IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

IAEA’s Rolein Coordinating the Implementation of

the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of International

Organizations

Elena Buglova

Incident and Emergency Centre

IAEA 2

International EPR FrameworkOverview

• Legal instruments

• Safety Standards

• Tools, protocols and operational arrangements

IAEA

StatesInternational

Org.Legal

instruments

Standards

Tools Protocols

Operational arrangements

IAEA 3

International EPR FrameworkLegal instruments

IAEA 4

International EPR FrameworkSafety Standards

IAEA 5

International EPR FrameworkOperational arrangements and protocols

IEComm JPLAN

RANET

Manual for Official Communication in

Incidents and Emergencies

IAEA Response and Assistance

Network

Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International

Organizations

REPLIE

Response Plan for Incidents and Emergencies

Bilateral arrangements with relevant international

organizations

Protocols

International Org.

States

IAEA

IAEA 6

International EPR FrameworkTools

EPR SeriesEPR Series

TECDOC Series

TECDOC Series

IAEA

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 MechanismSince 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

IACRNESince 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 PlanJPLAN

• 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

IAEA

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

IAEA

JPLAN

WMO

Notifying State

IAEA

EUROPOLRegional offices

Regional offices

EC

INTERPOL

IMO

ICAO

OECD/NEAUNEP

UNSCEAR

PAHO

WHO

FAO

OOSA

REMPAN

RSMCs

If security element

If appropriate

If space object re-entry

All States

EUAdditionally, if EU Member State, Croatia

or Switzerland

Notification or advisory

Authentication and verification

Authentication and verification

Additional notification, if EU Member States, Croatia or Switzerland

Authentication and verification

If space object re-entry

If appropriate

Arrangements – aircraft in flight

1 2

11

22

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

33

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

5

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

Corresponding organizations

OCHA

Additionally if space object re-entry+ CTBTO

March 2012

IAEA

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 ArrangementsProtocols

• 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

IAEA 15

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

Fukushima Accident 2011

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentInter-Agency Response Coordination

• March 11• Promptly notifying all IGOs,

activating JPLAN

08:06 UTCFirst EMERCON message for MSs and IGOs

09:39 UTCFirst IEC request to WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres for standard meteorological products

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentInter-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

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentInter-Agency Response Coordination

• March 15 – July 17• 15 IACRNE coordination meetings

• Observers: UNWTO, PM of Japan, CTBTO

• Agenda• Briefing on current situation by IAEA’s ERM• Exchange of information on activities of each

organization• Issues needing attention/coordination (public

information, health assessment, transport)• Conclusions (who will do what)

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentInter-Agency Response Coordination

• For prompt and transparent communication liaison officers from FAO, WHO and experts from WMO were working in IEC• Based on protocols

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentExamples 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

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentExamples 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

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentLessons 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

IAEA

Fukushima AccidentLessons 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

IAEA

CommunicationAmong 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

IAEA

CommunicationWith 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

IAEA

CommunicationWith 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

IAEA

CommunicationSpecific 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

IAEA 28

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

IAEA

New tools for Public Information Officers (2)

• Training materials in Communication with Public in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency

(EPR-Public Communications/T, 2012)• 5 days training course

• http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/EPR-Communcation-Manual_web/Start.pdf

IAEA

In Conclusion

• Further strengthening of existing inter-agency framework and operational mechanisms based on lessons learned in response

• Emergency communication plans should be essential part of preparedness and response activities

IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Thank you