ML19256B720

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Forwards IE Bulletin 79-18, Audibility Problems Encountered on Evacuation of Personnel from High Noise Areas. No Action Required
ML19256B720
Person / Time
Site: Millstone 
Issue date: 08/07/1979
From: Grier B
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To: Counsil W
NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY CO.
References
NUDOCS 7908280139
Download: ML19256B720 (1)


Text

YA UNITED STATES 8

^o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON y

o REGION I 631 PARK AVENUE f

KING OF PRUSSI A, PENNSYLVANIA 19406

\\,*****/

A!!S 071379 Docket No. 50-423 Northeast Nuclear Energy Company ATTN: Mr. W. G. Counsil Vice President - Nuclear Engineering and Operations P. 0. Box 270 Hartford, Connecticut 06101 Gentlemen:

The enclosed Bulletin No. 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,

\\

Boyce H. Grier Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Bulletin No. 79-18 2.

Listing of IE Bulletins Issued in Last 6 Months cc w/encls:

J. F. Opeka, Station Superintendent D. G. Diedrick, Manager of Quality Assurance J. R. Himmelwright, Licensing Safeguards Engineer K. W. Gray, Construction Quality Assurance Lead H. R. Nims, Director of Nuclear Projects A. Z. Roisman, Natural Resources Defense Council 122 ti 243 7908280/jT

ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555 IE Bulletin No. 79-18 Date:

August 7, 1979 Page 1 of 2 AUDIBILITY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ON EVACUATION OF PERSONNEL FROM HIGH-N0ISE AREAS Description of Circumstances:

In January 1979, a number of licensee personnel were engaged in routine activi-ties 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 radioactive 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 Emergency Officer (Shift 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 area.

Licensee personnel did evacuate the auxiliary building upon observing 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.

However, the potential existed for inadvertent unnecessary exposure of individuals to radioactive materials.

Subsequent to the NRC followup inspection of this occurrence, Florida Power Corporation initiated an assessment of this situation and performed an engineering evaluation and identified several plant araas where the annunciator system needed audibility improvement.

The licensee has installed a new auxiliary building evacuation tone signal and may add visual alarm indicators 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 high-noise areas.

Determination in high noise areas must be made with the maximum anticipated noise level.']} 24k DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under: N D M fd3 ANO No. of pages:}}