ML19254A776
| ML19254A776 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 08/06/1979 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Eric Turner HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908160125 | |
| Download: ML19254A776 (1) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E
REGION IV
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August 6, 1979 In Reply Refer To:
RIV Docket Nos. 50-498/IE Bulletin No. 79-18 50-499/IE Bulletin No. 79-18 Ilouston Lighting & Power Company ATTN:
Mr. E. A. Turner, Vice President Power Plant Construction and Technical Services Post Office Box 1700 llouston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Bulletin 79-18 is forwarded to you for information. No written response is required.
If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.
Sincerely, Gl4!,4u L
/Karl V. Seyfr Director
Enclosure:
1.
List of IE Bulletins Issued in Last 6 Months 79o8160< d
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASIIINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Bulletin No. 79-18 Date: August 6, 1979 Page 1 of 2 AUDIBILITY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ON EVACUATION OF PERSONNEL FROM HIGH-NOISE AREAS Description of Circumstances:
In January 1979, a numb: r of licensee personnel were engaged in routine activities in the auxiliary building at the Florida Power Corporation, Crystal River Unit 3 nuclear plant. While these individuals were working in the auxiliary building, in a high-noise (fan) area, an unplanned release of radi.o-active noble gases was detected by building monitors within the auxiliary building at concentrations which caused the licensee to initiate the facility emergency plan auxiliary building evacuation procedure. The facility Emer-gency Officer (Shif t Supervisor) assessed the monitor readings and initiated an auxiliary building evacuation. The evacuation announcement, made over the licensee's PA system, was not heard by the personnel working in the high-noise Licensee personnel did evacuate the auxiliary building upon observing area.
that other personnel had left, and after calling the control room to inquire if an evacuation had been initiated.
During these occurrences, licensee personnel were not exposed to quantities of radionuclides above regulatory guidance.
llowever, the potential existed for inadvertent unnecessary exposure of individuals to radioactive materials.
Subsequent to, he NRC followup inspection of this occurrence, Florida Power Corporation initiated an ssessment of this situation and performed an engineering evaluation and identified several plant areas where the annun-clator system needed audibility improvement.
The licensee has installed a new auxiliary building evacuation tone signal and may add visual alarm indi-cators in areas of very high-noise.
Action to be Taken by the Licensees:
For all power reactor facilities with an operating license:
1.
Determine whether current alarm systems and evacuation announcement systems are clearly audible or visible throughout all plant areas with emphasis on Ligh-noise areas.
De made with the maximum anticipated DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
/7dfC70gg3 No. of pages:
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