Ignalina Handbook

6.2 In Lithuania

 

In case of emergency residences of Lithuania will be protected in accordance with the "Plan for protection of the Lithuanian Republic population in case of accident at the Ignalina NPP" [16]. This plan was developed by the National Department of Civil Defence based on Lithuanian legislation and other regulations. Every year this plan is repeatedly approved by Governmental authorities. This plan obliges ministries, governmental services and authorities, town and municipal authorities to take specific actions in case of accident. The plan provides means of protecting the population and cattle, their scope, terms, assignment of responsibilities and implementation procedure. The plan is needed for organization and coordination of actions taken over by town and municipal authorities, ministries, governmental authorities and services for taking safety measures with regard to population and cattle, for arrangement of immediate response actions after the accident. The immediate actions of civil defence in case of an accident include:

• organization of warning and communication;
• management;
• radiation protection;
• evacuation;
• medical aid;
• protection of cattle and plants;
• fire protection;
• keeping the public order;
• logistics;
• civil security forces.

 

6.2.1 Legal Basis and Responsibilities of Different Institutions

 

The plan of protection of population is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, district's management law of the Republic of Lithuania, municipal government law of the Republic of Lithuania, environment protection law of the Republic of Lithuania and temporary regulation of Civil Defence. According to the Governmental Decree assigned the Department of Civil Defence to operate as the main regulatory body in the area of civil security and determined it aims and functions. According to other Governmental Decree in case of the emergency situation in Lithuania residents should be informed via Lithuanian radio and TV. To organize preventive activities for such situation, more operative accumulation of equipment, vehicles, material resources and forces of Emergency Situation Commission were set by Lithuanian Government. The said Decree defines tasks, rights and arrangement of activities of this Commission. To assure operation of civil security system under emergency conditions National reserves of civil protection assets has been formed. Separate Governmental Decree construe the procedure of the civil security training in the country, they determine involvement of air forces in liquidation of accident consequences and emergency situations, set out the list of national importance and risk.

The roles and obligations of different institutions in case of an accident at the Ignalina NPP are determined by numerous legislative deeds. One of the main institutions is the Lithuanian Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate, VATESI which in n case of an accident shall:

• accumulate information on the situation in the Ignalina NPP;
• make analysis and prospect situation on the plant site, evaluate possible release of radioactive substances to the environment;
• inform the Prime Minister, the Department of Civil Defence, Ministries of Health and Environmental Protection, Nuclear and Radiation Safety Advisory Committee, other Governmental structures about conditions at the plant and radioactive release;
• inform and advise the Emergency Situation Commission;
• provide information to the public on the emergency situation occurred, run of liquidation activities;
• inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and neighboring countries as required by Convention and bilateral agreements.

Notification of management junctions and population in due time and maintenance of stable connection in organizing and carrying out of immediate actions are very important in the accident. This has to be assured by the Ministry of Communication. This ministry and its enterprises shall:

• ensure the activities of notification junctions and communications systems, immediate transmission of special-purpose telegrams "Lavina" to the addresses;
• provide interurban conversations according to password out of turn;
• organize supplemental direct telephone, telegraph and radio communications at the request of management bodies and installs additionally in their working places terminals, arrangement of sound-broadcasting equipment for premises and territory, appoint specialists for maintenance of emergency warning and communications equipment;
• organize centralized usage of official communica-tions for the needs of emergency commissions;
• interact with town and municipal boards, emergency situations commissions, by transmitting signals and information to management junctions and residents.

One of the main authorities in protecting of the population in case of an accident is the Ministry of Health. This ministry shall:

• accumulate and keep in its custody medical protection means;
• render first professional and specialized medical aid for suffered people;
• organize medical aid and radiometric control for people in case of evacuation;
• organize preventive activities of stable iodine preparations;
• carry out medical supervision and laboratories control;
• organize and carry out hygienic control of food and drinkable water;
• control volume and efficiency of hygienic antiepidemiological assets;
• organize and carry out surveys and monitoring of radioactive contamination and evaluation of ionizing radiation sources and possible influence of radio-active substances for human health.

The Ministry of International Affairs shall ensure protection of 30 km zone, organize provisional control points in intermediate evacuation points, ensure public order in the places of concentration of people in case of evacuation and in sites of temporary accommodation, ensure protection of national and private property and public order in the settlements after the end of evacuation, carry out of evacuated people and provide information to the Address Informational Service. The Department of Fire Protection shall carry out radiological, chemical, engineering and other special inspection besides fire extinguishing activities. Basic support in the surveys of radiological level shall be given to the regional divisions of the Department.

