Section 606.70  Contingency Plan and Emergency Procedures

a)         Purpose and Implementation of Contingency Plan

1)         The operator must have contingency plan for the facility.  The contingency plan must be designed to minimize risks to human health and the environment from fires, explosions or any unplanned release, sudden or gradual, of waste or waste constituents to air, soil, surface water, and groundwater.  The plan must also be designed to minimize risks or consequences that would result from temporary or premature closure of the disposal facility.

2)         The provisions of the contingency plan must be carried out immediately whenever there is a fire, explosion, release of waste or waste constituents to the environment, or whenever there is an unscheduled closure of the facility, either temporary or permanent.

b)         Content of Contingency Plan; Procedures

1)         The facility operator shall prepare a contingency plan which provides the response action to be taken in the event that there is a release of radionuclides, there is a temporary inability to dispose of wastes at the facility (e.g., because the facility has been closed temporarily),  or the facility is permanently closed.  Plans shall be specific to the particular contingency being addressed and shall include at a minimum the specific information required by subsection (b)(2).

2)         The facility operator shall consult with the Department and the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and prepare a contingency plan to respond to a potential release of radionuclides.  Local authorities shall also be encouraged to assist in the preparation of the contingency plan.  At a minimum, this plan shall contain the following:

A)        A description of the licensee's facility and the area near the site;

B)        An identification of each type of accident for which protective actions for the public may be needed;

C)        An analysis of the potential doses to the public from each type of accident;

D)        Identification of the means of detecting each type of accident in a timely manner;

E)         A description of the procedures and equipment for mitigating the consequences of each type of accident, including equipment provided to protect workers on-site;

F)         A description of the methods and equipment used to monitor and evaluate releases of radioactive materials;

G)        A description of the responsibilities of the operator's personnel should an accident occur, including identification of personnel responsible for notifying off-site authorities and notifying the Department;

H)        A description of the means for notifying immediately off-site authorities and for requesting off-site assistance resources;

I)          A description of the methods for assuring that recommended protective actions and distances are communicated to response organizations and the public;

J)         A description of instructions the operator would give to fire, police, medical, and other emergency personnel;

K)        A description of the means for restoring the facility to a condition that is consistent with the provisions of this Part, Part 601, and the terms of the facility license, after an accident and for remediating releases to unrestricted areas to background levels;

L)         Provisions for conducting on-site drills prior to initial receipt of waste for disposal, at least once annually thereafter, and within 30 days after any amendment of the contingency plan which is required by subsection (d)(1)(A), (B), or (C).  Local fire, police, medical and other personnel who might be called upon in an emergency shall be allowed to participate in the drills;

c)         Copies of Contingency Plan

A copy of the contingency plan and all revisions to the plan must be:

1)         Maintained at the facility;

2)         Submitted to the Department;

3)         Submitted to the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency; and

4)         Submitted to all local police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and state and local emergency response teams that might be called upon to provide emergency services.

d)         Amendment of Contingency Plan

1)         The contingency plan must be reviewed and immediately amended, if necessary to maintain compliance with this Section, whenever:

A)        The facility license is revised;

B)        The existing contingency plan fails when actually applied;

C)        The facility changes in a way that materially increases the potential for fires, explosions or releases of waste or waste constituents (e.g., a change of manufactured materials used, a change in facility design) or changes the response necessary in the event of an emergency;

D)        The list of emergency coordinators changes; or

E)         The list of emergency equipment changes.

2)         If the contingency plan is amended to comply with subsections (d)(1)(A), (B), or (C), the complete plan, as amended, shall be distributed to those entities identified in subsection (c) above.  If the plan is amended to comply with subsections (d)(1)(D) or (E), only the revised lists need be distributed.

3)         The contingency plan shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, at least once every five years.

e)         Emergency Coordinator

1)         At all times, there must be at least one employee either on the facility premises or on call (i.e., available to respond to an emergency by reaching the facility within 60 minutes) who is responsible for coordinating all emergency response measures.

2)         This emergency coordinator must be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the facility's contingency plan, all operations and activities at the facility, the location and characteristics of waste handled, the location of all records within the facility and the facility layout.  In addition, this person must have the authority to commit the resources needed to carry out the contingency plan.  The emergency coordinator must also be competent to carry out responsibilities as described in subsection (b).