Jurris.COM

Article 1. General Provisions of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 104. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.

(a) As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
  (1) "Agency" or "office" means the Office of Emergency Services.
  (2) "Department" means the State Department of Public Health.
  (3) "Disburse or disbursement" means a payment in advance from the Nuclear Planning Assessment Special Account, as specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 8610.5 of the Government Code.
  (4) "Emergency planning zone" means a zone identified in state and local government emergency plans where immediate decisions for effective public protective action from radiation may be necessary.
  (5) "Exercise" means an event that tests emergency plans and organizations and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluates pursuant to Part 350 (commencing with Section 350.1) of Subchapter E of Chapter I of Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
  (6) "Ingestion pathway phase" means the period beginning after any release of radioactive material from a nuclear powerplant accident when the plume emergency phase has ceased, and reliable environmental measurements are available for making decisions on additional protective actions to protect the food chain. The main concern is to prevent exposure from ingestion of contaminated water or food, such as milk, fresh vegetables, or aquatic foodstuffs.
  (7) "Ingestion pathway zone" means the 50-mile radius around each of the state's nuclear powerplants in which protective actions may be required to protect the food chain in the event of an emergency.
  (8) "Interjurisdictional Planning Committee" means the planning committee, comprised of representatives of the Counties of Orange and San Diego, the Cities of Dana Point, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano, the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, the State Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Southern California Edison Company, established as a mechanism for coordinating integrated preparedness and response in the event of an emergency at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
  (9) "Local government" means a city or county that provides emergency response for a nuclear powerplant emergency.
  (10) "Local jurisdiction" means an entity that provides emergency response for a nuclear powerplant emergency in accordance with the plans of a local government.
  (11) "Plume emergency phase" means the period beginning at the onset of an emergency at a nuclear powerplant when immediate decisions for public protective actions are needed.
  (12) "Recovery phase" means the period when actions designed to reduce radiation levels in the environment to acceptable levels for unrestricted use are commenced, and ending when all recovery actions have been completed.
  (13) "Site" means the location of a nuclear powerplant and its surrounding emergency planning zone.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows:
  (1) Existing law requires the development and maintenance of a nuclear powerplant emergency response program by state and local governments based on federal and state criteria.
  (2) The office, in consultation with the department and the counties, has investigated the consequences of a serious nuclear powerplant accident and has established plume emergency phase and ingestion pathway phase planning zones for each site. These zones imply mutually supportive emergency planning and preparedness arrangements by all levels of government.
  (3) An integrated emergency planning program is necessary for the benefit of the citizens within the planning zones.
  (b) Nothing in this chapter limits the activities of any government in carrying out its general responsibilities pertaining to the public health and the safety aspects of emergency response.