The Ministry of National Defence and Lithuanian Army should assist civil defence forces in making radiological inspection from the air, sanitary decontamination of people in intermediate points within framework of protection measures of contaminated zone according to resolution of Governmental Emergency Situation Commission.

 

6.2.2 Criteria for Radiation Protection of Inhabitants

 

As described in subsection 5.1 the radioactive accidents at the Ignalina NPP are divided into three types: local, area and general accidents. In case radioactivity release to the atmosphere, there is possible the following:

• external exposure from passing radioactive cloud;
• internal exposure inhaling radioactive aerosols;
• contact exposure in case of radioactive materials are catch on open body or clothes;
• general internal exposure of people by radioactive substances, whose are fell on the ground, buildings and surfaces;
• internal exposure of people because of using food and local water contaminated by radioactive substances.

For forecast of radioactive consequences and planing protection of residents three phases of accident are distinguished:

• early phase - from the beginning of accident until finishing of radioactive substances release to the environment and formation of radioactive trail at the ground. This phase could last from several hours until several days. In this phase external exposure is cause by radioactive fallout’s from passing radioactive clouds and internal exposure is caused by inhaling of radioactive substances being in clouds;

• intermediate phase - from formation of radioactive trial until all protection measures for residents are used. Depending from scale and nature of accident this phase could last from several days until one year. In this phase external exposure is caused by radioactive substances, which fell from clouds on the
• ground and buildings, and formed radioactive trial. Radioactive substances are getting to the body by using contaminated food and water;

• late phase lasts until the time, when any protection measures are not necessary. All restrictions at the contaminated territory are recalled, but dosimetric monitoring is fulfilled. External and internal exposures are caused by the same reasons as in the intermediate phase.

Criteria for radiation protection of inhabitants are given in the Tables 6.1 and 6.2 for the early and intermediate phases of accident, correspondingly. These criteria were elaborated based on recommendations of International Radiation Safety Commission and approved by head physician-hygienist of the Republic of Lithuania. Nether of measures listed in Tables 6.1 and 6.2 are used if predicted dose are below of lower limits.

Measures could be postponed or taken depending from real radiological situation and local conditions, if predicted doses are between lower and upper limits. Measures listed in these tables must be taken necessary, if predicted doses are above of upper limits. Permanent and temporary permissible levels of radioactive contamination of food are given in the Table 6.3. Temporary permissible levels could be used only for contaminated food and not longer as 30 days from the beginning of accident.

 

Table 6.1 Radiation safety criteria for inhabitants at the early phase of accident [16]

Measures to ensure	Prognostic dose for 10 days, mSv (R)
radiation protection of	if all body is exposed		if lungs, thyroid gland or any other body are exposed
inhabitants	lower limit	upper limit	lower limit	upper limit
Sheltering, protection of respiration organs and all body	5 (0.5)	50 (5)	50 (5)	500 (50)
Iodine preventive measures:
adults	-	-	50* (5)	500* (50)
children and pregnant women	-	-	50* (5)	250* (25)
Evacuation:
adults	50 (5)	500 (50)	500* (50)	5000* (500)
children and pregnant women	10 (1)	50 (5)	200* (2)	500* (50)

 

* - Used only for thyroid gland

 

Table 6.2 Radiation safety criteria for inhabitants at the intermediate phase of accident [16]

Measures to ensure	Prognostic dose for 10 days, mSv (R)
radiation protection of	if all body is exposed		if lungs, thyroid gland or any other body are exposed
inhabitants	lower limit	upper limit	lower limit		upper limit
Limitation for use of drinking water and foodstuff	5 (0.5)	50 (5)	50 (5)		500 (50)
Evacuation of inhabitants	50 (5)	500 (50)	-		-

 

Table 6.3 Permanent and temporary permissible levels of radioactive contamination [16]

Type of food	Group of nuclides	Permanent levels, Bq/kg	Temporary levels, Bq/kg
Milk/babies food	Pu-239, Am-241	1	10
Other food		10	100
Milk/babies food	Sr-90, I-131	100	1000
Other food	Sr-90	1000	1000
Milk/babies food	Cs-134/137	1000	10000
Other food	Cs-134/137, I-131	1000	1000

 

6.2.3 Emergency Management

 

