Federal Nuclear Emergency Plan Part 1: Master Plan

3. National Support Structure

The National Support Structure provides overall coordination of the federal response during a nuclear emergency. It allows for information sharing and implementation of coordinated actions by the federal departments and agencies involved in the response. The National Support Structure is established as an additional operations centre to those normally activated by individual departments and agencies to deal with emergencies affecting their mandate. It does not replace, but is rather supported by, these individual departmental emergency operations centres. Activation of the National Support Structure may occur either prior to or following implementation of the FNEP. However, FNEP implementation requires federal organizations to coordinate their departmental emergency operations, procedures, and response actions through the National Support Structure.

The National Support Structure under FNEP encompasses all federal emergency centres, organizations, and federal personnel therein, including:

• 1. The National Support Centre in Ottawa,
• 2. The Federal Regional Organization, which may be co-located in the provincial emergency operations centre, and
• 3. Other supporting sites in Canada or abroad.

Members of the National Support Structure are referred to as Designated Officials. Health Canada maintains a list of staff from federal departments and agencies that are Designated Officials in the National Support Structure. Additional information on the membership of the National Support Structure can be obtained from the FNEP Administrative Authority (see page ii).

Most components of the structure are described in general terms in the National Support Plan [12]. The manner in which the elements of the structure would be brought into force is described in Section 4: Activation and Implementation.

3.1 National Support Center

The National Support Centre is the operations centre of the federal emergency operating groups. It is established to facilitate information sharing and implementation of coordinated actions between the various federal departments and agencies, and other jurisdictions involved in the response. Activities of the emergency operating groups in the National Support Centre are undertaken by Designated Officials from various federal government departments and agencies brought together into the following five Groups:

• 1. Executive Group;
• 2. Coordination and Operations Group;
• 3. Public Affairs Group;
• 4. Technical Advisory Group; and
• 5. Finance and Administration Support Group.

The group structure of the National Support Centre is shown in Figure 1.

The National Support Centre group representatives are supported by staff and capabilities in their "home" department or agency and by one or more Task Teams. Such teams would be formed to carry out specific predefined responsibilities or to implement a specific set of tasks requiring participation or collaboration of multiple federal departments or agencies. Task Teams may be formed by, and report to, any group of the National Support Centre. Groups and possible Task Teams of the National Support Centre are shown in Table 1.

FIGURE 1: Group Structure of the National Support Centre

TABLE 1: Possible Task Teams under National Support Centre Groups

National Support Center Groups	Task Teams*
Executive	Management Government/Cabinet Briefings
Coordination and Operations	Legal aspects Liaison Telecommunications Transportation and logistics for resources International assistance Radiation protection of emergency workers
Public Affairs	Public enquiries and rumour control Media monitoring Media briefings and conferences
Technical Advisory	Plume dispersion and dose projections Environmental monitoring and sampling Laboratory analysis coordination Radiological impact assessments

^* Formed by a Group when required. Other Tasks Teams may be created during the response to deal with specific aspects of the emergency.

3.2 Designated Officials in the National Support Center

The National Support Centre is staffed and operated by Designated Officials, described below. Detailed descriptions of the roles and responsibilities assigned to Designated Officials are contained in Appendix 3, and in the relevant FNEP emergency procedures manuals.

National Coordinator:

Under the direction of the Executive Group, the National Coordinatoris responsible for the overall coordination and management of the federal response.

The National Coordinator is a senior representative who has extensive knowledge of the federal role in nuclear emergencies. The National Coordinator is supported by the National Support Centre Manager, and the Chairs of the four functional National Support Centre Groups (Coordination and Operations, Public Affairs, Technical Advisory, and Finance and Administrative Support). Together, they comprise the Management Team, which oversees the functioning of the National Support Centre.

National Support Centre Manager:

Under the direction of the National Coordinator, the National Support Centre Manager's responsibilities are to provide advice and assistance to the National Coordinator in carrying out his duties, and to manage all staff and processes within the National Support Centre dealing with support functions and liaison.

National Support Centre Group Chairs:

Under the direction of the National Coordinator, the National Support Centre Group Chairs are responsible for managing their designated group. Group Chairs represent their groups on the National Support Centre Management Team.

Departmental Representatives to National Support Centre Groups:

Departmental Representatives represent and liaise with their "home" department or agency. Under the direction of the Group Chairs, Departmental Representatives perform the functional tasks relating to the mandate of the National Support Structure. They must be familiar with the emergency responsibilities, capabilities and procedures of their organization. Departmental Representatives are designated by their department or agency based on their expertise and/or authority with regards to the mandate of their assigned National Support Centre Group, described in the following section.

Liaison Officers:

Liaison Officers provide liaison and coordinate support and offers of assistance between emergency operating groups in the National Support Structure, the provinces, in other countries, or international agencies.

3.3 Groups in the National Support Center

3.3.1 Executive Group

The Executive Group provides policy review and decision making, authority over the implementation of the FNEP and departmental plans, representation to the Government (Cabinet), strategic assessment, financial management, and policy conflict resolution. The Executive Group meets periodically, or as required, and is briefed regularly by the National Coordinator on all aspects of the emergency. Responsibilities of the Executive Group include, but are not limited to, the activities listed below. The Executive Group:

• 1. Responds to the direction of the Federal Prime Minister, the Cabinet or the designated Lead Federal Minister;
• 2. Recommends implementation of the FNEP and relevant Provincial Annexes to the designated Lead Federal Minister;
• 3. Formulates a government position on the emergency;
• 4. Makes major policy decisions;
• 5. Provides policy guidance and direction to manage the national support effort effectively;
• 6. Resolves any management problem not able to be resolved by the National Coordinator and the Management Team;
• 7. Approves Government/Cabinet briefings;
• 8. Designates the Federal Spokesperson(s);
• 9. Approves termination of FNEP, deactivation of the National Support Structure and transition to recovery phase; and
• 10. Recommends to the Privy Council Office a Lead Federal Department and Minister for the recovery phase.

The Executive Group is chaired by the Health Canada Deputy Minister or delegate, or by a Senior Executive appointed by the Lead Federal Minister for the response or the Privy Council Office. It is composed of senior representatives from federal departments and agencies having primary responsibilities within the FNEP, and having the authority to make decisions on behalf of their organization, including the commitment of resources. Membership may be augmented by officials from other organizations and governments having resources, capabilities or expertise of relevance to the specific nuclear emergency event.

3.3.2 Coordination and Operations Group

Under the direction of the Executive Group through the National Coordinator, the Coordination and Operations Group coordinates all federal response actions, ensures liaison with provincial and international organizations, provides a forum for the exchange of information amongst all federal departments and agencies, provides advice, options and recommendations to the Executive Group, and directs the implementation of the decisions made by the executive authority. Responsibilities of the Coordination and Operations Group include, but are not limited to, the activities listed below. The Coordination and Operations Group:

• 1. Serves as a national reporting forum on the status of the federal government's activities;
• 2. Ensures that implementation of individual federal departmental support plans is coordinated and consistent with the current federal strategy and FNEP provisions, that it can be carried out safely, and that it does not conflict with other ongoing federal and provincial operations;
• 3. Maintains liaison with federal departmental and agency headquarters in the National Capital Region, the provincial emergency operations centre (through the Federal Operations Liaison Officer), and other supporting sites;
• 4. Ensures that links with federal institutions, non-governmental organizations, foreign governments, international agencies, the private sector (e.g., industry, universities), etc. are established and maintained directly or through the appropriate federal departments and agencies;
• 5. Maintains communication with the Technical Advisory Group and the Public Affairs Group to receive and provide information on response operations;
• 6. Develops consolidated situation reports on the basis of reports received from groups of the National Support Centre and federal departments and agencies;
• 7. Keeps track of consolidated government emergency response expenditures through the Financial and Administrative Support Group;
• 8. Coordinates, with assistance from the Technical Advisory Group, environmental monitoring, sampling and laboratory analysis;
• 9. Conducts an assessment of the actual or potential national impacts of the implemented or proposed protective measures;
• 10. In areas of federal jurisdiction or when requested by a province, makes recommendations and coordinates implementation of protective measures;
• 11. Contacts and coordinates the dispatch of federal, national and international resources in response to requests for, or offers of, assistance from the provincial emergency operations centre or other appropriate authorities;
• 12. Coordinates, with assistance from the Technical Advisory Group, the implementation of occupational radiation protection programs for federal emergency workers, or in support of provinces;
• 13. Establishes and maintains a joint emergency telecommunications system; and
• 14. Proposes transition to recovery and assists the National Coordinator in implementing termination and deactivation activities.

The Coordination and Operations Group is chaired by a senior representative with knowledge of the FNEP, and expertise in nuclear emergency preparedness measures and intervention requirements. The Coordination and Operations Group is composed of officials from organizations having responsibilities within the structure of the FNEP and who have knowledge and authority, or can easily access those with the knowledge and authority, to make operational decisions on behalf of their organizations. Any federal department or agency may be an active member of the Coordination and Operations Group, depending on the nature and extent of the emergency.

The Coordination and Operations Group also includes liaison members from the Technical Advisory Group and the Public Affairs Group, who are responsible for bilateral liaison between the Coordination and Operations Group and their home group, identifying issues and providing advice to the Group which may involve federal operations.

3.3.3 Public Affairs Group

Under the direction of the Executive Group through the National Coordinator, the Public Affairs Group serves as the central federal coordination point for the gathering, generation, coordination with provincial counterparts and distribution of federal information concerning the emergency for the public and the media.

When the provincial information centre is activated in response to an emergency in or near that province, the Public Affairs Group works in close collaboration with members of the Federal Regional Organization at that centre and coordinates public information with federal departments/agencies and provincial authorities.

Responsibilities of the Public Affairs Group include, but are not limited to, the activities listed below. The Public Affairs Group:

• 1. Develops appropriate communications strategies and responses;
• 2. Provides information and advice to the elements of the National Support Centre on communications strategies and activities;
• 3. Identifies potential national public affairs resources required in support of the National Support Centre or a province;
• 4. Maintains liaison and coordinates with the provincial information centre, through the Federal Public Affairs Liaison Officer;
• 5. Maintains a link with all federal departmental public information groups, the public inquiries centre (when activated) and other public information officials, as required;
• 6. Assists the Coordination and Operations Group in preparing Government/Cabinet briefings;
• 7. Prepares and coordinates the dissemination of information products associated with the implementation of protective measures to the public;
• 8. Prepares and coordinates media announcements, briefings and conferences at the national level;
• 9. Supports the Federal Spokesperson(s);
• 10. Establishes and operates a national media centre;
• 11. Disseminates public information (including information packages and media announcements) by appropriate means;
• 12. As required, establishes, arranges for the provision of and maintains a public inquiry hot line, and assesses public information needs and concerns;
• 13. Establishes, arranges for the provision of and maintains systems for monitoring of national and regional media, monitors and analyses national and regional media, and identifies emerging issues; and
• 14. As required, establishes and coordinates, Task Teams to carry out specific and well-defined public affairs tasks.

The Public Affairs Group is chaired by a senior communications representative with detailed understanding of government and emergency communications requirements. It is composed of federal public affairs officials from organizations having responsibilities within the structure of the FNEP and in accordance with the framework set out in the National Emergency Arrangements for Public Information [13]. The Public Affairs Group may be augmented by officials from other organizations and governments having responsibility for aspects of the specific nuclear emergency event.

3.3.4 Technical Advisory Group

Under the direction of the Executive Group through the National Coordinator, the Technical Advisory Group provides scientific and expert technical advice, guidance and information to the other parts of the National Support Centre and other organizations involved in the management of the emergency situation. Responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Group include, but are not limited to, the activities listed below. The Technical Advisory Group:

• 1. Maintains liaison and coordinates with the province technical team through the Federal Technical Liaison Officer;
• 2. Consolidates and interprets scientific and technical data related to the emergency;
• 3. Assesses short-range and long-range plume dispersion and dose projections, including long-range ground contamination;
• 4. Assists the Coordination and Operations Group in coordinating environmental monitoring, sampling and laboratory analysis;
• 5. Conducts an assessment of the potential and actual radiological impacts of the emergency;
• 6. As required or as requested by a province, formulates recommendations for protective measures, including: sheltering, thyroid blocking, evacuation, food control, and relocation;
• 7. Identifies potential national and international technical/scientific resources and laboratories from existing inventory;
• 8. Provides information and guidance required by the Coordination and Operations Group on radiation protection issues for emergency workers;
• 9. Provides information and guidance required by Public Advisory Group for public affairs functions and media relations, including technical information and assessment of impacts;
• 10. Coordinates with other organizations to classify the emergency according to the International Nuclear Event Scale [45];
• 11. As required, establishes and coordinates Task Teams to carry out specific and well defined technical tasks; and
• 12. Assists in termination and deactivation activities.

The Technical Advisory Group is chaired by an expert in radiation monitoring and assessment. It is composed of federal technical specialists from organizations having responsibilities within the structure of the FNEP and who have expertise in the evaluation of the impact of a nuclear emergency.

3.3.5 Finance and Administrative Support Group

Under the direction of the National Coordinator, the Finance and Administrative Support Group provides financial, secretarial, logistic and communications support to the National Support Centre. Responsibilities of the Finance and Administrative Support Group include, but are not limited to, the activities listed below. The Finance and Administrative Support Group:

• 1. Provides financial advice and management of all emergency expenditures, loans, financial claims and assistance accounts, including the preparation of Treasury Board reports and submissions;
• 2. Provides administrative support to all National Support Centre groups and components, including clerical support, telephone and fax services, printing services and mail services;
• 3. Manages the logistics of the National Support Centre, including security and catering services; and
• 4. Receives, logs and distributes reports, including situation reports, media announcements and technical assessment statements for the National Support Centre.

