NEA Mandates and Structures

Expert Group on Emergency Preparedness for SMRs (EGEPSMR)

Chair(s):		Secretaries:	Lucas MARTIRI (lucas.martiri@oecd-nea.org) George VARDULAKIS (george.vardulakis@oecd-nea.org) Mike WEBLEY (mike.webley@oecd-nea.org)
Member(s):	All NEA member countries^*
	Russia (Suspended*)
	^*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
EU participation:	The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Date of creation:	01 February 2025
End of mandate:	31 January 2027

Mandate (Document reference):

Summary Record, Agreements and Decisions of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) held virtually on 29-31 March 2022 [NEA/CRPPH(2022)6]
Summary Record, Agreements and Decisions of the 81st Annual Meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) held in-person on 4-6 April 2023 [NEA/CRPPH(2023)6/FINAL]
Draft Summary Record of the 48th Meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) held virtually on 21 November 2023 [NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2024)1]
Summary Record, Agreements and Decisions of the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) held as a hybrid meeting on 28-29 March 2024 [Forthcoming]
Summary Record of the 49th Meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) held in-person on 15-17 October 2024 [Forthcoming]
Draft Report of the CRPPH Task Force on Small Modular Reactors – High-Level Analysis of Radiological Protection Challenges related to the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors [Forthcoming]
Mandate of the Expert Group on Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors (EGEPSMR) [NEA/CRPPH(2025)2/DRAFT]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract of document NEA/CRPPH(2025)2/DRAFT

Background

In March 2022, during a topical session of the 80th annual meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH), the CRPPH discussed anticipated radiological protection (RP) challenges associated with the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in NEA member countries. On this basis, the CRPPH decided to establish the Task Force on RP challenges associated with the deployment of SMRs (hereafter: “TFSMR”) to assess and report on whether there are areas of added value for CRPPH-led work regarding RP issues of SMRs.

The TFSMR identified and presented ten RP challenges associated with the deployment of SMRs to the CRPPH at its 81st annual meeting in April 2023. The CRPPH subsequently tasked the TFSMR with determining whether these RP challenges can be addressed by existing projects or if a new CRPPH effort is needed.

In November 2023, during a topical session of the 48th meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), experts from a number of delegates presented their approaches to emergency preparedness and response (EPR) applicable to SMRs, including the application of a graded approach to emergency preparedness (EP). The WPNEM agreed that EP approaches applicable to SMRs and the development of protection strategies would require further research and work and suggested coordinating the Programme of Work related to SMRs between the CRPPH and WPNEM.

In March 2024, at the 82nd annual meeting of the CRPPH, the TFSMR, as one of the actions resulting from the high-level analysis to address the RP challenges of SMRs, recommended further studying EP and protection strategies applicable to SMRs. This recommendation would also include a comparative analysis of regulatory graded approaches to EP of SMRs. The CRPPH approved the recommendation and agreed to create a new expert group under the WPNEM.

Scope

The EGEPSMR supports the WPNEM and the CRPPH in addressing emergency preparedness and response (EPR) related to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The group explores how a graded approach can be applied to emergency planning, ensuring that protection strategies are appropriately tailored to the unique characteristics and deployment scenarios of SMRs.

Objectives

The objectives of the EGEPSMR are to:

Design and conduct a survey to identify and define the technical basis dedicated to EPR for SMRs. The survey should determine whether the implementation of existing EPR requirements adequately covers SMRs.
Design and conduct a survey to collect information on protection strategies for emergencies. The surveys should allow for the identification and implementation of a graded approach.
Assess the feedback from surveys by grouping SMR technologies and designs and identify EPR aspects that can be considered in the SMR design phase.
Plan and conduct a workshop to share the EGEPSMR’s intermediate findings and exchange the latest information on protection strategies for emergencies and their applicability to SMRs.
Prepare a report documenting the EGEPSMR’s final outcomes and findings from the workshop.

Working Methods

The EGEPSMR's mode of operation is based on plenary meetings and a project-oriented working programme. A Bureau, including the Chair and one Vice Chair, will lead and organise the EGEPSMR's work. The EGEPSMR will report to the WPNEM and the CRPPH at their plenary meetings.

Additionally, the EGEPSMR will:

Identify resources and schedules for its activities,
form task teams to work on specific projects and to organise workshops, as appropriate,
annually review the programme of work and its effectiveness, and
incorporate the feedback received from CRPPH and WPNEM to refine the scope and objectives.

Membership

The EGEPSMR membership will consist of experts in Emergency Preparedness and Response and/or advanced reactor technologies from NEA member countries.

Interactions

The EGEPSMR will engage with other NEA groups, including the Expert Group on SMRs (EGSMR) under the Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA), as well as with the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and the Committee on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations and Legacy Management (CDLM) through their Focus Group on the Back End of Advanced Reactors (FG-BEAR). The EGEPSMR will also interact with International Organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regards to the IAEA SMR Regulators’ Forum, the IAEA Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), the IAEA Emergency Preparedness and Response Standards Committee (EPReSC), and the Information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE), and may interact with the World Nuclear Association, to exchange the latest information on EP and protection strategies for SMRs.

Deliverables

The deliverables for the EGEPSMR are:

An international workshop with SMR stakeholders to present the EGEPSMR’s findings, discuss issues, and share information related to EPR applicable to SMRs.
A report for publication, which outlines key findings to address EPR applicable to SMRs.
The EGEPSMR will also contribute to future editions of the NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard.