Information Notice 1986-97, Emergency Communications System

Emergency Communications System

ML031250219
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill, Crane
Issue date:	11/28/1986
From:	Jordan E L NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-86-097, NUDOCS 8611240083
Download: ML031250219 (4)

SSINS No. 6835IN 86-97UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20555NOVEMBER 28, 1986IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-97: EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license and the fol-lowing fuel facilities: Nuclear Fuel Services of Erwin, General Atomics, UNCMontville, B&W LCR Lynchburgh, and B&W Lynchburgh.

Purpose

This notice is being issued to more clearly define the emergency communicationssystem (i.e., the emergency notification system and health physics network) andto provide guidance on the operation and testing of the system. No specificaction or written response is required by this information notice.Discussion:Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix E, Paragraph E.9,requires that the licensee have an emergency communications system. The systemcurrently in use and acceptable to the NRC consists of two subsystems -theemergency notification system (ENS) and the health physics network (HPN).These networks are funded by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The ENSis an automatic ring-down service that provides dedicated telephone service tothe NRC Operations Center. Originally, the HPN system was a dial-up dedicatedcircuit between the licensee's facilities, the regions and the NRC headquarters.The HPN requires special equipment that has been subject to reliability andmaintainability problems and can no longer economically provide the necessarylevel of service. The NRC is replacing the original HPN equipment with normalcommercial dial-up service pending a permanent solution.The ENS portion of the emergency communications system is designed to (1) facil-itate the licensee's timely notifications to the NRC of off-normal incidentsaffectina the facility and (2) provide information concerning the operation andstatus of the plant to the NRC Operations Center. The HPN is designed to providehealth physics and environmental information to the NRC Operations Center in theevent of an ongoing emergency. Licensees must provide qualified personnel tomaintain an open, continuous communications channel with the NRC OperationsCenter upon request by the NRC, as required by 10 CFR 50.72(c)(3). The licenseeis responsible for supplying timely, reliable information concerning an event tothe NRC via the Operations Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Members of the NRCwill not relieve the licensee of this responsibility.8611240083 IN 86-97November 28, 1986 The ENS system is exercised each morning, usually between the hours of 0400 and0800 Eastern time, by the Headquarters Operations Officer's placement of a callto each licensed facility to collect status information. However, this call doesnot fully satisfy 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Paragraph E.9.d., which requireseach licensee to perform monthly testing from the control room, the technicalsupport center (TSC) and the emergency operations facility (EOF).The monthly tests of the ENS and HPN instruments from all installed locationsexcept the NRC Resident Inspector's Office should be done at the initiative ofthe licensee. It should be noted that it is not necessary to conduct monthlytests of the ENS and HPN instruments to the NRC regional office because thatconnection is made through the Operations Center. In the case of the ENS, itis necessary for the licensee to call from each ENS location and establishcontact with the NRC Headquarters Operations Officer. The Headquarters Oper-ations Officer should be requested to return the licensee's call at each ofthe locations. The licensee also should be aware that on occasion it may benecessary to delay a particular test because of the heavy volume of trafficbeing experienced at the NRC Operations Center. All HPN instruments installedat the licensees facilities should be tested by placing a local call to anyother telephone and request a call back to ensure the instrument is working.No call to the NRC Operations Center is required. Documentation of the monthlytest for the entire emergency communications system is required to be maintainedby the licensee.The following information is provided to the licensee in recognition that thenew commercial service for the HPN has raised questions about its use and oper-ation:The new system is standard commercial telephone service and requires nocomplicated or sophisticated operating instruction. It is only necessaryto lift the receiver and dial (301)-951-1212 to get the NRC OperationsCenter. This telephone is installed and operated at the expense of theNRC. Its intended use is to permit licensee personnel to transmit healthphysics and environmental information to the NRC through the OperationsCenter in Bethesda, Maryland in radiological events and exercises. Noother licensee use. other than required testing is permitted. Licenseesmust take appropriate precautions to ensure that the telephone is readilyavailable for the purpose described here and for the monthly tests.Licensees should ensure that the system is not used for other purposes.The development and implementation of appropriate precautions is left tothe discretion of the licensee, but should be consistent with the generaladministrative controls and procedures of the individual facility.The HPN telephone instrument, manufactured by ITT, is a distinct ash/almondcolor, and is identified as "HPN Telephone." Stickers are attached to eachinstrument providing the primary and backup phone numbers of the NRC Opera-tions Center. Most facilities have installed these instruments in the TSCand EOF, although some plants will need to deviate from those locationsbased on where protective measure information is centrally collected.

IN 86-97November 28, 1986 Should either or both of the emergency communications subsystems (ENS and HPN)fail, the Operations Center in Bethesda, Maryland, should be so informed overnormal commercial telephone systems by calling 301-951-0550 or one of thefollowing backup numbers:301-427-4056301-427-4259301-492-8893A collect call to any of these numbers will be accepted. NRC will make arrange-ments to have the failed system returned to normal operation. At the time thefailure is reported, the licensee should be prepared to supply the followinginformation to expedite repair: (1) name of contact at location of failure,(2) commercial phone number of contact, (3) location of contact (i.e., streetaddress, building number, room number, etc.), and (4) any other informationthat would expedite repair.No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis-trator of the appropriate regional office or the technical contact listed below.Edward Jordan, DirectorDivisio of Emergency Preparednessand Engineering ResponseOffice of Inspection and Enforcement

Technical Contact:

H. Michael Hawkins, IE301-492-4145Attachment: List of Previously Issued IE Information Notices

Attachment 1IN 86-97November 28. 1986LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDic ,;.FRMATICN i. .ni- -A ----uste orNoti ce No.86-9686-9586-9486-9388-82Rev. 186-92S6-91SubjectHeat Exchanger Fouling CanCause Inadequate Operability.Of Service Water SystemsLeak Testing Iodine-125Sealed Sources In Lixi, Inc.Imaging Devices and SonsMineral AnalyzersHilti Contreta ExpansionAnchor Boitsusto orIssue11/20/8611/14/8611/6/86.IED 85-03 Evaluation Of 11/3/85Motor-Oporators IdentifiesImproper Torque SwitchSettingsFailures Of Scram Discharge 1V4/85Volume Vent And Drain ValvesIssued toAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll NRC licenseesauthorized to useLixi. Inc. imagingdevicesAll powaer reactorfacilities holdingan OL or C?All power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll PWR facilitiesholding an OL or CPAll powe reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CP; fuelfabrication andprocessing facilitiesAll powr reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll SWR facilitiesholding an OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPPressurizer Safety ValveReliabilityLimiting AccessAuthori zationsRequests To Dispose Of VeryLow-Lavel Radioactive WastePursuant to 10 CFR 20.302Uncontrolled Rod WithdrawalBecause Of A Singhe FailureMain Steam Safety Valve TestFailures And Ring SettingAdjustments1V4/8611V3/861V3/8610/16/8610/16/8686-3986-05Sup. 1OL = Operating LicenseCU a Construction PermitUNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONWASHINGTON. D.C. 2O555OFFICIAL BUSINESSPENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE. $300FIRST CLASS MAILPOSTAGS. FEES PAMOUSNRCWAS. D.C.PERMIT ie 04713357510300 1 lCOlCY1FB11A1NUS CORPLFSLYLE GRABERLICENSING ENGINEER2536 COUNTRYSIDE BLVDCLEARWATER FL 33575