Nuclear Power Plant Evacuation

United States (U.S.) federal regulations (10CFR50, Appendix E, Section IV) require nuclear power plant (NPP) operators to compute evacuation time estimates (ETE) for the approximate 10-mile radial  Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) surrounding the NPP. These studies must be updated at least every 10 years (after the decennial Census) to account for new population numbers, or more frequently if the EPZ population is growing significantly. The methodology for doing an ETE study is documented in the federal guidance document NUREG/CR-7002. 

KLD is the industry leader in conducting NPP ETE studies, having done the ETE studies for 59 of the 65 active U.S. NPP sites after the 2010 Census, and all (56 of the 56 active U.S. NPP sites) after the 2020 Census. These studies have been reviewed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and were found to be compliant with NUREG/CR-7002 without need for revision. 

KLD has also done many NPP ETE studies internationally:

All four of the active NPP sites in Canada

• Six NPP sites in Japan
• The only NPP site in Slovenia
• The only NPP site in the United Arab Emirates

The results of these ETE studies are used by NPP operators and emergency planning personnel within the EPZ to inform protective action decisions that best serve the health and safety of the people in the EPZ. 

The emergency planning specialists at KLD are frequently called upon by governmental agencies at all levels and private utilities to serve as subject matter experts on NPP evacuation.