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responsibilities - communications with off -site organizations, repairs, and interface with news media. The Shiſt Manager in the aff ected unit Control Room retains sole license responsibility for the reactor. They can use the Shiſt Technical Advisor, Technical Support (Engineering), Operational Support (damage control), and the Director of Station Emergency Operations in the EOF for input and assessment, but must make the fi nal decision on any reactor safety action. In fast-moving events such as a tidal


Scientists and engineers from the US National Nuclear Security Agency depart for Japan following the Fukushima disaster


and Maintaining In Eff ect Emergency Plans). There are also several NRC guidance documents (REG Guides) that contain further guidance and recommendations for implementation of USNRC requirements. In fact, the USNRC recently announced a multi-year programme to upgrade NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 (Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants). In essence, nuclear power plant emergency planning is all


about public safety. The USNRC has established Emergency Action Levels (EALs) – unit-specifi c conditions that classify and communicate incidents. Associated with each EAL is a protective action for the public and government offi cials. In general, the EALs focus on the eff ects of an incident rather than the cause of an incident. Basically, the actions initiated by an EAL are in response to potential or actual radiation release as measured at the site boundary or subsequently detected/ measured in off site areas. Upon declaration of a GE, the Site Emergency Organization (SEO) will mobilise to the Emergency Operations Facility (EOF) within 60 minutes. The SEO relieves the Shiſt Manager of the aff ected unit of all reactor non-safety


EMERGENCY ACTION LEVELS (EALS)


The Shiſt Manager will classify the event as rapidly as possible and commu- nicate the event and level of severity to the NRC and state and local offi cials within fi ſt een minutes of occurrence or detection. Included in the various classifi cations of events are the following: » Unusual Event (UE) – Higher probability/low consequence events. An event has occurred warranting heightened awareness by response organizations.


» Alert (A) - An event has occurred warranting increased communications with the NRC and Control Room operators.


» Site Area Emergency (SAE) – An event has occurred which requires activation of the utility Emergency Organization.


» General Emergency (GE) – Low probability/high consequence event. Generally, there would be core damage and a breach of the three barriers and signifi cant radiation at the site boundary.


Commerical Nuclear Plant Event Levels © 2012 Laura Buch Sneeringer


Site Area Emergency (SAE)


Alert (A)


Unusual Event (UE)


wave, the lines of command and control must be very short and enable respon- sible personnel to take timely actions to maintain/regain reactor normal operating margins. The SEO will remain intact and in control of non-reactor functions until such time as the situation is resolved and the aff ected reactor placed in a safe and stable condition. This can take anywhere from a few days to months or even decades for a severe incident. ❚❙


Nuclear Emergency Planning Continuous Improvement © 2012 Laura Buch Sneeringer


General


Emergency (GE)


CDR Walt Buch, USNR (ret) is a former naval aviator and nuclear submariner who worked in Nuclear Emergency Planning in the commercial nuclear industry in the US for 25 years. CDR Rick Bigelow, USNR (ret) is a nuclear engineer and patent attorney who worked in the commercial US nuclear industry for over 25 years.


62 CBNW 2013/01


Low probability, high risk


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