Regulations, Guidance, and Generic Communications
To prepare for a radiological emergency, NRC developed regulations, guidance, and communications related to emergency
preparedness for nuclear power plants.
On this page:
Regulations
NRC's regulations are found in Chapter I, "Nuclear Regulatory Commission," of Title 10, "Energy," of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR). Chapter I is divided into Parts 1 through 199. The following are the principal parts
governing emergency preparedness for nuclear power plants:
- 10 CFR 50.47, "Emergency Plans,"
includes the 16 planning standards of 50.47(b) and the "Realism Rule" recognizing that State and local
government officials do their best to protect the public health and safety in 50.47(c)
- Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50, "Emergency
Planning and Preparedness for Production and Utilization Facilities," describes information needed to
demonstrate compliance with emergency preparedness requirements in Section IV, "Content of Emergency Plans"
- 10 CFR 50.54(q), requirements for
following and maintaining in effect emergency plans
See also Rulemaking Activities for Emergency
Preparedness and Response.
Guidance
NRC provides guidance to nuclear power plant operators on acceptable methods for implementing emergency preparedness
regulations in NRC-generated documents and endorses additional implementation methods in the non-NRC-generated
documents listed below:
NRC-Generated Guidance Documents
- NSIR/DPR-ISG-02, "Interim Staff Guidance
Emergency Planning Exemption Requests for Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants"
- Regulatory Guide 1.101, Rev. 4 &
Rev. 5, "Emergency Planning and Preparedness
for Nuclear Power Reactors," describes acceptable methods for implementing the regulations
- Regulatory Guide 1.219, Rev. 1, "Guidance on Making Changes to
Emergency Plans for Nuclear Power Reactors"
- NUREG-0396, EPA 520/1-78-016,
"Planning Basis for the Development of State and Local Government Radiological Emergency Response Plans in
Support of Light Water Nuclear Power Plants"
- NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, "Criteria for
Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power
Plants"
- NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supp. 1, "Criteria
for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
Power
Plants - Criteria for Utility Offsite Planning and Preparedness"
- NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supp. 2, "Criteria
for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
Power
Plants - Criteria for Emergency Planning in an Early Site Permit Application"
- NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 1, Supp. 3,
"Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of
Nuclear Power Plants - Guidance for Protective Action Strategies"
- NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Rev. 2, "Criteria for Preparation and
Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants - Final
Report"
- NUREG-0696, "Functional Criteria for Emergency
Response Facilities"
- NUREG-0737, Supp. 1,
"Clarification
of TMI Action Plan Requirements - Requirements for Emergency Response Capability"
- NUREG-0814, "Methodology for Evaluation of
Emergency
Response Facilities"
- NUREG-1791, "Guidance for Assessing Exemption
Requests from the Nuclear Power Plant Licensed Operator Staffing Requirements Specified in 10 CFR 50.54(m)"
- NUREG/CR-4831, "State of the Art in Evacuation
Time Estimate Studies for Nuclear Power Plants"
- NUREG/CR-6863, "Development of Evacuation Time
Estimate Studies for Nuclear Power Plants"
- NUREG/CR-6864, "Identification and Analysis of
Factors Affecting Emergency Evacuations"
- NUREG/CR-6953, Vol. 1, "Review of
NUREG-0654,
Supplement 3, ‘Criteria for Protective Action Recommendations for Severe Accidents’"
- NUREG/CR-6953, Vol. 2, "Review of
NUREG-0654,
Supplement 3, ‘Criteria for Protective Action Recommendations for Severe Accidents’ - Focus Groups
and Telephone Survey"
- NUREG/CR-6981, "Assessment of Emergency
Response Planning
and Implementation for Large Scale Evacuations"
- NUREG/CR-7002, “Criteria for Development of
Evacuation Time Estimate Studies”
- NUREG/CR-7032, "Developing an Emergency Risk
Communication (ERC)/Joint Information Center (JIC) Plan for a Radiological Emergency"
- NUREG/CR-7033, "Guidance on Developing Effective
Radiological Risk Communication Messages: Effective Message Mapping and Risk Communication with the Public in
Nuclear Plant Emergency Planning Zones"
- NSIR/DPR-ISG-01, "Interim Staff Guidance
Emergency Planning for Nuclear Power Plants"
NRC-Endorsed Guidance Documents
- NUMARC/NESP-007, "Methodology for Development of Emergency Action
Levels"
- NEI 99-01, Rev. 4, Rev.
5, & Rev. 6, "Methodology for Development of Emergency
Action Levels"
- NEI 06-04, Rev. 1, "Conducting a Hostile Action-based Emergency
Response Drill"
- NEI 06-04, Rev. 2, Appendix A, “Drill and Exercise
Objectives”
- NEI-07-01, Rev. 0, "Methodology for Development of Emergency Action
Levels Advanced Passive Light Water Reactors"
- NEI 10-05, Rev. 0, “Assessment of On-Shift Emergency Response
Organization Staffing and Capabilities”
- NEI 12-01, Rev. 0, "Guideline for Assessing Beyond Design Basis
Accident Response Staffing and Communications Capabilities"
- NEI 13-01, Rev. 0, "Reportable Action Levels for Loss of Emergency
Preparedness Capabilities"
Generic Communications
The NRC uses various methods to conduct open and effective communications with nuclear power plant operators. The
type of written generic communication used is based on the message's urgency, objective, and safety or environmental
significance.
For more detailed information, see Generic Communications for Emergency
Preparedness and Response.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, July 07, 2020