INDEX
U.S. Department of Energy ORDER
Washington, D.C. DOE 5530.2
9-20-91
SUBJECT: NUCLEAR EMERGENCY SEARCH TEAM
1. PURPOSE. To establish Department of Energy (DOE) policy for Nuclear
Emergency Search Team (NEST) operations to malevolent radiological
incidents.
2. SCOPE. The provisions of this Order apply to all Departmental Elements,
to contractors performing work for the Department as provided by law
and/or contract, and as implemented by the appropriate contracting
officer.
3. POLICY. It is the policy of the Department to establish and maintain
capabilities for technical response to potential and actual threats and
incidents as may be requested by the Lead Federal Agency (LFA).
4. REFERENCES.
a. DOE 5500.1B, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, of 4-30-91, which
establishes the overall policy and requirements for the DOE
Emergency Management System and assigns responsibilities to DOE
Elements.
b. DOE 5500.2B, EMERGENCY CATEGORIES, CLASSES, AND NOTIFICATION AND
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, of 4-30-91, which establishes the DOE
emergency categories, classes, and notifications and reporting
requirements to facilitate the communication and reporting of
emergency events.
c. DOE 5500.3A, PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS FOR OPERATIONAL EMERGENCIES,
of 4-30-91, which establishes requirements for planning and
preparedness for Operational Emergencies involving DOE or requiring
DOE assistance.
d. DOE 5500.4, PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY AND PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR
EMERGENCIES, of 8-13-81, which establishes requirements for DOE
public affairs actions for emergency situations.
e. DOE 5500.10, EMERGENCY READINESS ASSURANCE PROGRAM, of 4-30-91,
which establishes requirements for assuring the continued readiness
of the Emergency Management System for response to an emergency.
f. DOE 5530.1A, ACCIDENT RESPONSE GROUP, of 9-20-91, which establishes
DOE policy for DOE response to accidents and significant incidents
involving nuclear weapons or nuclear weapon components.
g. DOE 5530.4, AERIAL MEASURING SYSTEM, of 9-20-91, which establishes
DOE policy for the Aerial Measuring System Program.
h. DOE 5635.4, PROTECTION OF UNCLASSIFIED CONTROLLED NUCLEAR
INFORMATION, of 2-3-88, which establishes DOE policy and procedures
for the protection of Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information.
i. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) and the Energy Research and Development Agency
[ERDA] (DOE) for Responding to Nuclear Threat Incidents, of
6-11-76, which delineates general areas of responsibility and sets
forth a joint policy for response by the FBI and ERDA.
j. Modification to the Memorandum of Understanding Between the FBI and
the DOE for Responding to Nuclear Threat Incidents, of 6-17-82,
which includes Sophisticated Improvised Explosive Devices.
k. Memorandum of Understanding Between the FBI, the DOE, and the
Department of Defense (DOD) for Response to Improvised Nuclear
Device Incidents, of 2-29-80, which delineates general areas of
responsibility and sets forth a joint policy for response by the
FBI, DOE, and DOD.
l. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of State
(DOS), the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense
(DOD) for responding to Malevolent Nuclear Incidents Outside U.S.
Territory and Possessions, of 5-13-82. This MOU will still be used
as the basis of reaching initial agreement with DOS and DOD.
m. Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan, of 11-8-85, which
describes the Federal Government response to radiological
emergencies in support of Federal, State, tribal, and local
government agencies.
n. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application (DP-20)
Operational Emergency Management Team (OEMT) Plan of 6-89, which
sets forth the procedures for managing emergencies for which DP-20
is the cognizant program office.
5. DEFINITIONS. See Attachment 2 to DOE 3500.1B.
6. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.
a. Notification. The DOE Headquarters Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) will be the primary point of contact for all initial
notifications to DOE regarding requests for activation and
deployment of NEST resources. Upon notification, EOC will notify
the DP-20 Duty Officer, the DOE Field Office, Nevada, and the
Office of Threat Assessment (IN-30). EOC will make further
notification in accordance with References 4.a. and 4.b.
b. Mobilization. In response to a request for NEST assistance,
whether for a threat assessment or activation and deployment of
NEST resources, DP-20 will activate an Operational Emergency
Management Team (OEMT), if required, in accordance to References
4.a. and 4.b. and will coordinate the DP-20 response and provide
authorization, direction, and support for the mobilization and
deployment of NEST and other supporting elements. NV will be
responsible for mobilizing and deploying the required elements of
NEST, as directed.
