Annexes

Annex A: Response sector boundaries

(Reference: Section 2.4.2)

Annex B: Population data

(Reference: Paragraph 2.6.1)

Annex C: Contingency planning zone guidance

(Reference: Section 2.4.3)

General

1. The Contingency Planning Zone (CPZ) is a pre-designated area surrounding a reactor facility, beyond the Detailed Planning Zone (DPZ), where contingency planning and arrangements are made in advance, so that during a nuclear emergency, protective measures can be extended beyond the DPZ as required to reduce potential for exposure.
2. The CPZ included within the PNERP Master Plan and Implementing Plans is aligned with new standards and guidance documents, including the Canadian Standards Association's (CSA) N1600 General Requirements for Nuclear Emergency Management Programs, International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 7.
3. The CPZ is intended to be used as necessary in the event of very low probability, severe accident situations where the area affected could extend beyond the DPZ.
4. The CPZ does not require the same level or type of detailed arrangements as the DPZ, in so far as there are no default or pre-planned protective measures associated with the CPZ.
5. Response activities within the CPZ may occur in the event of a limited and localized radiological release and based on the results received from environmental radiation monitoring activities.
6. The distribution of iodine thyroid blocking pills should be undertaken in a manner consistent with the processes established for the Ingestion Planning Zone (IPZ).
7. Public education requirements are consistent with the processes stipulated for the IPZ.
8. The designation of additional primary emergency facilities beyond those designated in the DPZ is not required (e.g., Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs), Emergency Information Centres (EICs), Reception Centres, Evacuation Centres, MDU facilities, etc.). However, municipalities are required to identify and document in their municipal plans, those sites that could be used as a back-up or alternative location in the event that the primary emergency facility becomes unavailable.

Operational response activities within the CPZ

9. Operational response activities within the CPZ should unfold using the planning, communication, assessment and command and control mechanisms set out in this document and the PNERP Master Plan. For example, public alerting and emergency communications would be conducted using existing processes and systems as established for the IPZ.
10. Operational response activities within the CPZ would be focused on monitoring dose rates from deposition (e.g., groundshine) in order to determine which specific locations or areas beyond the DPZ may require the imposition of exposure control measures (e.g., evacuation, temporary relocation etc.).
11. In the event of a radiological release, the PEOC would undertake the following functions:
    1. The PEOC would determine and advise stakeholders on the direction of the radioactive plume and likely radioactive material deposition locations.
    2. The PEOC would direct field surveillance teams and sampling teams to measure for radioactive material deposition in suspected locations.
    3. The PEOC Scientific Section would employ its existing mechanisms, processes and procedures to assess environmental radiation monitoring results and analyze the data received from the field surveillance teams and sampling teams to identify the size and boundaries for the response activities within the eight CPZ sub-zones (see Figure 2.3) and to make protective action recommendations to the PEOC Commander, consistent with the results received and in line with the PNERP Master Plan's guiding principles (PNERP Master Plan, Section 1.2).
    4. The PEOC commander would promulgate protective actions using existing communication methods specified in this Implementing Plan.
12. Municipalities would be required to identify any emergency facilities that may be at risk of exposure to a radioactive plume during the emergency. Municipalities and the PEOC would then collaborate to determine which previously identified alternate facilities would be used to support the response. In the event of an emergency where all previously identified alternative facilities are unavailable, the PEOC will identify and source appropriate alternate facilities and communicate the location of these facilities to the Emergency Response Organization.
13. The emergency information function would be engaged to advise the public and stakeholders which areas of the CPZ have been impacted and what protective actions are required.

Annex D: Nuclear / radiological glossary

(Reference: Paragraph 2.3.2)

(For other references see Provincial Glossary)

Abnormal Incident:

An abnormal occurrence that may have a significant cause and/or may lead to more serious consequences. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Accident:

Any unintended event, including operating errors, equipment failures or other mishaps, the consequences or potential consequences of which are significant from the point of view of protection or safety. With respect to nuclear criticality safety, the term accidents or accident sequences means events or event sequences, including external events that lead to violation of the sub-criticality margin (that is, to exceeding the upper subcritical limit). (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Activation:

Decisions and actions taken to implement a plan, a procedure or to open an emergency operations centre. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Alerting:

Informing the population, by means of an appropriate signal, that a nuclear emergency has occurred or is about to occur.

