity contained in the number of containers (2) that could be subject to a
plausible simultaneous failure time and the total quantity (4 cylinders) stored in
the warehouse at any given time and thereby subject to more destructive events.
Column 2: Primary Barrier. For each MAR, the primary barrier is the physical
feature or control that contains the material or keeps it in a safe condition. In the
case of HF cylinders in storage, the primary barrier is the cylinder itself (including
the cylinder stop valve). Because the HF is only stored in the warehouse (not
dispensed into other containers or connected to any process system piping) this
same definition of the primary barrier will apply to each of the other MAR
choices (multiple cylinders).
Column 3: Failure Mode. The mode or manner in which the primary barrier
fails can affect the quantity of material released, the rate of release, the degree or
type of mitigation that applies, and/or the pathway by which the material makes
its way out into the environment.
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Selecting a suitably broad set of failure modes for analysis is key to creating a
hazards assessment that represents the full range (or spectrum) of possible
releases. The failure modes that apply will vary depending on the properties of
the hazardous substance and the nature of the primary barrier. The analyst should
begin by identifying all the possible failure modes that might apply, and then
consider each one in turn. Upon closer examination, any given failure mode may
be found to represent the same portion of the event severity spectrum as one that
has previously been considered. In that case, a single failure mode with multiple
causes (initiating events) can be used to represent a particular segment of the
event spectrum, both with regard to severity and causation. The following
discussion addresses the identification of failure modes applicable to this
hypothetical example:
Section 82
• The most obvious failure mode to be considered is a puncture or fracture
(i.e., a “hole” in the cylinder) that simply releases the contents without
addition of energy that affects dispersal of the material.
• A second obvious mode is opening the cylinder stop valve. The same total
quantity of material is released, as in the puncture/fracture mode, but the
orifice, which is integral to the valve, limits the rate of release (the critical
parameter for purposes of consequence predictions).
• For any barrier that contains a liquid or compressed gas, overpressure should
be considered as a possible failure mode. Overpressure may stress the barrier
beyond its yield strength, producing an abrupt failure and near-instantaneous
release of the cylinder contents. This mode of failure might occur without
warning (carbon steel HF cylinders have reportedly ruptured from
overpressure after years of storage due to production of hydrogen gas by
reaction of the HF with iron) or as a result of overheating by fire. A fire in
this location would be expected to affect all the cylinders in the warehouse, in
addition to degrading the building integrity and possibly enhancing dispersion
of the release. Therefore, the overpressure failure mode will be considered
separately from the simple puncture/fracture.
• Corrosion should also be considered as a possible failure mode, particularly
for substances like HF that are extremely reactive. A corrosion failure might
produce a release varying from a small leak to an abrupt near-instantaneous
release. In any case, the contents of the cylinder would be released without
addition of energy or damage to the structure that would affect dispersal of the
material. Accordingly, corrosion need not be considered as a distinct failure
mode, but as one of several possible initiators associated with the
puncture/fracture or overpressure modes.
Column 4: Initiating Event. The initiating event that produces a particular
failure mode may also influence the performance of structures or systems that
modify the release. The initiator may also be a key to recognition of an actual or
potential release.
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• External impacts (such as by a moving forklift, a falling object or any kind of
missile) are obvious initiators for puncture or fracture of a container.
Corrosion is another initiator of this type of failure, one that is not likely to be
observed directly.
• In this hypothetical case, a handling mishap (such as dropping a cylinder or
crushing in a hydraulic lift) is postulated. This event is very similar to the
generic “external impact” event, but with one important difference – a
handling mishap would almost certainly be observed directly by the staff
performing the operation. If the handling mishap produced any observed
leakage, the occurrence of that “initiating event” could provide a solid basis
for inferring a release of the entire contents of the cylinder(s) involved.
• The only plausible initiator for opening of the stop valve on a cylinder in the
warehouse is human action (operator error or deliberate). Stating the initiating
event in this manner recognizes that the event would produce the same release
and consequences, regardless of whether there was malevolent intent on the
part of the person who operated the valve.
• Buildup of hydrogen gas produced by reaction of HF with iron has reportedly
caused the abrupt failure of HF cylinders. The phenomenon has been
observed only with carbon steel cylinders and only after long periods of
storage (~15-25 years).
Section 83
• High temperature is another plausible initiator for overpressure failure.
Ambient temperatures in the warehouse do not to exceed 120° F even in the
hottest weather with the most restricted ventilation flow. This is far below the
temperature at which cylinder failure would be expected. Accordingly, fire
would be necessary to produce cylinder overpressure and failure.
Column 5: Release from Primary Barrier. This is the quantity released (or the
release rate) as a result of a particular MAR, barrier failure mode and initiating
event. In this case, any puncture or fracture of a cylinder would ultimately release
the entire contents of the cylinder. Depending on the size and shape of the
penetration, the temperature, and other factors, the release duration may range
from near instantaneous to many hours. In general, it will not be possible to
quantify the rate of release or stop the release once the breach has occurred.
• The maximum (and expected) contents of a full cylinder will be 100 kg.
Although the release rate may be limited by the vaporization rate, the
consequence estimates for all scenarios involving failure of the cylinder itself
will be based on an assumed release of the entire amount in 15 minutes.
• For scenarios involving the open stop valve, the release rate is limited to
35 g/s by the valve orifice. The toxic effects of the HF release might disable
the person who opened the valve and drive other personnel from the area,
preventing them from taking action to shut the valve. Thus, the entire
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contents of a full cylinder could be released, but the orifice limits the release
rate.
Column 6: Conditions of Release. The amount ultimately released to the
environment, the rate of release, and mitigation features, controls or structures
may influence the location or elevation. The effect or influence of these features,
controls or structures may vary, depending on the particular initiating event. The
important factors to be considered are mitigation of the source (as by filtration, or
scrubbing, fallout or plateout) reduction of the release rate (as by holdup in a
structure), and enhanced dispersion (as by releasing the material in a building
wake or from an elevated release point). Two basically different conditions of
release will apply to each of the postulated releases.
• If either or both of the warehouse roll-up doors are open, or if the initiating
event causes significant structural damage, the building is expected to provide
no mitigation. The release is assumed to be more or less direct to the
atmosphere approximately at ground level. Use of a building wake correction
to model the consequences is justified.
• The second condition of release that would apply is where the roll-up doors
are shut. The building offers significant mitigation if the doors are shut and it
would be possible, at the time of an event, to quickly determine if they are
shut. The release is by various building leak paths but is still considered
(conservatively) to be at ground level. Accordingly, building wake correction
is used in the dispersion calculations.
Section 84
Column 7: Release Designation. “Release designation” is a label or shorthand
notation for the set of source term characteristics that will be used to calculate
consequences at various receptors. In this example, “HF-1” represents a ground
level release of 100 kg HF over a period of 15 minutes (111 grams/second) from
the warehouse building wake (minimum cross section of 10 m wide by 5 m high).
During the process of formulating release scenarios, the analyst may recognize
that several different releases will have to be modeled identically. However,
assigning a different release designation to each one helps ensure that insights
regarding the different recognition factors are recorded for use in developing
EALs.
Column 8: Notes. The analyst should record any information that will help
users and future analysts understand the analysis and results.
From Table 4-1a, it can be seen that releases designated HF-1, -3, -7 and -9 are
the same (111 g/s at ground level). Likewise, HF-2, -4, -8 and -10 are the same
(61 g/s). Accordingly, the full spectrum of possible releases for this MAR in this
location can be represented by only four different source terms -- 111, 61, 35
(HF-5) and 19 (HF-6) grams per second. Because all the releases would be
modeled the same (ground level in the building wake), a single calculation of
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consequences at receptors of interest might be done and the results scaled to
represent each of the other releases.
Having completed a methodical examination of all release possibilities for a
single cylinder, the analyst should then apply the same method and reasoning to
other amounts and forms of the same material that might be found in the same
location. In this example, it would be reasonable to examine an MAR consisting
of the maximum number of HF cylinders (4) expected or permitted in the
warehouse.
The following discussion explains Table 4-1b and illustrates how the scenario
selection reasoning process can be documented.
Column 1: Material At Risk. The first MAR to be considered is the airborne
plutonium oxide powder in the cell atmosphere. For purposes of this example, the
maximum steady-state aerosol concentration is given as 20 mg/m3.
Column 2: Primary Barrier. The primary barrier to release of the plutonium
oxide aerosol is the cell ventilation system, which maintains the cell pressure
negative with respect to surrounding areas and filters the cell atmosphere through
multiple HEPA filters before discharging it to the environment.
