ML20246M223
| ML20246M223 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/08/1989 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Sutton J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20246M217 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8905190073 | |
| Download: ML20246M223 (8) | |
Text
'
o UNITED STATES
~g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 MAY 0 81989 l
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Mr. James R. Sutton l
1100 Wetherburn Drive l
York, Pennsylvania 17404
Dear Mr. Sutton:
I am responding to your letter of March 23, 1989, to Dr. Forrest J. Remick, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. Dr. Remick forwarded your letter to me as it is more appropriate for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NPC) staff to investigate your concerns.
I In your letter, you expressed concerns regarding actuation of an emergency warning siren in the vicinity of your home in York County on March 17, 1989.
You stated that you were unable to obtain information as to the reason for the alarm, and that you are concerned about a possible failure of the warning and information systems in your area in the event of a problem at the TMI facility.
My staff has made a thorough investigation of the event and its implications on the emergency notification systems in your area. The siren near your home is used for any type of emergency affecting y.our area and is under the opera-tional control of York County emergency perf onnel. The siren is part of a network of 79 sirens installed and maintained by the GPU Nuclear Corporation but under the operational control of the five counties surrounding the TMI site. Each county determines the need to actuate the emergency warning siren upon notification of an emergency at the TMI site from GPU or of non-nuclear emergencies such as tornado alerts or chemical spills identified from other sources. However, the counties rely on calls from the public regarding siren soundings resulting from malfunctions such as the one that occurred on March 17, 1989, because the alarm system does not include a trouble line feedback to the county or GPU.
In the case of a malfunction, the early 911 callers assist the county in identifying the general location of the siren and whether the operation of the encoder central system successfully shuts off the siren.
When the siren near your home sounded on March 17, 1989, the York County officials responsible for operation of the siren recognized within a very short time that the alarm was due to a malfunction and tried to shut it off using the normal encoder control system. When this effort failed, the county notified GPU who then requested their maintenance contractor to dispatch a technician i
to the siren location to investigate the problem. By the time the technician arrived and disconnected electrical power to the siren, nearly 50 minutes had elapsed. However, within 10 minutes of the siren actuation, York County i
emergency personnel had informed radio station WSBA that the alarm was due to a j
malfunction, and WSBA made several announcements to this effect. A number of l
citizens reportedly also called the radio station or the county 911 number and l
were given this information. We were unable to determine why you were not given l
this same information.
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Mr. James R. Sutton My staff has reviewed the emergency information brochure issued to all local f
residents by the county officials and found it to be adequate. They also discussed operation of the system under various circumstances with the appro-priate York County and GPU officials.
In the event of an actual emergency, nine radio stations and four television stations would be notified by the York County Emergency Management Agency to broadcast emergency information. On March 17, however, county personnel elected to notify what they considered to be the most widely listened-to station in the area as no actual emergency existed. A " rumor control" telephone number, (717) 854-5571, for York County is also listed in the published brochure and in the telephone directory to provide an additional way for citizens to obtain emergency information.
Hr. Robert Straw, York County Emergency Management Agency Director, at (717)854-5571, and Mr. Gordon Tomb, GPU Nuclear Communications Division, at (717) 948-8812, can provide additional information on emergency infonnation procedures. The NRC does not have legal authority to prescribe how local governments such as York County respond to spurious alarm actuations, but an expression of concern by local citizens could bring about a change in the procedures to prevent recurrence of the situation described in your letter.
Our assessment of this event is that it was an isolated malfunction of one siren, that York County officials took reasonable measures to inform concerned citizens of the malfunction, and that GPU Nuclear Corporation took prompt action to troubleshoot the malfunction. We have concluded that this event does not indicate a failure of the emergency information system that would be relied upon following an accident at the THI facility.
The NRC takes seriously citizen comments regarding the effectiveness of emergency notification systems near nuclear power plants. You should not assume that future soundings of the siren near your home are due to malfunctions but should listen to the stations listed in the telephone directory or call the York County number listed above.
I hope this responds to your concern.
