NEA Mandates and Structures


Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM)

Chair(s): Secretary:  Jacqueline GARNIER-LAPLACE
(jacqueline.garnier-laplace@oecd-nea.org)
Member(s):All NEA member countries*
Russia (Suspended*)
*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
Full participant(s): European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
Observer(s)(International Organisation): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
Date of creation:29 March 2019
End of mandate:29 March 2021

Mandate (Document reference):

  • Summary of agreements and commitments of the 76th Meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health, held on 10-12 April 2018 [NEA/CRPPH(2018)1]
  • Summary Record of the 42nd meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters, held on 26-27 October 2017 [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2017)6/PROV]
  • Summary Record of the 43nd Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters, held on 28-30 November 2018 [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2018)4] (forthcoming)
  • Mandate of the Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM) [NEA/CRPPH(2018)3/PROV

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract of document NEA/CRPPH(2018)3/PROV

Background

The area of recovery management (RM) has been of interest within the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) structure for some time and has more recently been of more direct focus. Several aspects of RM have been identified and discussed over the years (see References below), framing the issues currently seen as being the most relevant and warranting further CRPPH discussion.

One relevant conclusion from this work is that post-accident recovery actions should be planned in advance. A number of countries have developed national recovery frameworks and some guidance is already available or under development. Not all of this extensive experience and guidance would be applicable in every country, owing to national variations and idiosyncrasies. Furthermore, emergency measures may have downstream implications for later recovery actions. Additionally, the development of a recovery framework would need a process of relevant stakeholder involvement with collaborative deliberation on the issues at stake. It should also include an approach to balance radiological and psycho-social effects of decisions, in order to optimise well-being in recovery situations.

The 5th International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX-5) International Workshop that took place in October 2017 included a session on how to prepare for the mid- and long-term aspects of a nuclear accident. INEX-5 participants had pointed out the need for additional guidance to prepare for these phases. Aspects more commonly considered in already existing plans included food restriction as the aspect most commonly considered in the mid-term. Others included medical and psycho-social follow-up of the population, radiation monitoring, decontamination, impact on tourism, etc. Regarding long-term aspects considered in decision-making in the response phase, the most common factors are: clean-up activities (decontamination, management of waste), relocation of the evacuated people, the effects on the agriculture sector – including the subsequent trade consequences (food export) – and impact on the mineral water resources capability.

During the 42nd meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), held in October 2017, RM aspects were discussed based on the INEX-5 International Workshop and the WPNEM agreed to propose creating an expert group to develop a report on good practices in adapting a recovery framework to national conditions.

In April 2018, the CRPPH agreed that RM work should be driven by the CRPPH and performed together with experts from the WPNEM. The Committee also agreed to address recovery planning and recovery framework building and to create the CRPPH Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM) with experts from the WPNEM.

This Expert Group supports the CRPPH mandate, which states: “the Committee shall … promote international collaboration on specific radiological protection and radiation-related public health topics of interest to the NEA member countries in the framework of the NEA Strategic Plan” [NEA/NE (2017)13, Appendix I].

This Expert Group also supports the WPNEM mandate, which states that the Working Party should “… identify and investigate as appropriate further advancements in all aspects of [emergency preparedness and response (EPR)] for nuclear/radiological emergencies (including accidents and consequence management of malicious acts), for example … consequences of emergency management and the transition to recovery¨ [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2016)4/REV1].

Objectives

The main objective of the EGRM is to assist NEA member countries in planning and improving their preparedness for recovery by producing guidance on how to develop a nuclear and radiological post-accident recovery management framework which can be adapted to national conditions.

Methods of Working

  • The EGRM will primarily report to the CRPPH and perform its work together with experts from the WPNEM.

  • The EGRM will report periodically to the CRPPH and the WPNEM, as appropriate, and will assist the Committee and Working Party with their work. 

  • The working methodology of the EGRM will be based on surveys, followed by meetings to collect and share information and to develop guidance on a recovery management framework. The EGRM will consider organising a workshop to to present the proposed framework and collect feedback for its finalisation.

The Expert Group will:

  • identify the key lessons that have been learned for recovery management from past events
  • survey existing national recovery frameworks and identify approaches which have been effectively implemented to achieve national goals
  • survey current developments on recovery issues by international organisations
  • discuss approaches for planning and preparation with a focus on identifying and discussing emergency management decisions and actions that affect RM
  • The EGRM will collaborate and coordinate with CRPPH and WPNEM bodies, as appropriate, and specifically with the CRPPH WPNEM Expert Group on Non-Radiological Public Health Aspects of Radiation Emergency Planning and Response (EGNR) to address psycho-social, societal and economic impacts of post-accidental situations and to identify approaches for integrating them into the preparedness framework.

  • The field of recovery management is broad and complex. To best address this, the EGRM will consider different approaches and options including food management, drinking water management, urban and environmental decontamination, waste management, balance radiological and psycho-social effects of decisions and stakeholder involvement and communications processes.

  • The EGRM will collaborate with other experts and groups regarding recovery issues, including international organisations. It will start its activities by surveying what has been done and what is ongoing in the field of recovery management, so as to ensure that work done by others is not duplicated and that the EGRM deliverable has unique added value.

  • This activity will be conducted during the 2019-2021 timeframe.

Interactions

The EGRM will interact as appropriate with other NEA standing technical committees, OECD Directorates and national and international organisations and key projects such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), European Commission (EC), International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA),  European Platform on Preparedness for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Response and Recovery (NERIS), the Heads of European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities association (HERCA) and the USA National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). The principles underpinning these interactions are identifying synergies, co-ordinating efforts and avoiding duplication of work optimising resources.

Deliverables

A guidance report on how to develop a nuclear and radiological post-accident recovery management framework which can be adapted to national conditions.