LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM LEE M. THOMAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01116R000700830002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 16, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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EXECUTWE SECRETAIUAT
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11 IG
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13 D/OLL
14 D/PAO
15 D/PERS
16 VC/NIC
7 D/OSWR
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19
SUSPENSE
Remarks To 5: With the DCI' s added appreciation please present the enclosed letter to
and the other personnel that participated in the
Chernobyl Task Force.
utive Secretary
3 Jun 86
3637 (10-61)
STAT
STAT
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A A
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
bpi WASHINGTON. D.C. 20460
Honorable William J. Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington4,,p.C. 20505
The Chernobyl nuclear powerplant accident in the
Soviet Union on April 26 presented this country with an
important challenge. That challenge was to put in place
a data collection and dissemination network capable of
keeping Americans everywhere informed of the health and
environmental consequences of the release of significant
quantities of radiation to the environment.
President Reagan established an interagency task force
to meet this challenge. We succeeded in our mission due to
the extraordinary cooperation of task force participants.
I am enclosing a copy of my summary memorandum to the
President on the accomplishments of the task force, and
a detailed chronology of its day-to-day activities.
The Central Intelligence Agency was a key member of the
interagency task force. I want to thank you for the
help provided in making the task force a success.
In particular, special recognition goes to
the Central Intelligence Agency's principal representative
to the task force. His efforts to coordinate the collection
and dissemination of information throughout the world, and
to dispatch technical assistance to U.S. embassies as well
as foreign governments, were critical to our success. I greatly
appreciated his help.
STAT
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Of course, others in your agency contributed to the
task force as well. Although it is impossible for me to
identify them all, please accept my thanks for their help.
I hope there is some way you can communicate to all in the
Central Intelligenc Agency just how much I appreciated their
contributions.
Lee M. Thomas
Chairman
Interagency Task Force
on the Chernobyl Accident
STAT
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MAY 29 1986
MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT
Z4 t ADministrxtor
SUBJECT: Summary Report on Activities
of the Chernobyl Accident Task Force
Following the April 26, 1986, accident at the Chernobyl
nuclear facility in the Soviet Union, you directed me to
form an interagency task force to monitor its health and
environmental consequences. The task force I organized consisted
of experts in nuclear power, radiation, public health, agriculture,
meteorology, international affairs, and environmental protection.
The task force took immediate steps to carry out your
directive. As events have now stabilized, I believe responsi-
bilities for future action can be carried out by each agency
without the formal coordination of the task force, and I
therefore wanted to provide you with a final report. A full
chronology of task force activities is attached.
Summary
By carefully identifying the scientific, technical, and
monitoring capabilities in place in the United States and
abroad, the task force established a reliable data collection
network. We contacted governments in most affected countries,
requested that they collect and share with us appropriate
monitoring information, and offered them technical assistance.
Our network is now fully developed. We are sharing current
data with many nations throughout Europe and Asia. The network
has enabled us to assess the short-term impacts of the accident.
We will also employ it to monitor long-term consequences in
this country and others.
A key conclusion that we now can draw is that the radiation
released at Chernobyl poses no significant increased risk to
the American people or to their environment. However, we
will continue to monitor our air, water, and milk supplies
on a priority basis until such time as the ambient radiation
levels approach normal background in this country.
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What We Now Know
We know that a significant amount of radiation was released
by the explosion and fire at the Chernobyl facility. We also
know that radiation has been widely dispersed throughout the
northern hemisphere by winds, precipitation, atmospheric
mixing, and other meteorological phenomena. A significant
amount of the radioactive materials originally released have
decayed during the weeks since the accident occurred. All
indications are that the Soviets have now contained the
accident, and little or no additional radiation is escaping
to the environment.
We are finding radioactive contaminants in samples of
air, water, and milk in Europe, Asia, and in the United
States. For the next several weeks, we will likely continue
to detect these radioactive isotopes. While we do not feel
the levels seen to date and those projected for the future
pose any long-term concern, prudence- dictates that we continue
monitoring their distribution and concentration. We will
share our findings with all who express an interest in them.
How We Operated
The task force operated on a daily basis from April 30
to May 14. We established several key working subgroups.
