U.S. Radiological Response to the 2011 Japan Earthquake Lessons Learned

Steve Sugarman, MS, CHP, CHCM
Health Physics Project Manager
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center / Training Site (REAC/TS)

Steven M. Johnson
Regional Response Coordinator
DOE/NNSA Region 2 Radiological Assistance Program (RAP)

October 26, 2011

COMMENTS

"Very informative. Will there be additional webinars giving continued evaluations of the impact of the radiation releases related to the release data collected? I work with an emergency management team in my assigned county where a nuclear plant is located. My assignment is the agriculture member since I am an agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri. That is why my questions were about the exercises I participate in and how they compare to what actually happened in Japan."
Jim Jarman
University of Missouri Extension

STEVE SUGARMAN

Mr. Steve Sugarman, MS, CHP, CHCM, is the Health Physics Project Manager at REAC/TS where he is responsible for responding to calls for radiation emergency assistance and performing radiation dose assessments as part of medical response. In addition, Sugarman develops educational materials and teaches REAC/TS specialized continuing medical education courses.

With more than 22 years of applied health physics experience, Sugarman's primary focus has been the integration of health physics into the medical management of radiation incidents. In the event of a radiation incident, Sugarman performs internal and external dose assessments that help guide a physician's diagnosis and treatment plan. He provides multiple phone consultations each year as part of REAC/TS 24/7 response service, providing practical guidance to health care professionals and concerned individuals worldwide. Prior to joining REAC/TS in 1999, Sugarman was a health physicist with two companies in Tennessee.

In addition to teaching responsibilities around the world, Steve is a frequent lecturer for many worldwide organizations. He has contributed to numerous publications on health physics topics and recently collaborated with REAC/TS colleagues to publish the pocket field guide, "The Medical Aspects of Radiation Incidents." Steve is a Certified Health Physicist and holds a master's degree in safety education and service from the University of Tennessee. He is also master-level certified by the Board of Certified Hazard Control Management. An active member of the Health Physics Society, he serves as a peer reviewer for the organization's journal.

STEVE JOHNSON

Steven M. Johnson is currently the Regional Response Coordinator for the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration Region 2 Radiological Assistance Program emergency response asset. Since 1999, he has been responsible for providing management oversight and direction for all activities related to the Region 2 RAP. He ensures program plans and procedures are developed and implemented and is responsible for ensuring RAP team members are qualified, trained, equipped and available to deploy on a 24-hour basis to incidents involving radiological/nuclear materials. He is also responsible for coordinating and conducting outreach and training activities with outside agencies to include interface for joint participation in drills and exercises.

Steven serves as a member of the Emergency Response Cadre in the positions of RAP Team Leader and Senior Energy Official in support of the RAP and as an Oak Ridge Office Emergency Operations Center Director for contractor fixed facility emergencies. Over the years, he has deployed numerous times to support National Special Security Events, Special Events, exercises and actual incidents.

Mr. Johnson received a BBA in 1978 from Middle Tennessee State University and has been with the Department of Energy since 1984, previously working as a Weapons Quality Assurance Inspector and an Emergency Management Specialist.