Government Decree on Emergency Response Arrangements at Nuclear Power Plants (No. 735 of 2008)

Government Decree (735/2008) on Emergency Response Arrangements at Nuclear Power Plants Issued in Helsinki 27 November 2008 ————— According to the Government decision made on a submission by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the following provisions are issued under Section 7 q of the Nuclear Energy Act (990/1987), issued on 11 December 1987, in the form laid down in Act 342/2008: Chapter 1 shall be covered by a rescue plan for public Scope of application and definitions protection drawn up by the authorities, as provided for in section 9(2) of the Rescue Act Section 1 (468/2003). Scope of application Chapter 2 This Decree lays down provisions on emergency Planning of emergency response arrangements response arrangements at a nuclear power plant. The Decree shall apply, as necessary, to other Section 3 nuclear facilities equipped with a nuclear reactor. Design basis Section 2 The planning of emergency response Definitions arrangements shall be based on analyses of the progress over time of severe accident scenarios For the purposes of this Decree: resulting in a potential release. In such a case, 1) emergency situation shall refer to an accident variations in the state of the plant, the or event whereby the safety of a nuclear power development of events as a function of time, the plant deteriorates or there is a risk of such a radiation situation at the plant, radioactive deterioration, or which requires enhanced releases, radioactive release routes and weather preparedness to act in order to ensure plant safety; conditions shall be taken into account. emergency situations are classified on the basis of Planning shall take account of events reducing their severity and controllability as follows: safety, their controllability and the severity of - emergency standby is a situation where the consequences. Furthermore, planning shall take safety level of a nuclear power plant needs to be account of threats related to unlawful action, and ensured in an exceptional situation; the potential consequences thereof. - site emergency is a situation during which the Actions taken in an emergency situation shall be nuclear power plant’s safety deteriorates or is in planned so that the safety of people within the danger of deteriorating significantly; and power plant site is ensured. - general emergency is a situation during which Emergency response arrangements shall be the hazard of such radioactive material releases consistent with the operation, fire prevention and exists, which may require protective measures in physical protection of the nuclear power plant. the vicinity of the nuclear power plant; Furthermore, emergency response arrangements 2) severe accident shall refer to a situation in shall be compatible with the rescue and which a considerable part of the fuel in a reactor is emergency plans drawn up by the authorities in damaged; preparation for a nuclear power plant accident. 3) site area shall refer to the area in use by the nuclear facility and the surrounding area, where Section 4 movement and sojourn is restricted by a decree of Emergency response organisation the Ministry of the Interior, issued under section 52 of the Police Act; The duties of personnel that plans and implements 4) protective zone shall refer to an area extending emergency arrangements (emergency response to a distance of approximately five kilometres organisation) shall be defined. from the nuclear power plant, where land use restrictions are in force; and Section 5 5) emergency planning zone shall refer to an area Preparedness extending to a distance of approximately 20 kilometres from the nuclear power plant, which

