The Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program coordinates the National effort to provide State, local, and Tribal governments with relevant and executable planning, training, and exercise guidance and policies necessary to ensure that adequate capabilities exist to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from incidents involving commercial nuclear power plants (NPPs).
Federal regulations in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 350 address FEMA’s role in conducting assessments and issuing findings regarding offsite emergency plans/procedures for responding to radiological emergencies at commercial NPPs.
Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program Manual
This manual serves as the principal source of policy and guidance for the FEMA REP Program.
View the Manual
2023 REP Program Manual Change Summary
This document lists the updates found in the REP Program Manual for December 2023.
2027 Radiological Emergency Preparedness Manual Update Process
FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Manual is updated every four years. It provides planning standards and guidance for communities and offsite response organizations near commercial nuclear plants to prepare for radiological disasters.
In preparation for the next update of the manual in 2027, FEMA is requesting public comments on the current Radiological Emergency Preparedness Manual version released in 2023.
The public comment period will be open until Sept. 30.
During this time, the Radiological Emergency Preparedness partners and stakeholders – including state, local, tribal and territorial governments – are encouraged to review and comment on the current 2023 edition.
To submit a comment:
- Access the 2023 manual on FEMA.gov.
- Complete a Comment Matrix form to capture relevant details, such as page number, background information and recommended solution language.
- Email a copy of the completed Comment Matrix to FEMATHDPolicy@fema.dhs.gov, with the subject line “2023 RPM Public Comment.”
Please note, if you participated in FEMA’s recent Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Scenario Guidance Listening Sessions, FEMA has captured your feedback, and you do not need to submit a comment.
Members of the public will also have an opportunity to comment on the draft version of the 2027 manual before it is published. The comment period for the draft of the 2027 manual is targeted for the summer of 2027 with a final publication date of December 2027.