ML20010H436

Responds to Re Siren Sys at Facility.Nrc Emergency Planning Regulation Does Not Specify Particular Types of Warning Devices.Nrc Has No Control Over Actual Placement of Warning Sys Components

ML20010H436
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	09/22/1981
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Horton F HOUSE OF REP.
References
NUDOCS 8109240463
Download: ML20010H436 (1)

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~ RDeYoung PBrandenberg (EDO

Dear Concressman Horton:

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1 This is'in response to your letter of Aug 24.,i 1981, regarding the siren

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systems at the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant located in your congressional district.

In that letter, you request coments on the use of warning systems by nuclear plants in other parts of the country.

First, let me emphasize that the NRC's emergency planning regulation does not specify any particular type of warning device (tone alerts, automatic telephone rings, sirens, etc.) for use around nuclear power plants. The licensees are free to choose their own system as long as the public can be warned in the proper time.

Most licensees have selected and are installing sirens, either for their entire warning, system or in combination with other devices (e.g., tone alerts), just as Rochester Gas and Electric Company is doing at Ginna.

In m ral area:, some licensees have selected to use tone alerts rather than sirens because of the economic considerations of covering a sparse population distrib-uted over a large geographic area.

In densely populated areas where one siren can reach a large number of people, licensees are almost universally installing sirens.

Although we sympathize with Mr. Young's situation, the NRC does not have control over the actual placement of warning system components.

Such placement is generally controlled by local zoning ordinan:es which normally have provisions for citizen involvement.

It is our understanding that the placement of sirens is normCly worked out and agreed upon by the utility and the proper local authorities.

I believe Mr. Young's efforts would be cost appropriate and trost meaningful if he focused on the utility and the local authorities.

In closing, I should nention that the Comission has published in the Federal Register', a proposed change to the emergency preparedness r.:ie that would delay the date by which utilities are required to have installed the warning system, from July 1,1981 (which was not achievable for most utilities) to February 1, 1932.

Perhaps this additional time will afford individuals like Mr. Young the opportunity to work with the utilities and io:al authorities to assure the optirum placement of the warning system components.

g I trust this letter provides the infomation you were seeking.

J 8109240463 810922 PDR ADOCK 05000244 Sincerely,

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H PDR Retyped in 0/EDO.

See previous (hM6'i!!iam 1.DQ DRC for concurrences.

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Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie

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Dear Mr. Hendrie:

I have received the enclosed correspondence concerning the efforts of Rochester Gas & Electric Company to comply with the early warning system for the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant located in my congressional district.

Contact was made directly with Mr. Howard Rowley, Manager of Government and Community Re cions at Rochester Gas

& Electric, to discuss the concerns of my constituents.

I am' informed that the alternate to the sirens mentioned in the enclosed material is a tone alert system which must be installed in every home.

The cost of this system and the fact it would have to be tested every two weeks would seem prohibitive.

Also, the Ginna plant is located in a rural area where many work outside.

The purpose of this letter is to request your comments and suggestions concerning this situation.

I realize that NRC 654 pertains to all of the United States and would like to have the benefit of your experiences with plants located in other parts of the country.

Thank you for your courtesy and interest in this situation.

I look forward to your response.

erely, f

f5 Frank Horton FH: DRGS Enclosures PiEASE REPLY 70; ll-Hon. Frank Mo:4c.,

l 314 Federal D=Hding 8/25..To EDO for Direct Reply... Suspense: Sept 14 Rocliesfer, New York T4S4 i

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l STEPHEN E.. YOUNG 2801 Shepherd Rd.

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9 Congressman Frank J. Horton 314 Federal Building

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Dear Congressman Horton:

Earlier this week I had given your office a phone call to alert you to a problem that affected people that live around my home and most directly my wife and I. This situation will affect at least 700 others in the next few months. At the time speed was of the essence this was the reason for contacting people by telephone.

3 On July 15 Rochester Gas and Electric put up the firu of 79 poles in the early warning system as mandsted by the NRC. The problem came in when they put it in front of the home I just built last year. Now this may sound like just an idle complaint and the first reaction is "it has to go in front of someones house". If my home were located in the city I could understand this but with my house on 6 acres and a thousand a:res of orchard around us the reason for the location is perplexing.

With time short and the cost of a legal battle the choice was to attack the problem politically.'}dy steps were -to contact the proper assemblymen, congressmen and senators. From that point I contacted the television and newspapers in this area. You may have seen some of the coverage this week. Rochester Gas and Electric's first rea: tion to myself and the press was that relocation was out of the question with all of the pole locations. Later in the week I received a call from the Vice President of RochesteTGas and Electri:. John Mair indicated tv me that he had seen thiPress coverage of the problem and at this point in time agreed with me the poles are a visual and audio pollution problem to those lo:ated near them. He also indicated to me that he has set up a task force to evaluate each installation of the sirens. Mr. Mair also said he would like me to look over the enginering aspects of the system with the project engineer I had contacted earlear in the week.

