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EU-STRA-Strålevern

Innovative integrated tools and platforms for radiological emergency preparedness and post-accident response in Europe

Awarded: NOK 4.3 mill.

The aim of the PREPARE project was to improve several areas of nuclear emergency preparedness and response in Europe based on new knowledge uncovered from evaluation of the Fukushima accident in March 2011. Work done by Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) was mainly in three different areas: improvements in meteorological dispersion modelling, improvements in aquatic dispersion modelling, and Information and participation of the public. Meteorological dispersion modelling is a key tool for NRPA in case of a nuclear accident. Such tool can help understand the potential risk for Norway and Norwegian interest, even before a release takes place or before the plume arrives Norwegian territory. Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET) provide such tools to NRPA. The challenge with current model, SNAP, is computation time required when modelling long lasting releases over several weeks, which was the case for the Fukushima accident. Another model, called EMEP, overcomes this problem. For this reason MET has tested a hybrid model, combining EMEP and SNAP, as a potential new atmospheric dispersion model for nuclear accident. SNAP models transport from the release point on the ground to the atmosphere and surroundings over the first few days. EMEP-model continues to model the release over long time. The concept is implemented and analysed through simulations. Conclusion is SNAP as a standalone model is still the best solution. This is because the benefit EMEP could have provided in theory was not archived. To summarise, MET will continue to develop the SNAP-model, and reconsider EMEP as it improves over time. NRPA monitors radioactivity in the air and environment. Occasionally these monitoring stations detect increased levels of radioactivity with unknown origin. The levels are harmless for the population, but to know the source of origin is still valuable information in order to confirm the nature of the release. As part of PREPARE, MET developed a method that can give an indication of possible release points based on backward dispersion. By combining calculations from several station, the number of potential areas will be reduced. This knowledge combined with information about what was measured and known potential sources (i.e. power plants, production facilities etc.) in the areas, can help identify the release point. The method will be implemented as an operational tool accessible to MET and NRPA. Aquatic dispersion and consequence modelling looks at how radioactive material is transported in seas, lakes and rivers, and analyse how this affects marine life. Given the importance of fishing industry in Norway, such tools are important for NRPA. In PREPARE, existing tools where improved and made operational by including support for ocean forecasts. One such model is NRPAs Box Model. This was improved during the project, and compared to other similar tools. This comparison was done in the Fukushima area, where radioactive material was released into the Pacific Ocean during the accident in 2011. Theses comparisons were successful. The work also included preparing and calculating the release scenarios for northern sea areas and calculations of scenarios for the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean. These calculations can be used to estimate long-term consequences for marine life, and for industry related to this, if these areas are contaminated. This work has improved NRPAs ability to model and assess consequences marine environment. Nuclear emergencies and the following post-accident situation are complex since they involve a large number of actors and issues such as health, environmental, economic, social, cultural, ethical dimensions. People and organisations have to face this complexity in a context in which the usual social and institutional routines are particularly challenged and destabilised. In PREPARE, these problems have been raised and analysed based on dialogues between experts and local people who were victims of the Chernobyl or Fukushima accident. Topics raised included trust between public and experts, and what information affected members of the public need to live and cope with the consequences in the long-term. The outcome of the project is published in a separate report called 'Local population facing long-term consequences of nuclear accidents: Lessons learnt from Fukushima and Chernobyl'.

This proposal aims to close gaps that have been identified in nuclear and radiological preparedness following the first evaluation of the Fukushima disaster. It addresses the call Fission-2010-3.3.1: Update of emergency management and rehabilitation strat egies and expertise in Europe. The consortium intends to review existing operational procedures in dealing with long lasting releases, address the cross border problematic in monitoring and safety of goods and will further develop still missing functional ities in decision support system ranging from improved source term estimation and dispersion modelling to the inclusion of hydrological pathways for European water bodies. As the management of the Fukushima event in Europe was far from being optimal, we p ropose to develop means on a scientific and operational basis to improve information collection, information exchange and the evaluation for such types of accidents. This will be achieved through a collaboration of industry, research and governmental orga nisations in Europe taking into account the networking activities carried out under the NERIS-TP project. Furthermore, the NERIS Platform member organisations (so far 43 partners) will be actively involved in the development

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EU-STRA-Strålevern