a short period. Nevertheless, it can also occur with long term exposure. Radioactive material Radioactive material refers to any material produced, leaked or wasted from nuclear power facilities. Radioactive contamination Radioactive contamination refers to the contagion of the human nature and environment from radioactive release as a result of any nuclear activity. Seismic robustness Seismic robustness refers to the resistance of a nuclear power plant to the earthquake. Nuclear Meltdown Nuclear meltdown basically refers to the melting of the core of a nuclear reactor from overheating. Nuclear fuel becomes very hot that it melts through its container and escapes into the environment. C. BACKGROUND As it has been mentioned earlier, there are several contingencies in order for the radiation to pose danger. I. Environmental Degradation Radiation permanently and naturally exists throughout the environment including the air, water, food, soil and all living organisms. Thus, a human being consistently receives small amounts of radiation from natural sources and medical exposures. However; such releases are considered as non-ionizing radiation which is known as low energy and it does not leave any lasting impact on human nature and environment. The ionizing radiation, on the other hand, is the ultimate hazardous type of radiation which is the outcome of nuclear power industry and manmade or natural sources of nuclear energy. Any radioactive release from a potential nuclear crisis such as an accident or an exposure to radiation from radioactive waste, intensely affects both human nature and the ecological system. Ionizing radiation causes damage to the molecules of living cells. If the amount of radiation is low, the damage in the cells is repaired rapidly. However, in case of high amounts, the damages may not be repaired and it leads the cells to permanently change or die. When the cells permanently change, they become cancerous. On the other hand, experimental evidences show that even small amounts of radiation affect wildlife and lead to an increase in the mutation rates to. In this context, there are concerns on the long-term effects of radiation and the very large number of
III. Nuclear Safety Action Plan In September, 2011, the IAEA’s Board of Governors adopted the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety which focuses on strengthening nuclear safety, emergency preparedness and radiation protection of people and environment based upon lessons learned particularly from Fukushima accident. Focusing on the matters from a broad perspective in all aspects, the Action Plan is established for the purpose of strengthening the global nuclear safety framework. In order for each state to effectively discharge its responsibility and adequately response to emergencies, common approach towards the implementation of high standards is aimed. Such common approach will be provided with establishing systems such as global nuclear liability regime or global nuclear safety framework. Therefore, grounding on the IAEA Safety Standards; 12 main actions are incorporated into Action Plan in order to implement proper policies regarding the enhancement of safety framework under the supervision of the IAEA. All 12 actions comprehend all the measures to be taken in every aspect of the nuclear industry. However, since the Action Plan is a brand new project of the IAEA, there are still deficiencies that should be pointed out. Therefore, each and every action should be analyzed. of Safety Vulnerabilities Safety vulnerabilities refer to the potential weaknesses and cliff edge effects of the nuclear power plants. The durability and robustness of the power plants are significant factors on the matter of potential emergencies. In the light of the accidents, it is pointed out that every nuclear facility has a site-specific vulnerability on the matter of safety. Thus, the necessity of the Member States to undertake a national assessment, in order to tackle with site-specific extreme hazards such as tsunami and earthquake, on the design of nuclear power is crucial. Therefore, proper implementations can be achieved in a timely manner. From this point of view, a methodology was developed by the IAEA relying on its worldwide experiences, in order to guide the Member States during the assessment process. A Methodology to Assess Safety Vulnerabilities of Nuclear Power Plants against Site Specific Extreme Natural Hazards has been established, just after the adoption of the Action Plan, in accordance with the requirements of the aforementioned IAEA Safety Standards. The methodology encompasses an
operational framework which forms a basis for the safety assessment of the vulnerabilities by the Member States, and provides a structure of the possible but not frequent scenarios. Assessing the vulnerabilities and taking necessary measures in pursuant of the methodology, the Member States will be more prepared against any type of emergency. Peer Reviews Peer reviews are the field researches which are made by the authorities from the IAEA, in order to assess the structural integrity and operational and management activities of the power plants of the Member States. The peer reviews are taken in order for the nuclear power plants to be in compliance with each other as enforced by the IAEA Safety Standards. The Action Plan endorses the existing IAEA peer reviews to be enhanced by incorporating lessons learned in order for the maximization of the benefits to the Member States. Thus, the reviews shall include the regulatory effectiveness, operational and design safety and emergency preparedness and response; by the assistance of the experts provided by the Member State concerned. In this context, voluntarily and regularly hosting IAEA peer reviews and giving consent to publish summary information on the reviews, lead the Member State concerned and the IAEA to enhance transparency. Peer reviews enable the IAEA to acknowledge the specific structures of the nuclear power plants and report it to the member-mtates in order for them to implement necessary procedures. Therefore, the common approach can be attained within the context of global nuclear security framework. Emergency Preparedness and Response One of the main and crucial matters to be discussed on the way to the solutions to the potential damages of nuclear industry is emergency preparedness and response. The Action Plan sets a system of national review of the arrangements and capabilities on the emergency preparedness matter with the assistance of IAEA through Emergency Preparedness Review missions. On this basis, the international emergency preparedness and response framework and rapid response capabilities shall be strengthened with the involvement of the relevant international organizations such as United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Office for the