As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA):

A principle of radiation protection that holds that exposures to radiation are kept as low as reasonably achievable, social and economic factors taken into account. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Automatic Action Zone (AAZ):

A pre-designated area immediately surrounding a reactor facility where pre- planned protective actions would be implemented by default on the basis of reactor facility conditions with the aim of preventing or reducing the occurrence of severe deterministic effects. (Source: Canadian Standards Association (CSA) N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Becquerel (Bq):

The International System of Units (SI) unit of radioactivity. One becquerel (Bq) is the activity of a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second. In Canada, the Bq is used instead of the non-SI unit curie (Ci). (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Beyond Design Basis Accident (BDBA):

An accident less frequent and potentially more severe than a design-basis accident. Note: For a reactor facility, a beyond-design-basis accident may or may not involve fuel degradation. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Boiling Water Reactor (BWR):

A common type of light-water reactor, where water is allowed to boil in the core, generating steam directly in the reactor vessel to generate electrical power. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Buffer Zone:

An area beyond the Restricted Zone, where limited areas of radioactivity are detected. The buffer zone is initially delineated based on results of preliminary environmental radiation monitoring. Ingestion control measures may be applied within this zone, based on guidance provided by the Operational Intervention Levels (OILs) and, in accordance with direction provided by the Environmental Radiation and Assurance Monitoring Group (ERAMG).

CANDU Reactor:

A Canadian-invented pressurized heavy-water reactor that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) for moderator and coolant and natural uranium for fuel. "CANDU" is short for CANada Deuterium Uranium. Also called CANDU. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Cloudshine:

Gamma radiation from radioactive materials in an airborne plume.

Communications:

Advisories, directives, information and messages that are transmitted.
(Source: Provincial Glossary)

Community:

A generic term that includes both municipalities and First Nations.
(Source: Provincial Glossary)

Containment (System):

A series of physical barriers that exist between radioactive materials contained in a reactor facility and the environment. Containment usually refers only to the reactor and vacuum buildings, and integral systems such as dousing.

Contamination:

Contamination refers to nuclear or hazardous substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases (including the human body), where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or to the process giving rise to their presence in such places. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Contingency Planning Zone (CPZ):

A pre-designated area surrounding a reactor facility, beyond the Detailed Planning Zone, where contingency planning and arrangements are made in advance, so that during a nuclear emergency, protective actions can be extended beyond the Detailed Planning Zone as required to reduce potential for exposure. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)
Note: The actual CPZ for each reactor facility is specified in the relevant implementing plans of the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan.

Crop Control:

See Produce and Crop Control.

Declaration of Emergency:

A signed declaration made in writing by the Head of Council or the Premier of Ontario in accordance with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This declaration is usually based on a situation or an impending situation that threatens public safety, public health, the environment, critical infrastructure, property, and/or economic stability and exceeds the scope of routine community emergency response.

Notes:

1. Municipal Declaration of Emergency: a declaration of emergency made by the Head of Council or a Municipality, based on established criteria.
2. Provincial Declaration of Emergency: a declaration of emergency made by the Lieutenant Governor of Council or the Premier of Ontario, based on established criteria.

(Source: Provincial Glossary)

Decontamination:

Reduction or removal of radioactive contamination in or on materials, persons or the environment.

Design Basis Accident (DBA):

Accident conditions against which a facility is designed according to established design criteria, and for which the damage to the fuel and the release of radioactive material are kept within authorized limits. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Designated Host Municipality:

The Municipality assigned responsibility in the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan for the reception and care of people evacuated from their homes in a nuclear emergency.

Designated Municipality:

A Municipality in the vicinity of a reactor facility which has been designated under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, as one that shall have a nuclear emergency plan (for list see PNERP Master Plan, Annex A).

Detailed Planning Zone:

A pre-designated area surrounding a reactor facility, incorporating the Automatic Action Zone, where pre-planned protective actions are implemented as needed on the basis of reactor facility conditions, dose modelling, and environmental monitoring, with the aim of preventing or reducing the occurrence of stochastic effects. (Source: Modified from CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Deterministic Effects:

Radiation-induced health effects including changes to cells and tissues that are certain to occur in an individual exposed to a radiation dose greater than some threshold dose, with a severity that increases with increasing dose. Now referred to as tissue reactions. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Disaster:

A serious disruption to an affected area, involving widespread human, property, environmental and / or economic impacts, that exceed the ability of one or more affected communities to cope using their own resources. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Dose:

A measure of the radiation received or "absorbed" by a target. The quantities termed absorbed dose, organ dose, equivalent dose, effective dose, committed equivalent dose or committed effective dose are used, depending on the context. The modifying terms are often omitted when they are not necessary for defining the quantity of interest.

Dose Management:

Includes administrative controls to limit doses, monitor doses and record doses received by emergency workers while fulfilling their duties related to nuclear emergency response.

Dose Projection:

The calculation of projected dose (see Projected Dose).

Dose Rate:

The amount of radiation dose which an individual would receive in a unit of time. In the context of this plan, the measurement units are multiples or submultiples of the Sievert (or rem) per hour.

Dosimeter:

An instrument for measuring and registering total accumulated exposure to ionizing radiation.

Dosimetry Types:

The methods used for measuring radiation dose in or excreted from a body or in radioactive atmospheres.

1. External dosimetry is usually employed for photon (that is, X and gamma) radiation, but may also be used for beta and neutron radiation sources outside of the body.
2. Internal dosimetry involves bioassay in the form of either in vitro monitoring, in vivo monitoring, or a combination of the two.
3. Radioactive atmosphere is usually measured by air monitoring techniques. Typical measurements are for radon progeny and radioactive dusts in uranium mines. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Drill:

Supervised instruction intended to test, develop, maintain, and practice the skills required in a particular emergency response or recovery activity.
Note: A drill can be a component of an exercise. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Effective Dose (E):

A quantity calculated by multiplying the equivalent dose received by irradiated tissues, by a tissue specific weighting factor that reflects the risk of radiation-induced cancer to that tissue. The effective doses can then be summed to obtain the effective dose absorbed by the body.

Emergency:

A situation or an impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature, a disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or otherwise (EMCPA). (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Emergency Action Level:

Pre-determined criteria related to on-site conditions (e.g., plant parameters) which trigger the implementation of protective actions, particularly in the Automatic Action Zone. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Emergency Bulletin:

Directions to the public on appropriate protective and other measures to be taken during a nuclear or radiological emergency, which are issued by the province and broadcast through the media.

Emergency Information (EI):

Information about an emergency that can be disseminated in anticipation of an emergency or during an emergency. It may provide situational information or directive actions to be taken by the public. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Emergency Information Centre (EIC):

A designated facility that is properly equipped to monitor and co-ordinate emergency information activities including the dissemination of information to the public. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Emergency Response Organization:

A group (public, private or volunteer), trained in emergency response that may be called upon to respond to an emergency situation. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Emergency Worker:

A person performing emergency services to support emergency response.

 

Notes:

1. Emergency workers can include the following: nuclear emergency workers required to remain in, or to enter, areas affected or likely to be affected by radiation from a nuclear emergency, and for whom special safety arrangements are required; emergency workers required to provide response outside the affected areas.
2. This does not include nuclear energy workers.
3. Emergency workers can include police, firefighters, paramedic services and emergency social services workers, and other essential services.

(Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Emergency Worker Centre:

A facility set up to monitor and control radiation exposure to emergency workers.

Entry Control:

The prevention of non-essential persons from entering a potentially dangerous area.

Equivalent Dose:

The absorbed dose multiplied by a weighting factor for the type of radiation giving the dose. Weighting factors for use in Canada are prescribed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. This term is also sometimes called weighted dose. Expressed in terms of Sievert (or rem).

Evacuation:

A directed protective action for the controlled displacement of the population from an area which has been or might become contaminated by radioactive substances to avoid exposure. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Evacuation Centre:

A centre which provides affected people with basic human needs including accommodation, food and water. (Source: Australian Emergency Management Glossary)

Exclusion Zone:

A parcel of land within or surrounding a reactor facility on which there is no permanent dwelling and over which a licensee has the legal authority to exercise control. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Exercise:

A simulated emergency in which players carry out actions, functions, and responsibilities that would be expected of them in a real emergency. Exercises can be used to validate plans and procedures, and to practice prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.

Exposure:

The act or condition of being subject to irradiation. Exposure can be either external exposure (irradiation by sources outside the body) or internal exposure (irradiation by sources inside the body).

