The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001

Prior information to the public

16.—(1) An operator or carrier who carries out work with ionising radiation from which a radiation emergency is reasonably foreseeable shall—

(a) ensure that members of the public who are in an area in which, in the opinion of the Executive, they are likely to be affected by a radiation emergency arising from the undertaking of that operator or carrier, as the case may be, are supplied, in an appropriate manner, without their having to request it, with at least the information specified in Schedule 9; and

(b) make that information publicly available.

(2) In preparing the information to be supplied in accordance with paragraph (1), the operator or carrier shall consult each local authority in the area or areas referred to in that paragraph, any authority likely to fall within paragraph 5 of Schedule 9 and such other persons who seem to him to be appropriate, but the operator or carrier, as the case may be, shall remain responsible for the accuracy, completeness and form of the information so supplied.

(3) Without prejudice to his duty under paragraph (1), the operator or carrier shall endeavour to enter into an agreement with the local authority in the area referred to in that paragraph for that authority to disseminate the information required to be supplied in accordance with that paragraph to the members of the public mentioned in it.

(4) The operator or carrier shall review and where necessary revise the information referred to in paragraph (1)—

(a) at regular intervals but, in any case, not less than once in three years; and

(b) whenever significant changes to the emergency measures, action and authorities referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 take place.

(5) The operator or carrier shall ensure that the information referred to in paragraph (1) is supplied in accordance with that paragraph before carrying out work with ionising radiation to which the assessment made in accordance with regulation 4(1) (a) or (b), as the case may be, applies and that the information is so supplied again and made publicly available—

(a) at intervals not exceeding three years; and

(b) if it is revised pursuant to paragraph (4), as soon as is reasonably practicable after the revision.

(6) Where a report made pursuant to regulation 6 relates to an assessment which identifies any reasonably foreseeable radiation emergency, the operator or carrier, as the case may be, shall make such report available to the public as soon as is reasonably practicable after it has been sent to the Executive under that regulation (except that, with the approval of the Executive, the operator or carrier need not make available any parts of such reports for reasons of industrial, commercial or personal confidentiality, public security or national defence).