SEC NRS ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT TO ROSTECHNADZOR’S
TSO is able to support the periodic evaluation of authorized parties’ emergency preparedness and response programmes and capabilities against designated objective. Typically, this is done by performance evaluation of programmes and processes, via training, exercises, self-assessments, audits and inspections.
It’s notable that in accordance with point 6.30 of GSR part 7 Error! Reference source not found.]
exercises, conducted based on the programmes, shall be evaluated by the regulatory body.
The IAEA requirements and guidelines, which are mentioned above, are implemented in Russian regulatory infrastructure by following way.
In accordance with government decrees [4]and [5] Rostechnadzor under Russian Unified state system for prevention of and response on emergencies) manages its functional subsystem for control of radiologically hazardous facilities (further - FSCRHF). The named Russian Unified system is similar to all hazard emergency management system in terms of GSR part 7. FSCRHF tasks are [6]:
Control on preparedness of facilities management and personnel for response to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
Provision of Rostechnadzor preparedness for response actions to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
It’s notable that the first tasks are carried out by Rostechnadzor under government decree dated 15.10.2012 № 1044 “On federal state oversight in the field of atomic energy use” by inspections on facilities.
Within the framework of these inspections the main EPR aspects, which are inspected are availability on facilities’ necessary plans and procedures for emergency response (e.g. personnel protection plan, accident (including severe ones) management procedures) and availability of resources for the plans’ and procedures’
practical use.
SECNRS are recognized by Rostechnadzor as a TSO according to Provision on attribution of parties to technical scientific support organization of regulatory body on safety in the field of atomic energy use [8].
There is stated in [3] that TSOs are participate in the development of safety documents for legislation, regulations and guides. Of course, this relates to EPR regulations. SEC NRS activities follows this best practice as far as it develops federal rules and regulations for safety in the field of atomic energy use. Under this activity SECNRS developed amount of regulation which enacted by Rostechnadzor [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17]. EPR aspects which falls under these regulations are illustrated on figure 1.
FIG. 1. EPR aspects which falls under regulations developed by SEC NRS.
Evaluation of emergency drills and exercises are carried out within organization structure of Information and analytical centre of Rostechnadzor (further – Rostechnadzor IAC) and by using of its means for communication, notification and information support of FSCRHF. Tasks of Rostechnadzor IAC given in figure 2.
SECNRS experts under Rostechnadzor IAC activities carry out analysis, assessment and prognosis radiological exposures and consequences, integrity of physical barriers and performance of safety functions, evaluation of compliance with emergency plans and procedures. Outcomes from carrying out of mentioned tasks
are used for evaluation of operators’ actions during emergency drills and exercises. This evaluation up to significant extent are fulfilled by SECNRS experts.
FIG. 2. Tasks of Rostechnadzor IAC.
As it was mentioned above point 6.30 of GSR part 7 sets that emergency exercises shall be evaluated by the regulatory body. Nevertheless, even those regulatory bodies which fulfill emergency exercise evaluation on a regular basis are face challenge to formalize their approach for the evaluation and to put evaluation methodology in single document or system of documents. The relevant evidence is contained for example in reports on results of IAEA IRRS missions [18], [19], [20]. At the same time US NRC have enacted document on holistic methodology for emergency drills and exercises evaluation [21].
In accordance with OECD NEA document “Strategy for Developing and Conducting Nuclear Emergency Exercises” [22] and IAEA document “Preparation, Conduct and Evaluation of Exercises to Test Preparedness for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency” [23] there are two approaches for evaluation of emergency drills and exercises. The first one is prescriptive, i.e. directed on evaluation of compliance of response organizations’
actions with formal criteria, which aren’t clearly provide accomplishment of the goals of emergency response (e.g. the ones which established in point 3.2 of GSR part 7 [2]). The second one is performance-based approach, which directed on evaluation of compliance with clear and verifiable (during the emergency drills and exercises or as a result of them) criteria, which provide accomplishment of the goals of emergency response. Main feature of the performance-based approach based on [22] is that such approach takes into account that every system (in particular the emergency response system) is more than the sum of its parts, and that the different response elements can function together to achieve the overall objectives.
