ML20056H092
| ML20056H092 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 08/24/1993 |
| From: | Feigenbaum T NORTH ATLANTIC ENERGY SERVICE CORP. (NAESCO) |
| To: | Martin T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| NA-#930629, NUDOCS 9309080216 | |
| Download: ML20056H092 (3) | |
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Seab NH 03874 Telephone (603)474-9521 i
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Facsimile (603)474-2987 l
Energy Service Corporation Ted C. Feigenbaum l
Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer l
l August 24,1993 NA #930629 Mr. Thomas T. Martin Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i
Region I 475 Allendale Road l
King of Prussia, PA 19406 i
t Dear Mr. Martin t
I wanted to followup on two questions you raised during our discussions on August 20, regarding the I
backup capability of the siren system and the staffing of the Wellesley Reception Center.
Our siren system for New Hampshire and Massachusetts provides some inherent backup features for failures that could affect either the entire system or a single siren. First, we have designed the system l
so that sirens can be activated and powered even in the event of a failure afTecting the entire system.
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Second, the likelihood of any single siren failure is small. Third, the effects of any single siren failure are compensated for by the overlap coverage resulting from conservatism in the system design.
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The siren system for those portions of New Hampshire and Massachusetts within the EPZ is normally j
activated from a single state control point. Should the activation from the state control point fail, cach of the communities has the ability to locally activate the sirens located in that community. This minimizes the impact of an activation point failure on the system as a whole.
i The sirens r.rc connceted to external AC power, however the electronic siscus are powered by internal batteries. AC power is only used to charge the siren's internal battery systern. In addition, both the state and local control points have backup power. As a result, a failure of the electric grid will have minimal impact on the ability of the siren system to operate. The sirens have been demonstrated to bc 1
quite reliable. For the last 12 months, the sirens have had an availability of slightly over 99.6%
I Our EPZ is essentially a half-circle given that a large portion of the EPZ is ocean. We have a t
relatively large number (121) of high powered sirens located within the EPZ. This results in i
considerable overlap coverage from adjacent sirens. The consultant used by FEMA to evaluate the.
acceptability of our siren system found that the model used to predict the coverage of the sirens was l
conservative,in that the sirens would provide more coverage than North Atlantic is taking credit for.
As a result of this conservatism and the large number of sirens with overlapping coverage, the failure of a single siren would have a minimal impact on the ability to alert the EPZ.
I 070087 96 9309080216 930824 g member f the Northeast Utilities system f
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With regard to the Welles!cy Reception Center, the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD)in a j
letter dated May 20,1993, from its Chief Counsel, has informed us that its Wellesley facility will no l
longer be available for use as a reception center as of December 31,1993. MHD and other personnel l
who staff the reception center positions presently remain available to fill those roles. Some MHD personnel are being relocated from the Wellesley facility, but remain a part of the Wellesley Reception i
Center organization.
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The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is identifying additional personnel to fill l
the reception center positions should MHD staff no longer be able to respend. As part of this effort, l
MEMA is completing negotiations with the Director of the Beverly, Massachusetts Department of l
Civil Defense and Emergency Planning for the staffing of the Wellesley Reception Center. An
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agreement has been reached on the terms and conditions for staffing of the facility, including provisions for training and additional pagers for personnel notification. The Beverly Civil Defense and Emergency Planning Director indicated the intent of his group to staff the facility in a letter to the l
Director of MEMA dated July 20,1993.
l The Beverly organization currently provides monitoring and decontamination stafTmg at the Wellesley
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l facility. Its role will expand to fill the EOC and registration area positions previously filled by MHD l
personnel. Staffing rosters are currently being finalized. Training in reception center operations for i
Beverly personnel already identified to fill positions was conducted on July 14 and August 11,1993.
Additional training is scheduled for September 18,1993.
I hope that this provides the information that you were interested in. Should you require additional information on these subjects, please don't hesitate to call.
l Very truly yours, Ted C. Feig aum 5
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