❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question seeks information on the state's preparedness and response protocols for nuclear incidents, including detonations and accidents involving nuclear-powered warships. The answer provides details on emergency management policies, controlling agencies, planning zones, and inter-agency responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 1709Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What would be the maximum time allowed for a controlling agency to be appointed after a nuclear detonation? (2) Would the maximum time allowed for a controlling agency to be appointed be different in the event of multiple nuclear detonations? (3) What human and material resources will be required to deal with an average nuclear detonation sited at either: (a) Fremantle Port; and (b) Perth CBD? (4) How far away from ground zero would the controlling agency be located? (5) What is the minimum distance a vessel with a damaged nuclear reactor must be towed from the Western Australian coastline? (6) If the minimum distance in (5) varies per vessel and reactor, please table the details? (7) In the case of a foreign power, who has control over a vessel experiencing a nuclear reactor incident? (8) In the case of a damaged nuclear reactor owned by a foreign power, who has the right to direct the ship’s placement out to sea?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 November 2014
Responded by
Attorney General representing the Minister for Police
Response time
36 days
(1) There is no timeframe. However, for an undefined hazard, State Emergency Management Policy 4.1 will be followed to determine the most appropriate Controlling Agency. The management of a nuclear powered warship reactor accident is conducted in accordance with 'WESTPLAN Nuclear Powered Warship' and the operation order maintained for each visit. A WA Police Incident Controller is appointed for the duration of each visit.
(2) See (1). In addition, an Emergency Control Centre is activated at the various stages detailed in 'WESTLPAN Nuclear Powered Warship', commencing when notification of a nuclear powered warship visit is received from the Australian Government.
(3) As for any emergency, resourcing requirements are incident dependant. The response would be planned in consideration with emergency management policies and procedures and determined by the controlling agency based on expert advice. The planning for a nuclear powered warship accident is based upon the Nuclear Powered Warship Reference Accident and other Australian Government documents. This information is included in 'WESTLPAN Nuclear Powered Warship' and includes the required radiological responses to reduce the health risks to the population. Due to the design of a naval power reactor, a detonation in a nuclear powered warship is extremely unlikely because of its design, the level of preventative maintenance it receives, and the competence of the operators.
(4) The term 'ground zero' is not used in the nuclear powered warship reactor environment. However, there are a number of planning zones used, and the size of these varies between single and multiple reactor nuclear powered warships. There are three planning zones: Zone 1 is 600-800 metres around the nuclear powered warship; Zone 2 is 2,500-3,700 metres and also includes Zone 1. Zone 3 extends some kilometres from the nuclear powered warship and also includes Zones 1 and 2 , the controlling agency is located outside all 3 zones.
(5) The Australian Government's Department of Defence, Defence Operations Manual (OPSMAN 1): Visits to Australia by Nuclear Powered Warships Edition 9 contains advice on safe distances. If a nuclear powered warship is to be removed to sea or to a remote anchorage, the distance would be determined by the WA Police Incident Controller based on recommendations provided by the State Radiation Officer, using radiation monitoring data and the plume prediction model.
(6) See (5).
(7) The Commissioner of Police is the controlling agency for the hazard of radiation escape from a nuclear powered warship in accordance with regulation 16(e) of the
Emergency Management Regulations 2006
. In accordance with 'WESTPLAN Nuclear Powered Warship', a Commonwealth condition of entry for a visit by a nuclear powered warship is that the vessel must be able to be removed to sea or to the remote anchorage within a specified time limit following a confirmed alarm, which will be set out in the operation order for the visit.
The decision to remove the nuclear powered warship will rest with the WA Police Incident Controller, in consultation with the nuclear powered warship's commanding officer, after advice from the State Radiation Officer (SRO) who will, if necessary, recommend removal of the vessel from the anchorage in the event of a confirmed alarm indicating elevated gamma levels, or where the nuclear powered warship advises that such an event may occur as a result of a current problem. Further reference is made in OPSMAN 1 (See (5)).
The Harbour Master is the competent Australian authority responsible for directing removal of the nuclear powered warship and also for controlling shipping movements within the port and its approaches. The Harbour Master would be consulted concerning the state of the sea and shipping movements within the port and along the removal route to ensure shipping would not interfere with the removal of the nuclear powered warship, or cause delays which may result in significant exposures to the surrounding population.
(8) See (5).
(2) See (1). In addition, an Emergency Control Centre is activated at the various stages detailed in 'WESTLPAN Nuclear Powered Warship', commencing when notification of a nuclear powered warship visit is received from the Australian Government.
(3) As for any emergency, resourcing requirements are incident dependant. The response would be planned in consideration with emergency management policies and procedures and determined by the controlling agency based on expert advice. The planning for a nuclear powered warship accident is based upon the Nuclear Powered Warship Reference Accident and other Australian Government documents. This information is included in 'WESTLPAN Nuclear Powered Warship' and includes the required radiological responses to reduce the health risks to the population. Due to the design of a naval power reactor, a detonation in a nuclear powered warship is extremely unlikely because of its design, the level of preventative maintenance it receives, and the competence of the operators.
(4) The term 'ground zero' is not used in the nuclear powered warship reactor environment. However, there are a number of planning zones used, and the size of these varies between single and multiple reactor nuclear powered warships. There are three planning zones: Zone 1 is 600-800 metres around the nuclear powered warship; Zone 2 is 2,500-3,700 metres and also includes Zone 1. Zone 3 extends some kilometres from the nuclear powered warship and also includes Zones 1 and 2 , the controlling agency is located outside all 3 zones.
(5) The Australian Government's Department of Defence, Defence Operations Manual (OPSMAN 1): Visits to Australia by Nuclear Powered Warships Edition 9 contains advice on safe distances. If a nuclear powered warship is to be removed to sea or to a remote anchorage, the distance would be determined by the WA Police Incident Controller based on recommendations provided by the State Radiation Officer, using radiation monitoring data and the plume prediction model.
(6) See (5).
(7) The Commissioner of Police is the controlling agency for the hazard of radiation escape from a nuclear powered warship in accordance with regulation 16(e) of the
Emergency Management Regulations 2006
. In accordance with 'WESTPLAN Nuclear Powered Warship', a Commonwealth condition of entry for a visit by a nuclear powered warship is that the vessel must be able to be removed to sea or to the remote anchorage within a specified time limit following a confirmed alarm, which will be set out in the operation order for the visit.
The decision to remove the nuclear powered warship will rest with the WA Police Incident Controller, in consultation with the nuclear powered warship's commanding officer, after advice from the State Radiation Officer (SRO) who will, if necessary, recommend removal of the vessel from the anchorage in the event of a confirmed alarm indicating elevated gamma levels, or where the nuclear powered warship advises that such an event may occur as a result of a current problem. Further reference is made in OPSMAN 1 (See (5)).
The Harbour Master is the competent Australian authority responsible for directing removal of the nuclear powered warship and also for controlling shipping movements within the port and its approaches. The Harbour Master would be consulted concerning the state of the sea and shipping movements within the port and along the removal route to ensure shipping would not interfere with the removal of the nuclear powered warship, or cause delays which may result in significant exposures to the surrounding population.
(8) See (5).
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