The Finance and Administrative Support Group is chaired by and composed of personnel from departments and agencies involved in the FNEP response.

3.4 Federal Regional Organization and Regional Designated Officials

The National Support Structure is represented in the affected Province by the Federal Regional Organization. Every province has its own unique emergency management structure and requirements for federal support in the event of a nuclear emergency in that province. The detailed structure of the Federal Regional Organization varies therefore from one province to the next. Federal departments and agencies may be represented in the provincial emergency management organization activated when the Province's nuclear emergency plan is implemented. Prior to implementation of FNEP or a Provincial Annex, these federal officials in the region would report and coordinate their activities through their home offices.

The Federal Regional Organization consists of the designated positions described below. Unless otherwise indicated in a Provincial Annex of FNEP, designated officials of the Federal Regional Organization will normally be located at the provincial emergency operations centre. A Federal Regional Organization will include:

• 1. A Federal Coordination Officer;
• 2. At least one Federal Liaison Officer for each of the provincial Operations, Public Information, and Technical Assessment groups; and
• 3. All other federal regional representatives directly involved in providing support to the province, or carrying out response actions coordinated under the FNEP.

Detailed descriptions of the roles and responsibilities assigned to regional Designated Officials are contained in Appendix 3, and in the relevant FNEP emergency procedures manuals.

3.4.1 Federal Coordination Officer

Under the functional direction of the National Coordinator, the Federal Coordination Officer provides the principle liaison with the National Support Centre, and coordinates support between the provincial emergency operations centre, Federal Liaison Officers and the National Support Centre.

The Federal Coordination Officer is a senior federal representative from a regional office who is able to promptly go to the provincial emergency operations centre, and who has authority for determining actions, including the commitment of federal regional resources. The Federal Coordination Officer is not expected to provide radiation protection advice.

Unless otherwise specified, the Regional Directors of the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness are the predesignated interim Federal Coordination Officers until such time as they are replaced by an official designated by Health Canada or the Lead Federal Minister for the response.

3.4.2 Federal Liaison Officers

Under the direction of the Federal Coordination Officer, the Federal Liaison Officers for each of the provincial operations, public information, and technical assessment groups or their equivalents will provide liaison and coordinate support between the provincial emergency operations centre and the appropriate group of the National Support Centre. Detailed activities of the Federal Liaison Officers are provided in Appendix 3.

Liaison Officers are individuals selected for the knowledge and expertise most relevant to the subject and functions of their assigned group. They may be predesignated staff from any of the departments and agencies involved in the FNEP. The Federal Liaison Officers may be assisted in carrying out their duties by other members of the Federal Regional Organization with appropriate knowledge and expertise.

The Federal Operations Liaison Officer is the Regional Director, Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness.

3.4.3 Other Members of the Federal Regional Organization

The Federal Regional Organization will comprise federal specialists from the region, augmented as required by personnel from other regions or from headquarters. The size, composition and role of this team will be dictated by the location, nature and magnitude of the emergency. These specialists will go to the provincial emergency operations centre, to the provincial information centre, or other sites where they would provide federal support to provincial groups. They may also gather at a federal regional emergency operations centre, along with provincial liaison officers, where they will ensure the coordination of federal actions in the region.

3.5 Liaison Officials From Neighbouring Countries for Events in Canada

In the event of a nuclear emergency in Canada which may have impacts on the United States, or for which United States resources may be required for the response, one or more federal officials from the United States may be dispatched to positions within the National Support Structure under the provisions of the Canada-United States Joint Radiological Emergency Response Plan [19] to carry out liaison or support activities.

Liaison officials from other neighbouring countries (France for St. Pierre et Miquelon; Denmark for Greenland) may also be sent to the National Support Centre in order to provide direct liaison with organizations in their home countries.

3.6 Designated Liaison officials for Events Abroad

In the event of a nuclear emergency occurring abroad, one or more federal officials may be designated to carry out liaison or support activities in the country where the event has occurred. These officials will need to register with and liaise with the local Canadian Mission. The local Canadian Mission may be asked through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to provide interim staff to carry out these functions until replaced by designated staff of the National Support Centre.

Mechanisms for the exchange and distribution of information between Canada and another country will follow existing channels established by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade or under applicable international arrangements until such time as specific arrangements are established between the National Support Centre in Canada and the emergency management organization in the country where the emergency has occurred. Information destined for Canadians living or travelling in the "host" country will be provided to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade member at the National Support Centre for subsequent distribution.