Radiological and nuclear risk: Committee on public information

The Public Information Committee was established by Decree No. 697 of March 14, 2022 of the Head of the Department of Civil Protection and is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Ecological Transition, ISIN, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Unified Conference, other relevant administrations and agencies. Two successive Decrees of the Head of the Department, No. 917 of April 4 and No. 2022 of August 4, supplemented the composition of the Committee with additional representatives.

The objective of the Committee is to define the contents of preventive information to the population for emergencies under the National Plan and to formulate directives for preventive and emergency information for planning falling under prefectural jurisdiction.

The Committee pursued this task in collaboration with a Technical and Scientific Commission established and coordinated by the Ministry of Health and composed of radiation protection experts identified by the Ministry of Health, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISIN, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, and the Ministry of Economic Development.

The Public Information Committee met regularly between March and July 2022, preferring the plenary format for the entire duration of the activities.

Organized into working subgroups that instructed and drafted the required content, each within its area of expertise, the Committee ensures that individual contributions meet to produce the required agreed texts.

The Committee's work has allowed the Department, thanks also to the contribution of the Technical Scientific Committee, to define:

A Technical Document "The Information to the Population for the Scenarios Envisaged in the National Plan for the Management of Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies" which gathers the technical-scientific information for informing authorities, emergency workers and the population potentially exposed to radiological and nuclear risk. The document is divided into two parts:

Part A - Preventive Information (which recalls Part A of Annex XXXIV of Legislative Decree 101/2020). It recalls the fundamentals of radioactivity and its effects, how to provide preventive information and the main protective measures for the population.

Part B - Information in emergencies (as provided in Part B of Annex XXXIV of Legislative Decree 101/2020). It deals with the rules of behavior for the population, which may vary according to the nature and evolution of the emergency.

Two annexes complete the document: the first contains information addressed to specific groups, prepared by the Technical and Scientific Committee. The second is a "Standard Information Bulletin" format that shows the main contents that may be communicated in the event of an emergency. Finally, an Appendix on the management of "Media Relations," in the event of a national emergency.

A Summary on "Radiological and Nuclear Risk: What to Know and What to Do," has also been prepared to complement the Technical Document, with the aim of simplifying the content of the Technical Document and to help the understanding of the contents. The Summary is aimed at a wider audience while the Technical Document is addressed to those willing to learn more about topics related to radiological and nuclear risk (Authorities, emergency workers, information workers).

The Guidelines for preventive and emergency information for local planning by prefects

The Department of Civil Protection, according to the outcomes of the work of the Population Information Committee, also supervised the definition of the Directives for preventive and in case of emergency information for all planning under the Prefects' responsibility, as provided for in Article 197, paragraph 1, letter b), of Legislative Decree 101/2020.

The documents produced by the Department outline the elements useful to direct and standardize the information that Prefectures are required to provide to the affected population such as preventive communication programs, and the inclusion in local plans of the provisions and procedures for the dissemination of information in case of emergency. - Former Article 197, paragraphs 2 and 3 (b) of Legislative Decree 101/2020.

The Department of Civil Protection, according to the outcomes of the work of the Population Information Committee, also supervised the definition of the Directives for preventive and in case of emergency information for all planning under the Prefects' responsibility, as provided for in Article 197, paragraph 1, letter b), of Legislative Decree 101/2020.

The documents produced by the Department outline the elements useful to direct and standardize the information that Prefectures are required to provide to the affected population such as preventive communication programs, and the inclusion in local plans of the provisions and procedures for the dissemination of information in case of emergency. - Former Article 197, paragraphs 2 and 3 (b) of Legislative Decree 101/2020.

The guidelines document, and the Technical Document, also consists of two sections:

Part I - The preventive information

Part II - The emergency information

Part I, dedicated to preventive information, is structured in relation to the Emergency Plans prepared by the Prefect, and provided for in Title XIV, of Dlgs 101/2020.

It is appropriate, also in ordinary, to inform the population, and all the other actors involved, about the scenarios related to radiological and nuclear risk, present in the territory under the competence of the Prefect.

The Civil Protection Department also prepares and implements the preventive communication program together with the Prefects, who may provide for the participation of State Administrations, Regions and Autonomous Provinces, municipalities, and the Operational Structures of the National Service of Civil Protection, ex art.197, paragraph 2, of Legislative Decree 101/2020.

Part II of the document deals with information to the population during emergencies, recalling that the reported indications will have to be adapted to the characteristics of the territory under the jurisdiction of each Prefecture and the existing emergency planning.

The information must include the elements listed in Annex XXXIV, Part B, of Legislative Decree No. 101 of 2020.

In particular, the information has to address:

(a) a description of the event and its characteristics where known;

(b) the responses of the institutions;

(c) protective measures and rules of behavior