ML20212R233

Responds to J Rasmusson Re Morale Problems at Plant Concerning Removal of Radio from Control Room,Per 870313 Request.Since TMI-2 Accident,Nrc Sought to Diminish Distractions to Control Room Operators to Enhance Response

ML20212R233
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	04/13/1987
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Boschwitz R SENATE
Shared Package
ML20212R234	List: ML20212R233 ML20212R240
References
IEC-81-02, IEC-81-2, IEIN-85-053, IEIN-85-53, NUDOCS 8704270004
Download: ML20212R233 (6)

Text

. } Cj APR 131987 D:cket No. 50-263 The Honorable Rudy Boschwitz United States Senator 210 Bremer Building 419 N. Robert Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101

Dear Senator Boschwitz:

Thank you for providing us an opportunity to respond to the concerns of Mr. Jim Rasmusson(FileNo. 7071030011) in his letter to you of February 9,1987.

Mr. Rasmusson's concerns are similar to those of another one of your constituents, Mr. Rcbert J. Rohland. Mr. Rohland wrote to you in his letter of October 25, 1986 expressing his concerns with morale problems at the Monticello Nuclear Gen erating Plant resulting from the removal of an AM-FM radio from the control rorm. We subsequently responded to his concerns in our letter to you of January 14, 1987. Mr. Rasmusson expresses the same general concern in his letter regarding the removal of the radio from the Monticello control room.

Since the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2, the NRC has sought to diminish potential distractions to control room operators and thereby enhance operator response during unexpected occurrences or accidents. NRC policies and requirements have included steps to limit control room access, ensure that operators are not required to work an excessive amount of overtime, reduce the administrative workload of control room operators, and keep inappropriate reading material out of the control room. It is in this historical context that the NRC has determined that the use of radios in the control rooms of nuclear power plants would be inconsistent with the goal to increase operator attentiveness to plant conditions. The NRC's position to prohibit the use of radios in control rooms was first transmitted to the affected utilities on February 9, 1981 (IE Circular No. 81-02) and later reinforced by followup correspondence on July 12,1985 (IE Information Notice No. 85-53).

As noted by Mr. Rasmusson in his letter to you, the Commission is also currently considerin Workers (Local 160)thatg a an request by the International adjudicatory Brotherhood hearing be held of Electrical on the October 20, 1986 Order to Show Cause issued to Northern States Power Company for the purpose of prohibiting use of radios and other audible entertainment devices in the control rooms at the Prairie Island and Monticello facilities.

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The Honorable Rudy Boschwitz The NRC acknowledges the good operating performance at Monticello, and it is unfortunate that Mr. Rasmusson believes the NRC decision to restrict the use of radios in the control room represents " heavy handed tactics." However, the NRC staff considers that the decision to prohibit radios and other audible entertainment devices in the control rooms at all nuclear facilities is in the best interest of safe plant operation. Once again, we welcome your interest in this matter. Should you have any further questions, please contact me.

Sincerely, Originnl aigaca by yiotor StollQ '

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

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Dockat No. 50-263 The Honorable Rudy Boschwitz United States Senator 210 Bremer Building ,

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Dear Senator Beschwitz:

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Thank you for providing us an opportunity to respond to the concerns of Mr. Jim Rasmusson (File No. 7071030011) in his letter to you of February 9,1987.

Mr. Rasmusson's concerns are similar to those of another one of your constituents, Mr. Robert J. Rohland. Mr. Rohland wrote to you in his letter of October 25,  ;

1986 expressing his concerns with morale problems at the Monticello Nuclear .  !

Generating P16nt resulting from the removal of an AM-FM radio from the control room. We subsequently responded to his concerns in our letter to you of January 14, 1987. Mr. Rasmusson expresses /the same general concern in his letter regarding the removal of the radio'from the Monticello control room.

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Since the 1979 accident at Three Milej!sland Unit 2 the NRC has sought to diminish potential distractions to control room operators and thereby enhance operator response during unexpected' occurrences or accidents. NRC policies i and requirements have included steps to limit control room access, ensure that operators are not required to work an excessive amount of overtime, reduce the .

administrative workload of control room operators, and keep inappropriate reading material out of the co'ntrol room. It is in this historical context that the NRC has determined,that the use of radios in the control rooms of nuclear power plants would j bv inconsistent with the goal to increase operator attentiveness to plant conditions. The NRC's position to prohibit the use of radios in control rooms February 9,1981 (IE Cir,was first81-02) cular ho. transmitted to the and later affected reinforced byutilities on followup ,

correspondenceonJuif 12,1985 (IE Information Notics No. 85-53).  !

In an effort to fur!her enhance operator attentiveness, the staff is develo)ing the basis to propose to the Coasnission that we proceed with a formal rulemating that would address the broader matter of general control room decorum, of which .

the use of rad @s would be a significant part. As part of this rulemaking d process, intere'sted parties would have the opportunity to respond to all l proposals. C.brrently, the Commission is Aciding whether the staff should t proceed with this course of action. As noted by Mr. Rasmusson in his letter to you, ty Connission is also currently considering a request by the  !

InternationalBrothurhoodofElectricalWorkers(Local 160)thatanadjudicatory l hearing be hvid on the October 20, 1986 Order to Show Cause issued to Northern States' Power Company for the purpose of prohibiting use of radios and other audible entertainment devices in the control rooms at the Prairie Island and Monticello facilities.  !

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The Honorable Rudy Boschwitz i The NRC acknowledges the good operating performance at Monticello, and it is unfortunate that Mr. Rasmusson believes the NRC decision to restrict the use of radios in the control room represents " heavy handed tactics." However, the NRC staff considers that the decision to prohibit radios and other audible entertainment devices in the control rooms at all nuclear facilities is in the best interest of safe plant operation. Once again, we welcome your interest I in this matter. Should you have any further questions, please contact me.

, Sincerely, j

I l Victor Stello, Jr.

J Executive Director for Operations i  ;

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