Information Notice 1990-34, Response to False Siren Activations
| ML031210516 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/10/1990 |
| From: | Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IN-90-034, NUDOCS 9005040137 | |
| Download: ML031210516 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 10, 1990
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 90-34: RESPONSE TO FALSE SIREN ACTIVATIONS
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose
This information notice is intended to alert addressees to potential problems
resulting from lack of appropriate response to false alert and notification
system (ANS) siren activations (false alarms). It is expected that recipients
will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider
actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions con- tained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Description of-Circumstances:
Between January 1987 and December 1989, more than 20 false alarms of the ANS
were reported to the NRC. These false alarms were attributed to such causes
as inclement weather, mechanical failure, radio interference and personnel
error. In many cases, licensees and local officials responded to these
actuations inadequately with regard to reassuring the affected public.
For example, on June 2, 1989, at 4:49 a.m., spurious actuation of an emergency
notification siren associated with the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
resulted in a high level of frustration and anxiety among members of the
public when they were unable to confirm what action, if any, they should
take. Again, on January 16, 1990, at 11:20 p.m., a 20-minute spurious
activation of an emergency notification siren associated with the San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station caused a similar reaction.
In both cases, members of the public tuned their radios to the designated
emergency broadcast station (EBS), which did not inform them that the alarm
was false. Members of the public subsequently called the licensee's emergency
phone number listed in their emergency information booklet, but received no
response since that number is only activated in a real emergency. Members
of the public then inundated their local 911 emergency number, overloading
that system and frustrating local officials who also did not know what was
,le,
9005040137 /pg
IN 90-34 May 10, 1990 happening. Some individuals attempted to call the licensee directly and some
called the NRC Operations Center, with nobody being able to provide factual
information.
Licensees and local officials found, in one case, a failure to develop effec- tive plans to respond to spurious activations and, in the other case, a failure
by offsite organizations to implement planned responses.
Diablo Canyon completed a root-cause analysis of the occurrence and with
local authorities developed the following corrective actions:
1. A new section titled "Accidental Siren Sounding" was added to the public's
emergency notification booklet. This section includes a telephone number
(manned by company employees 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> per day) that a member of the public
can call if he or she hears a siren but can find no message on an EBS. The
new section also asks the public to refrain from calling 911 when a siren
sounds.
2. The licensee developed a training video tape for local officials and for
personnel at all EBSs.
3. Local officials revised their procedures and retrained individuals respon- sible for activating the EBS.
-I-addittonw-6ecause six spurious activation slccurred snce-1984, thelicensee- decided to upgrade the siren system. The licensee is replacing all transistors
in the sirens because these have been the most frequent cause of false activa- tions. The licensee is also modifying each siren to confirm activation if the
siren sounds. This modification was considered necessary because citizens have
occasionally confused police or fire sirens with activations of the plant's
emergency notification system.
Discussion:
A similar information notice, Information Notice No. 81-34, "Accidental Actua- tion of Prompt Public Notification System," was issued on November 16, 1981. A
siren, designed to warn of a nuclear emergency, sounding in the night would be
expected to cause anxiety, which in turn leads to numerous unnecessary and
burdensome calls to the local police, the licensee, and the NRC. Timely and
appropriate response to false alarms can reduce the level of public anxiety.
Failure to rapidly inform the affected public as to why the siren is sounding
raises that anxiety. Local procedures for response to false alarms have not
been established in all cases. Insufficient response may decrease public
confidence that the ANS will perform its intended function during an emergency.
Addressees
may wish to verify that plans are in place to respond effectively
to spurious activation of emergency notification sirens associated with their
facilities.
- g
IN 90-34 May 10, 1990 Thisinformation notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.
arDkrector
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact:
G. P. Yuhas, RV
(415) 943-3748 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Attachnent
IN 90-34 May 10, 1990
Page 1 of I
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRCINFORNATIU1 NOTICES
.... .. . . . ... ......
notice No. Subiact . ssuane m ioi-1uedSe ' . ) -;s* 4 r *"
- z ~~~~~90-3130~upten 903 r1t0
. Sources of Unexpected '5/9/30 All holders of;Ls !' ! t
Occipatiosal Radiation or CPs for nuclear.
.. . . Exposures at Spent Fuel powerreactors. . t.1 pools
90-32 SurfaceCrack and Subsurface 5/3/90 All holders of 0LI
Indications in the Weld of or CPs for nuclear
A Reactor Vessel Head power reactors.
90-31 Update on Waste Form and 5/4/90 All holders of OLs
Nigh Integrity Contioe7r or CPs for nuclear
Topical Report Reviw powr reactors, fuel
Status, Identificetion cycle licenses, and
ot Problees with Cement certain by-product
.I i.. Solidificetiut0 and rnterials licenses.
Reporting of Waste Nishapi
- 94-30 Ultrasonic Inspection 5/1/90 All holders of OLo
Techniques for Dissimilar or CPs for nuclear
metal Weldl power reactors.
90-29 Cracking of Cladding and 4/30/90 All holders of OLs
Its Neat-Affected Zone In or CPs fornuclear
the Bass Netal of a Reactor power reactors.
Vessel Head
90-28 Potential Error In Nigh 4/30/90 All holdersof 01s
Steomline Flow Satpoint or CPs for BaRs.
90-27 Clariticetie of the 4/30/90 All uranium fuel
Recent Re1AIston to the fabrjction and
Rrutory A"ramants ; converso1n facilities. -
tor Uranium
ofb~tve
Nxag uorde tUF6 ) for
Transportation
89-70 Possible Indicetions of 4/26/90 All holders of 0Ls
Supp. I Misrepresented Vendor or CPs for nuclear
Products power reactors.
0L
- Operating License
- Conestruction Permit
UNITED STATES FIRST CLASS MAIL
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION POSTAGE b FEES PAID
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055 PERMIT No. 0-67 OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300
DIV F IFO SUp SVCS
R - &2 AR CHIVES SVCS SECr
TON DC 20555