Emergency Management Department of Maricopa County

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Emergency Response

The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) is located approximately fifty-five miles west of downtown Phoenix in Maricopa County. It is located on 4,080 acres of land near the town of Wintersburg, Arizona.

Public health and safety is the primary concern of the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management in the event of an incident occurring at PVNGS. The State of Arizona and Maricopa County prepare and maintain a joint “Offsite Emergency Response Plan for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station” to ensure a coordinated response to protect the public from the effects of radiation exposure in the event of an incident having offsite consequences.

Should an emergency response be necessary the Governor or his/her designee is responsible for deciding which protective measures will be implemented within the Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ). The Director of the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency (ARRA) provides the Governor with protective action recommendations. The Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) provides advice and assistance to the Governor concerning emergency preparedness, operations, logistics and recovery. The ADEM Director is also responsible for coordinating the emergency planning, operations and recovery efforts of state agencies and political subdivisions on the Governor's behalf. The ADEM Director is the designated Incident Commander (IC) for offsite government response.

The Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is responsible for decision making at the county level. The Director of the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM) provides planning advice and information regarding implementing response, and recovery activities in the event of an emergency. The Director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health is responsible for the decision to dispense Potassium Iodide (KI) to the general public in the event of an emergency. (See Protective Actions) MCDEM coordinates the response activities of county agencies such as the Sheriff's Office, Department of Transportation, Environmental Services, Department of Public Health and Animal Care and Control as well as volunteer agencies such as the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Arizona Humane Society and Amateur Radio operators. This coordination effort takes place at the County Emergency Operations Center.