Nuclear accidents overseas. The national response plan and radioactive incident monitoring network (RIMNET)

The National Response Plan and RIMNET (Radiation Incident Monitoring Network) system will provide a nationwide facility for monitoring the radiation effects of any future nuclear incident overseas and informing assessment bodies and the public of its implications. The systems will be able to detect major overseas nuclear incidents, even if these incidents are not formally reported to the United Kingdom or there are delays in formal notification. They will also be able to provide country wide back-up monitoring in the event of a major domestic nuclear incident. Implementation will be staged, with a basic Phase 1 system being installed in the first half of 1988 and the full automated Phase 2 system being operational about two years later. The proposals for national response systems, central database facility and technical co-ordination centre are outlined. (author)