Report nuclear incidents within 24 hrs: Atomic energy board tells operators

New Delhi: Now, operators of nuclear plants in the country will have to report any “extraordinary nuclear event”, including radiation and leakage of radioactive material, to the atomic regulator within 24 hours and file a detailed report within 10 days, according to a new order. [caption id=“attachment_1240299” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.[/caption] Seeking to bring in clarity, the order makes it clear that the reporting of the extraordinary nuclear events will be in addition to, “and in no way in derogation of the existing regulatory mechanism” of reporting of events to the regulator. According to a latest order of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), an operator of the nuclear installation will report extraordinary nuclear event (ENE) either in the installation or during transportation of radioactive material to the regulator within 24 hours of the occurrence. The AERB order also stipulates that a detailed report of the nuclear incident should be conveyed to the regulator within 10 days. The regulator will then notify the incident. The order has been issued under various provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Rules, 2011. ENEs described in the order include any incident resulting in stack release of radioactivity 500 times or more of the annual release limit prescribed in technical specifications for operation of the plant. The operator will also have to inform about incidents where in one or more person off site (away from the facility) “were, could have been, or might be” exposed to radiation or to radioactive material. Also, any incident which leads to injury or death of a person off site due to exposure to ionizing radiation emanating from a nuclear installation will also have to be reported. PTI