Key Issues
International Nuclear Event Scale Enhances Public Communications
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December 2007
Key Points
December 2007
Key Points
- The U.S. nuclear energy industry has a well-proven system that meets U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements for classifying the safety significance of events at nuclear power plants. This system, part of the emergency preparedness program at every U.S. nuclear power plant site, is used during nuclear plant events to help determine what actions may be necessary to protect the public and the environment. The system has been in place for nearly 30 years.
- A separate international system, developed by the members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1989, is now available to classify any event that involves radiation, radioactive material or the transportation of radioactive material. The IAEA’s International Nuclear Events Scale (INES) complements the U.S. approach for classifying nuclear power plant events. It is focused on public communications and understanding of the safety significance of the event, rather than emergency response.
- The U.S. industry supports the INES as a communications tool. However, the industry also believes it is essential to avoid confusion among the public, policymakers or the media concerning the use of both the NRC and INES classification system. Given the increasingly international nature of the nuclear energy business, the industry intends to further a broad understanding of how the INES works.