Key Issues
Emergency Preparedness
Every nuclear power plant in the country has a detailed plan for responding in the event of an emergency. Companies test that plan regularly, with the participation of local and state emergency response organizations.
Federal Emergency Preparedness Regulations
U.S. nuclear power plants are required by law to develop and test comprehensive on-site and off-site emergency response plans. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the state in which the plant is located review and approve these plans.
In addition, the NRC coordinates approval of these plans with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program, which has the lead role in emergency planning beyond the nuclear plant site. An approved emergency plan is required for the plant to maintain its federal operating license.
Each plant must conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every two years in a coordinated exercise with local and state government agencies. The NRC evaluates the performance of the company’s plan. FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program evaluates the emergency plans of towns and cities near nuclear power plants.
Several communities have used off-site nuclear plant emergency plans in response to other types of emergencies. For example, during the October 2007 wildfires in California, county emergency officials drew on relationships and communications links they had established during their years of planning for nuclear-related events.