Exposure Control:

Emergency operations aimed at reducing or avoiding exposure to a plume or puff of radioactive material. Measures to deal with surface contamination and re-suspension might also be included.

Exposure Pathways:

The routes by which radioactive material can reach or irradiate humans.

External Notification:

The notification of organizations and agencies (not directly part of the emergency management organization) which may be affected by a nuclear emergency, or which may be required to assist in responding to it.

Far Incident:

A transborder nuclear accident or event anywhere in the world which could affect Ontario, other than a Near Incident (see Near Incident).

Food Control:

Measures taken to prevent the consumption of contaminated foodstuffs and control of including the supply of uncontaminated foodstuffs. Where appropriate, such control may include foodstuff storage to permit radionuclide decay, diversion of foodstuff to non-human, non-foodstuff chain use or disposal of unusable stocks.

Foodstuff:

Food or drink intended for human consumption, including (a) an ingredient of food or drink intended for human consumption or (b) any animal or plant, or any of its parts, from which food or drink, or an ingredient of food or drink, intended for human consumption may be derived.

Fuel Failure:

Any rupture of a fuel sheath such that fission products may be released. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Gamma Radiation:

Penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted from an atom's nucleus. Also called gamma rays. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

General Emergency:

Events at a nuclear power plant or onboard a nuclear-powered vessel resulting in an actual or substantial risk of a release of radioactivity or radiation exposure which warrants the implementation of protective actions off site. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Generic Criteria:

Expressed as a projected dose, over a specified time period, above which protective actions are recommended to reduce the risk of stochastic effects.

Government Operations Centre:

The Government Operations Centre (GOC) provides an all-hazards integrated federal emergency response to events (potential or actual, natural or human-induced, accidental or intentional) of national interest. It provides 24/7 monitoring and reporting, national-level situational awareness, warning products and integrated risk assessments, as well as national-level planning and whole-of-government response management. During periods of heightened response, the GOC is augmented by staff from other government departments/agencies (OGD) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) who physically work in the GOC and connect to it virtually.

Gray (Gy):

The International System of Units (SI) unit of measurement used to express absorbed dose. One gray is defined as the absorption of 1 joule of ionizing radiation by 1 kilogram of matter. For gamma and beta radiations, the gray is numerically equal to the Sievert. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Groundshine:

Gamma and/or beta radiation from radioactive material deposited on the ground.

Guaranteed Shutdown State:

A reactor is considered to be in this state when there is sufficient negative reactivity to ensure sub-criticality in the event of any process failure, and approved administrative safeguards are in place to prevent net removal of negative reactivity.

Helper:

Member of the public who willingly and voluntarily helps in the response to a nuclear or radiological emergency. (Source: IAEA General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 7)

Hostile Action:

Any deliberate action, or threat of action, which could cause a nuclear emergency.

Imminent Release:

A radioactive emission that will occur in 12 hours or less.

Ingestion Control:

Emergency response operations in which the main aim is to avoid or reduce the risk from ingestion of contaminated foodstuff and water.

Ingestion Planning Zone:

A pre-designated area surrounding a reactor facility where plans or arrangements are made to:

1. Protect the food chain;
2. Protect drinking water supplies;
3. Restrict consumption and distribution of potentially contaminated produce, wild-grown products, milk from grazing animals, rainwater, animal feed; and
   Note: Wild-grown products can include mushrooms and game.
4. Restrict distribution of non-food commodities until further assessments

(Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Initial Notification:

The notification made by a reactor facility to Provincial and/or municipal authorities upon the occurrence of an event or condition which has implications for public safety or could be of concern to these authorities. The criteria and channels for making such notification are usually described in emergency plans.

Internal Notification:

The notification by an organization to its personnel who are required to respond to an emergency.

Intervention Level:

A radiation dose above which a specific protective action is generally justified. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Iodine Thyroid Blocking:

The reduction or prevention of the absorption of radioiodine by the thyroid gland, which is accomplished by the intake of a stable iodine compound (such as potassium iodide) by people exposed or likely to be exposed to radioiodine.