Column 3: Failure Mode. Since maintenance of negative cell pressure is
essential to control over the aerosol, the first failure mode to be considered is
overpressure, i.e., increase of cell pressure above that in the surrounding spaces
with resulting expulsion of contaminated air into those spaces.
Column 4: Initiating Event. The Zone A HVAC exhaust fans provide the
motive power to maintain cell pressure below that of the surrounding spaces.
• Loss of the Zone A exhaust fans is the first initiating event considered.
• A second initiating event that could produce the cell overpressure condition is
a failure of the cell exhaust damper pneumatic controller (e.g., failure of the
return spring or seizure of the actuator shaft. This could cause the pressure in
the cell to increase above the operating corridor.
• A flash fire or other energetic event in the cell could produce a pressure
transient, temporarily raising cell pressure above that in the corridor and
possibly damaging the cell exhaust preliminary filter.
Section 85
Column 5: Release from Primary Barrier.
• Loss of the exhaust fans will result in an increase in the cell pressure,
followed by migration of contaminated cell air to the operating corridor and
other nearby spaces due to temperature changes and wind pressures on the
building. For purposes of this example, a release of 80 mg of respirable
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aerosol from the cell over a period of 8 hours is cited (such source term values
are commonly available from safety analysis documents).
• With a maximum airborne dust loading of 20 mg/m3 (reference _), failure of
the cell exhaust damper is projected to cause a pressure reversal lasting
45 minutes (reference ). The predicted airborne release to the operating
corridor is 200 mg of respirable PuO2 powder.
• A flash fire is projected to produce a pressure transient lasting no more than
4 seconds (reference__) and discharge an estimated 40 mg of respirable
plutonium oxide powder into Zone B.
• If the pressure transient caused by the flash fire damages the cell exhaust
preliminary HEPA filter (the initial filter in the cell exhaust stream, preceding
the two-stage Zone A HEPA filter bank) a pulse of 800 mg of plutonium
aerosol will challenge the Zone A filters (reference___), in addition to the
40 mg released to the operating corridor.
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Table 4-1a. Hydrogen Fluoride – Warehouse
MAR
Primary
Barrier
Failure
Mode Initiating Event
Release from
Primary Barrier Conditions of Release
Release
Designation Notes
Contents of
single
cylinder
(100 kg)
Cylinder Puncture
/fracture
External impact
(by forklift or
missile, structure
collapse, etc.),
corrosion
100 kg Doors open -- release
direct to atmosphere at
ground level in building
wake.
HF-1 Structure offers little or no
confinement. Consequences
modeled as 15-minute release
of 100 kg (111 g/s) at ground
level.
Doors closed. Mitigated
release at ground level
in building wake.
HF-2 Structure mitigates release
rate by factor of 0.55.
Consequences modeled as
0.55 times the HF-1 rate
(61 g/s) at ground level.
Handling mishap
(drop/crush)
100 kg Direct to atmosphere at
ground level in building
wake
HF-3 Same consequences as HF-1
Doors closed. Mitigated
release at ground level
in building wake.
HF-4 Same consequences as HF-2
Cylinder stop
valve opened
Human
action/error
100 kg at 35 g/s Direct to atmosphere at
ground level in building
wake.
HF-5 Cylinder caps should
mandatory in warehouse to
prevent this failure mode.
Consequences modeled as
ground level release at 35 g/s.
Doors closed. Mitigated
release at ground level
in building wake.
HF-6 Consequences modeled as
ground level release at 19 g/s.
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Table 4-1a. Hydrogen Fluoride – Warehouse (cont’d)
MAR
Primary
Barrier
Failure
Mode Initiating Event
Release from
Primary Barrier Conditions of Release
Release
Designation Notes
Overpressure Hydrogen buildup 100 kg Direct to atmosphere at
ground level in building
wake.
HF-7 Same consequences as HF-1.
Rotation of inventory to
preclude storage for extended
periods (~`years) will
effectively prevent this
failure mode.
100 kg Doors closed. Mitigated
release at ground level
in building wake.
HF-8 Release is 0.55 x HF-7.
Same consequences as HF-2
High temperature
(fire)
100 kg Direct to atmosphere at
ground level in building
wake.
HF-9 Same consequences as HF-1.
Although fire is involved in
cylinder failure, ground level
release is most likely because
of building confinement and
wake effects.
Section 86
Doors closed. Mitigated
release at ground level
in building wake.
HF-10 Release is 0.55 x HF-9.
Same consequences as HF-2.
Ground level release is likely
because of building
confinement and wake
effects.
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Table 4-1b. Plutonium – Cell 1
MAR
Primary
Barrier
Failure
Mode Initiating Event
Release from
Primary Barrier
(Respirable)
Conditions of
Release
Release
Designation Notes
Airborne
powder
(20 mg/m3)
Cell
ventilation
system/filters
Overpressure Loss of HVAC exhaust
fans
80 mg To corridor, then to
atmosphere at
ground level in
building wake.
Pu-1 Building leakage of
4 mg over 8 hrs.
Source term basis from
DSA section xx.x.x.1:
MAR=2000 mg,
DR=0.08, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=0.05.
Pneumatic controller
failure
200 mg To corridor,
filtered by zone B
exhaust, elevated
release.
Pu-2 5E-4 mg released from
60 m stack. Source
term basis from DSA
section xx.x.x.2:
MAR=2000 mg,
DR=0.2, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=2.5.E-6
200 mg To corridor, then to
atmosphere at
ground level in
building wake
Pu-3 Zone B exhaust not
working. Bldg leakage
of 10 mg over 8 hrs.
Source term basis from
DSA section xx.x.x.3:
MAR=2000 mg,
DR=0.2, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=0.05.
Flash fire 40 mg To corridor,
filtered by zone B
exhaust, elevated
release.
Pu-4 1E-4 mg released from
60 m stack. Source
term basis from DSA
section xx.x.x.4:
MAR=2000 mg,
DR=0.04, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=2.5E-6.
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Table 4-1b. Plutonium – Cell 1 (cont’d)
MAR
Primary
Barrier
Failure
Mode Initiating Event
Release from
Primary Barrier
(Respirable)
Conditions of
Release
Release
Designation Notes
40 mg To corridor, then to
atmosphere at
ground level in
building wake
Pu-5 Zone B exhaust not
working. Bldg leakage
of 2 mg over 8 hrs.
Source term basis from
DSA section xx.x.x.5:
MAR=2000 mg,
DR=0.04, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=0.05.
40 mg to corridor 40 mg filtered by Pu-6 2.1E-3 mg released
800 mg challenges Zone B HEPA, from 60 m stack.
Zone A HEPA 800 mg filtered by
Zone A HEPA.
Stack release.
Source term basis from
DSA section xx.x.x.6:
MAR=4200 mg,
DR=0.4, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=2.5E-6.
40 mg to corridor, Pu-7 Zone B exhaust not
then to atmosphere working. Bldg leakage
at ground level in of 2 mg over 8 hrs
bldg wake. 800 mg (ground level) plus 2E
filtered by Zone A 3 mg from stack.
HEPA, to stack. Source term basis from
DSA section xx.x.x.7,
-Ground Level:
MAR=200 mg,
DR=0.4, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=0.05.
-Stack: MAR=4000
mg, DR=0.4, ARF=1,
RF=0.5, LPF=2.5E-6.
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Column 6: Conditions of Release.
• To minimize the reverse pressure differential and cell out-leakage, the Zone B
fans that exhaust the operating corridor and other occupied areas are
programmed to stop upon loss of the Zone A exhaust fans. If the Zone B
exhaust fans stop, the expected leak path is from the corridor to the
environment at ground level through door seals and other penetrations.
• If the Zone B exhaust fans continue to operate, the release into the operating
corridor would be exhausted to the environment via the Zone B exhaust filters
and the elevated release point (stack).
• If the flash fire pressure transient fails the cell preliminary exhaust filter and
the Zone B exhaust fans continue to run, both releases would be filtered
through two stages of HEPA filters (40 mg through Zone B, 800 mg through
Zone A) with LPF of 2.5E-6 and exhausted via the stack.
Section 87
• If the Zone B exhaust fans were not running, the 800 mg aerosol pulse would
be filtered through two stages of Zone A HEPA filters with LPF of 2.5E-6 and
exhausted via the stack. The 40 mg discharged to the operating corridor
would be mitigated only by the building confinement, with the release
occurring via door seals and penetrations at ground level.
Column 7: Release Designation. The releases are designated Pu-1–7.
Column 8: Notes. Here the analyst notes the essential features of the source
term – the amount of material released to the environment, the rate or duration of
the release, and the release height or location.
In contrast with the HF example treated in Table 4-1a, it is seen from Table 4-1b
that a range of different plutonium source terms could result from the same failure
mode, depending on the initiating event and conditions of release. Each one is
different, although the difference is slight, in some cases. In order of increasing
magnitude, they are:
Pu-4 1E-4 mg stack release
Pu-2 5E-4 mg stack release
Pu-6 2.1E-3 mg stack release
Pu-5 2 mg ground level release
Pu-7 2 mg ground level release plus 2E-3 mg from stack
Pu-1 4 mg ground level release
Pu-3 10 mg ground level release
5. Analysis of Scenarios
Utilizing the source term information developed previously, the scenarios
identified in Section 4 are analyzed here to determine the consequences at various
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receptors. The indications (recognition factors) that might enable each scenario to
be detected and recognized at or shortly after occurrence are also identified and
recorded.
5.1 Calculation Models
Consequences of the events and conditions identified in Section 4 were estimated
using two primary computational models. The Chemical Model was used to
calculate the dispersion of non-radioactive hazardous material, while the
Radiological Model was used for radiological dose calculations.
The Software Giant Company developed the Chemical Model for use in
hazardous material emergency planning and response. Its features are
documented in Reference . It makes use of a straight-line Gaussian dispersion
model and (brief summary of the model features, applicability, and limitations).
The Radiological Model was developed by the Operating Contractor for use in
*radiological emergency planning for the XYZ Site operations. It is documented
in reference and (brief summary of the model features, applicability, and
limitations).
Consequences of each release were calculated for both “severe” and “typical”
dispersion conditions. As recommended by the Emergency Management Guide
for sites lacking actual 50th and 95th percentile dispersion values based on local
weather observation, the following values for dispersion parameters were used:
Severe
Wind speed: 1.0 m/s
Stability Class: F
Inversion (mixing) height: 200 m
Typical
Wind speed: 4.5 m/s
Stability Class: D
Inversion (mixing) height: None (no inversion)
5.2 Receptor Locations
Consequences at several receptor locations were calculated. With the calculation
models used, 30 m is the minimum distance at which a concentration or dose
projection can be made. It is recognized that there are great uncertainties
associated with predicting dispersion over short distances, particularly in the
vicinity of large structures. As recommended in the DOE G 151.1-2,
consequences are calculated at 30 m and 100 m. The consequences at 30 m are
used to determine the lower threshold of the Alert classification while the second
Section 88
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distance is used to define the “facility boundary impact” for purposes of
distinguishing between the Alert and Site Area Emergency classes.
Other Onsite Receptors. Other onsite receptors were defined as follows.
OS-1: Building 999, 300 m SE, occupied by 1200 persons during working day.
OS-2: Main parking lot, 350 m SW, which is accessible to the general public in
cars, is used for evacuation staging area for the site.
OS-3: Highway 101, 870 m W. Accessible to general public, crosses the site.
OS-4: Area fire station and Emergency Control Center, 1200 m NW.
OS-5: Facility LNM, 3.5 km N. Over 2500 people during working day,
275 people during off hours.
Site Boundary Receptors. The distances to the site boundary receptors in each
of the 16 compass sectors are as follows.
SB-N 12 km SB-S 3.5 km
SB-NNE 4.2 km SB-SSW 3.9 km
SB-NE 2.0 km SB-SW 5.0 km
SB-ENE 0.7 km SB-WSW 6.3 km
SB-E 0.5 km SB-W 8.9 km
SB-ESE 0.9 km SB-WNW 11.2 km
SB-SE 1.1 km SB-NW 15.1 km
SB-SSE 2.4 km SB-NNW 12.9 km
The calculated consequences at the minimum site boundary distance (0.5 km) are
used to assign an emergency class to each postulated event.
Other offsite receptors. Other offsite receptors have been defined at points of
interest. These include the two nearest residences, the nearest school, an
industrial park where some 4000 persons are employed, the State Home in
Wheresville, and the communities of Anytown and Ong. These are abbreviated as
follows.
OFF-R1: Nearest residence, 2.1 km SSE.
OFF-R2: Next nearest residence, 3.1 km SE.
OFF-SCH: Anytown elementary school, 6.5 km S.
OFF-IND: Industrial park, 5.5 km S.
OFF-ANY: Anytown town center, 8.0 km S.
OFF-WHR: Wheresville State Home, 15.2 km SE.
OFF-ONG: Ong town center, 12 km SW.
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5.3 Consequences and Recognition Factors
The consequences and recognition factors associated with each of the releases
identified in Tables 4-1a and 4-1b, together with the implied emergency class, are
summarized in Tables 5-1a and 5-1b. In Tables 5-2a and 5-2b, the consequences
at a range of receptor distances under both severe and typical dispersion
conditions are summarized for use in planning and response.
Table 5-1a. HF Release Consequences* and Recognition Factors
Release
Desig.
Consequences
(ppm) at
PAC/TEL
Distance
(m)** Class Recognition Factors 100 m 500 m
HF-1 810 63 920/640 GE Cylinder impact + observed HF leakage + warehouse
door(s) open
HF-2 450 35 620/430 GE Cylinder impact + observed HF leakage + warehouse
doors closed
HF-3 810 63 920/640 GE Cylinder drop/crush +observed HF leakage +
warehouse door(s) open
HF-4 450 35 620/430 GE Cylinder drop/crush +observed HF leakage +
warehouse doors closed
HF-5 260 21 320/220 SAE Stop valve opened + observed HF leakage +
warehouse door(s) open
HF-6 140 11 330.180 SAE Stop valve opened + observed HF leakage +
warehouse doors closed
HF-7 810 63 920/640 GE Observed HF leakage + warehouse door(s) open
HF-8 450 35 620/430 GE Observed HF leakage + warehouse doors closed
HF-9 810 63 920/640 GE Fire in warehouse + warehouse door(s) opened or
structure breached
HF-10 450 35 620/430 GE Fire in warehouse + warehouse door(s) closed
* At 1 m/s wind speed, Stability Class F
** PAC is 24 ppm (60 min. AEGL-2). The TEL is 44 ppm (60 min. AEGL-3), 15-minute average
Section 89
concentrations.
Analysis. In accordance with the Emergency Management Guide, a scenario
should be retained as part of the emergency planning basis if the consequences are
sufficiently different from other cases that it would be classified at a different
level, and the recognition factors are sufficiently different that the case could be
reliably distinguished from other analyzed cases within a short time after
occurrence. From Table 5-1a, the following observations can be made:
• The recognition factors associated with the releases designated HF-1 through
HF-10 provide very limited bases on which to discriminate between events of
different severity. Classification at the SAE level is justified only if the leak
can be positively attributed to an open cylinder stop valve. In all other cases,
classification as General Emergency is indicated.
• Status of the warehouse doors (open or shut) is not relevant to emergency
classification.
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Accordingly, the spectrum of possible single-cylinder releases from HF stored in
the warehouse can be represented by quantitative analysis of two ground-level
releases: 35 g/s (representing HF-5 and HF-6) and 111 g/s (representing all the
others).
Table 5-1b. Radiological Release Consequences* and Recognition Factors
Release
Desig.
Consequences (rem) at PAC/TEL
Distance
(m)** Class Recognition Factors 30 m 100 m 500 m
Pu-1 25 10 1.3 600/<30 GE Loss of Zone A & Zone B exhaust for extended
time (>1 hr)
Pu-2 <E-4 <E-4 <E-4 N/A <Alert Cell 1 pressure exceeds operating corridor
pressure + Zone B exhaust function intact
Pu-3 64 25 3.2 1100/<30 GE Cell 1 pressure equals or exceeds corridor pressure
for >x min. + Zone B exhaust function lost
Pu-4 <E-4 <E-4 <E-4 N/A <Alert Fire or explosion in Cell 1 + Zone B exhaust
function intact
Pu-5 13 5.1 0.65 370/<30 SAE Fire/explosion in Cell 1 + Zone B exhaust function
lost
Pu-6 <E-4 <E-4 <E-4 N/A <Alert Fire/explosion in Cell 1 + breach of cell exhaust
filter
Pu-7 13 5.1 0.65 370/<30 SAE Fire/explosion in Cell 1 + breach of Zone A cell
exhaust filter + Zone B exhaust function lost.
