Small Modular Reactors, Non-Light- Water Reactors, and Non-Power Production or Utilization Facilities
§ 50.160 Emergency preparedness for
small modular reactors, non-light-water
reactors, and non-power production or
utilization facilities.
(a) Definitions. For the purpose of this
section:
(1) Site boundary means site
boundary as defined in § 20.1003 of this
chapter.
(2) [Reserved]
(b) Requirements. The emergency
plan shall contain information needed
to demonstrate compliance with the
elements set forth in this paragraph. The
applicable requirements of § 50.47(a)(1)
apply to applications submitted under
this section.
(1) Performance-based framework.
Demonstrate effective response in drills
and exercises for emergency and
accident conditions.
(i) Maintenance of performance.
Maintain in effect preparedness to
respond to emergency and accident
conditions and describe in an
emergency plan the provisions to be
employed to maintain preparedness.
(ii) Performance objectives. (A) By the
beginning of each calendar quarter,
develop and maintain a complete list of
performance objectives for that calendar
quarter; and
(B) Maintain records showing the
implemented performance objectives
and associated metrics during each
calendar quarter for the previous eight
calendar quarters.
(iii) Emergency response performance.
The emergency response team must
have sufficient capability to
demonstrate the following emergency
response functions using drills or
exercises:
(A) Event classification and
mitigation. Assess, classify, monitor,
and repair facility malfunctions in
accordance with the emergency plan to
return the facility to safe conditions.
(B) Protective actions. Implement and
maintain protective actions for onsite
personnel for emergency conditions,
and recommend protective actions to
offsite authorities as conditions warrant.
(C) Communications. Establish and
maintain effective communications with
the emergency response organization,
and make notifications to response
personnel and organizations who may
have responsibilities for responding
during emergencies.
(D) Command and control. Establish
and maintain effective command and
control for emergencies by using a
supporting organizational structure with
defined roles, responsibilities, and
authorities for directing and performing
emergency response functions as
described in paragraph (b) of this
section.
(E) Staffing and operations. Establish
staffing for the facility necessary to
implement the roles and responsibilities
in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section.
(F) Radiological assessment. Assess
radiological conditions in and around
the facility during emergencies,
including:
(1) Radiological conditions. Assess,
monitor, and report radiological
conditions to the applicable response
personnel using installed or portable
equipment.
(2) Protective equipment. Issue and
use protective equipment necessary to
continue and expand mitigation and
protective action strategies.
(3) Core or vessel damage. Assess,
monitor, and report to the applicable
response personnel the extent and
magnitude of damage to the core or
other vessel containing irradiated
special nuclear material, such as fuel or
targets, as applicable.
(4) Releases. Assess, monitor, and
report to the applicable response
personnel the extent and magnitude of
all radiological releases, including
releases of hazardous chemicals
produced from licensed material.
(G) Reentry. Develop and implement
reentry plans for accessing the facility
after emergencies.
(H) Critique and corrective actions.
Critique emergency response functions
and implement corrective actions after
drills and exercises, and after
emergencies, if they occur.
(iv) Planning activities. (A) Maintain
the capability to:
(1) Prepare and issue public
information during emergencies.
(2) Implement the NRC-approved
emergency response plan in conjunction
with the licensee’s Safeguards
Contingency Plan.
(3) Establish voice and data
communications with the NRC for
emergencies.
(4) Establish an emergency facility or
facilities from which effective direction
can be given and effective control can be
exercised during an emergency, with
capabilities to support the emergency
response functions as described in
paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section.
(5) Provide site familiarization
training for any offsite organization that
may respond to the site in the event of
an emergency.
(6) Establish methods for maintaining
the emergency plan, contacts and
arrangements, procedures, and
evacuation time estimate up to date,
including periodic reviews by the onsite
and offsite organizations.
(B) For a plume exposure pathway
EPZ that extends beyond the site
boundary, the emergency plan must
describe:
(1) The contacts and arrangements
made and documented with Federal,
State, local, and Tribal governmental
agencies, as applicable, with
responsibilities for coping with
emergencies, including the
identification of the principal
coordinating agencies, and the
coordinated reviews of changes in
offsite and onsite planning and
preparation;
(2) Offsite organizations responsible
for coping with emergencies and the
means of notifying, in the event of an
emergency, persons assigned to the
emergency organizations, including the
means of validating notifications, the
time period by which notifications must
be completed, and primary and
secondary methods to complete
notification;
(3) The protective measures to be
taken within the EPZ to protect the
health and safety of the public in the
event of an emergency, including the
procedures by which the protective
measures are implemented, maintained,
and discontinued;
(4) An evacuation time estimate of the
areas within the EPZ;
(5) The offsite facility and any backup
facilities to coordinate the onsite
response with the offsite response;
(6) The means of making offsite dose
projections and the means of
communicating the offsite dose
projections to the offsite response
coordinating agencies;
(7) The means by which public
information is provided to the members
of the public concerning emergency
planning information, public alert
notification system, and any prompt
actions that need to be taken by the
public;
(8) The general plans and methods to
allow reentry into the EPZ during and
after an emergency; and
(9) The drill and exercise program
that tests and implements major
portions of planning, preparations, and
the coordinated response by the onsite
response organization with the offsite
response organizations within the EPZ
without mandatory public participation.
(2) Hazard analysis. Conduct a hazard
analysis of any contiguous or nearby
facility, such as industrial, military, and
transportation facilities, and include
any credible hazard into the licensee’s
emergency preparedness program that
would adversely impact the
implementation of emergency plans.
(3) Emergency planning zone. For an
applicant whose analysis required by
§ 50.33(g)(2) meets the criteria in
§ 50.33(g)(2)(i), determine and describe
the boundary and physical
characteristics of the EPZ in the
emergency plan.
(4) Ingestion response planning.
Describe or reference in the emergency
plan the capabilities that provide
actions to prevent contaminated food
and water from entering into the
ingestion pathway.
(c) Implementation. (1) An applicant
for an operating license issued under
this part after December 18, 2023 must
establish, implement, and maintain an
emergency preparedness program that
meets the requirements of paragraph (b)
of this section, as described in the
emergency plan and license, and
conduct an initial exercise to
demonstrate this compliance within 2
years before the issuance of an operating
license for the facility described in the
license application.
(2) A holder of a combined license
issued under part 52 of this chapter
before the Commission has made the
finding under § 52.103(g) of this
chapter, must establish, implement, and
maintain an emergency preparedness
program that meets the requirements of
paragraph (b) of this section, as
described in the approved emergency
plan and license, and conduct an initial
exercise to demonstrate this compliance
within 2 years before the scheduled date
for initial loading of fuel.
[88 FR 80074, Nov. 16, 2023]
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, December 18, 2023