ML19338C390

Forwards Suppl to IE Info Notice 80-06, Notification of Significant Events at Operating Power Reactor Facilities. No Written Response Required

ML19338C390
Person / Time
Site:	Big Rock Point, Palisades  File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date:	07/29/1980
From:	James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Dewitt R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
References
NUDOCS 8008150337
Download: ML19338C390 (1)

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4 UNITED STATES E

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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%.....o GLEN ELLYN. ILLINOIS 60137 Docket No. 50-155 Docket No. 50-255 Consumers Power Company ATTN:

Mr. R. B. DeWitt Vice President Nuclear Operations 212 West-Michigan Avenue Jackson, MI 49201 Gentlemen:

The enclosed 7aformation Notice supplements Information Notice No. 80-06 " Notification of Significant Events," and provides clarification on types of events that are required to be reported in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72, " Notification of Significant Events."

Sincerely,

%H James G. Kcppl r Director

Enclosures:

1.

Supplement to IE Information Notice No. 80-06 2.

List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices cc w/ enc 1:

Mr. D. P. Hoffman, Nuclear PDR Licensing Administrator Local PDR Mr. C. J. Hartman, NSIC Plant Superintendent TIC Mr. J. G. Lewis, Manager Ronald Callen, Michigan Public Central Files Service Commission Director NRR/DPM Myron M. Cherry, Chicago Director NRR/ DOM

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UNITED STATES SSINS No.: 6870 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Accessions No.:

0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 8006190035 WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555 July 29, 1980

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Supplement to IE Information Notice No. 80-06 h0TIFICATIONOFSIGNIFICANTEVENTSATOPERATINGPOWERREACTORFACILITIES Description of Circumstances:

IE Information Notice No. 80-06 (IN 80-06) issued on February 27, 1980, forwarded a Federal Register Notice which indicated that the NRC regulations were amended by adding a new 9 50.72, " Notification of significant events", to 10 CFR Part 50.

The effective date of the new rule was February 29, 1980.

This Information Notice supplements IN 80-06 and provides clarification on types of events that are required to be repo'rted in accordance with the rule.

Public comments on the rule indicate the need for more detailed clarification on what occurrences are reportable in regard to certain event types listed in the rule.

Commenters particularly stressed the need to establish more defini-tive thresholds for notifications of certain types of events.

Experience so far with notifications being made in accordance with S 50.72 also suggest the~

need for clarification and more definitive guidance.

The general categoriza-tion of some of the event types listed in the rule has resulted in notifica-tions of events of less significance than was originally intended.

As stated in the Federal Register Notice implementing S 50.72, the rule was intended to require immediate notification of " serious events that could result in an impact on the public health and safety."

The notification requirements in S 50.72 are currently being evaluated to determine actions needed in light of public comments on and experience with the rule.

Notwithstanding future actions which may include some modifications to the rule and supplementary regulatory guidance, a short term need exists for clarifying the thresholds for notifications of certain categories of I

events.

The following paragraphs provide clarification on what is reportable pursuant to the event categories listed in items (1), (7) and (9) of the rule.

Item (1) of S 50.72(a) requires notification of: "Any event requiring initiation of the licensee's emergency plan or any section of that plan."

Notifications under this item refer to those initiating events or conditions that place the facility in a " Notification of Unusual Event" status.

An unusual event indicates a potential degradation of the level of safety of the plant.

Examples of initiating events or conditions that would be categorized as an unusual event are listed on the enclosed pages 4 and 5 of NUREG-0610,

" Draft Emergency Action Level Guidelines for Nuclear Power Plants" (Appendix 1 to NUREG-0654, " Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological E"elo,e Dnune Disah"(._

Emergency Response Plans and Preparedra

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a' It is recognized that some overlap anc requirements of item (1) and other its DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously enteredintosystemunde d

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