4.7.2 Implementation of the emergency preparedness related legislation

4.7.2.1 The national organization of emergency preparedness

To secure measures necessary to cope with emergency states of nuclear installations and measures to protect the population and the economy upon accidents impacting upon the surroundings, the national organization of emergency preparedness (Fig. 4.7.2.1) is structured into three levels.

Level one comprises emergency commissions of nuclear installations whose main function include management of works and measures in the area of nuclear installations so as to enable the identification of the condition of the corresponding nuclear installation and to manage measures to cope with the emergency condition and to mitigate the consequences with respect to the staff, facility as well as consequences with respect to the environment and the population.

As an additional function at this level, information is to be provided to regional and district level commissions (Regional and District Commissions for Radiation Accidents - KKRH,OKRH) that provide information on the condition of the facility and potential environmental impacts.

Level two is organized at the regional level and comprises Regional and District Commissions for Radiation Accidents of jurisdiction over territories at risk where life, health or property may be at risk, and where measures to protect the population are planned. Such territories comprise an area of 30 km in diameter around NPP Bohunice and 20 km around NPP Mochovce.

Level three comprises the National Emergency Commission of the Slovak Government for Radiation Accidents (KRH SR) with its respective expert supporting components (ERC ÚJD, OSG and SÚRMS). The Slovak Government’s Commission for Radiation Accidents is mainly for coordinate and control preparation of measures oriented towards the protection against consequences of radiation events if the capacities and competencies of the Regional Emergency Commission for Radiation Accidents (KKRH) are exceeded.

As a part of this level, also SE a.s.´ s Failure Commission is established that closely cooperates with ERC ÚJD and KRH SR. The major role of the SE, a.s.´s Failure Commission is to organize and coordinate rapid elimination of consequences of severe and extraordinary events at the respective generating and distribution facilities/equipment.

• ERC ÚJD plays a role of technical for to monitoring the operation of NI and to evaluate the technical condition and the radiation situation in cases of nuclear or radiation accidents and to forecast the development of the accident in terms of Act No. 130/1998 Coll.LL. At the same time, it also serves as a means of technical support to OSG established within KRH SAR.

• OSG - Operating and steering group is an expert advisory body to KRH SR established based on bylaws and KRH SAR resolution. The role of OSG is to assess the situation upon NI accident and to develop background documents and a single common recommendation of all sectors involved concerning decision-making at the KRH SR level on measures to protect the population. In developing the recommendations, OSG closely cooperates with ERC ÚJD.

• SÚRMS - Slovak Center of the Radiation Monitoring Network represents a body or technical support established at MZ SR; it is the site to centrally collect and evaluate data from all radiation situation monitoring systems in the Slovak Republic. This body was established based on KRH SR resolution and its bylaws.

Fig. 4.7.2.1 Slovak Republic’s National organization of emergency preparedness

4.7.2.2 Accident documentation  

To manage emergency situations at nuclear installations and their impacts upon the surrounding environment, accident documentation has been developed to lay down procedures and organization of work for the individual degrees of emergency situations at various levels of the national emergency preparedness as described in section 4.7.2.1.

Operator of nuclear installations has on-site emergency plans in place, setting the organization of emergency response and its implementation concerning the management of emergency situations and staff protection, including protection of health of employees laid down in traumatological plan. Moreover, operating instructions are in place to enable identification and classification of an emergency event according to international recommendations. At the national level, emergency plans are developed, as well as emergency plans for ERC ÚJD and SE, a.s.´s Failure Commission.

The first draft of the National Emergency Plan is being currently developed that will summarize all procedures and measures of the individual members of the Slovak Government’s Commission for Radiation Accidents. KRH SR is expected to approve this plan by the end of 2001, and the National Emergency Plan (NHP) will thus become binding upon KRH SR members. Off-site emergency plans in case of nuclear accident of a nuclear installation are developed at regional level for the area at risk, including measures to protect the population, health, property and environment, and are linked to internal emergency plan.

All the above mentioned plans fully apply the provisions of the national legislation as well as international recommendations by IAEA and European Union Directives mentioned in section 4.7.1.