In case of general accident at the Ignalina NPP the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or the Governmental Emergency Situation Commission is responsible for elimination or mitigation of accident consequences, Figure 6.1 In the event of severe accident, when a danger arises for the health and life of majority of people, for the national economy and environment, the President of the Republic of Lithuania declares the emergency. The government determines the state of emergency conditions. If necessary the management group of the Governmental Emergency Situation Commission and operational group of the Department of Civil Defence going to the site of event. Working place for these both groups is selected near to accident site in Utena, Ignalina or Visaginas depending on the level of radiation. For evaluation of accident consequences and specification of necessary measures for elimination of accident consequences are enlisted emergency situation commissions and groups of experts and consultants. Information group should be established. In case of serious accident it is appeal to neighboring countries or international atomic organizations for help. During time of evacuation and elimination of accident consequences with aim to have a reliable management system on the main routs. The Department of Civil Defence should organize auxiliary management stations, enlisting local civil defence experts. Auxiliary management stations should interact with intermediate evacuation points, whose during evacuation act at the same site. Local Civil Defence divisions should intensify operational duty and organize operation of management station according plan for actions. Town and municipal boards directly or through emergency situation commissions shall organize protection of inhabitants and actions for elimination of accident consequences.

 

6.2.4 Notification and Information System

 

In the event of a nuclear accident the managers of the Ignalina plant shall report the information about the situation occurred according to the approved scheme of initial information about radioactive accident, specifying the following:

• nature of accident, sources and duration of radioactive release;
• total amount of radioactive substances released from reactor;
• power of radioactive release source and its changes in time;
• distribution of radioactive concentration in different distances from the source of release;
• meteorological conditions at the moment of release.

 



Fig. 6.1 Block diagram of notification and information system for citizens and management branches [17]

 

On October 13, 1994 Lithuania joined the 1986 IAEA Convention regarding operative information about nuclear accidents and established procedure of presenting such information. Ministry of Environmental Protection shall present to VATESI the following information:

• current and forecasted meteorological conditions;
• results of environment inspection;
• accepted or going to be accepted precautionary measures out of limits of the event site;
• actions during radioactive release.

VATESI shall present to IAEA and neighboring countries the following information:

• time;
• exact place and nature of the accident;
• possible or determined cause of the accident;
• general characteristics of radioactive release;
• quantity, composition and height of radioactive release.

In case of the nuclear accident the Department of Civil Defence shall inform all relevant ministries, government offices. The Department of Civil Defence shall present information to the municipal civil defence subdivisions about the accident at the Ignalina NPP via automatic management and notification system "Signal", national means of communications (telegraph, phone and fax of general usage) and via additional direct phone, telegraph and radio channels that will be installed by the Department of Civil Defence. Civil defence signals and information for municipal boards of Ignalina and Zarasai could be transmitted via local emergency warning system serving the zone of nuclear impact, and by phone from the Ignalina NPP. The Department of Civil Defence shall transmit the signals, information about future behavior via automatic warning system "Signal", which is connected to 524 centralized emergency warning sirens, 126 street annunciators, 489000 wire radio broadcasting units and via the national radio and TV. Civil Defence municipal subdivisions shall transmit all the information received to town and municipal boards by telegraph, fax and via radio stations. Signals and information to local authorities, districts, enterprises and organizations shall be transmitted by town and municipal boards by existing means of communication and by couriers according to scheme prepared in advance and approved by mayors and local governors. Town councils and municipal boards shall transmit signals and information to population via automatic local information and notification systems, and population of those areas where no automatic information system are installed will be provided with information by police patrols or vehicles of other authorities having sound reinforcement systems installed moving according to prior fixed routes. Employees of enterprises, organizations, residents of residential areas, settlements and rural areas shall be informed about danger by their managers or governors via all means of communications, local radio transmitting junctions, network with outdoor and indoor loudspeakers, 635 electric manual sirens, motor and enterprise loud signals, couriers according to schemes prepared and approved with town and municipal boards in advance.

Civil defence structures of neighboring countries, such as Latvia, Belarus, Kaliningrad region of Russia shall be informed about accident at the Ignalina NPP by the Department of Civil Defence using interstate means of communications, and civil defence structures of Latvia and Belarus also via local warning zone of plant serving 30 km.

In case of an accident Government, towns and municipalities emergency situation commissions, the Department of Civil Defence and its municipal subdivisions, town and municipal boards and other authorities which are dealing with organization and carrying out of rescue operations and immediate response actions shall use national means of communication: telegraph, subscriber's phone lines, urgent telegrams and those of special purpose "Lavina" shall be transmitted via interurban communication system "Quarz", or by ordering conversations using a password "Aidas", also using additionally installed direct phone, telegraph and radio channels. For this purpose will be used stationary and mobile means of communication belonging to Ministries of Communication, Transport and Energy, the Department of Civil Defence and other authorities. Organization of additional communication means will be overtaken by the Department of Civil Defence in conjunction with Communication Group under the Emergency Situations Commission. In case of the nuclear accident at the Ignalina NPP the Department of Civil Defence provides to inform additionally the public about the situation occurred, all decisions adopted and measures overtaken. Trying to inform Lithuanian residents in the best possible way about all actions in case of a nuclear accident special manual is being prepared which sets out procedure and recommendations of information transmission, also standards of behavior for population, after receiving of information about the accident, direct danger regarding radioactive contamination and having received the direct evacuation.

