Farmers

Information for Farmers, Food Processors and Food Distributors -- look towards bottom of page for the Ingestion Brochure Publication.

In the event of a nuclear power plant accident the following are actions to be performed if directed by state and local officials.  Local media will also provide this information.

Ingestion Exposure Pathway Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)

The area within a 50-mile radius around the nuclear power plant in which people may be indirectly exposed to radiation by eating or drinking contaminated food, milk and water.
 
Plume Exposure Pathway EPZ

The area within a 10-mile radius around the nuclear power plant in which people may be directly exposed to radiation.
 
Livestock

Move livestock from pasture into an enclosed shelter and limit entry of outside air and water.  Provide feed and water from protected sources.  If unable to shelter livestock completely, utilize shelter that provides as much protection as possible from outside air and rainwater.  If livestock ingest contaminated air, water or feed, their contaminants could be passed to the human food supply through milk or dairy products.  State or local government officials may need to sample the milk, feed and/or water samples for analysis.  If dairy products are contaminated, specific actions to take will be recommended at that time.
 
Poultry and Poultry Products

Poultry raised indoors should be given protected feed and water.  State and local officials will advise of actions to take with poultry raised outdoors.
 
Soils

Soils will be tested for contamination.  State and local officials will recommend soil management procedures, if necessary.
 
Fish and Marine Life

State and local officials will monitor fish in ponds and hatcheries to determine if fish can continue to be harvested and consumed.  Samples of water and fish from bodies of fresh water will be sampled.  Recommendations will be made based upon water samples.
 
Grains

Unharvested grains will be sampled before harvesting.  Harvested grains will be sampled before use.
 
Water

Protect open water sources.  Cover rain barrels and tanks.  Covered wells and other covered underground water sources require no further protective action.  Disconnect fill pipes from storage containers that are replenished by surface run-off.
 
Honey

State or local officials will sample honey and bee hives.  Recommendations will be made based upon sample results.
 
Note to Food Processors and Food Distributors

Government officials may restrict the movement of food products and withhold them from the marketplace until sampling and analysis have been complete.  Officials may instruct you to hold raw food products for sampling before processing.  Officials will issue instructions on the safe handling and disposition of contaminated food products.

Re-entry

Reentry is the temporary, controlled entry into a restricted area.  If your farm is in the evacuated or restricted area, you may be allowed to return to your farm temporarily and tend to your operations, when conditions permit.  State or local government officials will utilize the media to advise if reentry is permitted.  Specific instructions of routes, entry points and safety precautions will be given. Contact the Emergency Operations Center for re-entry information.
 
Recovery

Recovery is the process of reducing radiation in the environment to acceptable levels for normal daily living.  State and local officials will obtain samples of air, water, soil, crops and animal products from farms and/or businesses.  If contamination is found, they will provide you with specific instructions and assist you with decontamination procedures.  Contaminated food will be isolated to prevent its entry into the marketplace.  State officials will determine if condemnation and disposal are necessary.