The challenges of implementation of performance-based approach for emergency exercise evaluation into regulatory activities are used to be pressing for Russian Federation as well. Recently in order to evaluate emergency drills and exercises SECNRS and Rostechnadzor experts used to utilize methodology which was present a list of EPR-related requirements of federal rules and regulations in the field of atomic energy use and of few requirements of IAEA safety standards. That’s why within the framework of IAEA IRRS follow up mission conducted in November 2013 in Russian Federation IAEA experts suggested to review and enhance current exercise evaluation methodology and include a performance-based approach in it with account of [23].
To cope with this suggestion SEC NRS developed Recommendations on evaluation of NPP operators’
emergency response actions during emergency drills and exercises (further - Recommendations) which enacted by Rostechnadzor. The Recommendations are based on federal rules and regulations in the field of atomic energy use and contain methodology for assessment how of NPP operators’ actions comply with these requirements. Unlike the previous methodology, evaluation by which considered to be completed when compliance with all relevant EPR requirements was evaluated, [24] allows to carry out aggregate evaluation resulting in single numerical value, which reflects preparedness level of NPP operator. The new approach complies with main features of performance-based approach which established in [22[12] and [23].
Overall flowchart of process for emergency exercise evaluation of NPP operators’ emergency response actions, which established in Recommendations, presented in figure 3.
FIG. 3. Flowchart of process for emergency exercise evaluation of NPP operators’ emergency response actions, established in [24].
Using tools for assessment of current safety parameters (including conditional ones claimed during emergency drill or exercise) of facility, which characterize integrity of physical barriers and performance of safety functions, and for calculation of radiological impact of the facility, is a crucial part of exercise evaluation in Rostechnadzor IAC. For these purposes SEC NRS experts use following tools in Rostechnadzor IAC:
— NOSTRADAMUS – atmospheric dispersion modeling based on puff model in fixed meteorological conditions due to accidental airborne releases and dose assessment.
— RECASS NT – atmospheric dispersion modeling in variable time-dependent prognostic meteorological conditions, as well as modeling of radionuclides in surface water bodies (due to direct liquid releases into water body as well as due to deposition from atmosphere onto its watershed) and dose assessment.
— CASSANDRA – modeling of radionuclides’ transfer in surface water bodies and dose assessment.
— SCALE – core inventory calculations.
— RAINBOW TPP – modeling of NPP physical barriers integrity and its safety functions performance in emergency conditions based on coupled neutronic – thermo-hydraulic calculations.
— TPP – modeling of 2nd circuit, safety systems and containment.
FIG. 4. Group for radiological impact assessment of Rostechnadzor IAC during its work and results of calculations by its tools.
It’s notable that one of criteria for evaluation of emergency drills and exercises in [24] is correctness of nuclear or radiological emergencies’ INES level estimated by operator. Operators’ obligation to carry out this estimate established in federal rules and regulations document “Provision on the procedure of investigation and accounting of operational occurrences at nuclear power plants” (NP-004-08) [25]. At the same time, it should be noted that INES level estimates are required under requirement 10 “Providing instructions, warnings and relevant information to the public for emergency preparedness and response” of GSR part 7 [2]. Efficiency of any actions as in real emergency conditions and within emergency drills and exercises is a crucial factor for EPR control. INES level estimation isn’t exception from this rule. It can be concluded from the practice of SEC NRS participation in emergency drills and exercises that INES level estimation via The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale User’s Manual [26] is rather complex and time-consuming task and despite the fact that it exists more than 20 years currently there isn’t widely available tool implementing its methodology.
To cope with this challenge SEC NRS experts - members of Rostechnadzor IAC working groups are developed computer application “INES classifier 1.00”, which fully inplement the methodology of [26] and covers as NPPs and other facilities. The application intended for use in Rostechnadzor IAC as in real and in simulates emergency conditions. An example of interface of “INES classifier 1.00” is presented in figure 5.
FIG.5. Example of interface of “INES classifier 1.00”.
Based on aforesaid it can be concluded that level of involvement of SEC NRS in Rostechnadzor activity on operators’ EPR control generally follows to that of established in [3], and that TSO participation in regulatory activities is a crucial factor to overcome the challenges faced as by regulatory body and TSO.
REFERENCES
[1] “Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety”, No. GSR part 1 (rev. 1), IAEA, Vienna, 2016.
