International Civil Aviation Organization
IAVWOPSG/3-WP/6
17/01/07
WORKING PAPER
INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS VOLCANO WATCH OPERATIONS GROUP
(IAVWOPSG)
THIRD MEETING
Bangkok, Thailand, 19 to 23 March 2007
Agenda Item 7: Matters related to the monitoring and provision of warnings to aircraft of
radioactive debris and toxic chemical clouds
7.1: Assessment and enhancement of the current operational procedures and
notification practices on the accidental release of radioactive material into the
atmosphere from nuclear facilities
7.2: Development of international arrangements for the exchange of information on
the accidental release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere
7.3: Study of the need for a message format for the provision to aircraft of
information on radioactive and hazardous materials accidentally released into the
atmosphere
7.4: Assessment of the need to provide information on solar radiation storms and
other bio hazards
PROGRESS REPORT
(Presented by the Secretary)
SUMMARY
This paper addresses all the tasks related to the accidental release of
radioactive material and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The group will recall that it was tasked to assist the Secretariat in the monitoring and
provision of warnings to aircraft of radioactive debris and toxic chemical clouds. Under this agenda item
the group should undertake work on the following issues:
a) the assessment and enhancement of the current operational procedures and notification
practices on the accidental release of radioactive material into the atmosphere from
nuclear facilities (Conclusion 2/29 refers);
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b) the development of international arrangements related to the accidental release of toxic
chemicals into the atmosphere (Conclusion 2/30 refers);
c) the need for a message format for the provision to aircraft of information on radioactive
and hazardous materials accidentally released into the atmosphere (Conclusion 2/29
refers); and
d) the assessment of the need of provision of information on solar radiation storms and
other bio-hazards.
2.
ASSESSMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF CURRENT
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND NOTIFICATION
PRACTICES ON THE ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
2.1
The group will recall that, at the second meeting it was agreed in principle, that a VAAC
which was also a WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, should be designated as the focal
point for the reception of information from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to
disseminate this information to ACCs concerned. It was also agreed that the detailed responsibilities of
such a VAAC should be assessed. In this regard, the group formulated Conclusion 2/29 tasking an ad hoc
working group consisting of members from Canada, France, United Kingdom (Rapporteur), United
States, IATA and WMO to address these issues. The group may wish to review and endorse the findings
of the ad hoc working group contained in IAVWOPSG/3-WP/19. In this regard the group may wish to
formulate the following conclusion:
Conclusion 3/.. —
Designation of a focal point for the reception and
forwarding of the direct notification received
from IAEA to ACC concerned
That,
a) VAAC……be designated as the focal point for the reception and
forwarding of the direct notification received from IAEA to
ACCs concerned related to accidental release of radioactive
material into the atmosphere; and,
b) the Secretariat develops a corresponding draft provisions listing
the responsibilities of the focal point for review by the
IAVWOPSG/4 Meeting for inclusion in Amendment 75 to
Annex 3.
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3.
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DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENTAL
RELEASE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE
3.1
It may be recalled that at the second meeting, it was agreed that it would be beyond the
resources of the IAVW to establish its own monitoring infrastructure to monitor and track toxic chemicals
accidentally released in the atmosphere and that the progress of this task by the IAVWOPSG would
depend on the international arrangements being established within the WMO Emergency Response
Activities (ERA) Programme in close coordination with ICAO. In this regard Conclusion 2/30 tasked the
Secretariat, in coordination with the WMO member of the group to:
a) monitor the progress being made by the WMO ERA Programme in the development
and implementation of a warning system for toxic chemicals;
b) investigate the use of a suitable message (e.g. NOTAM or SIGMET) for a warning
system for toxic chemicals in the atmosphere; and
c) report back on the above issues to the IAVWOPSG/3 Meeting.
3.2
Concerning part a) of the above conclusion, WMO informed ICAO that the WMO ERA
Programme conducts its work under two teams of the CBS Open Program Area Group (OPAG) on Data
Processing and Forecast Systems (DPFS): a Coordination Group that focuses on nuclear aspects and an
Expert Team on non-nuclear aspects. The subject of atmospheric dispersion of an accidental release of
toxic chemicals into the atmosphere falls within the latter, and is the highest priority of non-nuclear
hazards to be considered by the Expert Team.
3.3
The Expert Team met for the first time in September 2005, Melbourne, Australia. The
report can be downloaded from the following website: http://www.wmo.int/web/www/CBSReports/DPFSERA-index.html. It concluded that atmospheric dispersion of accidental release of
chemicals into the atmosphere was largely a local problem, i.e., the material generally remained in the
surface layer and near the location of release, and is short-lived (except for a prolonged incident). It was
believed that in relation to aircraft operations, the main potential impact would be at aerodromes if the
source of the accidental release were nearby. Rapid response times were considered critical, therefore,
“local” national arrangements such as with the National Meteorological/Hydrological Service (NMHS)
were regarded as most effective in advising on the transport and dispersion of hazardous materials.