(1) The Manager, NV will coordinate with the Director, OEMT,
regarding the selection of the Team Leader (TL)/Energy Senior
Official (ESO). The DOE TL/ESO is the DOE person in charge of
all DOE activities at the incident site, and as such, is the
single point of contact for all DOE operational Elements.
(2) Deployment of the full NEST capability will be made only with
the authorization and approval of DP-20.
(3) Deployment of the Federal Radiological Monitoring and
Assessment Center (FRMAC) will be made only with the
authorization and approval of DP-20.
c. Operations.
(1) An advance party may be deployed to coordinate with FBI and/or
local authorities to make the initial assessment and obtain a
suitable location for DOE on-scene operations. When the main
party arrives, predesignated functional teams will have been
identified to initiate activities to mitigate the threat and
its potential consequences.
(2) The Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center
(FRMAC), when required, will be established to provide the
coordination with State, tribal, and local representatives and
officials from federal agencies regarding the control and
mitigation of radiological hazards (real or potential) as may
impact the incident site. The Director, OEMT will approve the
selection of the FRMAC Director in coordination of the
appropriate Field Office Manager. The FRMAC Director will be
responsible for keeping TL/ESO advised of his operations.
FRMAC will be the focal point for the cataloging of all
information relating to site restoration operations.
d. Public Affairs. It is important that the flow of information be
coordinated and timely. The establishment of a Joint Information
Center (JIC) is essential. In accordance with Reference 4.d., the
release of information must be factual and useful in order to
preserve the credibility of the operating elements and to obtain
the maximum cooperation from the press and local citizens groups.
DOE-generated media releases at the site must be coordinated, prior
to release, with the FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) and DOE
TL/ESO. All DOE-generated media releases should be reviewed by an
authorized official for classified information, Unclassified
Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI) (Reference 4.h.) and other
unclassified but sensitive information prior to release.
e. Deactivation. When the incident has been resolved, NEST personnel
and their equipment will be released to return to their home bases.
Release will be authorized by the DOE TL/ESO in concurrence with
FBI SAC and Director, OEMT. This may be done incrementally as the
need for specific personnel and equipment has been fulfilled.
FRMAC deactivation will be in accordance with the Federal
Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) (Reference 4.m.).
7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES.
a. The Secretary. Many provisions in this Order permit and/or
necessitate the exercise of discretion and/or judgment in carrying
out the requirements of the Order. In those instances, the
determination of whether, in the exercise of such discretion and/or
judgment, the requirements of this Order were complied with rests
initially with the relevant Department authority and, ultimately,
with the Secretary. The Secretary retains the sole and final
authority to determine what acts are necessary to comply with this
Order. Further, the Secretary retains the authority to suspend any
and all requirements under this Order whenever the Secretary deems
it necessary. This authority may be delegated by the Secretary as
appropriate.
b. Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs, DP-1, shall oversee the
preparation and maintenance of emergency plans, procedures, and
capabilities for responding to operational emergencies relating to
malevolent threats or acts involving nuclear weapons, improvised
nuclear devices, sophisticated improved explosive devices, and
radioactive dispersal devices.
c. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application, DP-20, shall:
(1) Provide programmatic policy and guidance for the DOE NEST
Program.
(2) Budget for research, development, documentation, equipment,
exercises, training and deployment to meet NEST requirements.
(3) Maintain liaison with Headquarters organizations of
appropriate Federal agencies, such as FBI, DOD, Department of
State, and Federal Emergency Management Agency to assure
necessary interagency and international agreements are
negotiated.
(4) Assure that the DOE NEST program is exercised and that
Headquarters DOE participates in the planning and execution of
multiagency exercises.
(5) Establish procedures for and conduct Emergency Deployment
Readiness Evaluations (EDRE) of NEST.
(6) Establish plans and procedures for compliance of criteria and
standards of DOE 5500 series Orders.
(7) Upon notification of an incident requiring activation of NEST
resources, activate a Headquarters' Operational Emergency
Management Team and take the action set forth in References
4.m and 4.n.
(8) Coordinate with the Manager, DOE Field Office, Nevada when
notified of an incident requiring activation and deployment of
NEST and/or FRMAC resources.
(9) Review and concur on NEST procedures.
(10) Designate a staff member with emergency preparedness
responsibility to serve on the Emergency Management Advisory
Committee (EMAC).
d. Director, Office of Intelligence, (IN-1), as the Senior DOE
Intelligence Officer, shall:
(1) Interface with the intelligence community on official threat
alerts and advisories.
(2) Advise DP-1 regarding the status of threats.
(3) Maintain liaison with members of the intelligence and law
enforcement communities at the National level on matters of
threat assessment.
