ML19254E023

Responds to IE Bulletin 79-18.Forwards Results of Evaluation Re Audibility Problems Encountered on Evacuation of Personnel from High Noise Area.Also Forwards Corrective Actions,W/Scheduled Completion Dates

ML19254E023
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	09/21/1979
From:	Ross D GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP.
To:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
NUDOCS 7910300495
Download: ML19254E023 (8)

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' Jersey Central Power & Light Company Madison Avenue at Punch Bowt Road Momstown, New Jersey 07960 (201)455 4200 September 21, 1979 Mr . tsoyce H. Grier, Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region 1 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406

Subject:

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Docket No. 50-219 IE Bulletin No. 79-18 The purpose of this letter is to respond to directives set forth in IE Bulletin No. 79-18 which is concerned with audibility problems encountered on evacuation of personnel from high-noise areas. An engineering evaluation was performed at the Oyster Creek Station to assess the clarity of the announce-ment systems. The results of the audibility evaluation, the corrective actions determined, and scheduled completion dates for the corrective acticas are given below in the responses to the spec 8fic action items noted in Bulletin No. 79-18.

Item i Determine whether current alarm systems and evacuation announcement systems are clearly audible or visible throughout all plant areas with emphasis on high-nose area:.. Determination in high noise areas must be made with the maximum anticipated noise level.

Response

The evaluation performed identified various areas of the plant with varying degrees of audibility problems. In most of the identified problem areas, tne announcement messages were +*ther weak or unclear. In a fewer nunicer of problem areas, the existing tone signals, as well as announcement messages, were weak. Due to the addition of new outdoor structures such as a new radwaste facility, a new office / storage building and the off gas bu ding, certain inaudible areas have been created due to blockage of existing outdoor alarms by these new buildings within the protected zone.

In a few high noise areas where signals and messages could be heard, it has been noted that OSHA regulations require the use of ear protection due to nolse levels. Retesting of these areas with ear protection showed 1237 037 79.10300 kf f Jersey Central Power & Light Company is a Member of the General Pubhc UtAties System

IE Bulletin No. 79-18 September 21, 1979 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Page 2 that a considerable loss of audibility was encountered in this manner. For arear such as this, a visual means of war.,ing will be utilized to supplement

6. isting sign '-

Attachrm.t is a list of the identified problem areas indicating the specif*: problam, the action to c. taken and the date for scheduled completion.

Attacnr ar* ll Indicates r.dditional steps required to inform station personnel o r cha- _, made. Attac', ment 111 is a list of areas of special interest where it may oe extremely difficult to provide hardware systems. Attachment IV provides a list of those areas determined to be inaccessible due to radiation levels, and the intended actions for those areas.

Item 2 Determine what corrective action is r,acessary to assure that areas identified as inaudible areas in (1) above will receive adequate audible /

visual evacuation signals. In areas where adequate audible / visual evacuation signals cannot be assured by hardware changes, determine what additional administrative measures are necessary to assure personnel evacuation.

Response

Corrective actions are presented for the specific problem areas in Attachment 1. In general, areas of weak message clarity will either be increased in volume or additional speakers added. Additional speakers will be added to increase coverage for areas outdoors which were determined to be inaudible. For high noise areas where ear protection requirements cause a reduction in audibility, visual signals will be added to supplement existing tone signals.

Item 3 Submit within 45 days of the date of issuance of this bulletin, a

, written report of the findings on item (1), and delineate completed or proposed corrective actions per item (2). For operating facilities in a refueling or extended outage, the written report must be submitted within 30 days after plant startup following the outage.

Response

The findings and proposed corrective actions are contained in Attachments I through IV.

Item 4 Fer accessible areas, all corrective actions determined per item (2) must be completed wichin 120 days of the date of issuance of this bulletin.

For inaccessible areas, the written report must include a time schedule for completion of corrective actions in this area.

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IE Bulletin No. 79-18 September 21, 1979 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Page 3

Response

The schedules for corrective action are given in the attachments.

Attachment IV provides the schedule of comple. tion for areas determined to be inaccessible.

truly yours pec Y.A Donald A. Ross, Manager Generating Stations-Nuciear cs Attachments cc: United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Inspection and Enforcement Division of Reactor Operations inspection Washington, DC 20555 1237 039

Oyster Creek Huclear Generating Statlon Attachment i .

