The Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site
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New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization 30 June 2021 Foreword The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS) has operated safely and efficiently for over 35 years. Since its construction, the emergency program at the PLNGS has been governed by two principle plans: a. the On-Site Plan – this document is specific to New Brunswick Power, and details procedures to be followed by plant staff involving an emergency confined to the facility, and not posing a danger to the public; and b. the Off-Site Plan – this is a Government of New Brunswick (GNB) document, held by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO). This plan details procedures to be followed for an emergency at PLNGS which would pose danger to the public, and thus would require a coordinated multi- agency response. This plan would require response activities from many GNB departments, as well as external supporting agencies. While the risk to life or the environment from an accidental major release of radionuclides, or other industrial accident, is remote, it is in the interest of the public to be prepared to respond, by having in place effective emergency plans to deal with such events. The Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site Emergency Plan contains the basic information, detailed responsibilities, and immediate actions required to safeguard the public and the environment. It contains the specific responses which will be carried out by various agencies to deal with the emergency. The Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site Emergency Plan will be reviewed and revised on a yearly basis to reflect changes in technology and assigned emergency management responsibilities. This plan will be implemented on the authority of the Director of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization. G.R. MacCallum Acting Director New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization Introduction The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS) is a 680 MW CANDU pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). CANDU stands for CANada Deuterium Uranium. The pressurized heavy water reactor uses natural uranium as its fuel source. PLNGS was the first CANDU-6 in Canada and abroad to be licensed for operation on 21 July 1982 and began commercial operation on 1 February 1983. PLNGS is the only nuclear facility in Atlantic Canada. PLNGS plays an integral role in helping NB Power achieve its mandate of providing electricity to the province of New Brunswick safely, reliably and at a reasonable cost. In emergency situations in New Brunswick, whether man-made or created by natural phenomena, response is provided for in the Provincial Emergency Measures Plan (Provincial All-Hazards Plan). Initially, operations are conducted by the Provincial Emergency Action Committee (PEAC), located at the headquarters of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, supported by the Regional Emergency Action Committee (REAC), located in Saint John and St George. Under the NB Emergency Measures Act, municipalities are responsible for establishing their own emergency response plan but can call upon the REAC or PEAC for support when their own resources are not equal to the demands of the situation. In the specific case of PLNGS, the adjacent communities are not municipalities but are unincorporated areas; the province must therefore take an active role in the management of the local emergency response. This response is outlined in the Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site Emergency Plan. The Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site Emergency plan contains essential operational information, prepared by various government departments and agencies co-ordinated by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) describing the actions to fulfill a whole of government response in the unlikely event such as a radiation emergency at the PLNGS. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA Z1600-14 standard) has been used for simplicity and to enable members of the Nuclear Control Group to familiarize themselves quickly with the requirements of their department’s role, function, and those of other member agencies. While each government department and agency are required to perform its emergency duties independently, the Nuclear Control Group coordinates, under the direction of the Director, NBEMO. It is therefore imperative that information regarding individual agency activities be reported to the Nuclear Control Group so that problem areas can be anticipated, and remedial measures undertaken. Government departments and agencies must inform NBEMO of any necessary amendments to the contents of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Off-Site Emergency plan. Emergency Action Levels are the basis for PLNGS to conduct an assessment to determine the Emergency Class. PLNGS Standard Operating Procedures define the following Emergency Classes: 1. Radiation Alert; 2. Site Area Radiation Emergency; and 3. General Radiation Emergency; PLNGS Standard Operating Procedures define the following Non-Radiation Emergencies: a. Medical Emergency; b. Fire Emergency; and c. Chemical Emergency. PLNGS Standard Operating Procedures define the following Security Levels: Threat Level 1 – Active attacker inside the protected area, explosive confirmed inside the Protected Area, hostile takeover of Main Control Room, Secondary Control Room or Security Monitoring room, or potential aircraft impact in less than 60 minutes. Threat Level 2 – Confirmed security threat to station, suspicion of explosives device inside the Protected Area, active attacker inside the Controlled Area, or potential aircraft impact in 60 minutes or more. Threat Level 3 - Credible threat developing or bomb threat. Arrangements have been made by NB Power with municipalities and other agencies for such support. Because of the nature of the hazards presented by radioactive material, this plan establishes a Nuclear Control Group, hereafter known as the Control Group. The Nuclear Control Group comprises all the members of the PEAC and representatives of those other agencies with expertise or a role in a nuclear emergency response. The Nuclear Control Group will assume the control and direction of emergency operations in the event of a radiation emergency at the PLNGS, where there may be danger to the public. On the occurrence of an Alert or Emergency, the PLNGS Shift Supervisor is the first person in authority to know of it, and must decide what, or if any, emergency action is to be taken or outside assistance to be notified or requested. If outside assistance is needed, the Shift Supervisor will immediately call for it under the terms agreed to by the assisting agency and will take other appropriate action in accordance with the On-Site Emergency Plan (e.g. firefighting assistance from Saint John). The PLNGS Shift Supervisor is responsible to initiate notification of off-site authorities, whenever there is an actual or perceived threat to public safety. Distribution List Deputy Minister Justice and Public Safety Assistant Deputy Minister Justice and Public Safety Executive Director Security and Emergencies Division Director New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) Director of the Office of the Provincial Security Advisor (OPSA) Members of the Provincial Emergency Action Committee (PEAC) Members of the Nuclear Control Group Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) NB Power Headquarters (Corporate) NB Power Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS) Emergency Preparedness Staff Health Canada (HC) Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) International Emergency Management Group (IEMG) Gateway Operations Other Stakeholders Record of Amendments Amendment No. Amendment Date Amended By Date Issued 001 29 August 2017 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2017 002 26 September 2017 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2017 003 29 January 2018 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2018 004 6 April 2018 R. Shepard 30 August 2018 005 13 June 2018 R. Shepard 30 August 2018 006 1 August 2018 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2018 007 24 August 2018 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2018 008 24 October 2018 R. Shepard 30 August 2019 009 2 May 2019 R. Shepard 30 August 2019 010 12 July 2019 R. Shepard & B. Whelan 30 August 2019 011 20 July 2019 R. Shepard 30 August 2019 012 23 August 2019 R. Shepard 30 August 2019 013 21 February 2020 R. Shepard 30 June 2021 014 3 July 2020 R. Shepard 30 June 2021 015 14 September 2020 R Shepard 30 June 2021 016 19 January 2021 R Shepard 30 June 2021 017 18 May 2021 R Shepard 30 June 2021 018 10 June 2021 R Shepard 30 June 2021 019 020 021 022 023 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 034 035 036 037 038 039 040 Forward Introduction Distribution Record of Amendments Table of Contents Part 1 Emergency Management System 1.1 General Information …………………………………………………………. Page 10 1.2 Objective ……………………………………………………………………… Page 10 1.3 Scope…………………………………………………………………………. Page 10 1.4 Structure………………………………………………………………………. Page 10 1.5 Goals of Emergency Response …………………………………………… Page 10 1.6 Areas of Influence and Interest …………………………………………… Page 11 1.7 Phases of an Emergency Operation ………………………………………. Page 11 1.8 Provincial Emergency Management System ……………………………... Page 12 1.9 Levels of Responsibility …………………………………………...…...…... Page 12 1.10 Levels of Response …………………………………………………………. Page 13 1.11 Authority – The Emergency Measures Act ………………………………... Page 13 1.12 States of Emergency ………………………………………………………… Page 14 1.13 Provincial Emergency Communications…………………………………….