* At 1 m/s wind speed, Stability Class F
** PAC is 1 rem. TEL is 100 rem (TEDE)
Analysis. From Table 5-1b, the following observations can be made:
• As long as the Zone B exhaust remains operating, any aerosol release from the
cell to the operating corridor will be filtered and discharged to the
environment from the elevated release point. Radiological consequences
outside the facility will be minimal.
• All the releases producing significant consequences outside the facility are by
unmonitored pathways (i.e., building leakage). Hence, those events will need
to be recognized on the basis of HVAC system status and other conditions in
the facility, rather than effluent monitor readings.
• If the Zone A HEPA filters remain intact, breach of the Cell 1 preliminary
exhaust filter by a pressure pulse is not a significant factor. Any event in
which both the preliminary filter and the Zone A HEPAs are damaged would
be recognized and classified based on elevated effluent monitor readings.
Accordingly, the spectrum of plutonium aerosol releases from Cell 1 can be
represented by quantitative analysis of two ground-level releases: 2 mg
(representing Pu-5 and Pu-7) and 10 mg (representing Pu-1 and Pu-3). All the
other scenarios were shown to have consequences well below the threshold for
emergency classification.
Section 90
Table 5-2a. HF Release Consequences at Various Distances, Severe and Typical Dispersion Conditions
Release
Designation
Wind
speed &
Stability
Concentration (PPM) at distance – km (miles) Distance (km) to:
Facility
Boundary
0.10 (0.06)
0S-2
(Bldg 999)
0.30 (0.18)
Site
Boundary
0.50 (0.30)
OS-3
(Highway)
0.87 (0.53)
OS-4 (Fire
Station)
1.2 (0.73)
OFF-R1
(Residence)
2.1 (1.3)
OFF-R2
(Residence)
3.1 (1.9)
OFF-SCH
(School)
6.5 (4.0) TEL* PAC*
HF-1 1 m/s, F 810 140 63 26 16 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.64 0.92
4.5 m/s, D 45 6.5 2.6 1.0 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.09 0.16
HF-2 1 m/s, F 450 79 35 14 8.9 4.0 2.4 1.0 0.43 0.62
4.5 m/s, D 25 3.4 1.6 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.07 0.11
HF-3 1 m/s, F 810 140 63 26 16 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.64 0.92
4.5 m/s, D 45 6.5 2.6 1.0 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.09 0.16
HF-4 1 m/s, F 450 79 35 14 8.9 4.0 2.4 1.0 0.43 0.62
4.5 m/s, D 25 3.4 1.6 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.07 0.11
HF-5 1 m/s, F 260 45 21 8.3 5.1 2.3 1.4 <1 0.22 0.32
4.5 m/s, D 14 2.1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.05 0.07
HF-6 1 m/s, F 140 25 11 4.5 2.8 1.3 <1 <1 0.18 0.33
4.5 m/s, D 7.7 1.1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.03 0.05
HF-7 1 m/s, F 810 140 63 26 16 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.64 0.92
4.5 m/s, D 45 6.5 2.6 1.0 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.09 0.16
HF-8 1 m/s, F 450 79 35 14 8.9 4.0 2.4 1.0 0.43 0.62
4.5 m/s, D 25 3.4 1.6 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.07 0.11
HF-9 1 m/s, F 810 140 63 26 16 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.64 0.92
4.5 m/s, D 45 6.5 2.6 1.0 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.09 0.16
HF-10 1 m/s, F 450 79 35 14 8.9 4.0 2.4 1.0 0.43 0.62
4.5 m/s, D 25 3.4 1.6 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.07 0.11
* PAC is 24 ppm (60 min. AEGL-2) and TEL is 44 ppm (60 min. AEGL-3), 15 minute average concentrations.
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Table 5-2b. Radiological Release Consequences at Various Distances, Severe and Typical Dispersion Conditions
Concentration (PPM) at distance – km (miles) Distance (km) to:
OS-4
Facility 0S-2 Site OS-3 (Fire OFF-R1 OFF-R2 OFF-SCH
Release Wind Speed Boundary (Bldg 999) Boundary (Highway) Station) (Residence) (Residence) (School)
Designation & Stability 0.10 (0.06) 0.30 (0.18) 0.50 (0.30) 0.87 (0.53) 1.2 (0.73) 2.1 (1.3) 3.1 (1.9) 6.5 (4.0) TEL* PAC*
Pu-1 1 m/s, F 10 2.7 1.3 0.57 0.36 0.16 0.095 0.037 <0.03 0.60
4.5 m/s, D 0.82 0.17 0.077 0.031 0.018 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.03 0.08
Pu-2 1 m/s, F <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
4.5 m/s, D <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
Pu-3 1 m/s, F 25 6.8 3.2 1.4 0.9 0.50 0.24 0.093 <0.03 1.1
4.5 m/s, D 2.0 0.42 0.19 0.078 0.045 0.021 <0.01 <0.01 <0.03 0.06
Pu-4 1 m/s, F <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
4.5 m/s, D <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
Pu-5 1 m/s, F 5.1 1.4 0.65 0.28 0.18 0.08 0.05 0.018 <0.03 0.37
4.5 m/s, D 0.41 0.085 0.038 0.016 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
Pu-6 1 m/s, F <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
4.5 m/s, D <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
Pu-7 1 m/s, F 5.1 1.4 0.65 0.28 0.18 0.08 0.05 0.018 <0.03 0.37
4.5 m/s, D 0.41 0.085 0.038 0.016 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 N/A N/A
*PAC is 1 rem. TEL is 100 rem (TEDE)
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6. The Emergency Planning Zone
The EPZ is an area within which the Hazards Assessment results indicate a need
for specific and detailed planning to protect people from the consequences of
hazardous material releases. As specified in the Emergency Management Guide,
the choice of EPZ is to be based on an objective analysis of the hazards associated
with a facility and not on arbitrary factors such as historical precedent or distance
to the site boundary. In this section, the results of the consequence calculations
presented in Section 5 are used to develop a proposed ABC Facility EPZ, in
accordance with the method outlined in Section 3.3 of the guidance.
Section 91
6.1 Applying the EMG Guidance to Choice of Emergency Planning Zone
Radius
NOTE: The following discussion is based only on the example analysis results
reflected in Tables 5-1a and 5-1b and follows, point by point, the methodology
outlined in Section 3.3 of the guidance.
Is an EPZ required?
Analysis: The results tabulated in Tables 5-1a and 5-1b indicate several
emergency conditions that would be classified as Site Area Emergency or General
Emergency. Therefore, an EPZ needs to be defined for the facility.
Minimum EPZ radius.
Analysis: Table 5-1a indicates a TEL could be exceeded for releases HF-1, -3, -7
and -9 at a distance of 640 m under severe meteorological conditions. Therefore,
640 m is the smallest EPZ radius that will be considered (EPZMIN).
Maximum EPZ radius.
Analysis: Table 5-1b indicates a PAC could be exceeded for release Pu-3 at
distance of 1.1 km under severe meteorological conditions. Therefore, 1.1 km is
the largest EPZ radius that will be considered (EPZMAX).
Is EPZMAX greater than 10 miles (16 km)?
Analysis: EPZMAX is less than 10 miles.
Use of other factors to adjust size and shape of EPZ.
• Hazards judged to contribute most heavily to offsite risk.
Analysis: The contribution of the HF releases to the total offsite risk has not been
calculated. However, because only non-radiological release scenarios produced
consequences exceeding the lethality threshold offsite, it will be assumed that the
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HF releases contribute significantly to the total offsite risk. Accordingly, an EPZ
radius closer to the maximum than the minimum is justified.
• Commitment and responsibility for planning and preparedness in EPZ.
Analysis: Approximately half of the land area between (0.39 miles) 0.64 km and
(0.68 miles) 1.1 km of the ABC Facility is offsite and is within areas for which
the site has been carrying out planning and preparedness activities for some years,
primarily because of the hazards arising from operation of other facilities that are
now shut down. Thus, most of the cost of implementation of the larger EPZ has
already been expended (sirens on the river, mutual aid arrangements with offsite
response agencies, public information program for nearby residents). This
consideration weighs in the direction of selecting the larger EPZ radius, because
the site is already supporting a range of preparedness measures and is committed
to continuing that support.
• Cost of implementing the EPZ.
Analysis: Regardless of whether the larger or smaller EPZ radius is selected,
additional expenditures to protect the population within the EPZ will be minimal.
