Executive Summary:
In 2008 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published Protective Action Guides (PAGs) for radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) and improvised nuclear devices (INDs). Guidance was offered to protect members of the public in the early, ntermediate and late phases of response to terrorist attacks with radiological devices. The optimization (of radiation protection)1 process was recommended for late-phase recovery in circumstances of widespread ontamination with radioactive material. The purpose of this Report is to provide guidance on optimizing decision making for late-phase recovery from a major RDD or IND incident. In light of the March 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident, the scope was expanded to include nuclear accidents.