1. BASIC PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE Module XXIII Public Communication Case studies
Version 1.0, November 2015
This material was prepared by the IAEA and co-funded by the European Union. 

2. Case study No. 1
Draft a public information programme for a small research reactor.
Basic assumptions:
Reactor type: TRIGA Mark II (see the following slides for description);
Audience: general public;
Media: leaflet, tour of the reactor.
Be careful to communicate in plain language.

3. Case study No. 1
Reactor TRIGA Mk II is small pool-type research reactor (250 kW). Core is at the bottom of the pool under six meters of deionised water and consists of approximately fifty fuel rods. Rods are stainless steel tubes with the mixture of uranium and zirconium hydride inside. Water in the pool is constantly circulated through filter, mixed-bed demineraliser, and heat‑exchanger, which is cooled with water pumped from the well and discharged to a river. Reactor building is normal industrial hall with ventilation exhaust over filters. Discharged water and air are being constantly monitored for radionuclides.

4. Case study No. 1
Reactor building is a part of a research facility, which is surrounded with crop fields. The nearest village is some 400 m away.
Maximum annual dose at the fence of the facility (~100m from the reactor building) is less than 1µSv.
Dose at the fence is consequence of 41Ar emissions.

5. Case study No. 2
Write a press release about an incident in a NPP according to the following description:
Event: Unidentified leakage from the primary circuit in excess of Technical Specifications limit;
Event date: ;
Event time: 09:44:00 UTC;
Event place: XY;
Reactor type: PWR.

6. Case study No. 2 Event abstract:
The XY NPP was safely shut down this evening at 8:10 p.m. (local time), after a primary circuit leak was detected at 3:07 p.m. on 4 June
The leak of about 3 m3/h exceeded the limit of the plant Technical specifications and required the plant shutdown. The event was classified as an unusual event. There was no demand on the safety systems. The loss of coolant was controlled by the charging flow.
There was no need for off-site protective measures since there were no releases to the environment. The shut down was performed in a controlled way following the general operating procedures.
During the initial examination with staff entering the containment it was discovered that the leak was near the reactor coolant pump. The exact location of the leak is still under examination and will be known in a short time. In order to repair the leakage, the plant needs to be brought into a cold shutdown mode, which means that the repair will probably take a few days.

7. Case study No. 3
Draft a communication program of the regulatory body of a nuclear power newcomer country.
Assumptions:
Country Abelia is planning to construct its first NPP.
A regulatory body has been established according to IAEA Safety standards.
The regulatory body plans to communicate with all stakeholders its role, functions, objectives, values, vision etc.

8. Case study No. 3 Suggestions how to conduct this exercise:
Participants are split into 3-4 groups and each group:
discusses and develops a common understanding about the role, functions, objectives, values, vision of Nuclear Safety Regulatory Body;
prepares a presentation to present their view for discussion purpose on these 5 items and a key message which should be conveyed by the RB to the public at this early stage of the NPP programme;
develops a communication plan in order to communicate and interact with interested parties about the licensing process, safety requirements and regulatory oversight as recommended by the action 45 of IAEA Safety Guide SSG-16;
presents their plan (in front of other groups) and the rationales which underlie it.

9. Case study No. 4 Public meeting Assumptions:
Public meeting is organized at local level, including journalists, to better inform the people about the project to construct a nuclear power plant nearby and the licensing process under implementation to possibly issue a combined license for design and construction.

10. Case study No. 4 Suggestions how to conduct this exercise:
Participants are split into 3-4 groups (possibly same groups as for case study 3).
Groups prepare themselves as the regulatory body members to participate in and interact with the public during the meeting. This includes:
determine the role of each group member to ensure good interaction and discussion with the audience;
prepare a short presentation to be delivered at the beginning of the meeting to introduce the issue to the audience;
get prepared to play a role of a public member (retired nuclear engineer, pregnant woman, journalist, green, farmer…).
Participate in the public meeting, either as regulatory body members or a public member.
After public meetings (one for each group), a debriefing of the exercise is conducted.

11. Case study no. 5: Example of a press release about the ALERT in a NPP
Suggestions how to conduct this exercise:
Groups of 2-3 participants should be handed out description of the event.
The groups should study the description and prepare the initial press release and the final press release after the termination of the event.
Possible examples of the press releases are provided.

12. Event description
Four Containment monitors indicate sudden increase of radiation levels in excess of 0.06 Gy/h which warrants the initiation of the abnormal operation procedure (AOP). It is established that the pressurizer level is decreasing. The makeup water system can not maintain the pressurizer level. The control room operator manually initiates the SI signal (safety injection), which automatically trips the reactor.
There is no release into the environment.
According to the procedure and the measured radiation levels the event was declared as ALERT.
This initial information was immediately passed to the regulatory authority and local authorities.

13. Task for trainee
The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the plant is immediately informed about the event and the declaration of the ALERT. He should prepare the Press Release for the general public, local media and national media.
Task for the trainee: draft a Press Release according to the description of the event.

14. Possible solution of the task: Press release about the ALERT
DATE RELEASED:
TIME RELEASED:
RELEASED BY:
Increased radioactivity level was detected inside the primary containment of the XY Nuclear Power Plant. There has been no release into the environment, but the possibility cannot be completely excluded. As result an ALERT has been declared. An ALERT means there is a minor problem at the plant.
For further clarification you may call , which is manned at all times. Stay tuned to local radio or TV station and carefully follow instructions. Information is also available at the XY Nuclear Power Plant web site at

15. Reaction of the regulatory body, local authority, media and general population
Regulatory body despatched its resident inspector to the plant site within 30 minutes after the notification.
Local authorities sent two representatives to the plant site.
National media representatives appeared at the plant site 1 hour after the first press release with demands for more details and possible development of the situation.
Several concerned members of the public were calling the local authorities and plant public information officer.

16. Activities in the plant after the ALERT declaration
After investigation by the plant personnel following the plant abnormal operating procedures identified the probable leak source in the part of the Chemical and Volume Control System. It was established that is possible to isolate the leak from outside without entering the containment. The leak was successfully stopped.
Regulatory authorities, local authorities and the media were notified about the resolution of the abnormal event.
The ALERT was declared to be over.

17. Task for trainee
The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the plant is immediately informed about resolution of the event and the termination of the ALERT. He should prepare the Press Release for the general public, local media, national media and website.
Task for the trainee: draft a Press Release about the termination of the ALERT.

18. Possible solution of the task: Press release about the ALERT termination
DATE RELEASED:
TIME RELEASED:
RELEASED BY:
The incident at the XY Nuclear Power Plant is now over, ALERT is terminated and there is no need for further concern.
Any further information will be provided by means of normal news media and our website.
The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.