Because there are no permanent residents within the (0.39 miles) 0.64 km radius,
there is no close-in population who might be better protected by concentrating use
of the available planning/preparedness resources. Therefore, this consideration
weighs in the direction of selecting the larger EPZ radius.
• Plume transit time and effectiveness of ad hoc protective actions.
Analysis: The area within the larger EPZ radius would be subject to plume
impacts within 10-20 minutes, even at very low wind speeds. Even under the best
of conditions, this would not be enough time to carry out, on an ad hoc basis,
protective measures for the nearest residents. In addition, the population in the
area is dispersed and often transient (farm workers, fishermen). Planning and
preparedness will require continued attention if notifications and implementation
of protective actions are to be timely and effective. Therefore, this consideration
weighs in the direction of the larger EPZ radius.
Section 92
• Conformance to physical and jurisdictional realities.
Analysis: Both the 0.64- and 1.1-km radii extend across the site boundary and
into the surrounding county. In the NNE, NE, and ENE sectors, the (0.68 miles)
1.1-km radius coincides approximately with the site boundary. In the ESE and SE
it coincides approximately with Fish Hatchery Road, and in the SSE, S, and SSW
sectors, it coincides approximately with East-West Road, the main county road
that parallels the river. There are no other significant physical or jurisdictional
features between the 0.64- and 1.1-km radii that are logical choices of EPZ.
Therefore, an EPZ based on a radius of approximately (0.68 miles) 1.1 km could
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be defined in terms of physical features and jurisdictional boundaries over
approximately half of its circumference.
6.2 Preliminary Conclusion
Based on this analysis, it is concluded that a nominal radius of about (0.68 miles)
1.1 km surrounding the ABC Facility should be defined as the EPZ for that
facility. Various parts of the boundary can be approximated by sections of the
site boundary and county roads.
6.3 Tests of Reasonableness
The EPZ size should give confidence that planning and preparedness will be
sufficiently flexible and detailed to deal with a wide range of types and
magnitudes of emergency conditions. Four significant considerations that cannot
be readily stated as quantitative guidance are presented in the form of questions to
be used as “tests of reasonableness” for the proposed EPZ size.
• Is the EPZ large enough to provide a credible basis for extending response
activities outside the EPZ if conditions warrant?
Analysis: The preliminary EPZ takes in approximately 3.2 km2 of Granola
County. Regular planning interactions and exercises will provide a reasonable
expectation that response actions can be successfully extended to other areas of
the county, if necessary. To the NNE, NE, and ENE, the preliminary EPZ
boundary follows the jurisdictional boundary between the site and Rutabaga
County. Rutabaga County is a party to the Tri-County Mutual Aid Agreement
and portions of the county are included within the EPZs for other site facilities.
Thus, a planning relationship exists that will serve as a basis for extending
response actions into the county for an ABC Facility emergency if conditions
warrant.
• Is the EPZ large enough to support an effective response at and near the scene
of the emergency (i.e., preclude interference from uninvolved people and
activity, facilitate onsite protective actions, optimize on-scene command and
control and mitigation efforts)?
Analysis: Other facilities on the XYZ Site are well separated from the 123 Area.
The preliminary EPZ encompasses the entire 123 Area and the major road
intersections and access routes by which the public could gain access to the site.
For these reasons, uninvolved people or activities should not hinder emergency
response teams.
• Is the EPZ likely to meet the expectations and needs of offsite agencies?
Analysis: The preliminary EPZ makes use of natural or jurisdictional boundaries
that are reasonable boundaries. The expectations and needs of offsite agencies are
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not likely to be a factor because the jurisdictions affected by the EPZ definition
have been involved in joint planning for emergencies with the site for over
30 years.
Section 93
• What enhancement of the facility and site preparedness stature would be
achieved by increasing the size of the EPZ? What resources, costs, and
liabilities might a larger EPZ engender? Would a larger EPZ result in a
significant increase in preparedness without correspondingly large increases in
cost or other detriment?
Analysis: Increasing the size of the EPZ would entail significant costs and
resources because area population begins to increase significantly beyond the
(0.68 miles) 1.1-km radius. Existing county comprehensive emergency plans and
warning/notification processes provide reasonable assurance that ad hoc response
measures in the surrounding areas would have a high likelihood of success.
Increasing the size of the EPZ would also be inconsistent with the overall
reduction in the level of site risk that is resulting from shutdown of operations and
facilities.
6.4 Final Conclusion
The proposed EPZ for the ABC Facility should include the area within a nominal
(0.68 miles) 1.1-km radius of the facility, approximated by the site boundary in
the NNE, NE, and ENE sectors, Fish Hatchery Road in the ESE and SE sectors,
and East-West Road in the SE, SSE, S, and SSW sectors.
7. Emergency Action Level (EAL) Basis
NOTE: This section should be used to document the correlation of the
consequence assessment with the requirements to classify events and take
protective actions where and when appropriate. Tables 5-1a-b present summary
correlations; however, additional documentation of the rationale for specific
EALs, automatic protective actions, etc., may be needed. Documenting the
“technical basis” ensures that when changes in the facility operation, response
capability, and other conditions occur, the impact on event classes, EALs, and
protective action planning can be addressed in a consistent and orderly manner.
An example correlation section is presented below.
The hazardous materials described in Section 3 might be released and dispersed
through a number of different processes. Using the approach recommended in the
DOE G 151.1-2, those materials were characterized with regard to location, the
barriers and/or qualities that keep them from being released, and the failure modes
and mechanisms that applied to those barriers or qualities. Initiating events or
conditions that could lead to barrier failure by each mode were then identified,
and release scenarios were developed for a range of possible severity levels. The
different scenarios and the range of possible releases from each scenario were
then examined to determine how release of different types and magnitudes might
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be distinguished from one another. A set of scenarios that spanned the range of
possible release types and severity was then developed. A number of the
scenarios are similar or identical to events analyzed in the SAR/SAD/DSA while
others are conceived and analyzed here to fill out the emergency planning basis.
Table 7-1 summarizes the process described above and the scenarios analyzed in
this section. The scenarios are presented in groups that are consistent with the
Recognition Categories/Groups and subgroups used in the XYZ Site emergency
categorization/classification procedures. They are:
• Facility Events
– Fire
– Explosion
– Process upsets/Loss of Confinement
• Natural Phenomena/External Events
– Earthquake
– High Wind/Tornado
– Aircraft Crash
• Security Event
– Bomb Threat/Explosive Device
– Sabotage
– Armed Intruder/Hostage Situation
Section 94
NOTE: Table 7-1 presents the full suite of results only for the particular MAR
units and locations treated in example Sections 4 and 5.
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Table 7-1. Summary of Hazardous Materials, Release Potential and Event Scenarios
Material at Risk
Specific
Locations “Primary Barrier” “Failure Mode” Initiating Events/Scenarios Analyzed Events
Hydrogen Fluoride
(cylinder)
Warehouse Cylinder + stop
valve
Puncture/fracture Handling mishap (drop/crush)
Structure collapse
Missile impact
Forklift impact
- Cylinder puncture/fracture with
building closed.
- Cylinder puncture/fracture,
building open
Cylinder stop
opened
Operator error
Malevolent act
- Cylinder stop opened, building
open
- Cylinder stop opened, building
closed
Overpressure High temperature (fire)
Hydrogen buildup
- Fire in warehouse, building intact
- Fire in warehouse, building
breached
Plutonium powder Cell 1 Cell filters &
exhaust system
Overpressure Loss of HVAC exhaust
Pneumatic controller failure
Flash fire
- Loss of all HVAC exhaust
- Cell pressure control lost, Zone B
exhaust operating
- Cell pressure control lost, Zone B
exhaust not operating
- Flash fire/cell pressure transient,
Zone B exhaust operating
- Flash fire/cell pressure transient,
Zone B exhaust not operating
- Flash fire/cell pressure transient,
breach of cell exhaust prefilter
DOE G 151.1-2 H-33
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7.1 Facility Events
Note: This recognition group typically includes all emergencies that are specific
to the facility in their nature and consequences. For purposes of this example, it
includes the subgroups of Fire, Explosion, and Process Upsets.
7.1.1 Fire
This recognition sub-group includes events and conditions that would be most
likely (or exclusively) detected and recognized on the basis of observed flame,
smoke, heat, or output from detectors (e.g., heat sensors, smoke detectors) that
sense one or more of these indications.
General Emergency
The only analyzed scenario in this subgroup that would warrant classification as a
General Emergency involves overpressure failure of a hydrogen fluoride cylinder
in the warehouse. A fire in the warehouse could result in the overheating of a full
cylinder leading to overpressure failure.
