With the increasing role of social media and the 24 hour news cycle, the need to communicate in a timely and accurate manner in response to a plant event continues to be a major challenge. Within a matter of seconds, photos can be taken with the latest cell phone and posted to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

With such a small window to respond, USA fleet members and other nuclear plants across the country are working together through the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) newly reformed Joint Information System (JIS) Task Force.

“The task force’s goal is to create a standardized model that will enable plants to respond more quickly,” explained USA Emergency Preparedness Core Peer Team Leader David Burgin of PSEG Nuclear who serves as task force co-chair. “We all face the same types of plant challenges and prepare for the same types of emergencies. This takes it a step further by providing guidance on how we can best interact with our stakeholders when information is at a premium.”

The task force was originally formed in 2011 and introduced NEI 12-11 “Building a Joint Information System” a year later. A survey of nuclear plant operators was conducted this year to help identify gaps to implementation.

“One of the biggest challenges is social media and how plants are using or not using it,” said Burgin. “Plants aren’t really using social media and instead deferring to their corporate offices to use it. But when we get into a high profile plant event, the nuclear communications groups are the messengers. This is something the task force needs to work through.”

In addition to social media, the task force is looking to develop standardized templates, procedures and staffing scenarios. Standardized messaging that all plants can use will also be created as well as industry feedback to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on emergency preparedness regulations.

In addition to Burgin, additional task force participants include Communications and Emergency Preparedness leaders from USA fleet members Columbia, Fermi, PPL Susquehanna and PSEG Nuclear.