Planning Zones

DOE-HDBK-5504-95

4.2 Planning Zones

A "planning zone" is the area surrounding a facility for which detailed planning and

preparedness efforts are required to ensure that prompt and effective protective actions can

be taken to minimize the risk to workers, the general public, and the environment (see DOE

Order 5500.3A, Section 11.b.(3)). Definition of a planning zone, based on the hazards

assessment, serves to focus and define the scope of the emergency planning process and

becomes the primary basis for planning protective actions.

Emergency response often involves a cooperative effort among several organizations, both

onsite and offsite. To effectively plan for coordinated response, it is important that facility

planners be aware of the structure and content of other plans that relate to the DOE

operational emergency plan. Examples of such plans include operational emergency plans for

adjacent or co-located facilities; master safeguards and security agreements; private, local,

tribal, and state hazardous material contingency plans prepared pursuant to SARA Title III;

the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP); and state, tribal, and local

radiological emergency response plans.