These are the groups that did the majority of task force
work. They made contact with foreign governments to build
our data monitoring network. They offered U.S. technical
assistance, and coordinated its delivery. They applied
meteorological and sampling expertise in such a way as to
predict very accurately just when the radioactivity would
reach American shores. They carefully reviewed contamination
levels and translated them into useful health and travel
advisories for Americans in this country and abroad. And
they provided solid technical expertise on the operation of
nuclear facilities that has helped us to better understand
the scope of an accident about which we have had virtually
no first-hand information.
The task force also recognized very early that effective
communication with the American public and the rest of the
world would be vitally important to its credibility. On a
daily basis, we collected information and data, analyzed
them, compiled them into useful form, and disseminated them
widely. The task force kept the public fully informed every
day through printed updates, media briefings, personal
interviews, and participation in virtually every television
network news and information program.
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The task force's credibility as a timely source of accurate
information helped to prevent the spread of unfounded rumors
and public fear.
The Next Phase
Given the significant accomlishments of the past several
weeks, the immediate work of the task force is now complete.
It is time to move on to the next phase of our response to
the Chernobyl accident.
We should do all we can now to benefit from the lessons
learned during this exercise. Our recent experiences should
have lasting value for future contingency planning and emergency
preparedness activities in this country and others.
While it is no longer necessary for task force members to
meet on a regular basis, it is important that our information
collection and dissemination functions continue. Our radiation
monitoring activities using EPA's Environmental Radiation Ambient
Monitoring System (ERAMS) will proceed as they have for several
more weeks. We will take samples of rainwater, surface water,
ambient air, and milk so we can monitor changes in radiation
levels in the United States. We will also coordinate the
analysis of sampling data from around the world. We will
share all of this information with the public.
The efforts of our health and agricultural workgroup
should be sustained in order to keep our people advised about
the safety of imported foods and drugs and the implications
of travel to affected areas. The Departments of Agriculture
and Health and Human Services should also lead efforts to fully
assess the consequences of radiation exposures in this nation.
The task force made important progress in better preparing
this country to deal with international crisis management
situations. The State Department should take the lead in
maintaining the information collection network established
during this exercise. We should continue to provide technical
assistance to foreign governments as appropriate.
In conjunction with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture,
Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency,
the State Department should lead U.S. efforts to work with
international organizations such as the International Atomic
Energy Agency, the United Nations Environment Program, and
the World Health Organization, to examine key issues such as
international notification of emergency circumstances, uniform
data collection and dissemination, and international standards
of protection.
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Finally, this government should undertake a thorough
review and analysis of our response to the Chernobyl accident
so as to assess our performance and improve our contingency
planning capabilities. The Federal Radiological
Planning Coordinating Committee, chaired by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, should undertake a thorough
review of all task force activities. By evaluating our
response to this real-life experience, we will be better
equipped to manage a similar event should it be necessary in
the future.
In closing, I want to say that it has been an honor to
serve as chairman of this task force. I commend all who
worked with me during this very intense and emotional period.
Their dedication and willingness to give 100 percent of
themselves exemplifies the very finest in service to the
public.
Lee M. Thomas, Chairman
Interagency Task Force
on the Chernobyl Accident
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The Federal Response to the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident
Chronology of Events
Environmental Protection Agency
After the Swedes reported the first indications that a
major nuclear accident had occurred at a power plant in Russia,
the U.S. Government rapidly mobilized its resources to assess
the accident and the situation in Europe, to monitor
environmental radioactivity levels in this country, to
determine the potential for health and environmental effects
here and abroad, and to provide the best and most current
information to public officials, the press, and U.S. citizens.
The key events that transpired are summarized below.
Monday, April 28
The EPA received the first information on a possible major
radiological incident in the afternoon this day. After a few
press inquiries, the Press Office, the Office of Radiation
Programs (ORP), and International Activities began to work
together to try to handle press and citizen calls and to try to
piece together the sparse information. ORP contacted DOE to
determine what was known by that Agency, especially if
information was available on whether a foreign atmospheric
nuclear test had occurred. DOE was sure there was no foreign
atmospheric test but indicated a reactor accident was a greater
possibility, and DOE would try to make a determination. ORP
next contacted the NRC which had picked up an AP wire service
report from Moscow that described the first brief TASS
announcement of a nuclear accident at Chernobyl. The Press
Office contacted the Department of State for information and
obtained a statement to help EPA answer public inquiries.
