ML101230127

E-mail from F. Brown of Usnrc to D. Lew and D. Roberts of Usnrc Regarding TMI INES Rating

ML101230127
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/23/2009
From:	Brown F D Division of Inspection and Regional Support
To:	David Lew, Roberts D J Division Reactor Projects I, Division of Reactor Safety I
References
FOIA/PA-2010-0118
Download: ML101230127 (2)

Text

Lew, David Otis'From: Brown, Frederick Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 12:25 PM To: Lew, David; Roberts, Darrell Cc: McDermott, Brian; Boger, Bruce; Leach, Melvyn; Cheok, Michael; Thomas, Eric; Sigmon, Rebecca

Subject:

FW: TMI INES Rating more on the topic From: Jones, Cynthia Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 12:21 PM To: Sigmon, Rebecca; Couret, Ivonne; Burnell, Scott; Screnci, Diane Cc: Brown, Frederick; Cheok, Michael; Thorp, John; Thomas, Eric; Bamford, Peter; Wiggins, Jim; Dean, Bill; HOO Hoc

Subject:

Re: TMI INES Rating Excellent summary of the issues Rebecca.One other thought is that NRC could mention in any Press Release it issues (or that the licensee issues for that matter) is that this event would be considered a Level 0 on the INES scale and then given the link to the IAEA website. That would answer the question of our international colleagues as to what this INES rating is, without submitting an INES report I leave it up to NRR mgmt as to what is the best way to communicate the (non) safety significance of this event Cyndi Cynthia G. Jones, Ph.D.Sr. Technical Advisor for Nuclear Security, NRC/NSIR Sent from blackberry From: Sigmon, Rebecca To: Couret, Ivonne; Burnell, Scott; Screnci, Diane Cc: Brown, Frederick; Cheok, Michael; Thorp, John; Thomas, Eric; Bamford, Peter; Jones, Cynthia Sent: Mon Nov 23 12:00:34 2009

Subject:

TMI INES Rating In accordance with MD 5.12 and as noted in IN 2009-27 and RIS 2002-01, the NRC will submit events to the IAEA International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) publicly available NEWS website if they are determined to have a rating of Level 2 or higher, or if the rating is specifically requested by the IAEA or another INES member state. The high activity over the weekend reported by TMI-1 in EN 45514 generated sufficient media interest that the IAEA and at least three other countries have requested more information.

This event as currently reported is a Level 0, that is, "Below Scale." The IAEA would like to see the INES scale used not just for significant events, but also to demonstrate the low safety significance of other highly publicized events, a category which would include what happened 11/21 at TMI. Given the usual nature of the postings to the website though, it would not necessarily be seen in that light, and posting it to the IAEA website could instead serve to amplify coverage of an event that has already been covered in detail in the media. We would only want to post this event if, in the opinion of OPA, Region I, and NRR management, the posting would serve to emphasize the low safety significance of an event which has received substantial coverage.

I have attached a draft copy of the Event Rating Form (ERF) that would be submitted, which primarily contains information from the licensee's Event Notification, for your review, and would appreciate your opinions on the matter.

Thanks, Rebecca Sigmon Reactor Systems Engineer NRR/DIRS/IOEB Operating Experience Branch (301) 415-4018 Rebecca. Siamon enrc.qov 2