 

6.2.5 Measures for Radiation Safety

 

Depending on situation radiological protection is organized. The following measures, such as limitation for inhabitants to stay outdoors, temporary sheltering, taking stable iodine tablets, protection of breathing organs, using individual protection means, evacuation of inhabitants, limitation or prohibition to use contami-nated food, regulation of movement of inhabitants and transport into contaminated zone, people and ground decontamination, etc., are put into practice.

 

6.2.6 Radiation Monitoring System

 

The Department of Civil Defence organizes radiation monitoring in the country. Permanent radiation level monitoring system is used for this purpose. By using this system variations of radiation level in Lithuania, caused by transfer of radioactive substances from other countries or by radioactive substances release into atmosphere in case of accident at the Ignalina NPP are observed. In case of emergency situation the Department of Civil Defence is responsible for collection and analysis of radiation monitoring data as well as for delivering of summarized information to the Governmental Emergency Situation Commission.

Radiation level monitoring system consists of two units:

• unit for early detection of radioactive contamination;
• unit for extended monitoring of radiation level variations.

Unit for early detection of radioactive contamination acts permanently. Observation data about radiological level are received through automatic ionizing radiation measuring equipment by facilities of the Department of Civil Defence, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health. Measuring equipment operate in continuous automatic mode and has audible alarm which is activated if the radiation level exceeds the prescribed limit. Unit for extended radiation variations monitoring is activated in emergencies. Radiological level is observed by Interior Ministry troops of the National Fire and Border Police Departments.

Depending from predicted and actual radioactive contamination of the environment the system can work in three different modes: normal, intensified and extraordinary.

In case of normal working conditions subunits of the Department of Civil Defence will continuously monitor the radiation levels and report the radiation meter indications four times a day. Automatic radiation monitoring stations of the Ministry of Environmental Protection perform measurements continuously. Hydrometereologic stations monitors radiation level in parallel with meteorological observations and once per day delivers summarized information to radiological monitoring data collection and analysis center. When the radiation level exceeds 0.3 m Sv/h, the government’s authorities are immediately informed.

Intensified working conditions are announced in case of local or area accident at the Ignalina NPP or, if information about accidents at nuclear power plants or nuclear incidents in other countries are received, or radiation level exceeds 0.3 m Sv/h at three nearby monitoring stations located in close proximity. In this case at all radiation monitoring stations’ radiometric equipment operate continuously and its indications are reported every hour. If radiation level do not exceed prescribed limit, the data from the stations are collected in the normal way reporting only highest-registrated radiation levels.

Extraordinary working conditions are announced in case of general accident at the Ignalina NPP or, if there is a real danger of transmission of radioactive substances. In this case the monitoring at all the station is carried out continuously and indications of meters are reported every hour. These data are delivered to emergency centers according to established procedure. In case of emergency situation working conditions for radiation level monitoring system is determined by the Department of Civil Defence and is broadcasted communicated via radio or TV, or transmitted by direct communication lines.

 

6.2.7 Radiation Surveillance

 

The prime objectives of the radiation surveillance are to determine radiation level in settlements and evacuation routes, take samples and deliver them for examination of radioactive contamination. Radiation surveillance of contaminated ground is organized and intensively performed in the early phase of a nuclear accident. During intermediate or late phases the radioactive contamination is monitored continuously and radiation surveillance is organized, if necessary. Radiation surveillance in 30 km radius zone should be organized by three routes. The Department of Civil Defence coordinate this activity and analyzes the obtained data.

 

6.2.8 Evacuation

 

The evacuation of local inhabitants is carried out by decision of the Lithuanian Government. The Governmental Emergency Situations Commission makes proposals with regard to evacuation based on actual situation, radiation forecast and inhabitant's protection criteria. The Governmental Emergency Situations Commission controls the evacuation through municipal administrations and the municipal emergency situation commissions. More than 53 thousands people should be evacuated from 30 km zone. Residents of Visaginas should be evacuated first. Taking into account predominate wind directions two evacuation routs are prepared, Tables 6.4 and 6.5. The first evacuation route will be in the western and north-western directions through Utena, Anyksciai, Moletai, Ukmerge, Kedainiai, Pasvalis and Rokiskis districts as well as the city of Panevezys, Figure 6.2. The second evacuation route will be in southern and south-western directions via Svencioniai, Moletai, Jonava, Kedainiai, Kaisiadoris, Trakai and Vilnius districts as well as the Vilnius city, Figure 6.3. Near the 30 km zone boundary the intermediate evacuation points would be established.

 



Fig. 6.2 First evacuation route [16]

 

Table 6.4 Plan for inhabitants evacuation from 30 km zone: I alternative [16]

Cities, Districts	Intermediate evacuation point	Evacuation route	Settlement point
		Ignalina district
Workers of Ignalina NPP	Salakas	Visaginas, Salakas, Daugailiai, Utena	Utena
Visaginas inhabitants	Salakas	Visaginas, Salakas, Daugailiai, Utena, Kupiskis, Panevezys	Panevezys
Dukstas	Kazitiskis	Dukstas, Kazitiskis,Ignalina, Kaltinenai, Utena, Anyksciai district	Anyksciai district
N.Daugeliskes district	N.Daugeliskes	N. Daugeliskes, Ignalina, Kaltinenai, Moletai district	Moletai district
Kazitiskis district	Kazitiskis	Kazitiskis, Ignalina, Moletai, Ukmerge, Kedainiai district	Kedainiai district
Rimse district	Kazitiskis	Rimse, Dukstas, Kazitiskis, Kaltinenai, Moletai, Ukmerge district	Ukmerge district
		Zarasai district
Zarasai	Imbradas	Zarasai, Imbradas, Antazave, Obeliai, Rokiskis district	Rokiskis district
Zarasai district	Imbradas	Zarasai, Imbradas, Obeliai, Birzai district	Birzai district
Turmantas district	Imbradas	Turmantas, Imbradas, Antazave, Rokiskis, Kupiskis district	Kupiskis distict
Salakas district	Deguciai	Salakas, Deguciai, Utena, Kupiskis, Pasvalis district	Pasvalis district

 



Fig. 6.3 Second evacuation route [16]

 

Table 6.5 Plan for inhabitants evacuation from 30 km zone: II alternative [16]

Cities, Districts	Intermediate evacuation point	Evacuation route	Settlement point
		Ignalina district
Workers of Ignalina NPP	Kazitiskis	Visaginas, Kazitiskis, Ignalina, Svencionys district	Svencionys district
Visaginas inhabitants	Kazitiskis	Visaginas, Kazitiskis, Ignalina, Svencionys, Vilnius	Vilnius
Dukstas	Kazitiskis	Dukstas, Kazitiskis,Ignalina, Kaltinenai, Moletai, Sirvintai district	Sirvintai district
N.Daugeliskes district	N.Daugeliskes	N. Daugeliskes, Ignalina, Kaltinenai, Moletai district	Moletai district
Kazitiskis district	Kazitiskis	Kazitiskis, Ignalina, Svencionys, Vilnius, Trakai district	Trakai district
Rimse district	Kazitiskis	Rimse, Dukstas, Kazitiskis, Ignalina, Vilnius district	Vilnius district
		Zarasai district
Zarasai	Deguciai	Zarasai, Deguciai, Utena, Ukmerge district	Ukmerge district
Zarasai district	Deguciai	Zarasai, Deguciai, Utena, Ukmerge, Kedainiai district	Kedainiai district
Turmantas district	Deguciai	Turmantas, Zarasai, Deguciai, Utena, Ukmerge, Jonava district	Jonava district
Salakas district	Deguciai	Salakas, Deguciai, Utena, Ukmerge, Jonava, Kaisiadorys district	Kaisiadorys district

 

Boards of Ignalina, Zarasai and Utena districts should set up and equip the intermediate evacuation points: Ignalina municipal board in Kazutiskis and N. Daugeliskes, Zarasai municipal board in Imbrade, Deguciai and Salakas, and Utena municipal board in Daugeliskes (alternate point). Management stations of the Department of Civil Defence would also be established in these points. Inhabitants would be evacuated by personal and public transportation. Depending on the radiation situation evacuation would be performed in two ways:

• when there is no radioactive contamination, by using the same transport as far as temporary living point;
• in the case of radioactive contamination, in two stages: from living point up to intermediate evacuation points by transport of Ignalina and Zarasai districts, and further - by transport of other districts or cities.

Activities of intermediate evacuation points are coordinated and controlled by municipal emergency situation commissions. Main purposes of intermediate evacuation points are to control departure from and arrival to contaminated territory, keep registration of evacuated inhabitants and transportation, fulfill radiometric control of people, animals and transportation means, ensure necessary medical aid, perform sanitary treatment of people and decontamination of engineering.