Sheldon Meyers, Acting Director, ORP, had been on travel and
was alerted to the situation at his home that night by his
staff.
Tuesday, April 29
Activity this day focused on mobilizing Federal resources,
to wit, gathering information, still extremely limited;
contacting all agencies involved in radiological emergency
response; and determining what was being done and what should
be done. Press and citizen calls increased dramatically. Most
citizens wanted travel advice; this continues.
The White House called an interagency meeting to coordinate
the Government's response. This meeting was held in the
morning at the Old Executive Office Building. In attendance
were representatives from the White House staff, NSC, NOAA,
DOE, CIA, DOS, and EPA (represented by Sheldon Meyers and
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Linda Fisher). The multiagency'Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU)1 for responding to unspecified foreign nuclear
detonations was discussed as a viable mechanism for
coordinating the Federal response. As in the MOU, EPA was
given the lead coordinating role. A second interagency meeting
began in the afternoon and ran into the evening. The status of
information, known and unknown, was discussed. The first
Federal press release on the accident was developed. The
Presidential party, then in Bali, was contacted and apprised of
events. The DOE was given the lead for liaison with Congress.
A Federal Task Force was formally established with Lee Thomas,
EPA Administrator, named as the Chairman. Mr. Thomas left an
out-of-town meeting of EPA Assistant and Regional Administrators
to return to Washington to assume his chairmanship. He was
briefed at 10:30 p.m.
Other significant actions included:
? A formal offer of U.S. assistance was made to the
U.S.S.R.
? Sampling frequency in the U.S. for radioactive airborne
particulates was increased from twice weekly to daily in EPA's
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS). The
Canadian air monitoring network also increased sampling to
daily.
? An afternoon meeting about the Chernobyl accident was
held at the State Department with representatives from State,
EPA, DOE, and NRC. The State Department suggested a joint
press briefing should be held the next day. NRC provided a
list of the type of questions they were getting from the public
and the press.
? Arrangements were made for a meeting of all MOU
agencies for Wednesday, April 30 at 1 p.m.; later rescheduled
for 5:30 p.m. because of Congressional briefings.
? An emergency meeting of the Federal Radiological
Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC)2 was held at
2:30 p.m. to discuss the respective roles of the Federal
agencies in support of EPA's lead role for coordinating the
Federal response to the Chernobyl incident.
? The first press statement was issued by EPA to announce
formation of the Interagency Task Force headed by Mr. Thomas
and to provide available information on the accident, movement
of the radioactive air mass, and intensification of sampling in
the U.S. for airborne radioactivity.
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Wednesday, April 30
Sheldon Meyers was named to head up EPA's response team
and EPA's efforts to support the Task Force. He, in turn,
named Dave Janes, Director, Analysis and Support Division, to
coordinate and lead ORP's efforts. To fulfill EPA's
responsibilities as overall coordinator, ORP developed an
organizational plan to address three critical areas:
(1) Data Receipt, Evaluation, and Assessment -
Mike Mardis. This effort would be the centralized collection
point for data from DOE on international levels of radiation
and from monitoring by the National Laboratories, from NOAA on
air levels, from ERAMS, from state monitoring, and from U.S.
embassies or diplomatic posts via the State Department, and the
U.S. scientific monitoring teams. The Dose Assessment Working
Group evolved from this part of EPA's organization.
(2) Data Reporting - Bill Gunter. This function would
coordinate the dissemination of information and the response to
all inquiries, in conjunction with the Press Office, be they
from the general public, the press, or Congress. Inherent to
this function was evaluation and interpretation of data for use
by the press and general public. Press releases, testimony,
Task Force reports, and other informational reports would be
the responsibility of this group. Contact with NOAA on U.S.
and foreign weather projections was also maintained here.
(3) Operations Support - Harry Calley. This function
would provide interagency liaison, technical and logistical
support, and serve as the interface for flow of information
between agencies and other groups.