(4) Through the Office of Threat Assessment (IN-30) be responsible
for:
(a) Funding and operation of the Communicated Threat
Credibility Assessment Program.
(b) Coordinating with DP-20 research projects under the
Special Technologies Program to meet NEST specified
requirements.
(c) Making the assets developed by the Special Technologies
Program, and other appropriate assets within the
intelligence community, available for NEST operational
requirements.
(d) Providing the single point of contact to the Director,
OEMT within the Headquarters, FBI, and other
National-level intelligence representatives during NEST
operational activities.
(e) Funding and operating a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week duty
officer for liaison between the intelligence community
and DOE to support NEST requirements.
(5) Ensure that the Director of Foreign Intelligence provides
foreign intelligence information under his cognizance to the
Director, Office of Threat Assessment in support of the NEST
national intelligence requirements.
(6) Conduct related nuclear emergency training for intelligence
community members.
e. Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health (EH-1),
shall conduct oversight as required to ensure those aspects of
environmental protection, radiation safety, worker safety, and
those aspects of public health and safety that deal with
epidemiology and exposure to hazardous materials are properly
addressed.
f. Director of Emergency Operations (DP-9.3), shall:
(1) Establish a process for reviewing DOE plans and procedures
that are prepared to implement the DOE 5500 series Orders.
(2) Ensure that exercises of the NEST capabilities are coordinated
within the overall DOE operational emergency exercise program.
(3) Serve as the DOE point of contact for inquiries concerning
emergency preparedness.
(4) Maintain a listing of points of contact and notification
procedures within Headquarters, Field Elements, and other
Federal agencies.
(5) Support training activities, at both Headquarters and field
levels, needed to implement this Order.
(6) Support OEMT operations required in response to a NEST
malevolent radiological incident.
g. Manager, DOE Field Office, Nevada, (NV), as the Field Element
tasked to have primary responsibility for NEST, shall:
(1) Develop, issue, deploy, operate, maintain, and deactivate
NEST.
(2) Prepare and submit a five-year budget plan with supporting
documentation for maintaining and operating NEST, including
research and development activities.
(3) Be responsible for the DOE field planning and execution of
exercises involving NEST participation.
(4) Conduct training and exercises for NEST elements.
(5) When requested, assist DP-20 in the coordination of
interagency and international agreements and liaison
activities.
(6) Coordinate with the Director, OEMT with regard to the
appointment of the DOE TL/ESO for NEST operations.
(7) Activate, deploy, and deactivate NEST as directed by the
Director, OEMT/DP-20.
h. Manager, DOE Field Office, Albuquerque (AL), shall:
(1) Ensure that Accident Response Group (ARG) resources are
available to assist NEST. This includes contacts for military
support that is normally arranged through the DOE Joint
Nuclear Accident Coordinating Center (JNACC).
(2) Activate, deploy, and deactivate ARG elements as directed by
the Director, OEMT. Deployed ARG elements will be under the
direction of the DOE TL/ESO.
i. Heads of Headquarters Program Offices and DOE Field Elements,
shall:
(1) Assist, as requested by DP-20, in formulating and maintaining
current procedures for the DOE resources within their purview
to respond to a malevolent radiological incidents.
(2) Make available DOE, DOE contractor, and volunteer personnel
and equipment to augment NEST at a threat site or at other
designated locations to accomplish the DOE mission.
(3) Authorize the appropriate DOE contractors under their
jurisdiction to:
(a) Participate in formulating and maintaining current
procedures to support the DOE NEST capability.
(b) Maintain a continuing capability to provide the necessary
personnel and equipment to support the NEST when
deployed.
j. Heads of Headquarters Elements and DOE Field Organizations shall
designate an individual(s) to be responsible for bringing to the
attention of the contracting officer each procurement falling
within the scope of this Directive. Unless another individual is
designated, the responsibility is that of the procurement request
originator.
k. Procurement request originators or such other individual(s) as
designated by the cognizant head of Headquarters Element or DOE
field organization shall bring to the attention of the cognizant
contracting officer the following: (1) each procurement requiring
the application of this Directive; (2) requirements for flowdown of
provisions of this Directive to any subcontract or subaward, and
(3) identification of the paragraphs or other portions of this
Directive with which the awardee, or, if different, a subawardee,
is to comply.
l. Contracting Officers, based on advice received from the procurement
request originator or other designated individual, shall apply
applicable provisions of this Directive to awards falling within
its scope. For awards, other than management and operating
contracts, this shall be by incorporation or reference using
explicit language in a contractual action, usually bilateral.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY:
JOHN J. NETTLES, JR.
Director of Administration
and Human Resource Management