Ionizing Radiation:

For the purposes of radiation protection, radiation capable of producing ion pairs in biological material(s). Ionizing radiation is constantly present in the environment and includes the radiation that comes from both natural and artificial sources, such as cosmic rays, terrestrial sources (radioactive elements in the soil), ambient air (radon), and internal sources (food and drink). (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Joint Information Centre:

A joint centre for the province, Designated Municipality, federal government and the reactor facility or nuclear establishment that is responsible for providing information on the emergency to the media and the public.

Land Control:

Control on the use of contaminated land for growing food products or animal feed.

Livestock Control:

Quarantine of livestock in the affected area to prevent movement to other areas. Slaughter of such animals for food may be banned.

Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA):

A type of reactor accident that results from a loss of coolant due to a break in the primary heat transport system. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Lower-tier Municipality:

A Lower-tier Municipality is the most basic unit of local government and includes townships, towns, and cities within a county or region, but excludes Single-tier Municipalities. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Malevolent Act:

An illegal action or an action that is committed with the intent of causing wrongful harm. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Megabecquerel:

10⁶ becquerels. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Microsievert (μSv):

One-millionth of a sievert. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Milk Control:

Preventing the consumption of locally produced milk in the area affected by a nuclear emergency, and its export outside the area until it has been monitored. Collection of contaminated milk, its diversion to other uses, or its destruction, may also be involved.

Millisievert (mSv):

One-thousandth of a sievert. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Ministry Action Group (MAG):

The Ministry Action Group (MAG) is composed of the deputy minister or designate of the ministry, the senior ministry official appointed to the ministry's emergency management program committee, the ministry's emergency management program coordinator; and such other ministry employees as may be appointed by the minister. The group shall direct the ministry's response in an emergency, including the implementation of the ministry's emergency plan. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Mitigate:

Actions taken to reduce the adverse impacts of an emergency or disaster. Such actions may include diversion or containment measures to lessen the impacts of a flood or a spill. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Municipality:

"Municipality" means a geographic area whose inhabitants are incorporated (Municipal Act). (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Near Incident:

A transborder nuclear accident or event at a site within 80 km of Ontario.

Notification:

Conveying to a person or an organization, by means of a message, warning of the occurrence or imminence of a nuclear emergency, usually includes some indication of the measures being taken or to be taken to respond to it.

Nuclear Emergency:

An emergency that has led to or could lead to the release of radioactive material, or exposures to uncontrolled sources of radiation, which pose, or could pose, a threat to health and safety, property, and the environment. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Nuclear Establishment:

A facility that uses, produces, processes, stores or disposes of a nuclear substance, but does not include a reactor facility. It includes, where applicable, any land, building, structures or equipment located at or forming part of the facility, and, depending on the context, the management and staff of the facility.

Nuclear Facility:

A generic term covering both nuclear establishments and reactor facilities.

Nuclear Substance:

As defined in the (Federal) Nuclear Safety and Control Act.

Off-site:

Off-site refers to the area outside the boundary (fence) of a reactor facility.

On-site:

On-site refers to the area inside the boundary (fence) of a reactor facility.

Operational Directive:

Direction given by the Emergency Response Organization to implement operational measures.

Operational Intervention Level (OIL):

A calculated value, measured by instruments or determined by laboratory analysis that corresponds to an intervention level.

Notes:

1. OILs are typically expressed in terms of dose rates or of activity of radioactive material released, time integrated air concentrations, ground or surface concentrations, or activity concentrations of radionuclides in environmental, food, or water samples.
2. An OIL is a type of action level that can be used immediately by default and directly (without further assessment) to determine the appropriate protective actions and other response actions on the basis of an environmental measurement.

(Source: Based on CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Operational Measures:

Measures undertaken by the Emergency Response Organization to deal with the emergency, including measures to enable or facilitate protective action for the public, e.g., public alerting, public direction, activation of plans, traffic control, emergency information, etc.

Operator:

Holder of a subsisting licence issued pursuant to the Nuclear Safety and Control Act for the operation of a reactor facility.

Optimization:

The process of determining a level of protection and safety that makes exposures and the probability and magnitude of potential exposures as low as reasonably achievable, with economic and social factors being taken into account.

Pasture Control:

Removing milk- and meat-producing animals from pasture and from access to open water sources, and supplying them with uncontaminated feed and water.

Personal Monitoring:

The use of radiation monitoring devices to assess whether persons, and their belongings, including vehicles, are contaminated or not, and, if contaminated, the type and level of contamination.

