Month: June 2019

ANN ARBOR, MI – Ann Arbor officials are unanimously in support of better preparing for nuclear disaster, and it’s not just the potential risk of a meltdown at the Fermi 2 power plant.

As the City Council voted 10-0 to approve a resolution in support of stockpiling potassium iodide tablets, also known as KI, Monday night, Feb. 4, one council member noted the recent unraveling of a nuclear arms pact between Russia and the U.S.

more at: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2019/02/ann-arbor-council-supports-better-nuclear-disaster-preparation.html

Text of the Resolution:

Title

A Resolution to Strengthen Nuclear Emergency Planning for the Population of the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Memorandum

This resolution supports the stockpiling of nonprescription potassium iodine in communities located within 50-miles from an actively operating nuclear power plant, for the preservation of public safety. 

Staff

Prepared by:   John Mirsky, Energy Commissioner

Reviewed by:  Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Manager

Reviewed by:  Matthew Rechtien, Senior Assistant City Attorney

Reviewed by:  Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator

Body

Whereas, The American Thyroid Association (ATA), a leading public health organization dedicated to the prevention, and population-level risk reduction, of thyroid disease, has called for the international harmonization of best-practice standards for direct pre-distribution and stockpiling of nonprescription potassium iodide (KI) around nuclear power plants;

Whereas, Timely and appropriate ingestion of KI is recognized around the world as a safe and effective public health protection measure for preventing cases of thyroid cancer caused by exposure to radioactive iodine (I-131) in the event of a nuclear accident;

Whereas, Canada responded to Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident by strengthening KI distribution requirements to improve radiological emergency preparedness for Canadians;

Whereas, The U.S. government and the State of Michigan did not respond in kind, thus leaving Americans with unequal KI protection coverage compared to Canadians, particularly in the case where one nuclear power plant straddles both countries;

Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan is located within the international 50-mile emergency planning ingestion pathway zone (IPZ) of the Fermi-2 nuclear power plant in southeast Michigan near Ontario;

Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor’s Sustainability Framework adopted in 2013 includes the goal of “Safe Community—Minimize the risk to public health and property from manmade and natural hazards”; and

Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor’s commitment to preparedness, resilience and safe community was reiterated in the City Council resolution to adopt the 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update;

RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor City Council supports the American Thyroid Association (ATA)’s call for the international harmonization of best-practice standards for direct pre-distribution and stockpiling of nonprescription potassium iodide (KI) around nuclear power plants;

RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor City Council directs the City Administrator to direct the City’s lobbying team to advocate to the State of Michigan and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to provide the same level and quality of KI protection coverage to Ann Arbor residents as is provided by Canadian authorities to Ontario residents living an equal distance from the Fermi-2 nuclear power plant, which is near the U.S.-Canada international border;

RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor City Council supports the ATA’s call for maintenance of a strategic stockpile of KI in communities out to 50-miles from an actively operating nuclear power plant, to be held in local public facilities such as schools, hospitals, clinics, post offices, and police and fire stations for distribution to the population upon notification by local public health officials;

RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor City Council encourages Washtenaw County to use available existing resources to provide advocacy and implementation support for KI distribution and stockpiling programs within the county; and

RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor City Council direct the City Administrator to send a copy of this approved resolution, upon passage, to each person or party mentioned herein.