lacoste - creating the legal framework for transparent communications with the public on nuclear...

7/31/2019 Lacoste - Creating the legal framework for transparent communications with the public on nuclear safety related issues

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Creating the legal framework for

transparent communication with the publicon nuclear safety-related issues

Communication actions undertaken by ASN

in crisis situations

IAEA, June 2012


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Who are we ?

ASN : an independent regulatory Authority

Our responsibilities:

Regulation

Authorization

Inspections and enforcement actions

Information of the public


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Transparency is a primary value of ASN. It is oneof the 4 fundamental basements of our SafetyAuthority (competence, independence, rigour andtransparency).

The law which created the Safety Authority inFrance was called TSN : Nuclear Transparencyand Security Act of 13 June 2006.

Article 2 gives a definition of Transparency:Transparency in the nuclear field consists in the setof provisions adopted to ensure the publics right toreliable and accessible information on nuclearsecurity.

The French legal background


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ASN is responsible for the correct implementation of

the requirements of the TSN Act, particularly thoseconcerning transparency.

ASN has a legal duty to inform (article 4): The

nuclear safety Authority participates in informing the

public in its areas of competence .

Every single person has the right to get informationfrom the licensees (article 19 of the TSN Act).

The French legal background


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ASN strives to intensify its actions with regard to transparency, through

active communication with the general public, the media, the institutional

public and professionals.

ASN presents its annual report before the Parliamentary Office for Evaluation

of Scientific and Technologies Choices (OPESCT) (article 7 of the TSN Act) . TheOPESCT was chaired by Mr Birraux in the previous legislature.

ASN publishes on its website all follow-up letters of all inspections :

Since 2002: publication of the follow-up letters of all inspections

carried out in nuclear installations.Since 2008: publication of the follow-up letters of the radiotherapy

inspections.

Since April 2010: publication of the follow-up letters of inspections

of small-scale nuclear facilities.ASN wishes to involve the public more closely in its decision-making process

and to explain its decisions. It will thus promote public consultations via its

website. Thirteen consultations were posted on line in 2010.

From public information to transparency


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The general public

The mass media

The institutional public

The professionals

A full range of tools to keep in touch

with the public

Press relations

Website and presence on social

media

Exhibitions

Publications

Events, seminars, symposia,

partnerships


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September, 12, 2011 11:45 AM, Paris time (9:45 UTC)

Serious accident with no radiological consequences

Panic effect : school sheltering; media: nuclear explosion in a NPP

Strong media coverage; political involvement

ASN activated its emergency center:

Limited technical issues

Information requested (media, NROs)

2 press releases in French at 2 and 4 PM, just a

few hours after the accident.

2 press releases in English at 4 and 5 PM to

bilateral contacts, ENSREG, WENRA, HERCA, IAEA

and ECURIE networks.

Calls with IAEA, ENSREG, WENRA and othersNROs

Back to some interesting study casesIndustrial accident at Centraco facility


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Industrial accident at Centraco facility

Events on nuclear facilities, even without radiological issues, are

significant for the media.

Quick release of information.

Clear statement as practicable.


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ASN considered its role was to:

decrypt and understand the technical and health issues of the accident;

present and explain them to the French government and the Institutions(Parliament, local committees)

Inform with openness, regularity and honesty:

We said we dont know when we didnt know.

Address the media concerns (seriousness; health impact).

Fukushima accident


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Accident majeur Tchernobyl (URSS), 1986

Exemples :

7Accident grave 6Accident entranant un risque

lextrieur du site 5Accident nentranant pasde risque important lextrieur du site 4

Incident grave 3

2Anomalie 10

Incident

cart

Mayak (URSS), 1957

Three Mile Island (USA),1979

Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux(France), 1984

La Hague (France), 1981Davis Besse (USA), 2002

ASN gave quickly its opinion

concerning the seriousness of the accident:

between Three Mile Island and Chernobyl; damage to the core.

Fukushima2011


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Through bilateral and multilateral relations

Contacts with Japanese authorities (NISA)

Exchange of information (no direct relation with japanese emergency center

in order to avoid any additional burden)

Contacts on a regular basis with foreign Authorities

Regular bilateral links with European couterparts : phone calls, e-mails

Audio conference with Safety Authorities of USA, UK, Canada

Formal daily audio conference during the first weeks of the crisis

Technical discussion about the status of NPP, recent events

Audio conference between ASNs emergency centre and the French Embassy

in Tokyo, our TSO (IRSN), CEA, French ministries concerned:

Daily audio conferences during the first weeks of the crisis.

Collect of informations


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ASNs emergency organisation included the communication function

since the very beginning of the crisis

Communication team: 35 members (communication staff supported by

staff of other departments)

24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the first month (communicationwas one of the top priorities fo the ASN)

Mobilization of a team of ASN spokespersons (president,

commissioners, director general, deputy director general, directors)

every day during the 1st month to cope with the media pressure.

Relations with Mass media


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More than 1 500 media requests.

About 1 000 interviews with ASN spokespersons

39 press releases issued.

17 press conferences between March, 12 and April, 14:

Creation of a dedicated press center in ASNs headquarters;

A daily press conference at ASNs headquarters between 16-25 March;

Videos of the press conferences uploaded on Internet.

Relations with Mass media


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Creation of a dedicated web site (http://japon.asn.fr/)

Use of social media

Implementation of a call center : 1,068 calls received by the

1st of April 2011.

Relations with the general public


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Relations with institutions

First of all, regular meetings were organised with the french government

for updating its knowledege of informations during the crisis.

Special information meeting of the High Committee for transparencyand information on nuclear safety (HCTISN) on March, 24.

After the Fukushima accident, a parliamentary mission was asked to

undertake a study of "nuclear security, the current position and thefuture of nuclear energy". ASN played a significant role and assisted this

action.

Many information meetings in the Local Information Committees.


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Lessons learned 1/2

The main challenges for ASN

Dealing with a huge media pressure;

Coping with a wide range of questions coming from many stakeholders;

Need to appropriate, compile, complete and synthesize information;

Maintaining our crisis organization over the long term (human resources

limit).


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Feedback from the journalists and the public

The quick INES rating of level 6 was very appreciated. It has

established the seriousness of the situation.

Daily press briefing was really appreciated : ASN point of reference

The availability and the specialization of the spokespersons have

allowed most requests to be satisfied;

Meeting rapidily the press demands have been highlighted by

journalists;

Positive relationships based on openness, rigour and radiological

education.

Lessons learned 2/2


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Tools

Trainings:

ASN offers to its staff trainings in spoken and written communication.

ASNs communication training plan tailored to the responsibilities of the people.

Being able to provide clear and understandable information, stripped of any

technical vocabulary, with a view to better responding to journalists demands and

expressing clear views.

Emergency drills :

10 drills per year involving the licensees, the local and national public Authorities,

ASN and its TSO.

Testing the off-site emergency plans, the response organisation and procedures.

About 4 drills per year with media pressure: interview of the spokesperson; press

releases; activation of our crisis website and presence on social media


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Before the crisis :

Media trust is essential.

Preparing communication and be prepared for matters you dont

expect.

During the crisis :

Adopt a position, give an opinion

Providing quickly clear and understandable information for non

experts.

Professional relationships with media.

Communication has become international. Communication should

consider not only the public in the affected country but all other

countries as well.

Think global when communicating


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Creating the legal framework for

transparent communication with the public

on nuclear safety-related issues

Thank you for your attention

lacoste - creating the legal framework for transparent communications with the public on nuclear...

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