Personal Protective Equipment:

Clothing or other specialized equipment provided to an off-site emergency worker to prevent or reduce their exposure to radioactive material. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Planning Zone:

The area in which implementation of operational and protective actions are or might be required during a nuclear emergency, in order to protect public health, safety, and the environment.
Note: See definitions for Automatic Action Zone, Detailed Planning Zone, Contingency Planning Zone, and Ingestion Planning Zone.
(Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Plume:

A cloud of airborne radioactive material that is transported in the direction of the prevailing wind from a reactor facility. A plume results from a continuing release of radioactive gases or particles. (This term may also be used for waterborne radioactive material resulting from a liquid emission. Where the context does not make it clear, this will be referred to as a waterborne plume).

Population Monitoring and Medical Management:

The protective action strategy which includes population screening, decontamination, internal contamination assessment and medical follow-up. The purpose of this Protective Action Strategy is to reduce exposures to individuals. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Precautionary Measures:

Measures which will facilitate the application and effectiveness of protective measures.

Preparedness:

Actions taken prior to an emergency or disaster to ensure an effective response. These actions include the formulation of emergency response plans, business continuity/continuity of operations plans, training, exercises, and public awareness and education. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Prevention:

Actions taken to stop an emergency or disaster from occurring. Such actions may include legislative controls, zoning restrictions, improved operating standards/procedures or critical infrastructure management. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Probability:

The likelihood of an event occurring that may result in an emergency, disaster or service disruption. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Produce and Crop Control:

Restrictions on the harvesting or processing of potentially or actually contaminated crops, vegetables and fruits. Measures include: embargoing export outside the affected area; storage to allow radionuclide decay; diversion to non‑food chain use; destruction and disposal of contaminated produce.

Projected Dose:

The highest committed effective equivalent dose, or committed equivalent dose to a specified organ or tissue, likely to be received through all applicable exposure pathways by the most exposed member of the critical group in the area for which the projection is being made.

Protective Measures:

Measures designed to protect against exposure to radiation during a nuclear emergency.

Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC):

A fully equipped facility maintained by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) that can be activated in response to, or in anticipation of, emergencies. The PEOC is staffed with appropriate representatives from ministries that have been delegated responsibilities for specified emergencies as well as OFMEM staff, and other stakeholders/partners in emergency management. It serves as a coordinating point-of-contact for the affected Municipality, provincial, and federal interests. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan (PNERP):

A Cabinet approved emergency response plan for reactor facility emergencies mandated under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and maintained by the province of Ontario. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Public Alerting:

See Alerting.

Public Awareness and Education Program:

A program that provides focused information to a target audience to educate about protective actions to reduce the risk of life and property damage, in the event of an emergency. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Puff:

A plume of short duration. The distinction between a puff and a plume is a matter of time. The upper limit on the duration of a puff is half an hour (See also Plume).

Radiation:

The emission by a nuclear substance, the production using a nuclear substance, or the production at a reactor facility of, an atomic or subatomic particle or electromagnetic wave with sufficient energy for ionization. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Radioactive Material:

For purposes of nuclear security, any material that emits one or more types of ionizing radiation, such as alpha or beta particles, neutrons or gamma rays. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Radioiodine:

A substance containing radioactive iodine in a chemical form that has a metabolic pathway similar to iodide, such as inorganic compounds and metabolic forms of organic iodine that are broken down in a living organism. Some examples are the radioisotopes iodine-125 and iodine-131. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Radioisotope:

A variation in the form of atoms, of the same chemical element, which are distinguished by the number of neutrons in the nucleus. The number of protons remains the same, but the number of neutrons differs. For example, uranium has 16 different isotopes. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Radiological Emergency:

Emergency caused by an actual or environmental hazard from ionizing radiation emitted by a source other than a reactor facility.

Radiological Device (RDs):

Could be lost or stolen radioactive sources which may be in locations resulting in radiation exposure and/or contamination of the public, contamination of a site and/or contamination of foodstuff and water supplies.

Radiological Dispersal Device (RDDs):

A device that causes the dissemination of radioactive material.

Radionuclide (or radioactive isotope or radioisotope):

A naturally occurring or artificially created isotope of a chemical element having an unstable nucleus that decays, emitting alpha, beta and/or gamma rays until stability is reached.