The EPA response organizational plan and a proposed agenda
for the 5:30 p.m. interagency meeting were used to brief
Mr. Thomas at 4:30 p.m.
The first formal meeting of the Task Force was held at
5:30 p.m. At this and all subsequent meetings, status of
activities and events and updates on available information were
presented and discussed. The first assignments were given at
this meeting: (1) EPA would be the clearinghouse for offers of
assistance and would coordinate with the State Department,
(2) FAA requested measurement assistance from DOE, (3) the
CDC/FDA medical network would be used to provide information
to State health officers, (4) the lead for Public Information
would be EPA (Dave Cohen, Press Office), and (5) it was
reiterated DOE would head Congressional liaison. It was
decided a health assessment group was needed.
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Other significant events included:
? An interagency press briefing was held at the State
Department at 11:10 a.m. Participants were Lee Thomas, EPA
Administrator and Task Force Chairman; Sheldon Meyers, Acting
Director, Office of Radiation Programs, EPA; Harold Denton,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC; and
Lester Machta, Director, Air Resources Laboratory, NOAA; and
Del Bunch, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Reactor Deployment,
DOE. The transcript of this briefing was released in lieu of
an EPA press statement.
? Congressional briefings were held for members and staff.
? The U.S.S.R. declined to accept the U.S. offer of
assistance.
? The first U.S. field measurements of radioactivity were
telephoned to EPA.
? Collections in the ERAMS milk monitoring program were
increased from monthly to twice weekly.
Thursday, May 1
Organizational planning continued in this day's Task Force
meeting. Several assignments resulted: (1) The State
Department was to report on the Soviet obligation to report
data; (2) International Activities/EPA was to make a
recommendation on international information exchange;
(3) ORP/EPA (with the State Department) was to prepare a cable
requesting technical information from the U.S.S.R. The cable
was also to solicit information based on questions submitted by
Task Force agencies; (4) a Health Working Group under the
leadership of HHS was formed and tasked to examine potential
long and short-term health effects, identify symptoms and
effects, and distribute information to health officials.
Assessment of agricultural and food effects was also a
responsibility of this working group; (5) ORP/EPA was to be
responsible for day to day events, reporting, and data
collection/receipt per its organizational plan; (6) a subgroup
comprised of DOE, NRC, FEMA, and CIA representatives would
describe and evaluate possible reactor scenarios and would be
headed by NRC's Denton; (7) the NOAA would be responsible for
providing the meteorological and atmospheric dispersion
information that would be included in the daily Task Force
report; and (8) DOE would evaluate the technical aspects of
extinquishing a graphite reactor fire.
After the Task Force meeting, ORP/EPA used its three team
plan to organize collection of information for daily Task Force
reports, to set up a system for collecting radiological data,
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to provide an EPA representative to the Health and Agriculture
Working Group (Jerry Puskin), and to obtain representation from
the U.S. Customs Service, Federal Aviation Administration,
Postal Service, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) to the Health and Agriculture Working Group because of
the probable need to evaluate and monitor food and products
imported to the U.S. from affected countries.
Other significant events included:
? The first Task Force report was released to provide
current information and a status report on Federal activities
(based on Task Force assignments discussed earlier) to the
press and to the public.
? A press conference was held at the Hubert H. Humphrey
Building (DHHS) in Washington, D.C.
? The Task Force reported that the State Department
issued a travel advisory recommending against travel to Kiev
and adjacent areas in Russia and urged the public to monitor
press reports for any updated information.
? The House Subcommittee on Energy, Conservation, and
Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing,
chaired by Congressman Markey.
? The first laboratory-confirmed [at EPA's Eastern
Environmental Radiation Facility (EERF)] data were received by
EPA's Washington data collection center.
Friday, May 2
The Task Force met. It was decided that contacts should
be made with the counterpart agencies in affected countries to
try to obtain radiological data. (NRC placed calls to 18
countries between May 2 and May 5.) Status reports were made
and the best available information was reflected in the daily
Task Force report.
Other significant events included:
? The first environmental monitoring data were received
from the Swedish government for the Stockholm area. Using
this, projections were made for radiation doses at the
Chernobyl site but were estimates only because no information
on actual radiation levels was made available by the Soviets.
Very little other data were received and what was available was
chiefly anecdotal. Some data from European power plants were.
available.
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? Arrangements were made with Frank Young, FDA
Commissioner who was to attend a WHO conference in Geneva,
May 4-15, to act as the Task Force liaison with the WHO
conferees.
? The Task Force recommended against the use of potassium
iodide (KI) in the U.S. because (1) no harmful levels were
expected to reach the U.S. and (2) the use of KI presents a
risk, i.e., allergic reactions, to the population.
? The travel advisory was still limited to Kiev and
adjacent areas but was upgraded (1) to recommend against travel
by women of child-bearing age and children to Poland until the
situation there was clarified and (2) to advise travelers in
Eastern Europe to avoid consumption of milk and dairy products.
? Reports began to come into the State Department from
U.S. embassies in Europe on impacts and reactions to the
accident from local officials.
? A press conference was held at EPA.
Saturday, May 3
The Task Force met. The State Department reported that a
command center had been set up in the Department. NRC sent a
notice to its licensees requesting they report any unusually
high data. EPA was tasked to establish additional liaison with
the DOD to determine if DOD was collecting radiological data at
European sites and, if not, to initiate data collection at
bases in Europe as well as in Japan. The FDA, FAA, and INS
were directed to coordinate their data, and the Health and
Agriculture Working Group planned to meet at noon. Chairman
Thomas emphasized the need to update advisories.
Other significant events included:
? A Task Force Report was prepared for internal use over
the weekend; the EPA Press Office was open.
? The State Department had sent cables to diplomatic
posts to alert them to the need for radiological data to be
sent to the U.S. and to request any available information.
? New information was received from the Swedish
government on isotopes in rain but was not yet analyzed and
interpreted. The EPA had received a bit more data that could,
to some degree, be quality assured.
? The U.S. had dispatched scientists to make
environmental measurements in U.S. embassies and consulates in
selected cities in the U.S.S.R., Poland, and Hungary.
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(Ultimately, requests for measurements in other posts were made
and granted.) Leaving Washington on Friday night, EPA
scientist Richard Hopper went to Warsaw, Poland. A military
team went to Moscow.
? The DOD was requested to collect environmental data
from its military bases in Europe and Japan and to transmit the
results to EPA.
Sunday, May 4
The Task Force met. NOAA reported that the plume had
reached Japan but no numbers were firmly established; the State
Department was to call our embassy there and EPA was to
determine when data from the military would be available. The
amount of good quality assured data was still limited; this
hampered the efforts of the Health and Agriculture Working
Group in preparing assessments and advisories. The State
Department and HHS were to work on (another) cable to offer
medical liaison with the U.S.S.R. The USDA reported that the
World Agriculture Outlook Board requested data from the Task
Force to consider in their grain and sugar beet projections.
It was reported that the Brookhaven National Laboratory
analyzed the dose to the Long Island teenagers who had returned
from Kiev. 26/40 were positive, indicating an exposure to an
iodine source, but readings were not alarming. Individuals
were so advised and told no other precautions were necessary.
Chairman Thomas stated the major goal was to try to obtain as
much data as possible from all sources and, when available,
prepare a summary fact sheet of that data, country by country.
He also asked that the type of data needed to update
health/travel advisories be identified.
Other significant events included:
? Again, an internal use Task Force Report was prepared
for weekend use; the EPA Press Office was open.
? Interim travel guidance for affected areas, subject to
revision and update, was: avoid drinking fresh milk or eating
dairy products, eat processed food if possible, wash/peel fresh
produce; and drink bottled water or other beverages, if
possible, instead of local water.
? No medical screening for U.S. citizens returning from
affected areas was recommended. People were advised to direct
specific questions to state radiological control program
officers or personal physicians.
? Soon-to-be-travelling U.S. citizens were again advised
to monitor press reports.
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? EPA scientist Hopper reported low levels (three times
background) at the U.S. embassy in Warsaw, Poland.
? A second cable to diplomatic posts was sent, via the
State Department, and specifically set forth data collection
requirements.
