ML20151H013

IE Info Notice 81-34, Accidental Accuation of Prompt Public Notification Sys

ML20151H013
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/16/1981
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
IEIN-81-34, NUDOCS 8107230038
Download: ML20151H013 (2)

Text

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8107230038 i IN 81-34 l UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0lHISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 Nove.?or 16, 1981 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 81-34: ACCIDENTAL ACTUATION OF PROMPT PUBLIC t NOTIFICATION SYSTEM Description of Circumstances:

Recently the Maine Yankee promr . notification system was inadvertently activated.

The Maine Yankee system consists of three s6 systems, one of which uses radio controlled fixed sirens to alert the pub'ic to the existence of a regional emergency. The regional emergency sigaal, which would be used in the event of an emergency at Maine Yankee ce any other type of regional emergency requiring public notification, can be .ctivated by Maine Yankee plant personnel, by the county Sheriff, and by the Etate Police. In a regional emergency, all fixed sirens are activated simultaneously by a single radio signal carrying a two-tone sequential command encoded at the transmitter and decoded at each siren's radio receiver. The public has been instructed'that when they hear the regional emergency alert signal, they should tune in the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and/or the local National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) station to get information about the nature of the emergency ar.d what they are to do.

The fixed sirens can develop more than one sound. In addition to a common regional eorgency sound, each siren can also produce a different, distinctive sound which is used by local fire companics to signal a fire. The controls for fire calls are independent of the regional a'ert control.

Recentiv the fixed sirens were a::tivated three times in rapid succession by radio signals generated by the State Police in the course of routine police radio pager operations not connected with a regional emergency.

For a time neither Maine Yankee personnel, the county Sheriff, nor the State Police realized that the regional emergency sig ul had been triggered. No

emergency instructions or announcements were broadcast to the public via l

EBS or NOAA, so some concerned citizens telephoned the plant and the State Police for futher information. In all, about one hour elapsed between the first siren system activation and the first media announcement indicating no emergency existed.

Since this event, the State Police, who have the authority to activate EBS l

and NOAA, have developed "no emergency" messages and procedures which can be quickly aired should another emergency signal be produced in the absence

, of an emergency. They have also altered their radio operations plan to assure l an offending signal will not be generatri Maine Yankee has altered the t.sne sequencing scheme to render it unlike tone sequences typical of commercially l -~ , -

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< IN 81-34 November 16, 1981 Page 2 of 2 available paging systems. These steps will reduce the likelihood of a recurrence and provide for rapid announcements to the public over EBS stations and NOAA weather radio in the event a "no emergency" message is needed. Thus, -

the "no emergency" message will reach the public in the same way emergency instructions would, and just as rapidly. These are interim steps.

In the longer term, an encoded digital message will be used to activate the sirens. This offers far more security than the sequenced tone system it will replace. The "no emergency" announcement capability will be retained.

This information notice is provided to make licensees and applicants asara of this event and its associated problems. We expect that licensees wil'. rev';ew this information for applicability at their facilities.

'% written response to th.is information notice is required. If add.tional

%: formation is desired regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Attachment:

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