The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) held an online event to launch its new report Building a Framework for Post Nuclear Accident Recovery Preparedness: National-Level Guidance.

This report was produced by the NEA Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM) created in 2019 by the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH), with the objective of assisting NEA member countries in planning and improving their preparedness for recovery by producing guidance on how to develop a nuclear or radiological post-accident recovery management framework which can be adapted to national conditions. Recovery from a nuclear or radiological accident is a lengthy, complex and resource-intensive process, and this report emphasises the importance of preparedness for long-term recovery along with preparedness arrangements for emergency response to optimise the recovery process and reduce adverse outcomes from the emergency response phase.

During the launch event, the newly published NEA guidance was presented. A panel of international experts discussed the report and the topic of improving preparedness for post-nuclear accident recovery in general. The audience had the opportunity to participate in the discussion through a Q&A session.

Event recording

• Dr Thierry Schneider, Chair of the NEA EGRM and CRPPH, Director, Nuclear Protection Evaluation Center (CEPN), France;
• Ms Veronica Smith, Senior Scientist, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Vice-Chair of the NEA Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), Ireland;
• With the assistance of the NEA technical secretariat: Mr Jan-Hendrik Kruse, Radiological Protection Specialist, and Dr Jacqueline Garnier-Laplace, Deputy Head, Division on Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety (RP-HANS).

• Dr Zhanat Carr, Scientist at the Radiation and Health Unit, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization;
• Ms Sara DeCair, Health Physicists, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Vice-Chair of the NEA EGRM and WPNEM, Member of the NEA CRPPH, United States;
• Dr Marcus Grzechnik, Director of the Modelling, Assessment and Emergency Preparedness Section, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Chair of the IAEA Emergency Preparedness and Response Standards Committee (EPReSC), Australia;
• Dr Michiaki Kai, Professor, Nippon Bunri University (NBU), Member of the ICRP Main Commission, Japan;
• Mr Yves Lheureux, Director, French National Federation of Local Information Committees (ANCCLI), France;
• Mr Andrew Mayall, Deputy Director (Acting), Radioactive Substances and Installations Regulation, Environment Agency, Vice-Chair of the NEA CRPPH, United Kingdom.

13:00 – 13:05 CEST

Opening and welcome address

William D. Magwood, IV, Director-General, Nuclear Energy Agency

13:05 – 13:30 CEST

Overview of the report

Dr Thierry Schneider, Chair of the NEA Expert Group on Recovery Management

• Introduction and background;
• Main findings of the EGRM report;
• Current challenges in preparing for recovery management and outlook.

Q&A session with the audience

13:30-14:50 CEST

Moderated panel discussion

Improving preparedness for post nuclear accident recovery

(e.g., how to improve preparedness on the national level; issues at stake; areas that advanced recently; needs for improvement).

The topic was introduced by a first panel round on key highlights from the panelists on the guidance published by the NEA. This was followed by a panel round for general discussion on the topic “Implementing preparedness for recovery” and a Q&A session with the audience.

14:50-15:00 CEST

Concluding remarks

Dr Thierry Schneider, Chair of the NEA Expert Group on Recovery Management

The NEA Expert Group on Recovery Management will organise an in-person workshop on 27-28 October 2022 at the headquarters of the French Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear safety (IRSN) near Paris. The workshop will cover technical aspects of preparedness for post nuclear accident recovery as outlined in the EGRM report and be a platform for exchange on experience and best practices between countries. During the workshop, there will also be discussions on conclusions for the 6^th NEA International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX-6), which will focus on long-term recovery. More details on the workshop will be made available in due course on the NEA website.