Key Issues
Emergency Preparedness Near Nuclear Power Plants
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Emergency Response Highly Coordinated
In the event of an emergency, the company operating the nuclear facility classifies the event; notifies local, state and federal emergency response organizations; and provides protective-action recommendations. Nuclear power plants are enhancing their emergency plans to address situations that may arise in the context of a “hostile action,” as defined by the NRC.
Local and state emergency response organizations confirm the severity of the event and determine the protective action guides for residents within 10 miles. If necessary, protective actions can be provided beyond 10 miles. These protective actions could be a combination of evacuation, sheltering and, in some cases, the use of KI tablets.
Local and state authorities also have responsibility for providing information about protective measures to those in the EPZ. These authorities must be able to activate notification systems within 15 minutes of learning about a situation requiring action.
The NRC provides guidelines for classifying incidents at nuclear plants based on their potential severity, ranging from “notification of unusual event” (no emergency-plan activation needed) to “alert,” “site area emergency” and “general emergency.”
Nuclear power plants have detailed guidelines for determining when to declare each of the event classifications. The nuclear industry is enhancing its guidelines and emergency preparedness programs to incorporate a broader range of potential activities involving hostile action. For such events, the criteria are stricter than for operational events—that is, the plant may declare an alert in the case of hostile action, even though all equipment and systems are operating normally.
Any type of nuclear plant event is rare. In 2007, the industry recorded 13 notifications of unusual events and six alerts.
2 Under the Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Plan, a nuclear plant security event classified at the alert level or higher is an incident of national significance. Federal resources may be made available to assist with emergency response if state and local resources are overwhelmed.
Emergency Response Highly Coordinated
In the event of an emergency, the company operating the nuclear facility classifies the event; notifies local, state and federal emergency response organizations; and provides protective-action recommendations. Nuclear power plants are enhancing their emergency plans to address situations that may arise in the context of a “hostile action,” as defined by the NRC.
Local and state emergency response organizations confirm the severity of the event and determine the protective action guides for residents within 10 miles. If necessary, protective actions can be provided beyond 10 miles. These protective actions could be a combination of evacuation, sheltering and, in some cases, the use of KI tablets.
Local and state authorities also have responsibility for providing information about protective measures to those in the EPZ. These authorities must be able to activate notification systems within 15 minutes of learning about a situation requiring action.
The NRC provides guidelines for classifying incidents at nuclear plants based on their potential severity, ranging from “notification of unusual event” (no emergency-plan activation needed) to “alert,” “site area emergency” and “general emergency.”
- A notification of unusual event, the lowest classification, means that a minor plant event—either an operational event or security threat—has occurred, but no radiation release has occurred.
- An alert means that there is an actual or potential reduction in the plant’s safety level or a security event that could threaten site personnel or damage plant equipment.2
- A site area emergency suggests a more serious event. Major safety equipment either has failed or is deemed likely to fail.
- A general emergency is the most serious event. In this instance, radiation may leak outside the plant and beyond the plant boundary.
Nuclear power plants have detailed guidelines for determining when to declare each of the event classifications. The nuclear industry is enhancing its guidelines and emergency preparedness programs to incorporate a broader range of potential activities involving hostile action. For such events, the criteria are stricter than for operational events—that is, the plant may declare an alert in the case of hostile action, even though all equipment and systems are operating normally.
Any type of nuclear plant event is rare. In 2007, the industry recorded 13 notifications of unusual events and six alerts.
2 Under the Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Plan, a nuclear plant security event classified at the alert level or higher is an incident of national significance. Federal resources may be made available to assist with emergency response if state and local resources are overwhelmed.
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