In the aftermath of the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accidents, the notion of sustainable recovery from nuclear or radiological accidents has been at the centre of attention for the international radiological protection community, as well as for policy and decision makers around the world. It is now widely agreed that post-accident recovery actions should be planned in advance.
In response to member country needs in planning and improving preparedness for post-accident recovery, the NEA established the Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM) in 2019 under the umbrella of the NEAs Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH). Today, the group provides an international forum for experts from nine countries to exchange on national post-accident recovery frameworks.
The EGRM is working on a short, comprehensive and operational generic framework for post-accident recovery management that can be adapted to national conditions. The group held a meeting on 6 May 2021 to discuss the feedback received on the draft framework during the CRPPH meeting held in April 2021.
The framework will address a series of issues relevant to post-accident recovery management, including food and drinking water management, decontamination strategies and waste management, the balance of radiological and psycho-social effects of decisions, and public communication processes. It will also include guidance on stakeholder involvement during the preparedness, emergency response and recovery phases.
The EGRM is currently incorporating CRPPH comments and input into this framework and expects to issue the framework in early 2022.