? A reasonable amount of good quality data was starting
to come to EPA. The dose assesment group met to review this
new information; NRC, EPA, and HHS were involved, and a DOE
member joined later.
? ORP/EPA established and tested a computerized data base
and associated data entry protocols as the mechanism to receive
and assess data on a larger scale.
Monday, May 5
The Task Force met. The CIA, DOE and the Pacific
Northwest Laboratory (PNL), and the NRC were to closely
coordinate their modeling efforts on reactor scenarios and dose
calculations for Chernobyl. The State Department reported on
the status of information received by country and was told to
transmit data to EPA. To provide information to state
officials, FDA decided to treat the accident as a "mass
tampering" and so used its tampering incident information
networks. The IAEA visit to Moscow was discussed. It was
decided the report update would discuss possible U.S.
detections and their meaning. A USIA representative attended
and sought guidance for its public affairs activities abroad.
Other significant events included:
? The first U.S. positive field estimates were received
from the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) in Richland,
Washington.
? ORP/EPA began preparing formal morning briefing reports
for the Administrator.
? Technical press briefings by Lee Thomas were held for
the print media (major dailies, wire services, and West Coast
newspapers) and then the broadcast media.
? The Dose Assessment Group completed its first report.
Tuesday, May 6
The Task Force met. It was decided to begin publishing
consolidated data. U.S. positive measurements were to be
placed in context; their meaning and health implications to be
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explained. DOD data began to come into EPA. The Health and
Agriculture Working Group reported to the Committee on
projected health effects and identified Protective Action
Guides (PAGs). EPA was asked to provide any data it had
received on radiation counts on returning U.S. citizens to the
Health and Agriculture Working Group. The USIA asked for
assistance in preparing a Euronet technical program on nuclear
safety. Thomas directed that any discussions of PAGs should
explain what PAGs are, what actions are taken, and how to
compare PAGs to ERAMS and other U.S. data.
Other significant events included:
? The Task Force Report today had its first discussion of
foods, drugs, and products. A joint communique by world
leaders participating in the Tokyo summit was attached.
? The Task Force received the first Dose Assessment
Working Group report.
? The highest level detected in'the U.S. to date, in
rainwater, was reported. ERAMS air particulate samples,
however, were not above background.
? The travel advisory did not change; preliminary data to
date indicated radiation levels are low and pose no health
hazard.
? A monitoring program for imported food was in place.
? Another technical press briefing was held.
Wednesday, May 7
The Task Force met. It was determined that data now
coining in was now a better source of information for various
assessments than determining possible reactor scenarios,
although that effort would continue. HHS indicated talks were
underway with the WHO. It was emphasized that the U.S. samples
must be explained in daily reports. Initial planning for the
weekend was begun. A question about whether EPA had received
Polish data from the NRC was raised.
Other significant events included:
? A Task Force Report was issued. PAGs were discussed in
depth.
? Activity in ERAMS air particulate samples was confirmed
by EERF and reported by the Task Force the next day.
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? Canada destroyed an Italian shipment of vegetables based
on elevated levels of radionuclides. The U.S. continued its
program of inspecting imported foods.
? A statement by the FAA indicated no special flight
precautions were necessary. Flights above 20,000 feet near
Kiev or at any altitude elsewhere were not expected to present
any public health or safety hazard.
? The Task Force reported that the State of Oregon issued
an advisory that people who use rainwater as their sole source
of drinking water should refrain from drinking rainwater at
this time.
Thursday, May 8
The Task Force met. The USDA reported on a Commodity
Credit Corporation inventory of nonfat dry milk; USDA was to
coordinate any assistance with the State Department. Canada
asked for data from the U.S. scientific teams at East European
embassies; EPA and State were to coordinate. The limited
amount of data was of concern to the Health and Agriculture
Working Group. The first data summary by EPA was released and
given to the Health and Agriculture Working Group. EPA and
members of the Health and Agriculture Working Group met after
the Task'Force meeting and also talked during the day about
data needs.
Other significant events included:
? A Task Force Report was issued.
? Alternatives to fresh dairy products were suggested.
? Data of various forms and for various pathways had been
received from 15 countries.
? The Dose Assessment Working Group completed its second
report for distribution to the Task Force at the next meeting.
