RANET EPPR 2007

1. RANETEPPR 2007 • Ann Heinrich

2. Background • Secretariat issued in 2000 a global Response Assistance Network (RANET)* document • Aim: To provide teams suitably qualified to respond rapidly and on a regional basis to nuclear or radiological emergencies • * Previously called Emergency Response Network (ERNET)

3. What is RANET • RANET = system of Competent Authorities capable and willing to provide upon request timely and effective specialized assistance by appropriately trained, equipped and qualified personnel with ability to respond to: • nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies • other nuclear or radiological events • Areas of assistance • Advisory • Assessment and evaluation • Monitoring • Recovery

4. Concept of RANET • Compatible and integrated system for provision of international assistance to minimise actual or potential radiological consequences of incident or emergency for health, environment and property • Does not affect co-operation arrangements defined in any bilateral and/or multilateral agreements between States

5. Purpose of RANET • To facilitate: • Provision of requested international assistance • Harmonisation of emergency assistance capabilities • Relevant exchange of information and feedback of experience • To complement: • IAEA initiatives to promote emergency preparedness and response among its Member States

6. Responsibilities within RANET • Requesting State • Overall direction, support and supervision of any assistance within its territory (Article 3 of Assistance Convention) • Member States’ Resources • MS expected to identify qualified experts, equipment, and materials • These experts, equipment, and materials are MS’s National Assistance Capabilities (NAC) that can be activated by CA to provide assistance • Designate NAC Coordinator

7. Responsibilities within RANET - IAEA • Provides managerial, organizational, logistics and financial support, as appropriate • Declares official termination of assistance • Establishes follow-up mechanisms if deemed appropriate • Serves as focal point for following RANET preparedness activities: • Performs official registration of MS’s NAC • Maintains RANET Registry • Biennially requests MS’s CA certification of continued NAC resource availability • Periodically provides information on RANET’s status and activities

8. Concept of Operations • Whether an event originates on State’s territory or under its jurisdiction or control, the State may, in accordance with provisions of Assistance Convention, request assistance from IAEA

9. Concept of Operations • State sends request for assistance to IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) • IEC may deploy IAEA Field Response Team (FRT) to assess situation and needs • If activation of RANET assets is deemed necessary IEC alerts NWPs, which notify NCA(A)s • NCA(A)s then coordinate provision of assistance with IEC • IEC proposes Assistance Action Plan in consultation with participating NCA(A)s and international organisations • Required assistance capabilities are utilized or deployed according to accepted Assistance Action Plan

10. Concept of Operations

11. NAC Activation • NAC activation could involve • Assistance Mission (AMI) • Field Assistance Team (FAT) as part of Joint Assistance Team (JAT) and/or • External Based Support • Type of assistance will be specified in Assistance Action Plan

12. Assistance Action Plan • Will be developed by IEC in coordination with requesting State, NCAs providing assistance and other international organizations, as appropriate • This plan will specify responses needed and whether they will be deployed and/or provided from an external base • Should include all technical, financial, diplomatic, organizational and logistical aspects of assistance to be provided

13. Assistance Mission - AMI • Group of qualified experts to address nuclear or radiological incidents providing advice, assessment, training, medical, monitoring or other specialized assistance • It can also be an evaluation, assessment, or fact-finding mission • Team leader leads AMI • Responsible for all on-scene assistance activities and ensures coordination with requesting State, IEC and any External Based Support

14. Assistance Mission - AMI

15. Joint Assistance Team - JAT • JAT - to address more complex assistance • JAT consists of IAEA FRT and all deployed FAT(s) • Joint Assistance Team Command, composed of all FAT leaders and IAEA FRT leader, manages all on-scene JAT assistance and ensures coordination with requesting State, IEC and External Based Support • Chairperson, who is identified and agreed upon before deployment, heads JAT Command

16. Joint Assistance Team - JAT

17. External Based Support • Any support to an Assistance Mission, JAT, IEC or to requesting State • Can be expert advice on assessment, monitoring, analytical, and medical or other specialized emergency response function • Not deployed to event scene but provided from another location, such as donor country offices

18. Response Activities • To assess radiological situation • Predict possible evolution • Provide technical advice • Initiate stabilization activities, including where appropriate source recovery • To provide medical advice/consultation, medical assistance or advice on public health • Provide laboratory analysis, modelling and prognosis

19. National Assistance Capabilities • Public health protection • Biodosimetry • Internal dose assessment • Bioassay • Histopathology • Dose reconstruction • Aerial survey • Radiation monitoring • Environmental measurements • Source search/recovery • Assessment and advice • Medical support

20. Guidelines for NAC • Each NCA(A) responsible for ensuring that NAC responding personnel are qualified to perform functions and duties assigned • NCA(A) expected to ensure that responders are equipped with all items necessary for efficient performance of emergency tasks in compliance with guidelines

21. Training, drills and exercises • NAC members must be trained on and be aware of international guidelines and other aspects of international assistance and be prepared to respond • Effective drills and exercises focusing on international aspects of assistance should be developed and conducted as appropriate by participating organizations of NAC • When possible and appropriate, participating organizations of NAC should participate in international exercises such as ConvEx or inter-comparison exercises

22. Additional information • RANET is explained in EPR-RANET 2006 publication • Three attachments: • RANET Assistance Action Plan • Sample of Assistance Action Plan • RANET Registry • How to register • RANET Technical Guidelines • Guidelines for NAC

23. Registration - How to Apply • Prerequisites • State should be a Party to Assistance Convention • State’s NCA(A) must endorse application for registration • Information needed for registration • Statement of endorsement by State NCA(A) • Information on resources and areas of expertise of NAC • May include nominal list of generalized experience and equipment lists, statement of ability, quality and timeline for deployment of FAT and activation of External Based Support • Details of RANET Registry and instructions how to register

24. Registration Update • If resources and areas of expertise undergo significant changes, IAEA’s IEC must be immediately notified

25. Conclusions • RANET can facilitate enhancement of regional and international capabilities for assistance • RANET concept is built on practical experience of MS • Conventions and Statute provide firm legal basis • Expectation: RANET should enhance radiation emergency response capabilities worldwide