IAEAs Role in Coordinating the Implementation of the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of International Organizations

Elena Buglova Incident and Emergency Centre

IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency

International EPR Framework

Overview

Legal instruments
Safety Standards

IAEA Tools Protocols

States

Tools, protocols and

operational arrangements

Legal instruments

International Org.

Standards Operational arrangements

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International EPR Framework

Legal instruments

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International EPR Framework

Safety Standards

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International EPR Framework

Operational arrangements and protocols
Response Plan for Incidents and Emergencies REPLIE Manual for Official Communication in Incidents and Emergencies

Bilateral arrangements with relevant international organizations Protocols Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations

IEComm

IAEA

JPLAN

States

RANET IAEA Response and Assistance Network

International Org.

IAEA

International EPR Framework

Tools
TECDOC Series

EPR Series

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International Organizations

Several international intergovernmental

organizations have roles and responsibilities in EPR area Clear need for coordination According to Early Notification and Assistance Conventions IAEA has central coordination role

IAEA

IACRNA - Coordination Mechanism

Since 1986

Inter-Agency Committee on the Response to

Nuclear Accidents - IACRNA
Established after Chernobyl accident in 1986 as an ad
hoc inter-agency coordination mechanism
Inter-Agency Committee for the Co-ordinated Planning and
Implementation of Response to Accidental Releases of Radioactive Substances

Comprised of relevant UN agencies and

organizations Full participation of other relevant intergovernmental organizations since 1997
IAEA

IACRNE
Since 2009

Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and

Nuclear Emergencies
Embodies EPR coordination mechanism between
relevant IGOs Maintains joint emergency response coordination plan Coordinates preparation, conduct and evaluation of international exercises (in coordination with host country) Current status: 16 participating organizations (members) plus few corresponding (observers) organizations
IAEA

Joint Emergency Response Plan

JPLAN

Joint Radiation Emergency Management

Plan of the International Organizations (JPLAN) In 1999 a pre-publication In 2000 first edition of JPLAN cosponsored by 6
organizations Edition (fifth) in effect: EPR-JPLAN 2010 cosponsored by 15 organizations Sixth edition (2013) in preparation
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JPLAN - Interagency Coordination Mechanism

Inter-agency framework for EPR Describes arrangements of
participating organizations in responding to emergencies Roles and responsibilities of organizations involved reflect their various statutory and legally assigned functions IAEA serves as main coordinating body
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JPLAN
Additionally, if EU Member State, Croatia or Switzerland EU

All States Notifying State

2 2 1 If space object re-entry Authentication and verification

+ CTBTO March 2012

EUROPOL

Additional notification, if EU Member States, Croatia or Switzerland 1 Authentication and verification

Additionally if space object re-entry Authentication and verification

EC
Notification or advisory If space object re-entry

OOSA

1 3 3

2 3

FAO
3

Regional offices

INTERPOL
3 3 4 If security element

PAHO
3 4 3

RSMCs
5 Arrangements aircraft in flight

WMO

IAEA
If appropriate
3 3

Regional offices

WHO
4

If appropriate
3

IMO

REMPAN UNSCEAR

3 3 3 3 3

ICAO

OECD/NEA
4

UNEP

OCHA

IAEA

Corresponding organizations

4 Coordination with other organizations for humanitarian assistance in disasters and complex emergencies

IAEA Role - JPLAN

IAEA is focal point for response coordination
Activates and coordinates inter-agency
emergency response Informs forthwith and disseminate promptly substantive information Provides/coordinates advice or assistance (on request directly from State or through IGO)

IAEA

Cooperative Arrangements
Protocols

Objective of cooperative arrangements is to

define coordinated actions between IGO and IAEA in response to nuclear or radiological emergencies and to ensure that inter-agency procedures and communication channels are established and maintained Describes basic response actions to be taken by IGO and IAEA Fulfil requirements of JPLAN
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Fukushima Accident 2011

230 IAEA staff worked in IEC 24/7 for 54 days

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15

Fukushima Accident
Inter-Agency Response Coordination

March 11
Promptly notifying all IGOs,
activating JPLAN

09:39 UTC First IEC request to WMOs Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres for standard meteorological products

08:06 UTC First EMERCON message for MSs and IGOs

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Fukushima Accident
Inter-Agency Response Coordination

March 15
First IACRNE coordination meeting using
VTC capabilities Meeting participants: EC, FAO, IMO, ICAO, OECD/NEA, PAHO, UNEP/OCHA, UNSCEAR, WHO, WMO

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Fukushima Accident
Inter-Agency Response Coordination

March 15 July 17
15 IACRNE coordination meetings
Observers: UNWTO, PM of Japan, CTBTO

Agenda
Briefing on current situation by IAEAs ERM Exchange of information on activities of each
organization Issues needing attention/coordination (public information, health assessment, transport) Conclusions (who will do what)
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Fukushima Accident
Inter-Agency Response Coordination

For prompt and transparent communication

liaison officers from FAO, WHO and experts from WMO were working in IEC Based on protocols

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Fukushima Accident
Examples of Joint Activities

NEA checked consistency of Q&A areas on

web sites of all IACRNE organizations Joint media statements were prepared and agreed upon

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Fukushima Accident
Examples of Joint Activities

NEA and IAEA gathered information on soft

countermeasures States implemented during response NEA periodically evaluated information

Joint IAEA/FAO Food

Safety Assessment Team visited Japan

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Fukushima Accident
Lessons from Response

IACRNE and its JPLAN demonstrated and proved

an effective and comprehensive inter-agency mechanism
Info exchange at regular interagency meetings Response activities coordinated Established ad-hoc thematic working group (Transport
Task Force) demonstrated efficient way for tackling common issues in aviation and maritime transport Protocols on information exchange and technical support between IAEA and few other relevant IGOs demonstrated their usefulness
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Fukushima Accident
Lessons from Response

Public information aspects were coordinated

Joint statements prepared swiftly, approved at
DG-level within 24 hours No significant inconsistencies in Q&As identified Consistent one voice messages are achievable All organizations used social media that proved to be very important

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Communication
Among IGOs

Video conferencing (VTC) proved to be an

efficient way for sharing information and coordination of activities List of video contacts for all members of
IACRNE should be set up and maintained To facilitate communication ad-hoc meetings of PIOs should be organized and conducted

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Communication
With Public

Consistent one voice messages from

several IGO are achievable and proved to have positive impact on public understanding of situation Evaluation of Q&A fields on web sites of all relevant IGO proved to be very useful and assisted in building credibility of information provided by those organizations
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Communication
With Public

To improve timeliness, joint messages (as

templates) for different emergency scenarios and in different languages should be prepared to facilitate prompt response to public information needs in future emergencies and with aim to provide an authoritative voice in emergency

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Communication
Specific Technical Communities

To improve understanding of highly specific,

technical information it would be useful to translate this information into comprehensible information for specific target groups, including analysis that enables decision making

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New tools for Public Information Officers (1)

EPR-Public Communication, 2012 Provides practical guidance for PI
officers to ensure a consistent message is provided to public before, during and after emergency
Describes how to prepare and train for
emergency communications Provides communication principles and tools Specific emphasis on provision of plain language explanation to public
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New tools for Public Information Officers (2)

Training materials in
Communication with a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (EPR-Public Communications/T, 2012) 5 days training course Public in

http://wwwpub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPRCommuncation-Manual_web/Start.pdf
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In Conclusion
Further strengthening of existing interagency framework and operational mechanisms based on lessons learned in response Emergency communication plans should be essential part of preparedness and response activities

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IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency