NEA Mandates and Structures

Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM)

Chair(s):	Sara DECAIR, United States	Secretary:	Lucas MARTIRI (lucas.martiri@oecd-nea.org)
Vice-Chair(s):	Tristan BARR, Canada Kevin KELLEHER, Ireland Grant INGHAM, United Kingdom
Member(s):	All NEA member countries^*
	Russia (Suspended*)
	^*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
EU participation:	The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Observer(s)(International Organisation):	International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement
Date of creation:	07 September 1993
End of mandate:	31 May 2029

Mandate (Document reference):

Terms of Reference of the Expert Group on Nuclear Emergency Matters [NEA/INEX/DOC(93)2]
Summary Record of the 51^st Meeting of the CRPPH [NEA/SEN/SAN(93)8]
Mandate of the WPNEM 2020-2023 [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2020)1/FINAL]
Summary Record of the 78^th Meeting of the CRPPH [NEA/CRPPH(2020)5/FINAL]
Summary Record of the 47^th Meeting of the WPNEM [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2023)1]
Summary Record of the 81^st Meeting of the CRPPH [NEA/CRPPH(2023)6]
Mandate of the WPNEM 2023-2026 [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2023)7/FINAL]
Summary Record of the 50^th Meeting of the WPNEM (forthcoming)
Mandate of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) [NEA/CRPPH(2026)2/FINAL]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document NEA/CRPPH(2026)2/FINAL

Background

The Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) established the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), formerly named Expert Group on Nuclear Emergency Matters, and approved the first Terms of Reference (mandate) during its 51^st meeting held on 7-8 September 1993.

Since its creation, an important part of the WPNEM’s work has been devoted to preparing, conducting and evaluating the International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX) series, organised under the WPNEM since 1993. The experiences and lessons learned from these exercises have provided a strong basis for developing strategies and recommendations for improving emergency management systems at both national and international levels. Whilst INEX outcomes have been a major driver of the WPNEM’s Programme of Work, the WPNEM has also adapted over time to address emerging and relevant topics, including developments related to advanced technologies. In this regard, the WPNEM has begun exploring the application of a graded approach to emergency preparedness for small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs), and this work is expected to continue during the current mandate period.

The CRPPH approved the latest mandate for the period 2023-2026 at its 81^st meeting held on 4-6 April 2023.

Scope

The mission of the WPNEM is to improve nuclear and radiological emergency management systems within NEA member countries, and to share knowledge and experience widely.

In the context of the WPNEM, “emergency matters” refer to all aspects of preparedness, response and recovery across the early, intermediate and long-term phases of a nuclear or radiological emergency. This includes accidents, as well as consequence management of other events, such as malicious acts (Figure 1).

Programme of work

The WPNEM develops its programme of work by identifying and analysing areas for improvement in nuclear and radiological emergency management systems and by reporting and sharing its findings. The programme of work is developed in co-ordination with NEA member countries and, as appropriate, other relevant organisations.

Working Methods and Principles

The WPNEM applies a flexible, systems-based approach to address issues across the full spectrum of nuclear and radiological emergency management, from preparedness through response, transition and recovery. Participants share information, data, knowledge, and experience to test emergency management arrangements and approaches, identify gaps and develop recommendations to strengthen emergency management.

Prior to embarking on a new activity, the WPNEM will ensure that the proposed initiative does not duplicate work conducted in other international fora. The WPNEM will report to the CRPPH on its progress and activities as requested, and at least annually. All WPNEM reports, publications and other products will be submitted to the CRPPH for review and approval before public release.

Membership

Members are nominated by NEA member countries and should be emergency management experts with recognised knowledge, skills and experience in the nuclear and/or radiological field. The WPNEM will elect a Chair and three Vice-Chairs.

To the extent possible, the composition of the WPNEM should reflect regional diversity and include a balance of nuclear and non-nuclear NEA member country perspectives.

Interactions

The field of emergency preparedness, response and recovery (EPR) is broad, complex and involves many stakeholders. In fulfilling its mandate, the WPNEM will address emergency matters of interest to NEA member countries, in line with the NEA Strategic Plan and the CRPPH mandate.

The WPNEM will work in close co-operation with relevant NEA standing technical committees and NEA divisions, engage as appropriate with relevant OECD directorates and bodies, and continue co-operation with relevant international organisations active in nuclear and radiological EPR, including through the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies (IACRNE) and with organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission (EC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), as appropriate. In doing so, it will seek to strengthen synergies, clarify roles and responsibilities, and avoid duplication of work.

Deliverables

During the mandate period 2026-2029, the WPNEM will build on the outcomes of INEX-6 and continue to use the INEX framework as a key mechanism to identify lessons learned and inform future activities. Over this period, the WPNEM will also initiate planning for the next INEX exercise (INEX-7), with the scope and modalities to be defined in consultation with NEA member countries.

In addition, the WPNEM will identify and investigate, as appropriate, further developments in all aspects of EPR for nuclear or radiological emergencies, including accidents and the consequences of other types of events (e.g. malicious acts and emergency situations during or after armed conflicts), for example:

implementation of recommendations issued by the ICRP and the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards for emergency situations;
management of urgent, early and longer-term protective actions (implementation, withdrawal, modification);
effective emergency communication, including the development and delivery of public information;
long-term aspects of emergency decision making, including the transition to recovery;
practical implementation of optimisation in EPR through the use of reference levels;
management of large-scale contamination of food and agriculture;
approaches to stakeholder involvement, including within the optimisation of decision-making;
third party liability issues;
integrated approaches involving other non-nuclear disciplines;
assessment of potential emergency exposure situations;
EPR issues related to advanced technologies, including SMRs and AMRs, the use of artificial intelligence, and other emerging applications;
disaster risk reduction approaches to protect people and the environment and enhance resilience in light of the increasing frequency and/or intensity of natural hazards due to climate change.

The WPNEM will also:

review and update WPNEM documents and reports, as needed;
provide input as appropriate for the development of international standards and recommendations on emergency management, such as ICRP and IAEA documents;
develop, co-ordinate and evaluate WPNEM objectives for inclusion in international exercises in the INEX series and in exercises co-ordinated through the IACRNE.