An analysis of evacuation options for nuclear accidents

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10106547· OSTI ID:10106547

Tawil, J J; Strenge, D L; Schultz, R W ^[1]

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1. Battelle Memorial Inst., Richland, WA (United States)

In this report we consider the threat posed by the accidental release of radionuclides from a nuclear power plant. The objective is to establish relationships between radiation dose and the cost of evacuation under a wide variety of conditions. The dose can almost always be reduced by evacuating the population from a larger area. However, extending the evacuation zone outward will cause evacuation costs to increase. The purpose of this analysis was to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a data base for evaluating whether implementation costs and risks averted could be used to justify evacuation at lower doses. The procedures used and results of these analyses are being made available as background information for use by others. We develop cost/dose relationships for 54 scenarios that are based upon the severity of the reactor accident, meteorological conditions during the release of radionuclides into the environment, and the angular width of the evacuation zone. The 54 scenarios are derived from combinations of three accident severity levels, six meteorological conditions and evacuation zone widths of 70{degree}, 90{degree}, and 180{degree}.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States); Battelle Memorial Inst., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 10106547
• Report Number(s): EPA--520/1-87-023; ON: DE95005270
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220504
560101
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
COST
DESIGN BASIS AND HYPOTHETICAL ACCIDENTS
DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING
EVACUATION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INHALATION
METEOROLOGY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POPULATION DENSITY
POPULATION RELOCATION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SIMULATION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS