ML100780457
| ML100780457 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 11/23/2009 |
| From: | Rebecca Sigmon NRC/NRR/DIRS/IOEB |
| To: | Peter Bamford Plant Licensing Branch 1 |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2010-0118 | |
| Download: ML100780457 (2) | |
Text
Bamford, Peter From:
Sigmon, Rebecca (iZF)
Sent:
Monday, November 23, 2009 4:22 PM To:
Bamford, Peter
(_UP--
Cc:
Thomas, Eric; Thorp, John
Subject:
RE: TMI INES Rating After talking to Eric Leeds, unless we get a formal request to submit the event to the IAEA (as opposed to the requests to provide a rating that we have received so far), we are not going to submit it. We will make the information available to OPA and will provide the rating in response to any international requests, but will not post the form to the IAEA website unless further developments warrant it.
Rebecca Sigmon Reactor Systems Engineer NRRIDIRS/IOEB Operating Experience Branch (301) 415-4018 Rebecca.Sigmon@nrc.gov From: Bamford, Peter Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 3:40 PM To: Sigmon, Rebecca
Subject:
RE: TMI INES Rating OK. Regardless, the licensee is still reviewing our draft report. They promised me by 4:30 PM which I agreed was fair. I will forward their markup as soon as I get it.
Peter Bamford NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2 Limerick & TMI-1 Project Manager 301-415-2833 From: Sigmon, Rebecca Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 3:27 PM To: Bamford, Peter
Subject:
- Peter, OPA is also adamant about not submitting the report, so I have a feeling it's not going to happen. I should mention that as we formally rate every reportable event on the INES scale, the Level 0 is a formal rating, but it generally doesn't get published anywhere. Right now OPA is hesitant to even mention Level 0 in a press release they are currently preparing as the foundation is not really there for it to provide much clarification to the general public. If it gets mentioned at all it will be in response to formal international requests, and directed specifically at the requester (who will presumably have a more thorough understanding of the rating and understand its meaning), along with a copy of the EN and/or the press release.
Rebecca Sigmon Reactor Systems Engineer NRR/DIRS/IOEB Operating Experience Branch (301) 415-4018 Rebecca.Sigmon@nrc.gov 22
From: Bamford, Peter Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 3:17 PM To: Sigmon, Rebecca
Subject:
RE: TMI INES Rating Rebecca, a couple of further points. Region 1 OPA may have issued a press release yesterday, I could not find it on our website but I suspect Diane Screnci may have a copy if you need it for the IAEA form.
Second, as the TMI PM, I recommend that we do not file a formal IAEA report as I believe that would extend the news cycle for an event that has already received more attention than it deserves. My management will hopefully contact Fred/Mike with an endorsement of that position later today. I have no problem giving the IAEA the unofficial level 0 rating for this event.
I am still waiting to hear from the licensee on the wording of your writeup. I'll get that to you as soon as I get it.
Peter Bamford NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2 Limerick & TMI-1 Project Manager 301-415-2833 From: Sigmon, Rebecca Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 12:01 PM To: Couret, Ivonne; Burnell, Scott; Screnci, Diane Cc: Brown, Frederick; Cheok, Michael; Thorp,-John; Thomas, Eric; Bamford, Peter; Jones, Cynthia
Subject:
TMI INES Rating In accordance with MD 5.12 and as noted in IN 2009-27 and RIS 2002-01, the NRC will submit events to the IAEA International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) publicly.available NEWS website if they are determined to have a rating of Level 2 or higher, or if the rating is specifically requested by the IAEA or another INES member state. The high activity over the weekend reported by TMI-1 in EN 45514 generated sufficient media interest that the IAEA and at least three other countries have requested more information. This event as currently reported is a Level 0, that is, "Below Scale."
The IAEA would like to see the INES scale used not just for significant events, but also to demonstrate the low safety significance of other highly publicized events, a category which would include what happened 11/21 at TMI. Given the usual nature of the postings to the website though, it would not necessarily be seen in that light, and posting it to the IAEA website could instead serve to amplify coverage of an event that has already been covered in detail in the media. We would only want to post this event if, in the opinion of OPA, Region I, and NRR management, the posting would serve to emphasize the low safety significance of an event which has received substantial coverage. I have attached a draft copy of the Event Rating Form (ERF) that would be submitted, which primarily contains information from the licensee's Event Notification, for your review, and would appreciate your opinions on the matter.
- Thanks, Rebecca Sigmon Reactor Systems Engineer NRR/DIRS/IOEB Operating Experience Branch (301) 415-4018 Rebecca.Sigmon@nrc.gov 23