The 2022 edition of the Southern Mutual Radiation Assistance Plan (SMRAP) is now available for review.
The document provides a mechanism for coordinating radiological emergency assistance capabilities among participating states. SMRAP is authorized under the provisions of the Southern Agreement for Mutual State Radiological Assistance, which was signed by the governors of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee in 1973. The governors of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas signed in 1974, Missouri’s governor signed in 1975, and Governor Wilder of Virginia signed the agreement in 1990. The authority for entering into supplemental agreements by any of the southern states is provided by Public Law 87-563, which grants U.S. Congressional approval of the Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact.
The Southern Mutual Radiation Assistance Plan is reviewed, revised and administered on a permanent basis by the Southern Emergency Response Council (SERC), which was established for that purpose under the terms of the agreement. The council consists of radiological health program directors from each signatory state and the executive director of the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB), formerly known as the Southern Interstate Nuclear Board (SINB). SSEB also serves as the SERC secretariat.
The plan contains general provisions and detailed resource information and is designed to serve the needs of state administrators as well as state radiological health personnel in their everyday activities. The document is updated regularly to ensure accuracy of federal and state agency information.
We hope that this approach to resolving radiation assistance problems in the southern states, as outlined in SMRAP, will provide useful direction and guidance to others with similar objectives. If you have any questions about the document, please email our Director of Nuclear Programs, Chris Wells.