Provisions shall be made at a nuclear power plant to carry out measures required by emergency In order to maintain preparedness for action at the situations, the analysis of emergency situations nuclear power plant, the licensee shall arrange and the consequences thereof, assessment of the appropriate training and exercises for its personnel anticipated development of emergency situations, on an annual basis. Cooperation exercises with the and communications to the media and the general authorities shall be arranged regularly, and always public. When analysing the situation, the technical prior to the commissioning of a new nuclear status of the plant and release of radioactive power plant unit. materials, or threat thereof, and the radiation The licensee shall arrange preparedness training situation inside the plant and in the site area and for all members of the nuclear power plant’s staff, emergency planning zone, shall be assessed. and permanent and temporary employees working at the site area. In emergency situations, the licensee shall be Facilities and equipment reserved for emergency prepared to carry out radiation monitoring at the situations shall be maintained in operational power plant site and protective zone, alongside condition at all times. meteorological measurements, on the basis of Furthermore, the emergency plan and instructions which the dispersion of radioactive materials in shall be kept up to date. the emergency planning zone will be assessed. Chapter 4 To prepare for an emergency situation, places of Action in an emergency situation assembly for personnel at the site area, appropriate facilities and equipment for the Section 8 emergency response organisation, iodine tablets Notification of emergency situation and reliable communication and alarm systems shall be in place. The emergency response The licensee shall inform the Radiation and organisation shall provide arrangements for Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and the contamination measurements of personnel, and Emergency Response Centre concerned without their decontamination. delay about any declaration of an emergency situation, and the classification of such an The licensee shall ensure that a sufficient number emergency situation, in compliance with of personnel are promptly available and operative paragraph 1, section 2 herein. throughout the emergency situation. Section 9 Section 6 Action in an emergency situation Emergency plans In an emergency situation, the required measures The preliminary emergency plan, as referred to in in accordance with the emergency plan, and other paragraph 5, section 35(1) of the Nuclear Energy necessary measures shall be undertaken without Decree (161/1988), and the emergency plan as delay in order to control the situation and prevent referred to in paragraph 7, section 36(1) of the or limit radiation exposure. aforementioned Decree, and any amendments During the emergency situation, the licensee shall thereto, must be submitted to the Radiation and submit situation assessment on the event to the Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) for approval. Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), The emergency plan forms part of the rescue plan the commander of rescue operations, as specified as referred to in section 9(2) of the Rescue Act. in Section 44 of the Rescue Act, and the The licensee shall submit approved emergency Emergency Response Centre concerned, alongside plans and any amendments thereto to the Ministry recommendations, significant decisions and of the Interior and the State Provincial Office and justifications thereof. Fire and Rescue Services concerned. Section 10 Chapter 3 Command of operations in an emergency situation Maintenance of preparedness In an emergency, the on-site emergency manager Section 7 of the nuclear power plant, as specified in the Maintenance of preparedness for action emergency plan, initiates operations and remains

in command of operations at the power plant site, until the commander of rescue operations Provisions concerning the licensee’s obligation to announces that he/she assumes responsibility for participate in the drafting of a rescue plan for an said rescue operations. In such a case, the nuclear accident occurring in a nuclear power plant are power plant's on-site emergency manager shall laid down in section 9(2) of the Rescue Act. The ensure that a sufficient number of personnel licensee shall, in cooperation with the local rescue holding expert knowledge of nuclear technology services, supply the population with advance and radiological protection are designated to assist instructions on preparing for nuclear emergency the commander of the rescue operations. The occurring in the emergency planning zone, and licensee is in charge of matters related to nuclear distribute iodine tablets in advance to the safety and radiation protection at the nuclear population within the protection zone. In an power plant. emergency, the licensee shall participate in The nuclear power plant's on-site emergency warning any members of the population who are manager issues recommendations on population under imminent threat. protective actions to the commander of rescue The licensee shall maintain continuous operations, until the Radiation and Nuclear Safety preparedness for performing measures related to Authority (STUK) assumes responsibility for rescue operations in an emergency situation. Such issuing such recommendations. measures shall be practised in cooperation with the authorities concerned. Plans for measures Section 11 related to rescue operations are included in the Termination of an emergency situation emergency plan. In addition to subsections 1—3 herein, provisions The emergency plan will define criteria governing concerning plans and communications are laid the principles concerning the termination of down in a Decree of the Ministry of the Interior measures due to an emergency situation. A on rescue services plans prepared for nuclear and precondition for the termination of measures is radiological emergencies and communication on that the nuclear power plant has been brought into emergencies (520/2007). a safe state, releases of radioactive materials do not exceed the thresholds set for normal operation Section 13 and the necessary post-emergency measures are Entry into force initiated. If rescue operations continue after the termination This Decree will enter into force on 1 December of the emergency situation, the licensee shall be 2008. prepared to engage in cooperation corresponding This Decree will repeal the Decision of the to that which occurs during an emergency Council of State on the general regulations for situation. emergency response arrangements at nuclear power plants (397/1991), issued on 14 February Chapter 5 1991. Miscellaneous provisions Measures required for the enforcement of the Decree can be undertaken prior to its entry into Section 12 force. Measures pertaining to rescue operations Issued in Helsinki, 27 November 2008 Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs Pasi Mustonen, Senior Adviser