RBG-30365, Provides Description of Inadequacy & Corrective Steps Taken to Improve & Strengthen Emergency Preparedness.Certified Individual Will Be Assigned to Control Room at Notification of Unusual Event Classification

Provides Description of Inadequacy & Corrective Steps Taken to Improve & Strengthen Emergency Preparedness.Certified Individual Will Be Assigned to Control Room at Notification of Unusual Event Classification

ML20247A192
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	03/17/1989
From:	Deddens J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO.
To:	Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
RBG-30365, NUDOCS 8903290061
Download: ML20247A192 (2)

Text

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GULF STJ1TES UTJLIT2ES COMPANY co n m u m w wa em m u =cuaccomm mn j e cotm um me rTin E -?

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March 17,1989 \\ \ fjf; 7

9 2 gggg RBG- 30365 1 lb C, File Nos. G9.5, G15.4.1 \ -

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Mr. Robert D. Martin, Regional Administrator I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, TX 76011

Dear Mr. Martin:

1 River Bend Station - Unif 1 Docket No. 50-458 /ff-of I Gulf States Utilities Company (GSU) conducted its annual emergency preparedness evaluated exercise on March 1, 1989 for River Bend Station (RBS). During the evaluation, an inadequacy was identified by GSU concerning the functioning of the Technical Support Center (TSC). This letter provides a description of the inadequacy and the corrective steps GSU is now taking to  !

correct the inadequacies and strengthen and improve our emergency preparedness. ]l l Much of the inadequacy resulted from poor command and control within the TSC and poor communications between the TSC and the Control Room. As a result the TSC did not have the information to adequately assess the plant situation and consistently lagged the scenario by 30-45 minutes. Examples of the poor command and control and communications include: some commands were given but were never followed up or were not followed in a timely manner; information status boards were not maintained up-to-date; and the time for trant,mittal of the notification message to offsite agencies for the General Emergency '

classification exceeded the 15 minute guideline. Because of the accelerated i pace of the scenario, the Operations Support Coordinator was unable to l receive adequate and timely plant status information from the operators in l the Control Room. Several examples of other specific inadequacies in the performance of the TSC staff were also identified during the evaluation process.

To improve communications between the TSC and Control Room, GSU will assign a senior reactor operator (SRO) or SR0 certified individual to the Control Room at the Notification of Unusual Event classification. This individual will act as NRC Communicator until that function transfers to the TSC and he will then act as the Control Room Communicator to the appropriate TSC personnel.

Another SR0/SR0 certified individual / Shift Technical Advisor will be assigned to the TSC as NRC Communicator. At the Alert classification, he will relieve the Control Room of this function. \\

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PDR F ADOCK 05000453 <

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Mr. Martin Page 2 To facilitate timely transmission of messages to offsite agencies, a thorough review of the computer and software for transmission of notification message forms will be performed. Any discrepancies identified will be corrected.

The notification message form will be annotated to allow for rapid verbal transmission of information required by NUREG-0654 in the event of the J failure of the primary means of notification to offsite yeacies.

Classroom training and drills will be utilized to correct the specific inadequacies identified during the exercise. Another drill similar to the exercise scenario conducted on March 1,1989 will be conducted within three months after restart from the current refueling outage to assure ourselves that the TSC can perform its functions.

In addition, a review of the capability of the RBS simulator and associated l communications equipment -will be conducted to determine if these can be j utilized in the conduct of future emergency drills and exercises to provide a i more appropriate environment for the Control Room staff. i GSU believes that the above prompt corrective actions and improvements will enhance our ability to manage emergency preparedness activities in all of the RBS emergency response facilities, and specifically the TSC. GSU remains strongly committed and involved in program improvements in order to maintain 1 l the highest quality emergency response program.  !

l Sincerely, l l

4 J. C. Deddens Senior Vice President River Bend Nuclear Group I

cc: U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk l Washington, D.C. 20555 NRC Resident Inspector P. 0. Box 1051 St. Francisville, LA 70775 l

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