[2] “Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency”, No. GSR part 7, IAEA, Vienna, 2015.
[3] “Technical and Scientific Support Organization Providing Support to Regulatory Functions”, TECDOC-1835, IAEA, Vienna, 2018.
[4] Russian Federation Government decree No. 794 of December 30, 2003 “On the unified state system of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations”.
[5] Russian Federation Government decree No. 401 of July 30, 2004 “On the federal environmental, industrial and nuclear supervision service”.
[6] Rostechnadzor order No. 318 of August 17, 2015 “On functional subsystem for control of radiologically hazardous facilities of the unified state system of prevention and liquidation of emergencies”.
[7] Russian Federation Government decree No. 1044 of October 15, 2012 “About the federal state supervision in the field of use of atomic energy”.
[8] Russian Federation Government decree No. 387 of April 30, 2013 “On Approval of Regulation for Qualifying Legal Entity as Technical Support Organization for Authorized State Safety Regulatory Body in Atomic Energy Use”.
[9] Federal rules and regulations “On Approval of and Enactment of Provision for Procedure of Announcement of Emergency, Prompt Information Communication and Arrangement for Emergency Assistance to Nuclear Power Plants in Case of Radiation-Hazardous Situations”, approved by order of the Rostechnadzor No. 68 of February 24, 2016.
[10] Federal rules and regulations “Standard content of action plan for the protection of personnel in the event of accident at nuclear power plant”, approved by order of the Rostechnadzor No. 518 of September 18, 2012.
[11] Federal rules and regulations “Provisions on procedure of the announcement of emergency preparedness, emergency situation and prompt communication of information in case of radiologically hazardous situations at nuclear fuel cycle facilities”, approved by order of the Rostechnadzor No. 15 of December 27, 2006.
[12] Federal rules and regulations “Requirements to contents of the action plan for protection of personnel in case of an accident at nuclear fuel cycle facilities”, approved by order of the Rostechnadzor No. 12 of December 27, 2006.
[13] Federal rules and regulations “Requirements for contents of the action plan for protection of personnel in case of an accident at nuclear research installations”, approved by order of the Rostechnadzor No. 10 of December 19, 2006.
[14] Federal rules and regulations “Nuclear power plant siting. The main criteria and requirements for ensuring safety” approved by decree of the Gosatomnadzor No. 10 of November 8, 2001.
[15] Federal rules and regulations “Siting of facilities for storage radioactive materials and radioactive substances. The main criteria and requirements for ensuring safety” approved by decree of the Rostechnadzor No. 3 of August 31, 2005.
[16] Federal rules and regulations “The nuclear fuel cycle facilities siting. The main criteria and requirements for ensuring safety” approved by decree of Gosatomnadzor No. 11 of December 31, 2003.
[17] Federal rules and regulations “Requirements to planning and preparedness for and response to liquidation of the consequences of accidents during the transportation of nuclear materials and radioactive substances”, approved by decree of the Rostechnadzor No. 8 of December 12, 2006.
[18] Integrated regulatory review service (IRRS) mission to the Republic of France, Department of nuclear safety and security, IAEA, Vienna, 2014.
[19] Integrated regulatory review service (IRRS) mission to India, Department of nuclear safety and security, IAEA, Vienna, 2015.
[20] Integrated regulatory review service (IRRS) mission to Republic of Lithuania, Department of nuclear safety and security, IAEA, Vienna, 2016.
[21] Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Oversight of Radiological Emergency Response Programs Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response NUREG/CR-7195, US NRC, May 2015.
[22] Strategy for Developing and Conducting Nuclear Emergency Exercises. ISBN 978-92-64-99038-8.
Radiological Protection 2007. OECD NEA.
[23] Preparation, Conduct and Evaluation of Exercises to Test Preparedness for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (EPR-Exercise-2005), IAEA, Vienna, 2005.
[24] Recommendations on evaluation of NPP operators’ emergency response actions during emergency drills and exercises. Nuclear and radiological safety, No. 1 (87)-2018.
[25] Federal rules and regulations “Provision on the procedure of investigation and accounting of operational occurrences at nuclear power plants”, approved by decree of the Rostechnadzor No. 3 of May 14, 2008.
[26] INES. The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. User’s Manual, IAEA, Vienna, 2008.