Discussion: The number of HF cylinders in the warehouse at the time of the fire
and the status of the warehouse doors are both immaterial because even the
mitigated release from a single cylinder produces consequences that exceed the
PAC at the nearest site boundary. Whether or not a cylinder would actually fail in
a fire depends on a number of factors including the intensity and duration of fire
and proximity of the cylinder to the fire. A full cylinder exposed to direct heating
in a pool fire would not be expected to fail for at least X minutes (reference__).
Accordingly, a less intense fire or one of shorter duration should not produce
cylinder failure. This provides a basis for discriminating between fires that do
and do not pose a real threat of HF cylinder failure. A fire that is controlled or
extinguished in significantly less than X minutes will not pose a threat of HF
cylinder failure, nor will a fire that does not involve the area of the warehouse
(chemical storage bay) where HF is stored. Because of the potential for severe
(life-threatening) consequences within a short time (minutes) of release, the
limited information that actually will be available during a fire event should be
interpreted conservatively to classify any warehouse fire and trigger the
appropriate response actions.
Section 95
Conditions that should be classified as General Emergency are:
• Fire in the warehouse lasting more than (X-n) minutes that involves or
threatens the chemical storage bay.
Basis: Directly exposing a cylinder to flame for X minutes may cause
overpressure failure with consequences exceeding the XYZ site General
Emergency criterion. A fire that involves or threatens the chemical storage
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bay for a period of time approaching X minutes should therefore be
considered to represent imminent failure of any HF cylinder(s) stored therein.
• Warehouse fire that is not declared controlled within Y minutes of initial
alarm or detection.
Basis: A fire that is not extinguished or controlled while it is in the incipient
stage is much more likely to expand to major proportions. The ability of
observers and firefighters to verify the exact location and threat to HF
cylinders will also decrease with increasing fire size and intensity. Given the
severe consequences of an HF release and the need for rapid action to
minimize those impacts, any fire that progresses beyond the incipient stage
should conservatively be assumed to threaten the entire warehouse and be
classified accordingly.
Site Area Emergency
The only analyzed scenarios within this subgroup that warrant classification as
Site Area Emergency result from a flash fire/explosion in Cell 1. (Note: Because
this event will most likely be recognized based on the cell pressure transient, it
will also need to be considered as part of the “process upset” subgroup.) A Site
Area Emergency declaration is also appropriate for any severely degraded safety
condition that is a precursor to a major release that would be classified as a
General Emergency.
Discussion: The postulated flash fire associated with solvents or other
flammables in Cell 1 could produce a pressure pulse that temporarily (~seconds)
raises the cell pressure above that in the operating corridor. As analyzed in the
DSA (reference ___), this event could expel up to 40 mg of respirable plutonium
oxide aerosol into the corridor. If the Zone B exhaust system continues to
operate, the exhaust from the corridor will be filtered prior to release to the
environment and consequences will be nil. The effects of failure of the cell
exhaust prefilter are completely mitigated by the main Zone A HEPA filter.
Depending on the duration and magnitude of the pressure pulse, the amount of
aerosol expelled may range from zero to the calculated maximum of 40 mg.
However, the amount of material expelled to the corridor or the environment
cannot be quantitatively measure and should therefore be inferred from the
occurrence of a cell pressure transient, evidence of radioactive contamination in
the corridor, and the duration of the loss of Zone B exhaust function.
Condition that should be classified as a Site Area Emergency is:
• Fire/explosion causing a pressure transient in Cell 1 that produces evidence of
plutonium contamination in the operating corridor, with concurrent loss of
Zone B exhaust function for more than X minutes.
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Section 96
Basis: It is very possible that a flash fire/explosion would expel no plutonium
at all into the corridor. Because a significant amount of time (~30 minutes-
several hours) would be required for the subsequent migration of that activity
out to the environment, it is reasonable to require confirmation that some
release from the cell has occurred before classifying the event. The Zone B
exhaust should be lost for an extended period in order for contamination in the
corridor atmosphere to leak out by way of door seals and penetrations
(reference ___). On loss of Zone B exhaust, the building would be evacuated,
so alarming of an operating corridor CAM (remote indication of which would
be seen at the Central Alarm Station) would be the only reliable indication of
contamination spread outside the cell.
Alert
None of the analyzed scenarios within this subgroup were shown to warrant
classification as Alert. An Alert declaration is also appropriate for any severely
degraded safety condition that is a precursor to a major release that would be
classified as a Site Area Emergency.
7.1.2 Explosion
No explosion scenarios were explicitly analyzed. However, a significant
explosion in the warehouse could have the effect of breaching one or more HF
cylinders, either by the explosive shock wave or by impact of a blast-driven
missile.
General Emergency
The source term and consequences of breaching an HF cylinder by explosive
shock or missile would be the same as for the analyzed case of cylinder
puncture/fracture. An explosion could result from any of several causes,
including a chemical reaction involving incompatible materials, a flammable gas
(propane) leak, sabotage, or rupture of a high-pressure system or gas cylinder. In
any case, an explosion would be recognized on the basis of sound, visible
damage, and ancillary alarms (i.e., fire alarms from broken sprinkler pipes,
security alarms). Rupture of an HF cylinder itself from buildup of hydrogen gas
would also probably be perceived by nearby personnel as an explosion.
Condition that should be classified as a General Emergency is:
• Explosion in the warehouse that involves or threatens the chemical storage
bay.
Basis: If detonated on or very near an HF cylinder, the explosive shock from
even a few ounces of high explosive could fracture the cylinder and release its
contents. A larger explosion at greater distance from a cylinder could easily
propel missiles into it causing the same effect. Immediately after an
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explosion, it may be impossible to access the area to assess damage due to
debris and an unstable structure. Accordingly, an actual explosion in close
proximity to an HF cylinder(s) should be equated to an actual cylinder breach
until proven otherwise.
Site Area Emergency
Depending on the reaction rate, the in-cell energetic event discussed under “fire”
above might be perceived as an explosion. The bases for classifying that event
are developed in Section 7.1.1.2. A Site Area Emergency declaration is also
appropriate for any severely degraded safety condition that is a precursor to a
major release that would be classified as a General Emergency.
Alert
None of the analyzed scenarios within this subgroup were shown to warrant
classification as Alert. An Alert declaration is also appropriate for any severely
degraded safety condition that is a precursor to a major release that would be
classified as a Site Area Emergency.
7.1.3 Process Upsets
Section 97
This recognition sub-group includes events/conditions that would most likely be
recognized on the basis of facility process indications (such as pressure,
temperature, vessel levels, effluent alarms, radiation monitors, and ventilation
system status) or operational conditions or status that can be directly observed
(such as misoperation of equipment or a spill of toxic material).
General Emergency
The analyzed scenarios within this subgroup that warrant classification as General
Emergency are puncture/fracture of an HF cylinder due to handling mishap or
corrosion, and plutonium releases from Cell 1, due to either: a) concurrent loss of
both Zone A and Zone B exhaust fans, or b) loss of Zone B exhaust concurrent
with malfunction of the Cell exhaust damper pneumatic controller.
Conditions that should be classified as General Emergency are:
• Observed leakage of HF from a cylinder that cannot be attributed to an open
cylinder stop valve.
Basis: Any cylinder leak that is not limited by the cylinder stop valve orifice
can be expected to ultimately discharge the entire contents of the cylinder.
The leak rate will be unregulated and should therefore be assumed sufficient
to produce the highest toxic impact that was analyzed (100 kg released in 15
minutes). Whether or not the leak can be associated with a handling mishap
or other impact is not relevant because a leak could develop spontaneously
due to corrosion of the cylinder.
DOE G 151.1-2 H-37
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• Loss of both Zone A and Zone B exhaust fans for more than X/2 hours.
Basis: Loss of both Zone A and Zone B exhaust fans for an extended period
of time will result in leakage of plutonium aerosol from the Cell 1 atmosphere
to the operating corridor, thence to the outside atmosphere. Analysis shows
(reference___) that the release over a period of X hours following failure of
both sets of exhaust fans would produce consequences that exceed the
criterion for classification as General Emergency. If both Zone A and Zone B
exhausts fail and there is not high confidence that one or both will be restored
within about X/2 hours, a General Emergency declaration should be made in
anticipation of the predicted release.
• Loss of Cell 1 pressure control that expels contamination into the operating
corridor concurrent with loss of Zone B exhaust fans for more than X/2 hours.
Basis: Failure of the exhaust damper controller could pressurize Cell 1 for up
to N minutes (before operator action could correct the condition) and
plutonium aerosol would be expelled into the operating corridor. If the Zone
B exhaust fans are not operating, part of the contamination will ultimately
leak to the environment by way of exterior door seals and penetrations.
Analysis shows (reference___) that building leakage over a period of X hours
following failure of Zone B exhaust fans would produce consequences that
exceed the criterion for classification as General Emergency. Unless there is
high confidence that Zone B exhaust fans can be restored within about X/2
hours, a General Emergency declaration should be made in anticipation of the
predicted release if contamination is confirmed in the operating corridor
following a Cell 1 pressure transient of more than ~Z seconds.
Site Area Emergency
The only analyzed scenario within this subgroup that warrants classification as
Site Area Emergency is a release of HF that is limited by the cylinder stop valve
orifice. A Site Area Emergency declaration is also appropriate for any severely
degraded safety condition that is a precursor to a major release that would be
classified as a General Emergency.
Section 98
Conditions that should be classified a Site Area Emergency are:
• Release of HF from cylinder by way of an open or damaged cylinder stop
valve.
Basis: This is the analyzed case. The release rate is limited to 35 g/s by the
integral orifice. Status of the warehouse doors is irrelevant because the
consequences of the mitigated release are still above the SAE threshold.
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• Loss of both Zone A and Zone B exhaust fans for more than about X/4 hours
or loss of Zone B exhaust fans for that amount of time following a Cell 1
pressure transient.
Basis: Analysis shows (reference___) that the release over a period of X
hours following failure of exhaust fans would produce consequences that
exceed the criterion for classification as General Emergency. If the loss lasts
for more than a few minutes (as might be expected due to a simple power
outage) an extended interruption becomes more and more likely. After a few
minutes, contamination will spread into normally-occupied areas of the
building and the staff will have been evacuated, further limiting the ability to
either monitor the situation or take action to restore the exhaust function. This
is a significantly degraded safety condition. A Site Area Emergency
declaration is warranted to mobilize response resources and commence
notifications in anticipation of a major release.
Alert
None of the analyzed scenarios within this subgroup were shown to warrant
classification as Alert. An Alert declaration is also appropriate for any severely
degraded safety condition that is a precursor to a major release that would be
classified as a Site Area Emergency.
7.2 Natural Phenomena and External Events
Severe natural phenomena may affect several facilities on the XYZ Site at once,
leading Site authorities to make emergency declarations on the basis of a general
reduction in the level of safety. The analysis presented here is based only on
actual or potential damage to the ABC facility and does not consider the effects of
the natural phenomena on other facilities, infrastructure or emergency response
capabilities.
NOTE: This recognition group typically includes emergencies that derive from
causes or initiators that are not specific to a particular facility. For purposes of
this example, it includes the subgroups of Earthquake, High Wind/Tornado, and
Aircraft Crash.
7.2.1 Earthquake
A seismic analysis of the ABC Building (reference___) concluded that the
structure would withstand horizontal accelerations and vertical acceleration up to
0.20 g without sustaining damage that would compromise the confinement
characteristics of the Cells and associated ventilation systems. At accelerations
greater than 0.24 g, moderate structural damage to the building exterior panels
may occur and continued operation of the ventilation systems is not assured.
Major structure damage, including partial roof collapse will probably occur at
accelerations in excess of 0.32 g horizontal. The warehouse is expected to
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withstand accelerations of 0.24 g without serious damage to the steel building
frame. However, storage racks and shelves would probably collapse and the
exterior doors would likely become unusable.
General Emergency
Section 99
No earthquake damage scenarios were explicitly analyzed. The likely response of
the structure and HVAC systems suggests that a General Emergency condition
may exist following accelerations above 0.24 g. However, because the
radiological release will develop fairly slowly (over several hours) an immediate
classification decision based on the earthquake itself is not necessary to ensure an
effective response. Any General Emergency classification should be based on the
status of the exhaust systems.
Site Area Emergency
Condition that should be classified as a Site Area Emergency is:
• Earthquake that produces ground acceleration in excess of 0.24 g horizontal or
vertical in the vicinity of the ABC Facility.
Basis: This is a seriously degraded safety condition. Latent damage may not
be apparent for some time, structures and components that have been
weakened may fail in aftershocks, and the reliability and capacity of support
systems (e.g., fire suppression, instrumentation) may be degraded. A Site
Area Emergency declaration activates all possible facility and Site response
resources to assist in damage assessment and enhances readiness to deal with
other problems if and when they develop.
Alert
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
• Earthquake that is felt by most personnel in/near the ABC Facility that causes
minor damage, such as breaking of windows or overturning of bookcases.
Basis: This declaration is entirely precautionary. Because the seismic
response of aging systems, structures and components can not be easily
predicted, prudence dictates that any detectable earthquake causes activation
of staff and resources to assess possible safety degradation.
7.2.2 High Wind/Tornado
Sustained wind speeds of 145 km/h (90 mph) or more exceed the structure design
standard for XYZ Site. Engineering analysis indicates that the effect of such
winds on the ABC Building or Warehouse would likely be limited to damaged
wall panels, doors or roof deck. However, partial structural collapse cannot be
ruled out.
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General Emergency
Because it is highly questionable whether wind damage to the building could
ever cause a significant breach of a Cell, loss of HVAC exhaust systems, or
damage to HF cylinders, any General Emergency declaration should be based
on observed damage to a Cell, HVAC equipment or HF cylinder(s).
Accordingly, no General Emergency EALs based solely on wind speed or
structural damage are needed.
Site Area Emergency
Condition that should be classified as a Site Area Emergency is:
• A high wind or tornado that causes severe structure damage to the ABC
Building or Warehouse (structural framework partly or completely collapsed,
or walls and/or roof blown out).
Basis: As with the earthquake, latent damage to the critical components and
systems may not be apparent for some time. Structures and components that
have been weakened may fail later. Reliability and capacity of support
systems may be degraded. The SAE declaration activates all possible facility
and Site response resources to assist in damage assessment and mitigation,
and enhances readiness to deal with other problems if and when they
develop.
Alert
An Alert declaration is appropriate if winds exceed the velocity at which minor,
but potentially safety-significant damage to structures and utilities (serving the
ABC Facility) occurs.
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
Section 100
• High winds causing minor damage to the ABC Building or Warehouse, such
as blowing out of wall or roof panels or missile/debris penetration of the
exterior walls.
Basis: This declaration is entirely precautionary. When structures begin to fail
due to wind loading, the continued integrity of those structures cannot be
assumed. Loss of wall or roof panels may subject safety-related equipment
within to wind loading and debris/missile impact they may not be designed to
withstand. Activation of staff and resources to assess any possible
degradation in safety is in order.
7.2.3 Aircraft Crash
Crash of an aircraft into a structure that houses hazardous materials is an
extremely unlikely, but possibly very destructive event. Depending on the size of
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the aircraft, its fuel load, and the location, angle and speed of impact, the
consequences may vary from nil to major. In accordance with XYZ Site hazards
assessment and emergency planning policy, aircraft crashes are addressed here for
classification purposes.
The crash of a heavy aircraft into the ABC Building or Warehouse could
produce partial or complete collapse of the structure, with fire also likely. A
fire caused by the residual aircraft fuel could damage cell exhaust fans, ducts
and filters in the ABC Building. Fire in the Warehouse could also cause
overpressure failure of HF cylinders. Fire would greatly complicate any
damage assessment and response by limiting the access of facility personnel.
Crash of a light aircraft, similar to that used to conduct radiological
surveillance and monitor wildlife on the site, would be unlikely to cause major
damage to any substantial structure.
General Emergency
Condition that should be classified as a General Emergency is:
• Aircraft crash that causes major fire and/or severe structure damage to the
ABC Building or Warehouse (structural framework partly or completely
collapsed, or walls and/or roof blown out).
Basis: Either the complete loss of Zone A and Zone B exhaust systems or
major fire that could produce airborne releases of plutonium from exhaust
ducts or filters may cause the General Emergency consequence criterion to be
exceeded. If on-shift personnel are able to assess the condition of Cells and
the associated ventilation equipment within a short time after the crash, the
actual damage can be factored in to the classification decision (see the Site
Area Emergency discussion below).
Site Area Emergency
Condition that should be classified as a Site Area Emergency is:
• An aircraft crash that causes severe structure damage to the ABC Building or
Warehouse (structural framework partly or completely collapsed, or walls
and/or roof blown out) but no major fire exists.