Reactor Facility:

A facility producing greater than 10 megawatts gross thermal energy from nuclear fuel and consisting of one or more reactor units.
Note: This includes nuclear power plants and research reactors greater than 10 megawatts gross thermal energy.

Reception Centre:

Locations for the initial reception, monitoring, decontamination, and registration of evacuated members of the public, and arranging for further humanitarian and emergency social service assessments and supports deemed necessary

Notes:

1. A public Reception Centre is typically located in an existing facility, such as a community centre. Public Reception Centres should be beyond the Detailed Planning Zone boundary.
2. Examples of emergency social services include emergency shelter, food, clothing, victim registration and inquiry and personal services.
3. Examples of humanitarian support include, but are not limited to housing and family reunification. (Source: Modified IAEA Safety Guide GS-G-2.1.)

Recovery:

The short-term and long-term actions taken in order to restore, to an acceptable level, both the organizations involved in, and the communities affected by, the nuclear emergency and the associated response activities. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Release:

In the context of this plan, release refers to the emission of radioactive material to the environment from a reactor facility in the form of either an airborne or a liquid emission.

Representative Individual:

An individual that due to his/her characteristics, habits and location of residence, is representative of the more highly exposed individuals in the population. May also be referred to as Representative Person. (Source Health Canada Glossary)

Response:

The actions taken during a nuclear emergency to reduce the magnitude of the hazard and manage its consequences, including the impact of the hazard on people, property, and the environment. (Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Response Sectors:

The Detailed Planning Zone is subdivided into Response Sectors to facilitate the planning and implementation of protective measures.

Restoration:

Operations to restore conditions to normal after a nuclear emergency.

Restricted Zone:

The area, within which exposure control measures are likely to be needed, based on the results of field monitoring. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Risk:

The product of the probability of the occurrence of a hazard and its consequences. (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Severe Accident:

A beyond design basis accident involving fuel degradation in the reactor core or wet storage bay.

Shall:

Is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to conform to the PNERP.

Shelter-in-place:

A directed protective action to take immediate refuge in an enclosed structure for protection from an airborne plume, deposited radionuclides, or both.

Notes:

1. Shelter-in-place is a protective action which uses the shielding properties of buildings and their potential for ventilation control to reduce the radiation dose to people inside. Shelter-in-place has varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the type of building construction.
2. Shelter-in-place should typically not extend beyond two days.
3. Shelter-in-place is utilized as a protective action if there is insufficient time to safely evacuate an area; if the dose projected for an area is so low that evacuation is not required; or the risks of evacuation are higher than shelter-in-place (e.g., severe weather inhibits safe evacuation).

(Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Should:

Is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the PNERP.

Shutdown State:

A subcritical reactor state with a defined margin to prevent a return to criticality without external actions. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

SI:

International System of Units. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Sievert:

The International System of Units (SI) unit of equivalent dose and effective dose, equal to 1 joule/ kilogram. (Source: CNSC Glossary)

Source Term:

A generic term applied to the radioactive material released from a reactor facility. It includes the quantity and type of material released as well as the timing and rate of its release. It could apply to a release that was currently occurring, or one which had ended, or one which could take place in the future.

Special Group:

A group for which special constraints arise in the application of a protective measure, such as intensive care patients in hospitals and institutions, bedridden patients in long-term care homes, people with disabilities and/or special needs and inmates.

Stakeholder:

A person, group, community, or organization that has a role in the management of a nuclear emergency. (Source: Based on CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Stochastic Effects:

Radiation-induced health effects, such as cancer and heritable diseases, which are associated with a statistical risk and where no threshold has been established. The probability of occurrence is proportional to the dose (the higher the dose the higher the probability of occurrence) but the severity of the effect is independent of dose. (Source: Health Canada Glossary)

Support Municipality:

Pursuant to Section 7.0.2 (4) of the EMCPA, the LGIC may, by order, specify a Municipality to act in a support capacity to provide assistance to Designated Municipalities.

Transborder Emergency:

A nuclear emergency involving a reactor facility or nuclear accident or event outside the borders of Ontario that might affect people and property in the province.

Upper-tier Municipality:

An upper-tier Municipality is a county or region. Upper-tier Municipality means a Municipality of which two or more Lower-tier Municipalities form part for municipal purposes (Municipal Act). (Source: Provincial Glossary)

Venting:

The release to the atmosphere of radioactive material from the containment of a reactor facility through systems designed for this purpose.

