Government proposes to expand responsibilities of owners of nuclear facilities and production facilities in radiological emergencies

Government proposes amendments to the Rescue Act to ensure that it meets the requirements of the EU’s Basic Safety Standards Directive. The legislative amendments would expand site owners’ responsibilities for damping down, clearing and security at the site under the Rescue Act.

According to the proposed amendments, owners of nuclear facilities and production facilities would be responsible for damping down, clearing and security after radiological emergencies or other accidents and for limiting exposure caused by radiological emergencies after the situation no longer requires action by the rescue department or other authorities. In addition, owners of nuclear facilities and production facilities would be obligated to notify the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of a radiological emergency. 

The aim of the amendments is to prevent recurring radiological emergencies and other damage. The objective is to improve people’s safety and to limit the consequences of accidents to people, property and the environment.

Responsibility for drawing up external emergency plans updated due to amendments to the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods 

Further amendments are proposed to the Rescue Act following the reform of the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, which is being prepared at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The amendments to the Rescue Act would ensure that external emergency plans are drawn up even after the reformed Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods enters into force especially concerning rail yards and port areas serving as transit points for significant amounts of dangerous goods. The proposed amendments would keep the current state; they would not expand the responsibility for external emergency planning to other sites.

The legislative amendments concerning radiological emergencies would enter into force during 2022. The amendments concerning external emergency plans would enter into force at the start of 2023 at the same time as the amendments to the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

Inquiries:

Annika Parsons, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 279, annika.parsons@govsec.fi