Depending upon the amount of radioactive elements released during an accident into the atmosphere and weather conditions, people, animals, crops, land, and water near the plant could be affected. The first concern will be the condition of fresh milk from dairy animals grazing on pasture and drinking from open water sources. Sampling for contamination can occur at the farm, the transfer station, or the processing plant. If contamination is verified, State officials will determine whether to dispose of these products or to hold them until safe for consumption.

A later concern will be the possible contamination of vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts. The severity of the impact of the contamination will depend on the time of the year. The time immediately prior to or during harvest is the most critical period. Crops will be sampled and analyzed by government officials to ensure they are safe to use.

Another concern will be the possible impact of contamination on livestock and poultry. Pasture, feed and water sources, as well as, meat and poultry products will be sampled and analyzed to ensure their safety.

Contamination of drinking water is not likely to be a problem. If it occurs it will probably affect only surface water and not ground wells or underground water sources. The safety of water will be determined by sampling public and private sources. If land becomes contaminated, soil management techniques can be implemented to reduce contamination of crops grown on the land. The procedures recommended will depend on the severity of contamination and the specific crops grown. Consuming contaminated foods, milk and water could have a harmful, long-term effect on your health.

Emergency planning

State emergency response organizations are prepared to tell the agricultural community what actions to take in the event of an emergency.

There are two types of protective actions that will help to lessen the possibility of persons consuming contaminated food or water:

Preventive protective actions. Actions to prevent or minimize contamination of milk and food products. An example would be washing, scrubbing, peeling, or shelling nuts, fruits and vegetables to remove surface contamination.

Emergency protective actions. Actions to isolate or contain food to prevent its introduction into commerce and to determine whether condemnation or other action is appropriate. An example, would be to restrict or withhold (embargo) agricultural products from the marketplace by prohibiting transportation from the affected areas.

Protective actions for the food supply

The following are examples of protective actions that may be recommended to the agricultural community by State officials. All protective action recommendations will be tailored for the specific locations affected.

Milk. Remove dairy animals from pasture; shelter if possible, and provide them with protected feed and water. State officials may come to your farm to take milk, feed, and water samples for laboratory analysis to determine if contamination has occurred. If dairy products are contaminated, it may be recommended that milk and milk products be withheld from the market. It is possible, however, for milk products contaminated with certain radioactive elements to be safe for human consumption after storage for a period of time. This allows for radioactive decay to occur. You will be told by State officials what actions to take.

Fruits and vegetables. Wash, scrub, peel, or shell, locally grown nuts, fruits and vegetables, including roots and tubers, to remove surface contamination. Some methods of food preservation that allow time for radioactive decay are effective. Contact your county extension office for more information.

Meat products. If there is a release of radioactive elements to the environment, you may be told to place meat animals on protected feed and water and, if possible, provide them with shelter. If livestock consume feed and water contaminated with radioactive elements, some of the contamination will be absorbed into their bodies and could then enter the human food supply through meat and meat products. Even if livestock consume radioactive materials, over a period of time the animals may eliminate the material or the radioactivity may decay to a point where the animal may be useable for food.

Poultry products. Poultry raised outdoors, especially those kept for egg production, should be monitored by sampling and testing to determine the presence of radioactive contamination. If contamination is verified, State officials may advise that poultry and eggs not be eaten until the contamination is eliminated or decays to a safe level.

Fish and marine life. Fish and other marine life raised in ponds may continue to be harvested unless appropriate State officials have determined through laboratory testing that they are contaminated. Samples of water, fish and marine life from larger bodies of water will also be analyzed to ensure they are safe.

Soils. If officials find the soil contaminated, certain soil management procedures can be implemented to reduce contamination to safe levels. Idling or non use of the land for a specific period of time, may be necessary. Soil removal and disposal of the soil may also be appropriate. In some situations, planting alternative crops may also be recommended. State officials will tell you what actions to take.

Grains. If grains are permitted to grow to maturity, most contamination will be removed by wind and rain. Milling or polishing will remove any remaining contamination. Sampling and laboratory testing will determine if the grain is safe to use. When harvesting, remember to store possibly contaminated and uncontaminated grain separately.

Water. Open sources of water should be protected. Cover open rain barrels, wells and tanks to prevent contamination. It is unlikely that underground water supplies will be affected. Filler pipes should be disconnected from storage containers that are supplied by runoff from roofs or other surface drain fields. This prevents contaminants from entering the storage containers. Close water intake valves from any contaminated water source to prevent distribution (e.g., irrigation) of contaminants.

Honey. Honey and bee hives need to be sampled and tested by State officials. If radioactive contamination is found in the area, you will be told what to do.

Food processors and distributors

Radioactive contamination of milk or food products in an affected area can occur during processing, or during transportation. This results from contact with radioactive materials on the ground or in the air. Following an accident, officials may restrict the movement of food products and withhold them from the market if they are found to be contaminated. These products will not be used until they are safe for consumption, or until a decision is made to dispose of them. You will be told how to safely handle and dispose of contaminated food products.

Post-emergency actions

The following are post-emergency actions that will occur if contamination is verified.

Reentry. Reentry is necessary only if an area has been evacuated. Reentry is the entry, under controlled conditions, into a restricted, contaminated area. If you have been evacuated from your area, you will be allowed to return when conditions permit. State officials will tell you through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or other official means when reentry is allowed. You will receive specific instructions on routes to use and precautions to take. Temporary reentry may be allowed to perform vital activities such as milking, watering, and feeding of pets and farm animals until permanent, unrestricted return can be allowed.

Recovery. Recovery is the process of reducing radiation in the environment to acceptable levels. Following the emergency, State officials will give you instructions and assist you in decontaminating your animals, food, and property if these actions are necessary. State officials will determine whether condemnation and disposal of food is appropriate.

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• Terms you should be familiar with

• Notification of Unusual Event - The lowest of four classes of events identified by the Cooper Nuclear Station Emergency Plan as an emergency. A minor problem has taken place. No release of radioactivity is expected. Federal and state officials have been notified. You do not have to do anything.
• Alert Condition - The second lowest of four classes of events identified by the Cooper Nuclear Station Emergency Plan as an emergency. A problem has occurred at the plant that could result in lowering the level of safety. All officials have been notified and asked to stand by. It is not likely that you will have to do anything.
• Site Area Emergency - The second most serious of four classes of events identified by the Cooper Nuclear Station Emergency Plan as an emergency. An unusual condition at the plant could result in the failure of a safety system and small amounts of radiation could be released into the area right around the plant. If you need to take special action, sirens will sound or your EAS tone-activated radios will turn on. You should listen to your radio or television for instructions and information.
• General Emergency - The most serious of four classes of events identified by the Cooper Nuclear Station Emergency Plan as an emergency. An incident has occurred which could result in the release of radiation outside the plant. You may have to protect yourself. If action is needed, sirens will sound, if they were not previously activated, or your EAS tone-activated radios will turn on. You should listen to your radio or television for information and instructions.