Mobile Incident Command/Radiation Laboratory

Mission

The Office of Radiological Health has a Radiological Emergency Response Team equipped with field instrumentation for monitoring radiation and a mobile laboratory for performing sample analysis.  These provisions provide for the rapid assessment of a radiological incident so that appropriate recommendations on public protective actions, if necessary, may be provided to state and local officials.

Purpose

  • Provide mobile radiological laboratory services for a commercial nuclear power plant accident or other radiological/nuclear incident or emergency;
  • Participate in radiological/nuclear training, drills and exercises;
  • Provide analytical services for ORH’s Environmental Monitoring Program; and
  • Provide support as a Mobile Incident Command Vehicle to VDH if needed in the agency’s response to other emergencies.

The Mobile Incident Command/Radiation Laboratory was manufactured at the Pierce Manufacturing facility in Appleton, WI and delivered on February 4, 2008.

Vehicle Specifications

  • 2007 Pierce Enforcer
  • 50,500 lbs GVW
  • Height 12′ 6.75″
  • Fuel capacity- 70 gallons- Diesel
  • Features- Big foot leveler, Awning on right side for sample receiving, left slide out
  • Electrical- 30 kW generator, shore power- two 50 amp/110 volt single phase service
  • Four independent AC/heater units

Radiation Laboratory Analytical Equipment

  • Gamma Analysis: Two detectors, a High Purity drifted Germanium (HpGe) detector in a one ton shield for low-level environmental analysis and a shielded Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector.
  • Alpha/beta counting: Low-level counting system with a sample changer for detection of alpha and beta radiation.
  • Liquid Scintillation Counting System (LSC) for low-level beta counting.

Standards

  • Mixed gamma in Marinelli beaker
  • Radio-iodine in charcoal filter and filter paper
  • Americium-241 (alpha emitter) on planchette
  • Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 (beta emitters) on planchette
  • LSC: H-3, C-14 and two radon in water standards.

Portable Instrumentation

  • Alpha Scintillation survey meters and probes
  • micro-R meters
  • Radionuclide identifiers with neutron detection capability
  • GM Survey meters with stick probes and pancake probes
  • Survey meters with extendable probes to reach rail cars
  • Air samplers with tripods and external battery supply

Communications/Audio/Visual Capabilities

  • Two flatscreen TVs
  • Radio
  • Satellite phone
  • Cellular phone service
  • Land lines and FAX machine
  • Direct TV Service
  • DVD player
  • Internet

Conference Room

Potassium Iodine (KI) tablets for emergency workers.

Office of Radiological Health | 109 Governor Street,  7th Floor | Richmond, VA  23219

Telephone (804) 864-8150 | Fax: (804) 864-8155