Information Notice 1985-44, Emergency Communication System Monthly Test

Emergency Communication System Monthly Test

ML031180374
Person / Time
Issue date:	05/30/1985
From:	Jordan E NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-85-044, NUDOCS 8505280195
Download: ML031180374 (4)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 85-44 UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 30, 1985 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-44: EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM MONTHLY TEST

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license and NFS

Erwin, General Atomics, UNC Montville, B&W LCR Lynchburg, and B&W Lynchburg.

Purpose

This information notice is being issued to bring malfunctions of the communi- cation system to the attention of licensees and remind them of their responsi- bility to test required communication systems in accordance with 10 CFR 50. It

is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to

their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude a similar

problem occurring at their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this

information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific

action or written response is required.

Discussion:

Section 50.54(q) of Part 50 requires licensees to follow emergency plans which

meet the requirements of Appendix E to Part 50.Section IV.E.9.d of Appendix E

requires monthly tests of provisions for communicating with NRC from the control

room, the Technical Support Center, and the Emergency Operations Facility.

Licensee emergency plans might contain additional testing requirements.

Emergency preparedness exercises and specific tests by NRC Headquarters Opera- tions Officers have identified serious communication malfunctions, which were

previously undetected because of inadequate monthly testing. In most of those

cases, neither the Emergency Notification System (ENS) nor Health Physics

Network (HPN) telephones were found to have been tested routinely.

This Information Notice reminds licensees of their responsibility for satisfy- ing the requirement for monthly testing of the ENS and HPN telephones. The NRC

is responsible for testing ENS and HPN telephones located in the NRC Resident

Inspector's office and for testing the link between the NRC Operations Center

and the Regional Office Operations Center since communications with the licensee

via HPN and ENS are completed through the Headquarters Operations Center.

This Information Notice also clarifies that violations in this area may be

categorized at Severity Level III, and civil penalties may be considered.

8505280195

IN 85-44 May 30, 1985 Compliance with the regulation cited above may be achieved through implementa- tion of the testing scheme shown in Attachment 1.

The primary system for emergency communications with the NRC is a combination

of the ENS and the HPN. Licensees should note that the backup means of

communications for a given link is not required to be tested unless the primary

system is not available.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional

Administrator of the appropriate Regional Office or the technical contact

listed below.

war Jordan, Director

Divi of Emergency Preparedness

an Engineering Response

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

H. M. Hawkins, IE

---301-492-4145-----

Attachments:

1. Testing of Emergency Communications Links

Between Licensees and NRC

2. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

I

Attachment 1 IN 85-44 May 30, 1985 TESTING OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS LINKS BETWEEN LICENSEES AND NRC

The matrix below indicates the primary modes of operation for the NRC communi- cations links which are to be tested monthly by the licensee.

'A

FROM IV

Headquarters*

Control Room ENS only

Technical Support Center ENS and HPN

Emergency Operations Facility ENS and HPN

ENS = Emergency Notification System

HPN = Health Physics Network

• Communication between the Licensee and appropriate Regional NRC Office

will always be completed through the Headquarters Operations Center.

The communications link between the Headquarters Operations Center and

the Regional Office is tested by NRC.

Attachment 2 IN 85-44 May 30, 1985 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to

85-43 Radiography Events At Power 5/30/85 All power reactor

Reactors facilities holding

an OL or CP

85-42 Loose Phosphor In Panasonic 5/29/85 All power reactor

800 Series Badge Thermo- facilities holding

luminescent Dosimeter (TLD) an OL or CP

Elements

85-41 Scheduling Of Pre-Licensing 5/24/85 All power reactor

Emergency Preparedness facilities holding

Exercises a CP

85-40 Deficiencies In Equipment 5/22/85 All power reactor

Qualification Testing And facilities holding

Certification Process an OL or CP

85-39 Auditability of Electrical 5/22/85 All power reactor

Equipment-Qualification facilities holding

Records At Licensees' an OL or CP

Facilities

85-38 Loose Parts Obstruct Control 5/21/85 All PWR facilities

Rod Drive Mechanism designed by B&W

holding an OL or CP

85-37 Chemical Cleaning Of Steam 5/14/85 All pressure water

Generator At Milestone 2 reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP

84-55 Seal Table Leaks At PWRs 5/14/85 All power reactor

Sup. 1 facilities holding

an OL or CP

85-20 Motor-Operated Valve Failures 5/14/85 All power reactor

Sup. 1 Due To Hammering Effect facilities holding

an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit