ML20213E673

Provides Addl Info on Use of Emergency Notification Sys (ENS) & Health Physics Network (HPN) in Responding to Emergency Events & Exercises.Ens & HPN Primary Means for Transfer of Technical Data from Facility in Emergency

ML20213E673
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	11/07/1986
From:	Johnson E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 8611130251
Download: ML20213E673 (3)

Text

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. s NOV 7 1986 In Reply Refer To:

Dockets: 50-498 50-499 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: J. H. Goldberg, Group Vice President, Nuclear P. O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:

This letter is to provide you additional information on the use of the Emergency Notification System (ENS) and the Health Physics Network (HPN) in responding to emergency events and exercises. These emergency communication systems and their use were discussed with members of your staff during seminars

> on emergency response activities conducted by NRC staff at your facility. The purpose of this letter is to clarify the NRC's position on the use of these systems in exercises and emergencies. When 10 CFR 50.72 was published in the Federal Register (48 FR 39039), the NRC made clear its intent that notifi-cations on the Emergency Notifications System to the NRC Operations Center should be made by those knowledgeable of the event. 10 CFR 50.72(c)(3) regulations require each licensee during the course of an event to maintain an open, continuous communications channel with the NRC upon request by the NRC.

The above citations establish the basis for the policy that it is the responsibility of the licensee to provide information on the Emergency Notification System and the Health Physics Network. An NRC staff member will not relieve the licensee of his responsibility or liability for data transfer over these vital NRC communications channels. NRC staff members will use the ENS and HPN for asking technical questions of the licensee in addition to monitoring data transmissions at the site (EOF or TSC facilities), Regional Incident Response Center, and the Headquarters Operations Center. The NRC lead for obtaining event related data is determined by the NRC response mode; that is, in the standby mode, the lead is at the Regional Incident Response Center (base team), in the Initial Activation mode, the lead is at the Headquarters Operations Center. In any mode of operation, communications links will always be established through the Headquarters Operations Officer.

In summary, the ENS and HPN are the primary means available for the transfer of technical data from your facility during emergency events. It is your respon-sibility to ensure that adequate personnel knowledgeable about radiological and plant operating conditions are available on shift to transmit technical data over these emergency communication systems.

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t Houston Lighting & Power Co. Should you have any questions on the use of these Emergency Communications Systems, please contact Gene Bates, Emergency Response Coordinator, Region IV, at (817) 860-8233.

Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

E. H. Johnson, Director Division of Reactor Safety and Projects cc:

Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: M. Wisenberg, Manager, Nuclear Licensing P. O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Brian Berwick, Esquire Asst. Attorney General Environmental Protection Division P. O. Box 12548, Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 Lanny Alan Sinkin Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power, Inc.

Christic Institute 1324 North Capitol Street Washington, D.C. 20002 Charles Bechhoefer, Esquire Chairman, Atomic Safety & Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Dr. James C. Lamb, III 313 Woodhaven Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

. (

Houston Lighting & Power Co. cc (Cont'd):

Frederick J. Shon Administrative Law Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Alvin H. Gutterman Newman & Holtzinger, P.C.

1615 L St., N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C. 20036 Texas Radiation Control Program Director bcc to DMB (IE35) bcc distrib. by RIV:

RPB DRSP Resident Inspector-0PS R. D. Martin, RA Resident Inspector-CONST.

Section Chief (RPB/C)

R&SPB MIS SYSTEM RIV File KEPerkins, IE DBMathews, IE D. Weiss, LFMB (AR-2015)

RSTS Operator R. Pirfo, ELC R. G. Taylor, RPB/C RSB B. A. Breslau, RPB/C W. L. Fisher R. L. Bangart E. F. Bates l

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