Basis. Latent damage to the components and systems may not be apparent for
some time as with earthquake and wind damage. Structures and components
that have been weakened may fail later. Reliability and capacity of
emergency systems may be degraded. The SAE declaration activates all
possible facility and site response resources to assist in damage assessment
and mitigation, and enhances readiness to deal with other problems if and
when they develop.
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Alert
In keeping with XYZ Site emergency classification policy, any aircraft crash in
the access controlled area surrounding a hazardous material facility is to be
classified as an Alert.
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
Section 101
• Aircraft crash within the ABC limited area.
Basis: This declaration is entirely precautionary. Crash of an aircraft may
start fires or require emergency responders to enter areas that are controlled
for radiological purposes. Assessment of the effects of the crash, rescue of
survivors, retrieval of victims and communications with civil authorities will
place unusual demands on facility personnel, security and fire/rescue
resources. An Alert declaration will activate staff and resources to meet those
needs as well as to assess any possible degradation in safety continuously.
7.3 Security Contingencies
7.3.1 Bomb Threat/Explosive Device
Actual or threatened detonation of an explosive device in the ABC Facility may
warrant classification if there is potential for the dispersal of radioactive material
or toxic chemicals. Several events analyzed in Section 5 have consequences
similar to those that might be caused by an explosive device or bomb. The
postulated impact failure of an HF cylinder scenario would warrant classification
as a General Emergency. The loss of both Zone A and B exhaust systems might
result from an explosion, as could the flash fire/explosion in Cell 1. If a bomb is
found or threatened in a particular location, it should be assumed that any
hazardous material in that location would be released/ dispersed by the explosion.
General Emergency
Declaration of a General Emergency is warranted if the bomb/explosive device
could credibly cause radiological or toxic chemical consequences approaching the
PAC at the nearest site boundary.
Condition that should be classified as a General Emergency is:
• Discovery or detonation of a confirmed explosive device in the ABC
ventilation equipment room or in the Warehouse.
Basis: Detonation (or discovery) of an explosive device where it would
damage or destroy both Zone A and B exhaust fans means the condition
analyzed in Section 5 may have occurred (or be imminent). Declaration of a
General Emergency is appropriate. Likewise, detonation (or discovery) of an
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explosive device where it would damage an HF cylinder means the release of
the HF may have occurred (or be imminent).
Site Area Emergency
Condition that should be classified as a Site Area Emergency is:
• Discovery of a confirmed explosive device in or near an ABC facility or
structure containing significant quantities of hazardous materials.
Basis: Detonation or discovery of an explosive device where it would disperse
hazardous materials represents a serious degradation of safety. Both malevolent
intent and the means to maximize any potential hazardous material release should
be assumed. Even though the hazardous material consequences may be unknown
or minor, declaration of a Site Area Emergency is appropriate in this circumstance
to mobilize resources necessary to assess and mitigate the hazards.
Alert
Discovery or credible threat of an explosive device anywhere in the vicinity of the
ABC facility structures should be regarded as indication of a degraded safety and
security situation, even if the device is not in a location where it would disperse
radioactive material.
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
• Unplanned detonation, discovery or credible threat of an explosive device
anywhere in the ABC access controlled Area that is not classified as Site Area
Emergency or General Emergency.
Section 102
Basis: Discovery of an explosive device in close proximity to hazardous
material facilities should be interpreted as an attempt to disperse radioactive
material. If discovered in any other location, it should be assumed that the
device is intended to destroy something or create a diversion that might
ultimately have a negative affect on the control over radioactive material or
other hazards.
7.3.2 Sabotage
Sabotage is intentional damage to facilities, equipment or materials. Sabotage
may have the effect of releasing hazardous materials to the environment or
degrading the level of control over those materials.
If release occurs or is imminent due to an act of sabotage, the event would be
classified in accordance with its estimated actual consequences. Otherwise, the
discovery of a confirmed act of sabotage may warrant classification at the Alert
level if it adversely affects control over hazardous materials.
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General Emergency
Not applicable.
Site Area Emergency
Not applicable.
Alert
Sabotage that damages or impairs the control over hazardous material but does
not result in its actual or imminent release should be classified at the Alert level.
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
• Any act of destruction, damage or misoperation involving facility equipment,
systems or materials that reduces the level of safety or control over hazardous
materials.
Basis: This classification assures rapid activation of the assessment and
mitigative resources needed for full examination of the safety status of the
facility and to discover and repair or compensate for any damage caused by
the saboteur.
7.3.3 Hostage Situation/Armed Intruder
If an overt threat to a specific facility or hazardous material inventory exists, the
event should be classified consistent with the potential consequences of the most
conservative release scenario involving that material. Otherwise, the discovery of
an armed intruder or a hostage situation may warrant classification at the Alert
level if it adversely affects control over hazardous materials.
General Emergency
Not applicable.
Site Area Emergency
Not applicable.
Alert
Any armed intruder or hostage situation that impairs or threatens the control over
hazardous material but does not result in its actual or imminent release should be
classified at the Alert level.
Condition that should be classified as an Alert is:
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• Discovery of an armed intruder, or hostage situation in the ABC access
controlled area that reduces the level of safety or control over hazardous
materials.
Basis: This classification assures rapid activation of the security, assessment
and mitigative resources needed to monitor the safety status of the facility and
to repair or compensate for any damage
8. Maintenance and Review of this Hazards Assessment
The Operating Contractor Manager of Emergency Planning is responsible for
ensuring that this Hazards Assessment is regularly reviewed and maintained
current. The review requirement and schedule is spelled out in the Site
Emergency Readiness Assurance Plan, Section __.
Acronyms
EAL Emergency Action Level
EPZ Emergency Planning Zone
HEPA High-Efficiency Particulate Air
HF Hydrofluoric Acid
HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls
RTG Radioisotopic Thermal-electric Generator
Section 103
1. HAZARDS SURVEYS
1.1 Introduction
1.2 General Approach
1.3 Describe the Facility and Identify its Hazards (Step 1)
1.4 Screen Hazardous Materials to Determine Need for a Hazards Assessment (Step 2)
1.5 Identify Applicable Types of Emergency Events and Conditions (Step 3)
1.6 Qualitatively Describe Potential Impacts (Step 4)
1.7 Identify and Document the Applicable Planning and Preparedness Requirements (Step 5)
1.8 Maintenance of Hazards Surveys
1.9 Hazards Survey Documentation
APPENDIX A. Hazardous Material Screening Process
A.1 Introduction
A.2 Radioactive Material Screening
A.3 Chemical Screening
APPENDIX B. Example Application of the Hazards Survey Guidance to a Hypothetical DOE Facility
B.1 Introduction
B.2 Example Hazards Survey
2. HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS
2.1 Introduction
2.2 General Approach
2.3 Define and Describe Facility and Operations (Step 1)
2.4 Characterize the Hazardous Materials (Step 2)
2.5 Select Scenarios for Analysis (Step 3)
2.6 Analyze Scenarios (Step 4)
2.7 Document the Results of the Analysis (Step 5)
2.8 Special Topics
2.9 Using Safety Analysis Results in EPHAs
3. EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONES
3.1 Background
3.2 General EPZ Concepts
3.3 Developing Facility EPZs
4. MAINTAINING HAZARDS SURVEYSAND HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS
5. USING HAZARD SURVEYS AND HAZARDS ASSESSMENTS
5.1 Hazards Survey
5.2 Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA)
APPENDIX C. Facility and Site Boundary Guidelines
C.1 Introduction
C.2 Selection of Facility Boundary Distance
C.3 Definition of Site Boundaries
APPENDIX D. Onsite Transportation Analysis
D.1 Introduction
D.2 Hazards Survey
D.3 Hazards Assessment
APPENDIX E. Malevolent Events
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Scenario Selection
E.3 Extreme Malevolent Events
APPENDIX F. Consequence Thresholds
F.1 Introduction
F.2 Protective Action Criteria (PACs)
F.3 Threshold for Early Lethality (TEL)
F.4 Chemical Mixtures
APPENDIX G. Combustion Products and Toxicity in Hazards Assessments
G.1 Introduction
G.2 Background
G.3 Chemical Explosives
G.4 Toxic Release Comparison
G.5 Other Hazards and Planning Considerations
G.6 Summary
G.7 Conclusions
APPENDIX H. Example Application of the Hazards Assessment Methodology to a Hypothetical DOE Facility
H.1 Introduction
H.2 Example EPHA