Emergency Preparedness and Response

This page includes links to files in non-HTML format. See Plugins, Viewers, and Other Tools for more information.

On this page:

Biennial Exercise Postponements

Regulations in several parts of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) require full-participation biennial emergency plan exercises, including Part 30, Part 40, Part 50, Part 70, Part 72 and Appendix E to Part 50. The COVID-19 PHE has affected licensees' ability to conduct these exercises.
On May 14, 2020, the NRC issued a letter outlining the process and specific criteria that would facilitate expedited review if licensees request exemptions from full-participation exercises. If approved, the exemption's conditions will maintain reasonable assurance of safety and security during a defined, limited period.
The NRC is prepared to use its existing authority in granting, upon request from individual licensees, exemptions from the above requirements if the conditions in the May 2020 letter are met.
These provisions apply to all licensees under Parts 30, 40, 50, 52, 70, and 72 that have a radiological emergency plan.
Any granted exemptions will ensure licensees engage in activities that do not conflict with practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit the spread of COVID-19.

On November 10, 2020, the NRC issued a letter to provide guidance on the continued use of expedited processes beyond December 31, 2020 for COVID-19 related requests in seven topical areas. Enclosures to the letter address informational needs for each of the seven topical areas to facilitate the continued licensee’s use of the NRC's expedited review process, such as providing justifications for the hardships that have resulted from the COVID-19 PHE and information related to the potential cumulative effects of these exemptions.
On April 15, 2020, as revised on December 29, 2020, NRC staff and industry agreed on the contents of FAQ 20-02, "Emergency Preparedness – Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Performance Indicator," regarding ERO drill participation.
On May 14, 2020, the NRC issued a letter to outline the process by which the NRC is prepared to grant temporary exemptions from the biennial emergency plan exercise requirements specified in Parts 30, 40, 50, 52, 70, and 72.
On September 2, 2020, the NRC issued a letter as an addendum to the May 14, 2020, letter to provide clarification and additional information to power reactor licensees seeking exemption from the conduct of the calendar year 2020 offsite biennial exercise required by Section IV.F.2.c of Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50.

Regulations in several parts of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) require development and maintenance of, and compliance with Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Emergency Plans (EPlan). The COVID-19 PHE has provided challenges for some licensees in meeting certain EPlan requirements.
Attachment 3 to EGM 20-002 details guidance that will be used by the NRC in considering enforcement discretion for apparent violations of emergency preparedness regulations during the COVID-19 PHE.
The NRC is prepared to use its existing authority in granting, upon request from individual licensees, exemptions/relief from applicable regulations in 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, 50, 52, 70 and 72, or license amendments, if the conditions in Attachment 3 are met.
Any methods of relief will require reasonable assurance that the effectiveness of a licensee’s emergency response readiness is maintained in operation of nuclear power reactors, decommissioned reactors, generally-licensed independent spent fuel storage installations, and non-power production and utilization facilities (which include non-power reactors and medical radioisotope irradiation and processing facilities), and with respect to byproduct, source and special nuclear material.

On September 11, 2020, the NRC issued TSG-NSIR-2020-01, “COVID-19 Related Exemptions From NRC Regulations – Emergency Preparedness Exercises,” to provide guidance to NRC staff for the expedited review of exemption requests during the COVID-19 PHE.
On November 5, 2020, the NRC issued TSG-NSIR-2020-02, “Additional Guidance For EP Inspections During the Public Health Emergency,” to provide guidance to NRC staff for performing EP Inspections during the COVID-19 PHE.
On May 27, 2020 the NRC issued Attachment 3 to EGM 20-002 to provide guidance to NRC inspection staff for the disposition of apparent violations of NRC emergency preparedness requirements during the COVID-19 PHE.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, January 28, 2021