? The Task Force reported that the previous night ERAMS
had confirmed its first detection of radioactivity from
Chernobyl in air at ground level in the U.S. More positive
rainwater samples were also reported.
? The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the
FDA had in place routine procedures to monitor imported
products. Assignments issued provided for increased monitoring
and analysis of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and selected.
dairy products at entry and for notifying countries who export
meat and poultry products to the U.S. of special monitoring
procedures to undertake prior to shipment to the U.S..
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? Estimates of dose and surface deposition from the
Chernobyl accident for a 10 day period were reported by the
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Friday, May 9
The Task Force met. It decided to meet again on Monday
and Wednesday and consider closing down the formal meeting
arrangement. A reading for 1-131 from Albany, NY was
discussed; Sheldon Meyers later decided to include field
estimates, state reports, etc. in the data updates but
note these as unconfirmed by the EPA laboratory. Another data
summary, including U.S. data, was distributed to the Task Force
and made publicly available through the EPA Press Office. The
Health and Agriculture Working Group reported it would complete
a report on advisory levels in food by today. This group also
hoped to complete a report to the Committee on drugs and
biologicals on Monday; letters will be sent from FDA to
manufacturers under 1 of 2 possible regulatory mechanisms. The
USDA reported it was beginning to receive responses to its
cable to trading partners on radiation contamination levels in
meat and poultry.
Other significant events included:
? A Task Force report was issued and contained detailed
U.S. monitoring data.
? Routine procedures were in place to monitor imported
food. Working with U.S. Customs officials, particular
attention was given to products from Austria, Czechoslovakia,
East Germany, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Poland, the
Soviet Union, Sweden, and West Germany.
? A cable was prepared in which the U.S. responded
affirmatively to a cable from the WHO-Copenhagen asking for
U.S. participation in exchange of global data.
? Travel advice for women of child-bearing age and
children was eased; they no longer needed to defer travel to
Poland. EPA scientist Richard Hopper reported radiation levels
as low, currently posing no hazard.
Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11
The Task Force did not meet, but Task Force reports were
updated and issued. The EPA Press Office and the data
collection center at ORP/EPA were open. The highest rainwater
field estimate (at 5000 pC/1) thus far was reported on Saturday
in Portland, Oregon. The first positive milk sample was
reported by the media on late Sunday night for dairies in
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northwest Oregon. The Task Force report concluded that the
U.S. radiation monitoring network had recorded sporadic and
detectable levels of radiation from the Chernobyl accident in
most areas of the country but these levels pose no health or
environmental threat.
Monday, May 12
The Task Force met. The latest U.S. 'and foreign data
compiled by EPA was given to Task Force members. The Health
and Agriculture Working Group reported it had completed
development of an advisory outlining levels of concern for
imported products. Not published in the Task Force report,
these advisory levels will be used in the FDA and USDA
inspection programs. In response to a question from
Mr. Thomas, FDA indicated all groups were working closely
together to collect and provide results to the EPA data base
and then, in turn, convey information to responsible state
officials. Chairman Thomas tasked the group to consider, for
discussion on Wednesday, May 14, close-out vs. continuing
activities and future needs for emergency response programs.
For the latter, he suggested the FRPCC could evaluate the
lessons learned from the Chernobyl accident, including whether
emergency response plans should be updated or reorganized.
Other significant events included:
? A Task Force report was issued. By this time, reports
concentrated on U.S. monitoring data.
? EPA scientist Richard Hopper completed measurements
in Budapest, Hungary and began making measurements in
Sofia, Bulgaria on this day.
? FDA reported trace amounts of 1-131 were detected on a
few imported food shipments from Europe but these traces
presented no public health hazard.
? Foreign data received over the weekend at EPA suggested
external radiation levels were decreasing in Western Europe.
? The Dose Assessment Working Group completed its third
report for use by the Health and Agriculture Working Group.
(The report was given to the full Task Force on Wednesday,
May 1 4. )
? The cable was sent to the WHO, agreeing to cooperate
and to use them as a clearinghouse for worldwide data
collection.
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Tuesday, May 13
The Task Force did not meet on this day, but a Task Force
report was released. The report only gave U.S. data and noted
that deposition values were still less than 10 percent of the
level at which protective actions would be taken under FDA's
recommended Protective Action Guides.
Other significant events included:
? The USGS issued a press release to report satellite
images over the Chernobyl reactor site confirmed cooling.
? Data collection at EPA continued, and collaboration
with the WHO began.
Wednesday, May 14
This was the last meeting of the Task Force. As such, the
discussion focused chiefly on close-out and certain continuing
activities, as follows. EPA will continue its operations,
including public reports and intensified monitoring, until
deemed to be not necessary, probably in about 10 days. The
agencies should continue to cooperate and collaborate
especially in areas where continued activity is necessary, most
probably in the Dose Assessment and Health and Agriculture
Working Groups. A summary health and dose assessment report
will be prepared with EPA serving as the lead agency. This
report will be similar to those prepared following the Chinese
atmospheric tests and the TMI accident. EPA will also prepare
its own report on lessons learned in responding to this
accident. Unless the charge to the Task Force is changed, the
other agencies should also evaluate the lessons learned in the
context of their individual responsibilities and push to modify
their own procedures accordingly. The Health and Agriculture
Working Group will submit to Mr. Thomas a list of areas they
believe should be improved in the future; this will be
circulated to the Task Force members. The scope of the MOU
should be examined in terms of lessons learned in this
incident, e.g., including nondetonations (EPA suggests
Transboundary Nuclear Events as a new MOU title and scope); the
need for real-time dose and health information; and the role of
the State Department especially in relation to the need for an
international capability for faster, real-time data
collection. In the interagency emergency response exercises
that are routinely conducted, more senior staff should perhaps
be included so they will receive the benefits of that
experience. Mr. Thomas announced he intended to send a wrap-up
memorandum to the White House.
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Other significant events included:
? A Task Force report was issued. Sources of information
for citizens as well as state agencies were given.
? The State Department requested continued use of EPA
monitoring equipment for about six months. The request was
granted.
? EPA's laboratory in Alabama confirmed the first
instance of 1-131 detections in milk sampled from the ERAMS.
The levels reported were very low, far below the FDA's
recommended PAG's, and pose no danger.
Thursday, May 15
The first report from WHO was received by EPA. At
present, WHO has about 10 percent of the data EPA has
gathered. EPA also has greater country coverage. This
indicated WHO will go through a catch-up period. EPA will
probably only collect and report foreign data for another
week. Data receipt continued but, in general, was slowing down.
Other significant events included:
? The Task Force report on this day presented the latest
U.S. data, including the milk detections noted above, and
reiterated and elaborated on advice to U.S. citizens who had
traveled in Europe, especially on obtaining medical tests to
assuage any health concerns they may have.
? The State Department had requested the Dose Assessment
Working Group evaluate the possible dose to individuals at
diplomatic posts and on this day sent a list of locations to
evaluate to the Group, based at EPA.
? The media was advised they could also obtain U.S. ERAMS
and foreign measurement data from EPA's 10 Regional Offices.
Friday, May 16 - Sunday, May 18
Task Force reports were issued and reported solely on data
from the U.S. monitoring network and from U.S. power plants
which had been asked by NRC to provide information to the Task
Force from their monitoring programs. Levels of radioactivity
appeared to be dropping.
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NOTES:
1. The MOU was issued in 1977, to be effective for five
years, with EPA as the lead agency. FEMA had not yet been
established. The process of revising and updating the MOU,
given its lapse, was undertaken in 1985. When the Chernobyl
accident occurred, the revised MOU was being circulated for
signature by participating agencies.
2. The FRPCC is normally the Federal body that
coordinates the Federal response to radiological emergencies
with FEMA as the lead agency. The FRPCC chiefly focuses its
activities on domestic incidents, hence, the MOU for foreign
detonations was invoked for responding to the Chernobyl
accident. Most of the same agencies and individuals are,
however, involved in both coordinating functions.
The above information was compiled from Task Force Reports, EPA
reports to the Administrator, and other reports to the Task
Force and to the data collection center at EPA as well as from
interviews with involved EPA staff in ORP and the Press Office.
5/29/86
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