Similar conclusions were drawn by the CBS at its Extraordinary Session in Seoul, Korea in November
2006, which noted that “the most suitable strategy would be to concentrate efforts on developing the
necessary capabilities at the NMHS”(Report of the CBS Extraordinary Session, Appendix A, Page 7
refers).
3.4
The group may also wish to note that the ERA programme has developed substantial
guidance material in relationship to the definition of (meteorological) requirements concerning chemical
incidents, role of NMHSs, and guidance for development of the interface between an NMHS and
emergency response agencies in the case of chemical incidents.
3.5
Regarding the message format (e.g. NOTAM, SIGMET) referred to in part b) of
Conclusion 2/30, the suitability of the SIGMET message could be questioned since the effects of toxic
chemicals are expected to be of a local nature and restricted to the boundary layer. The group may wish
to agree that an aerodrome warning to be issued by the aerodrome meteorological office would be more
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appropriate than a SIGMET. The group may wish to note that the use of NOTAM for toxic chemicals is
already envisaged in Annex 15 — Aeronautical Information Services (paragraph 5.1.1.1 v) refers) and to
concur that no further action in this regard is required.
3.6
The group may wish to formulate the following conclusion:
Conclusion 3/.. —
Aerodrome warning for the accidental release of
toxic chemicals into the atmosphere
That,
a) the accidental release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere be
included in Annex 3, as one of the conditions prompting the
issuance of aerodrome warnings; and
b) the Secretariat, develop the corresponding proposal for inclusion in
Amendment 75 to Annex 3 for consideration by the IAVWOPSG/4.
4.
NEED FOR A MESSAGE FORMAT FOR THE
PROVISION TO AIRCRAFT OF INFORMATION ON
RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE
4.1
The group may wish to recall that at the second meeting, it agreed that information of
radioactive material accidentally released into the atmosphere should be included in SIGMET and
endorsed the corresponding amendment proposal which was subsequently included in Amendment 74 to
Annex 3. At that time, it was noted that any future results from the work undertaken in the area of toxic
chemicals could have an influence on the SIGMET format for radioactive material and that the format
should be reconsidered in the light of these results. Taking into account the fact that: a) SIGMET format
is not considered appropriate for toxic chemicals released accidentally into the atmosphere; and that b)
this information is suggested to be included in aerodrome warnings, the group may wish to agree that
there is no need to reconsider the message format used for radioactive clouds and that with the planned
inclusion of information on toxic chemicals in aerodrome warnings, the sub-task related to message
formats can be considered completed with the understanding that any future fine-tuning of these messages
could be undertaken, as necessary, under the general tasks related to radioactive clouds and toxic
chemicals. In this regard the group may wish to formulate the following decision:
Decision 3/.. — Message format for the provision to aircraft of
information on radioactive
and hazardous
materials accidentally released into the atmosphere
That, with the inclusion of radioactive clouds in SIGMET and toxic
chemicals in aerodrome warnings, the sub-task related to the message
format be considered complete.
Note. — The work program of the IAVWOPSG will be reviewed
accordingly under Agenda Item 8.
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5.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON SOLAR RADIATION STORMS AND
OTHER BIO HAZARDS
5.1
The group will recall that at the second meeting detailed information was provided by the
IAVWOPSG member of the United States regarding the impact of space weather on aviation
communication and navigation systems and regarding products currently available from the US National
Weather Service, National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and Space Environment Centre
(SEC). It was agreed that further work was necessary before the development of any appropriate
provisions or guidance material could be considered.
5.2
Work has continued on this issue. The group may wish to note that an Integrating Space
Weather Observations and Forecasts into Aviation Operations Workshop (Washington, DC, United States
from 28 to 30 November 2006) was organized by the American Meteorological Society and Solar
Metrics, in coordination with FAA, NOAA, SEC, NSF and the Next Generation Air Transportation
System Joint Planning and Development Office (NGATS/JPDO). The workshop was attended by some
members of the IAVWOPSG and its Secretary. Regarding the results of the said workshop additional
information is expected to be provided by the US member in IAVWOPSG/3-WP/18.
6.
6.1
ACTION BY THE IAVWOPSG
The IAVWOPSG is invited to:
a) note the information in this paper; and
b) decide on the draft decision and conclusions proposed for the group’s consideration.
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