(1) General discussion
In 1999, a nuclear criticality accident occurred at the JCO nuclear fuel fabrication facilities. To
protect the lives, personal safety and property of the nation through enhanced measures against a
nuclear disaster, the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
(hereinafter referred to as “the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Act”) was established that year. The
Act sets out the obligations of a nuclear operator to prevent a nuclear disaster, and provides for the
declaration of a nuclear emergency situation, the establishment of a Nuclear Emergency Response
Headquarters (“NERHQ”), the implementation of emergency response measures, and other
countermeasures.