The DOE/NNSA complex maintains a robust emergency response program which involves multiple organizational elements including the NNSA Office of Emergency Management (NA-40), the DOE Office of Management (MA), the DOE Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), and the DOE Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS). Specifically, the Office of Domestic and International Health Studies in EHSS supports the REAC/TS and BEMT projects.
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS)
The DOE approach to manage the response to radiological incidents is to have a robust rapid response team and trained responders in place across the DOE complex. The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) not only provides rapid response in a radiological/nuclear event, but also training of first responders in radiation emergency medicine, and medical advice to the Occupational Medicine Programs in DOE/NNSA regarding the medical management of radiation incidents.
REAC/TS also provides direct support for the NNSA’s Office of Emergency Operations, Office of Counterterrorism & Counterproliferation, the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center, and DOE’s Office of Science. Courses offered at the center are for health physicists, physicians who provide medical services to the nuclear industry, and emergency room surgeons and nurses who may be called upon to administer initial aid to a radiation accident victim.
The Office of Domestic and International Health Studies specifically supports the Clinical Radiation Assistance Program which include the operation of the Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Laboratory (CBL) to facilitate biological dosimetry and the Radiation Accident Registry that maintains relevant event and clinical information clinical evaluations to assist DOE/NNSA site occupational medicine programs with medical management and education related to radiation emergencies.
For more information on how the Office of Health and Safety contributes to REAC/TS, please contact Kali Crosby.
BEMT
The DOE Biological Events Monitoring Team (BEMT) was established in March 2006 to ensure readiness in the event of a pandemic or biological threat. The BEMT is a multidisciplinary team with subject matter expertise in the areas of public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases, occupational medicine, emergency operations, counterterrorism, and security that serves as the liaison between DOE Program Offices and Sites. The BEMT is responsible for providing technical expertise and leadership across the DOE/NNSA complex to ensure operational readiness and timely and accurate communication, as well as provide recommendations and response, and coordinate the Department’s response to biological threats.
BEMT supports the four main functions outlined in the “National Strategy for Pandemic Planning”, in response to biological threats:
- Ensure the safety and well-being of the DOE workforce;
- Enable DOE continuing performance and mission-essential functions;
- Support the Federal response to biological threats; and
- Provide timely and accurate communication with stakeholders.