Preparedness and response for nuclear or radiological emergency as a designated public corporation

In the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) as a designated public corporation assigned in the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act of Japan undertakes a role to support the national government and local governments. The requirements mandated by the national government to the JAEA are specified in the Basic Disaster Management Plan and are described in more detail in the Nuclear Emergency Response Manual of the national government. The requirements by a local government are specified in its Local Disaster Management Plan. The JAEA settled its Disaster Management Operation Plan, which includes dispatching experts for radiation monitoring in nuclear emergency situations and providing technical advice on radiation, to accommodate the requirements based on the Basic Disaster Management Plan. The JAEA also participated in the nuclear emergency response drills of the national government and local governments. This paper (1) illuminates the roles of the JAEA as a designated public corporation for preparedness and response to a nuclear or radiological emergency of nuclear facilities; (2) summarizes emergency response activities of the JAEA in accordance with its Disaster Management Operation Plan against the off-site radiological emergencies attributed to a loss of control of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that occurred in 2011; and (3) reports its activities in normal times especially participation in the drills organized by the national government and local governments in the light of the Basic Disaster Management Plan of Japan and Local Disaster Management Plans of prefectural governments, respectively. (author)