[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43794-43795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21726]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Federal Emergency Management Agency


Interim-Use and Comment Document: Criteria for Preparation and 
Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in 
Support of Nuclear Power Plants (Criteria for Protective Action 
Recommendations for Severe Accidents)

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) have developed the interim-use and comment 
document entitled: Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of 
Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of 
Nuclear Power Plants (Criteria for Protective Action Recommendations 
for Severe Accidents). The document has been published as Draft 
Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 1, and is available for 
interim use, public review, and comment.
    Studies of severe reactor accidents and their consequences since 
the publication of emergency planning guidance in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 
in 1980 clearly indicate that the preferred initial protective action 
is to evacuate promptly rather than shelter the population that is near 
the plant. Although the original guidance in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 was 
never intended to imply that the appropriate protective action for 
severe accidents was to only shelter the population that is near the 
plant, the guidance was not explicit on this point. Thus, the NRC and 
FEMA have updated and simplified the guidance for the development of 
protective action recommendations for severe accidents in Draft 
Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 to emphasize that evacuation is 
the preferred initial protective action for severe accidents, barring 
any constraints for evacuation. Nuclear power plant licensees and State 
and local offsite response organizations may use the updated and 
simplified guidance in Supplement 3 or, alternately, they may continue 
to follow the original guidance in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 to develop the 
appropriate protective actions for the public for severe reactor 
accidents utilizing the insights gained as a result of the NRC's severe 
accident studies.
    During the first few hours of an accident at a nuclear power plant, 
critical decisions may be necessary concerning protective actions for 
the public. Plant conditions are the major determining factors in 
developing early protective action recommendations. The licensee is 
responsible for mitigating the consequences of an accident and for 
recommending protective actions to offsite officials. State and local 
officials are responsible for making decisions on the actions necessary 
to protect the public and for implementing these decisions. The 
guidance contained in Draft Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 
applies to the development of protective actions for the public for 
severe reactor accidents involving actual or projected core damage with 
the potential for loss of containment integrity.
    Comments on Draft Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 may be 
submitted for consideration by the NRC and FEMA staffs. Comments should 
be submitted within 90 days of the date of this Federal Register notice 
to: Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Mail Stop T-6D59, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
    Comments may also be delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland, between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal 
workdays.
    For a copy of Draft Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, write: 
Distribution Services, Printing and Mail Services Branch, Office of 
Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001. A copy of Draft Supplement 3 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 is 
available for inspection and copying for a fee in the NRC Public 
Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 
20555.
    For further information contact: Falk Kantor, Division of Reactor 
Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone: (301) 415-2907; 
or O. Megs Hepler, Director, Exercises Division, Preparedness, 
Training, and Exercises Directorate, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472. Telephone: (202) 646-
2867.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day of August 1996.


[[Page 43795]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Brian K. Grimes,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    For the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Kay C Goss,
Associate Director for Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Federal 
Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-21726 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P