(1) The Authority shall establish a process consistent with procedures contained in the national nuclear development plan for the evaluation of proposed sites for nuclear installations in the country.

(2) The Authority shall approve the proposed location for the development of a nuclear installation and associated facilities before the detailed evaluation of that site and preconstruction review and assessment of the proposed facility are commenced.

(3) The process for site evaluation shall include an assessment of the following:

(a) the effects of external events occurring in the region, either of natural origin or human induced;

(b) the characteristics of the site and its environment that could influence the transfer to persons and the environment of radioactive material that has been released; and

(c) the population density and population distribution and other characteristics of the exclusion zone in so far as they may affect the possibility of implementing emergency measures and the need to evaluate the risks to individuals and the population.