Vulnerable populations:

Members of the public who have additional needs before, during, and after a nuclear emergency in one or more functional areas.

 

Notes:

1. Functional areas can include, but are not limited to, the following:
   1. Maintaining independence
   2. Communication
   3. Transportation
   4. Supervision
   5. Medical care
2. Individuals in need of additional assistance could include those who:
   1. a) Have disabilities
   2. b) Are from diverse cultures
   3. c) Have limited to no proficiency in the local official language
   4. d) Are transportation disadvantaged

(Source: CSA N1600, General requirements for nuclear emergency management programs)

Water Control:

Measures taken to avoid the contamination of drinking water supplies and sources, and to prevent or reduce the consumption of contaminated water.

Weighted Dose:

See Equivalent Dose. Expressed in terms of Sievert (or rem).

Annex E: Acronyms and abbreviations

AAZ

Automatic Action Zone

ALARA

As Low As Reasonably Achievable

ARGOS

Accident Reporting and Guidance Operational System

BDBA

Beyond Design Basis Accident

Bq

Becquerel

BNGS

Bruce Nuclear Generating Station

BWR

Boiling Water Reactor

CANDU

Canada Deuterium Uranium (reactor)

CCEM

Cabinet Committee on Emergency Management

CEOC

Community Emergency Operations Centre

CFIA

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

CMOH

Chief Medical Officer of Health

CNSC

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

CPZ

Contingency Planning Zone

CRL

Chalk River Laboratories

CSA

Canadian Standards Association

DBA

Design Basis Accidents

DNGS

Darlington Nuclear Generating Station

DPZ

Detailed Planning Zone

ECC

Emergency Core Cooling

ECCC

Environment and Climate Change Canada

ECI

Emergency Coolant Injection

EIC

Emergency Information Centre

EMCPA

Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act

EME

Emergency Mitigating Equipment

EMST

Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance Team

ENERGY

Ministry of Energy

EOC

Emergency Operations Centre

EOF

Emergency Operations Facility

EPZ

Emergency Planning Zone

ERAMG

Environmental Radiation and Assurance Monitoring Group

FADS

Filtered Air Discharge System

FNEP

Federal Nuclear Emergency Plan

FNEP TAG

FNEP Technical Assessment Group

GC

Generic Criteria

GOC

Government Operations Centre

Gy

Gray

HC

Health Canada

HIRA

Hazard Identification Risk Assessment

IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency

IMS

Incident Management System

INES

International Nuclear Event Scale

IPZ

Ingestion Planning Zone

ITB

Iodine Thyroid Blocking

KI

Potassium Iodide

km

Kilometre

LGIC

Lieutenant Governor in Council

LOCA

Loss-of-Coolant Accident

MCCSS

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

MDU

Monitoring and Decontamination Unit

MECP

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

MEOC

Ministry Emergency Operations Centre

Met

Meteorology, meteorological

MLDP

Modèle Lagrangien de Dispersion de Particules

MLTC

Ministry of Long-Term Care

MLTSD

Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development

MMAH

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

MOH

Ministry of Health

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MTO

Ministry of Transportation

MW

Megawatts

NAADS

National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System

NDMNRF

Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry

NGS

Nuclear Generating Station

NIG

Nuclear Incident Group

NPP

Nuclear Power Plant

NRCan

Natural Resources Canada

OIL

Operational Intervention Level

OMAFRA

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

OPP

Ontario Provincial Police

PAR

Protective Action Recommendation

PCEIO

Provincial Chief Emergency Information Officer

PEOC

Provincial Emergency Operations Centre

PLERP

Provincial Liquid Emission Response Plan

PNERP

Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan

PNGS

Pickering Nuclear Generating Station

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

RD

Radiological Device

RDD

Radiological Dispersal Device

RED

Radiological Exposure Device

RHRP

Radiation Health Response Plan

RIMPUFF

Risø Mesoscale PUFF

SAMG

Severe Accident Management Guidelines

SOLGEN

Ministry of the Solicitor General

URI

Unified RASCAL Interface

US NRC

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

USA

United States of America

UTCC

Unified Transportation Coordination Centre

UTMP

Unified Transportation Management Plan