IE Bulletin No. 79-18 EVACUATION ALARM AUDIBILITY EVALUATION lDENTIFIED PROBLEM AREAS

• DEFINED PROBLEM AREA PROBLEH CORRECTIVE ACTION SCllEDULED COMPLETl0N Reactor Building:

Elev. 75' - NW Stai rweII Hessage Not Clear Add Speaker. December 7, 1979 Elev. 51' - NW Corner Volume Weak increase Volume Decamber 7, 1979 Elev. 51' - RBCCW Nx Area Hessage Poor (Noise) Add Speaker Deceaber 7, 1979 Elev. 51' - SE Stairwell Faint (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Elev. 51' - Cleanup Pumps inaudible (Noise) Add Speaker and Visual December 7, 1979 Elev. 23'6" - RR Airlock No Speaker Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Elev. 19'6" NW Corner Room Messages Poor (Noise) Increase Volume or Relocate December 7, 1979 Turbine Building:

Heater Bay Roof (Outdoors) Inaudible (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Northwest Roof (Outdoors) Poor Audibility (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 "C" Bat tery Roora Poor Audibility (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Oil Tank Area - NW Corner Messages Weak Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Air Compressors 1-1 and 1-2 Hessages Weak (Noise) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Feedpump Room Ear Protection Area Install Visual December 7, 1979 Basement Corridor - East Wall Faint (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Boller llouse:

Interior Around Dollers inaudible (No speaker) Add Two Speakers December 7, 1979 Office Building:

Aux. HVAC Fan Room (2nd Floor) Faint (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 2nd Floor Office Corridor Volume Low increase Volume December 7, 1979 inaudible (No Speaker)

Lobby and Aux F,oom Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Hech. Equip. Room (Over C.R.) Inaudible (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7, 1979 Recirc HG Set Room inaudible (Noise) Install Visual December 7, 1979 (Ear Protection Area)

New Office Building: _ _ ,

All Areas psg Message Weak (A/C Fans) Increase Volume December 7, 1979 u

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Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Attachment I

• IE Bulletin No. 79-18 Page 2 EVACUATION ALARM AUDIBILITY EVALUATION IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AREAS DEFINED PROBLEH AREA PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION SCHEDULED COMPLETION Outdoor Spaces (Protected Area):

Intake and Dilution Area Poor Audibility increase Volume December 7, 1979 South Fence Area Behind New Office Building inacJible Add Speakers December 7, 1979 Existing Warehouse Internal Poor Audibility (No Speaker) Add Speaker December 7,1979 East Area Behind Old Radwaste and New Off-Gas Building inaudible Add Speaker December 7, 1979 North of New Radwaste Building inaudible Add Speaker December 7, 1979 LN N

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Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Attachment il #

IE Bulletin No. 79-18 EVACUATION ALARM AUDIBILITY EVALUATION ADDITIONAL CORRECTIVE ACTION ACTION TO BE TAKEN SCHEDULED COMPLETION

1. Health Physics Training and Procedures must address addition of Visual Evacuation Alarms. December 7, 1979

2. Plant personnel who have received training should be notified of chan9;c made in systems. December 7, 1979 3 Inform Health Physics and Operations Departments of are.as considered inaccessible to determine if Administrative actions are required before completion dates given for these areas. December 7, 1979

4. Ensure adequacy of existing administrative controls for drywell evacuation during outages. December 7, 1979 M

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Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Attachment 111 IE Bulletin No. 79-18 ,

EVACUATION ALARH AUDlBILITY EVALUATION SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS The following areas were identified as those where messages and/or signals may not be adequately audible.

To provide speakers for all these areas would require additional equipment and manpower to effect hardware changes.

1. Lavatories (All Areas)

2. Office Building Locker Rooms and Shower Areas 3 Hobile Maintenance Locker Rooms and Shower Areas

4. Internal Spaces of Trailer Offices within Protected Area Scheduled Action Completion

1. Provide additional consideration for areas and determine necessary controls or hardware. December 7, 1979

2. Complete Corrective Action. December 7, 1979 krs Ni O

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Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station ,

IE Bulletin No. 79-18 Attachment IV EVACUATION ALARM AUDIDILITY EVALUATION INACCESSIBLE AREAS The following areas were determined to be presently inaccessible due to high radiation and/or airborne levels.

1. Condenser Day Areas

2. Demineralizer Tank Rooms 3 Steam Jet Air Ejector Room

4. High/ Low Conductivity Room 5 Condenser Vacuum Pump Room

6. Shutdown Cooling Pump Room 7 Cleanup Filter Sludge Tank Room

8. Cleanup Heat Exchanger Area

9. Cleanup Filter and Demin. Rooms

10. Old Radwaste Tank and Pump Rooms

11. New Radwaste Tank Rooms rk Corrective Action Completlon:

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~sa During next refueling outage presently c;)

scheduled for January 5, 1980.

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