Sincerely,
,CJ
/
ictor Stello, Jr Executive Director for Operations
DISTRIBUTION
- DocketLFiles+
'NRC PDR w/cy of incoming Local PDR w/cy of incoming EDO #0004401 EDO Reading T. Hurley/J. Sneizek (12G18)
J. Partlow(12G18)
S. Varga (14E4)
B. Boger (14A2)
J. Stolz S. Norris R. Hernan PDI-4 Green Ticket File i
OGC GPA/CA SECY (CR-89-0296)
Beverly Clayton (14E4)
V. Stello (17G13)
D. Mossburg, PMAS (ED0#0004401) w/cy of incoming (12G18)
W. Russell, RI J. Scinto, 0GC F. Miraglia D. Crutchfield F. Gillespie 1
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The Honorable _ Bill Goodling ilnited' States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515 m
Dear Congressman Goodling:
This letter responds to the inquiry from Mr. James R. Sutton of March 29, 1989 to Dr. korrest J. Remick of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that you forwarded to the NRC for comment. The inquiry expressed concern regarding l
actuation f a warning siren in York, Pennsylvania, on the evening of March 17, 1989. Mr..
tton was apparently unable to confirm that the sounding of the alarm was due to an electr' cal malfunction and is concerned that tha emergency warning -
system that wo d be relied upon in the event of a problem at the Three Mile Island (TMI) nu (ear power plant had failed.
e My staff made a th ough investigation of the event referred to by Mr. Sutton and its implications on response to an emergency at TMI. Our assessment of this event is that it was n isolated malfunction of one siren, that York. County officials took reasonabJe measures to inform concerned citizens of the mal-function, and that GPll Nyclear Corporation took prompt action to troubleshoot the malfunction. This ev(nt does not indicate a failure of the emergency information system that webid be relied upon following an accident at the THI s
facility.
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I am responding directly to M Sutton in response to his request to Dr. Remick.
A copy of that response is enclosed for your information.
The NRC takes seriously any citiz\\
engcomments regarding the effectiveness of uclear power plants and appreciates the emergencynotificationsystemsnearn% concerns.
opportunity to respond to Mr. Sutton Mr. Sutton has been advised in our response to him to not assume that future soundings of the siren near his home are due to malfunctions but to listen to the stations listed in the telephone directory or call the York County number listed in the emergency information brochure issued to all local residents.
If you have any questions concerning our investigation into this eventi please contac4Jir,Jonald%Hernan af_my staff-at-430L).__4S21320,-Mer41ernan-is\\the-NR reject-Manager-assigned ta_IMIJn4ti 1md conducted ~this investigTtio y
qw Sincerely
\\
Victor Ste11h, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
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does not include a trouble line feedback to the county or GPU Nuclear Corporation.
g In the case of a malfunction, the early 911 callers assist the county in identify 1'r encoder ce(g the general location of the siren and whether the operation of the /
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tral system successfully shuts off the siren, i
This event d,oes not indicate a failure of the emergency information system that My staff las wouldberelieduponfcllowinganaccidentattheTMIfacility. reviewed the ymergency in countyofficia}sandfoundittobeadequate. They also discussed opef. ion of the system unde,r various circumstances with the appropriate York County and GPU i
Nuclearofficials.
It should be noted that in the event of an actua1 emergency, j
nine radio stations and four television stations would be notifie 'by the York
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County Emergency Kanagement Agency to broadcast emergency infor tion.
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the case of the single siren malfunction on March 17, however, county personnel 1
elected to notify what they considered to be the most widely,Aistened-to station in the area As no actual emergency existed. A " rumor control" telephone number, (717) 854-5571, for York County is also listed i /the published brochure and in the telephone d ay for citizens to obtain emergency inform \\ rectory to provide an additiona gtfon. Mr. Sutton should be ep ouraged to contact Mr. Robert Straw, York County Emergency Management pfency Director, at (717) 854 5571, or Mr. Gordon Tomb, GPU fiuclear Communi ations Division, at (717) 948 8812, for additional i' formation on emergene information procedures.
The NRC takes seriously any itizen comments,/egarding the effectiveness of energency notification system near nucleary ower plants and appreciates the p
opportunitytorespondtoMr.hutton'sco'ncerns. Mr. Sutton has been advised l
in our response to him to not a'ssume that future soundings of the siren near hishomeareduetomalfunctions\\(butto'listentothestationslistedin telephone directory or call the Y rk County number listed above.
If you have f
any questions concerning our investjaation into this event, please contact Mr. Ronald W. Hernan of my staff a'f\\l301) 492-1320.
Mr. Hernan is the NRC Project Manager assigned to TMI,1fnit\\1 and conducted this investigation.
/
,e Sincerely,
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V c, tor Stello, Jr.
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Executive Director j/
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OSEE PREVIOUS CONCURREr{CE
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The Honorable William Goodling system does not include a trouble line feedback to the county or GPU Nuclear Corporation.
In the case of a malfunction, the early 911 callers assist the county in identifying the general location of the siren and whether the operation of the encoder central system successfully shuts off the siren.
This event does not indicate a failure of the emergency information system which would be relied upon following an accident at the TMI facility. My staff has reviewed the emergency information brochure issued to all local residents by the county officials and found it to be adequate. They also discussed operation of the system under various circumstances with the appropriate Ygrk County and GPU Nuclear. officials.
It should be noted that in the event of a' actual emergency, n
nine radio stations and four television stations would be p6tified by the York County Emergency Management Agency to broadcast emergency information.
In the case of the single siren malfunction on March 17, )6 wever, county personnel elected to notify what they considered the most wideJf listened to station in the area since'no actual emergency existed. A " rum 6r control" telephone number, (717)-854 5571, for York County is also listed 1 the telephone directory to provide an additiona)/n the published brochure and in way for citizens to obtain emergency information. Mr. Sutton should be pffcouraged to contact Mr. Robert Straw, York County Emergency Management Agepey Director at (717)-854-5571 or Mr. Gordon Tomb, GPU Nuclear Communication Division at (717)-948-8812 for additional information on. emergency information procedures.
x The NRC takes seriously any' citizen c9mments regarding the effectiveness of emergency notification systemsinear p'uclear power plants and appreciates the opportunity to respond to Mr. Sutton s concerns. Mr. Sutton has been advised in our response to him to not assume that future soundings of the siren near his home are due to malfunctions /butsto tune to the stations listed in the telephone directcry or call the' York County number listed above. Should you have any questions concerning/our investi Mr. Ronald W. Hernan of my staff at (301)gation into this event, please contact
'4,92-1320. Mr. Hernan is the NRC Project Manager assigned td TMI Unit 1 and ' conducted this investigation.
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Victor Stello,\\Jq.
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UNITED STATES
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 j
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EDO Princioal Correspondence Control Ll Q@lge p,%
FROM:
DUE: 04 24/09 V//f DO CONTROL: 0004401-DOC'DT: 03/30/89 FINAL REPLY:
Rep.. Bill Goodling
-TO s DCA FOR SIGNATURE OF:
.** GRN CRC NO: 89-0296 Executive Director.
.DESC:
ROUTING:
~y ENCLOSES LETTER FROM JAMES R.
SUTTON CONCERNING
,/ Russell,-RI WARNING SIREN AT TMI Scinto, DGC
._,, /
ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
NRR Murley SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
ACRS IS REFERRING LETTER TO STAFF.
NRR RECEIVED:- APRIL,.11, 1989 ACTION:
'DRPR:VARGAe NRR ROUTING:
MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA CRUTCHFIELD PARTLOW GILLESPIE nOSs8URG g gg; g 3, tj 1{
ACTION DUE TO NRR DIREC R'S OF.EE e
OY '
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
. CRC-89-0296 LOGGING DATE: Apr 5 89
-ACTION OFFICE:
EDO-AUTHOR:-
B. Goodling--Const Ref AFFILIATION:
'U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
~
. LETTER DATE:
. Mar.30-89 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 TMI
SUBJECT:
Subsequent. failure of the emergency information system for-resident around TMI' ACTION:
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:
James Sutton
'DATE DUE:
Apr 19 89 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
l-g i
kDD---004401
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