Nuclear power: Mitigating the effects of a nuclear accident: Regulators, states, and utilities argue about distance, time, communication, and who´s in charge

A nationwide effort is under way to generate new plans to protect the public in any future nuclear reactor accident. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are urging states and requiring utilities to improve and expand their emergency plans for areas around nuclear power plants. Guidelines issued by the NRC and FEMA are recommending plans for evacuation or sheltering of the public as far as 10 miles (16.1 km) from nuclear plants and for agricultural restrictions as far as 50 miles (80.47 km) out.