You may be asking your self why the follow.up? The pole is'still there and the effects of the system still will effect the environment. On. Wednesday I notified RGandE that I would with the hel;i of my neighbors be publishing a informational sheet on the system. This sheet will be distributed to the people that will be located near the poles on the map. For your information i have enciesed one of these letters for you review. We would also like you to know that we plan on following this dilemma through to the end to help all those conce ned.

Thanks again for your help on this problem.

Si ly, h )Y tephen. E ng (315) 524 3312 o

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STUART E. HOTCHKISS b

. 5097 WALWORTH. ONTARIO RD.

WALWORTH, N.Y.145SB

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b Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation 30 July 1981 N

89 East Avenue

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Rochester, N.Y.14649 Attention: John W. Oberfies, General Manager, Public Affairs

Dear Mr. Oberlies,

As owner of the property.at it > above address, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your explanator letter of July 27, 1981, regarding it..tallation of. "79 pole.

mounted alert sirens...around, the Ginna nuclear power plant..."

In the third paragraph, yot' :irJe that th.; location for each of these 79 sirens has been "choosen". Since this it an accomplished fact, please provide me with a map of the locations you hat e chosen. This will enable me to better assess impacts on my personal environment and any requests for relocation in accordance with paragraph 5.

It seems logical that if any relocation were to be accomodated it would be economically efficient to resolve such issues prior to actual installation, since clearly ariy costs of adjustment will be passed on to your customers.

I must add that while i am aware of (and in disagreement with) the government's mandate, I was fully aware of the Ginna plant when I purchased this property, and

' am 'ankly much less concerned about my risk and hazard from the nuclear plant than I am about the environmental impact of the sirens! Does the environmental impact repor't accurately address noise level and esthetic impacts on people and animais? I find it he'd to believe that sound levels in excess of 100 db are acceptable.

~ The Rochester Demot,.'at and Chron':le informs me 'that alternative warning systems are available. Will you please provide me with information regarding the findings of your analysis of such alternatives?

(e.g. telephone rings, ee.).

Very truly yours, Stuart E. Hotchkiss c:

Senator Daniel P. Moynihan Senator Alfonse D'Amato Congressman Frank Horton Rochester ' Democrat & Chronicle

STUART E. HOTCHKISS 5097 WALWORTH ONTARIO RD.

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Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation 30 July 1981 s

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E-Attention: John W. Oberlies, General Manager, Public Aff airs P

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Dear Mr. Oberlies,

N As owner of the property at 2200 Walworth Penfield Road, Walworth, N.Y., I wish to acknowledge receipt of yo,ur explanalory letter of July 27, 1981, regarding installation of "79 pole. mounted alert sirens...around the Ginna nuclear power plant..."

I In the third paragraph, you state that the location for each of these 79 sirens has been "choosen". In a similar letter concerning my principal residence I have requested you to provide me with a map of the locations you have chosen. This will enable me to better assess impacts to my tenants environment, the value of my investment and any requests for relocation in accordance with paragraph 5.

It seems logical that if any relocation were to be accomodated it would be economically efficient to resolve such issues prior to actual installation, since

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clearff any costs of adjustrnent will be passed on to your customers.

I must add that while I am aware of (and in disagreement with) the government's.

mandate,I was fully aware of the Ginna plant when I purchased this property, and am frankly much less concerned about risk and ha::ard from the nuclear plant than I am about the environmental impact of'the sirens! Does the environmental impact report accurately address noise level and esthetic impacts on people and animals? I find it hard to believe that sound levels in excess of 100 db are

' acceptable.

.The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle informs me that alternative warning l

systems are available. In my other letter I have asked you to provide me with information regarding the findings of your analysis of such alternatives, (e.g.

telephone rings, etc.).

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Stuart E. Hotchkiss c:

Senator Daniel P. Moynihan Senator Alfonse D'Amato Congressman Frank Horton Rocherter Democrat & Chronicle

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RG&E WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEM f

Rochester Gas & Electr3c is installing a waming system, (for use in case there is a problem at Gina Nuclear Plant in Ontario). The control of this system will be turned aver the county, and used as they see fit.

(These sirens will also be used for disasters such as hurricanes, canhquakes, floods, chemical accidents, violent thunder storms, etc.).

The first warning siren has been erected on Shepherd Road in Williamson.

This is the first of 79 sirens to be erected in the surrounding towns of Ontario, Williamson, Webster, Sodus, Marion, Walworth and Penfield. NO PRIOR WARNING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE GENERAL VICINIl7 OF THIS SIREN!

We feel thr. these sirens are a source of visual pollution, as well as audio polluuon.

We are trying to have this system re-evaluated and make sure that all people involved are aware of the facts about this warning system. Here are some of the facts:

• Siren is approximately 4 feet in diamete:

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• Siren is appr6ximately 55 feet from road surface k_a D?-

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• Weight of the siren is 450 pounds o

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• Approximate cost of the siren is S15,000 plus

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implementation, for a total cost of 51 million dollars.

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installation cost, support equipment, and s

• Intensity of signal at the horn is 125 db.

(Threshold of Pain - 105 db. to 140 db.-depending on the person)

Enclosed is a map of the locations of all of the warning signals. Please be aware of these locations, as you may be directly affected by these signals.

Also enclosed is.a list of people you may contact if you have any questions, concerns, complaints or suggestions.

Please contact these people if you are at all concerned about tnese warmng signals.

Thank you, Stephen Young July 15,1981

Please

Contact:

John Mair - Vice President of Rochester Gas & Electric 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 716/546-2700 Dick Peck - Customer Representative of Rochester Gas & Electric 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 716/546-2700 Howard Rowley - Manager of Community Relations 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 716/546-2700 Alfonse M. D'Amato - United States Senator Federal Office Building-111 W. Huron Street Buffalo, New York 14202 716/846-4111 Frank J. Horton - United States House of Representatives 314 Federal Building Rochester, New York 14614 716/263-6270 L Paul Kehoe - New York State Senator 1 Mcatezuma Street Lyons, New York 14489 315/946-6512 o

Tnomas A. Hanna - New York State Assembly 1680 Lake Road Webster, New York 14580 716/265-9800

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'ca JDiREDMOND acres of land located in the middle d frwt. still standing outside the house at 2S01 Shep.

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orchards along Shephrd Road in Wnns mon,. ' - herd Roai ~

Stephen You=g doesn't like the'new dew Wayne County, be said... 2

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from his'lhing room sindow, even though "We aren't necessar0y against the syste=

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the 55. foot.high powder blue waming siren Young said.."But'bere we are, out in the

?We an't make any the siren is%idir m-promises.* But movin blends with the sky co a dear day. * %,. country,' with bundreds of acre,s of trees.

Meration.* be said Rochester Gas & Electric Ca earlier' this' around and they,put thh thing in front of.

',Since Young' began complaining. RG&E month planted the siren that siH emit a our bouse V& & f ?

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.ofDeiah have been going from site to site to 125. decibel noi3e stop a pole about 2C0 feet' After ee'eral phone cansYoung said be'hasmsee where the airens would intrude on pm.

from Young's sindow.

.look at where they're placing the sirens. He's less than a half dozen sirens have been condnced RG&E of5dals to take anothe-pie.

• 1ne siren was the first of 79 to be erected tmder a federally mandated nstem to warn to meet with RG&E er;ineers today..

erected since the one on Shepherd Road.

residenti lhing within 10 mDes o' the Ginna Young a' technician a Xeror Ccep., auta

%th Young and RG&E ere compcidng Nudear Plant in Ontario, Wayne County, of to make stfre the nstem u the best pcssible letten to be delivered to people living near the nudear scridents, warning plan.

sirens It b.s yet to be cocnected

, - "Pm just lookin; at it-from my concern and "AD we ready nut is 'to inform them that But it creates " visual and sudio poDution.". trying to help everyone che in the procm," be -

.it's going to upset their endronment." Young and codd cree bealth problems for Young' said. "Pm actuaDy pro.nudear and I can't even - 'said:

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and his sife, Bon:uec be said The Youn;s, - be sure Pm against the s35te=" * ~ 'c.

'.i.: ' Youn.g and at least oa'e neighbor m,ay hand both 25. are expecting tuins next month.

Despite Young's co= plaints to RG&E ofn..

dist:ibute letters to an estimated 700 famnie>

, lt abo Icrweis the value of his bouse and six cials and the media, the'450.poun.d, siren is..

'living near sirens later this week depending c:

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whether they find e printer. '.

.,. and television to get further inst uctions.*g v4..

• "RGLE's letter crphi-!:g the.purpovand.

Tne 52.5 million. plan to warn reiidents of a $;"'%.

UZ place =ent of the 6:rens wiH b sent out this nudear accident is about a toonth behind

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a federal deadline and may miss RG&E's -

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"% e chcr.e the stren system for one as.being erpgt,d 'Oct. 7co=p!ction date. i _.. >

the most effective and time-tested rnethod of- -

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j we.rning people d an emergency." Peck said.

-"We shodd hive 'the e6 tire syste= in place RGEE is aho havin; a brcchure printzd for. Oct.115.* Peck sali "Every nudear plant 1 the 24. Col RGLE castomers livin; in the - e the cot =try is behind schedule.'

area telling them.what to do whe6 the sirens

. mnd' 2 ne company has hac. difnculty ob e.

A The brcchu e.'which should be.readv in n' 9.a% t ne radim that wiB be plaud h1 l

> couple hf wks, will abo define red'istion ; t.:gn r,me areas ne factoris ne manufac.

. and give ezzmples of redistion crposure. Peck ' ' turer nas ken qeh:;ed;ud o-den from -

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../. ; even ther nudeas plar.t :n the country, Peck.,

Yonng said he may not disiibute his letter

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{if RG&E's letter and brochure are satidactory -

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d ;, sion o-dered all nudear power plantslo devel.

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/lbe si* ens' sounding " definite y dccsn't ' cip wa nings systems hst August e.fter a nude.

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, mean evacuste ' he sari "We'll advise pmple er ec-ident at the Tnree Mile Islard plant in

,i to go in the houe and turn oc the radio :Penbr,ivania'in March 1973.;,.

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