As part of NRC's effort to review and improve emergency response program areas, the NRC intends to conduct a telephone survey to assess public reaction to existing protective action strategies, new protective action strategies, and the effectiveness in which these strategies are conveyed to the public. The survey will produce statistical descriptions of likely public reaction to and acceptance of various protection action strategies. The targets for the telephone survey are randomly selected members of the public that reside within the 10 miles EPZs around nuclear power plants. This is a nationwide survey of the public residing within EPZs. The response to the surveys will be used by the NRC in the development of enhancements to its guidance for nuclear power protective actions recommendations and the means by which this information is disseminated. The survey will also improve the understanding of other areas related to protective action implementation, such as the extent of shadow evacuations and the expected usage of congregate care facilities.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), provides for the licensing and regulation of utilization facilities (i.e., nuclear power plants). The regulations in 10 CFR Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, allow the NRC to provide for the licensing and regulation of production facilities and 10 CFR 50.47 contains 16 emergency planning standards that must be met in the onsite and offsite emergency plans for a nuclear power reactor. These standards include the establishment of notification procedures, and periodic information for the public on how they will be notified and what their initial actions should be in an accident. NRC regulations require that nuclear plant operators immediately recommend public protective actions to State/local officials in the event of a serious accident. NRC has conducted a study of its protective action recommendation guidance (the PAR Study) that has identified enhancements that could increase the level of public protection during accidents, but there is no current data available regarding likely public reaction to such protective action direction ordered by State/local officials within nuclear power plant Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs).
To improve understanding of likely public reaction to protective action direction, the NRC wishes to engage a federal contractor to conduct a telephone survey to assess public reaction to existing protective action strategies, new protective action strategies, and the effectiveness in which these strategies are conveyed to the public. The survey is expected to produce statistical descriptions of likely public reaction to and acceptance of various protective action strategies, and will target randomly selected members of the public that reside within the 10-mile EPZs around nuclear power plants nationwide. The response to the surveys will be used by the NRC in the development of enhancements to its guidance for nuclear power plant protective action recommendations and the means by which this information is disseminated. The survey will also improve the understanding of other areas related to protective action implementation, such as the extent of shadow evacuations and the expected usage of congregate care facilities.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
PARSurvey 3_03_08 (3).doc
NRC Survey of Public Response to Emergencies