The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019

Local authority’s off-site emergency plan

11.—(1) Where premises require a planning zone under either or both of regulations 8 or 9, the local authority must make an adequate off-site emergency plan covering that zone or zones.

(2) The plan required by paragraph (1) must be designed to mitigate, so far as is reasonably practicable, the consequences of a radiation emergency outside the operator’s premises.

(3) The off-site emergency plan must—

(a) contain the information set out in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 about the detailed emergency planning zone (where there is a detailed emergency planning zone);

(b) contain the information set out at Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 about the outline planning zone (where there is an outline planning zone);

(c) comply with Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 6; and

(d) be drawn up in accordance with the principles and purposes set out in Schedule 7.

(4) The off-site emergency plan must be prepared within 8 months of the local authority’s receipt of the consequences report and in any event before the operator commences work with ionising radiation to which the evaluation made in accordance with regulation 4(1) or 6(1) applies.

(5) In preparing an off-site emergency plan, pursuant to paragraph (1) or in reviewing such a plan pursuant to regulation 12(1), the local authority must consult—

(a) the operator of the premises to which the plan relates;

(b) the Category 1 responders in whose area in which the premises to which the emergency plan relates is situated;

(c) the Category 2 responders (where appropriate) in whose area in which the premises to which the emergency plan relates is situated;

(d) each health authority in the vicinity of the premises to which the plan relates (if that health authority is not a Category 1 responder);

(e) the Agency;

(f) Public Health England;

(g) in addition to Public Health England, if the premises to which the emergency plan relates is in—

(i) Wales, Public Health Wales, and

(ii) Scotland, Health Protection Scotland; and

(h) such other persons, bodies or authorities as the local authority considers appropriate.

(6) The employer of any emergency worker who may be required to participate in the implementation of the off-site emergency plan must ensure that each such emergency worker is provided with—

(a) suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training; and

(b) any equipment necessary to restrict that employee’s exposure to ionising radiation including, where appropriate, the issue of suitable dosemeters or other devices.

(7) The local authority must confirm in writing to the operator and to the regulator that it has prepared an off-site emergency plan as soon as reasonably practicable after the preparation of such a plan.

(8) The local authority must provide a copy of the off-site emergency plan, or parts of it, to the regulator upon request and within such reasonable time as the regulator may specify.