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

Technical

Contact: 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 cations links which are to be tested monthly by the licensee.the NRC communi-'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 85-42 85-41 85-40 85-39 85-38 85-37 84-55 Sup. 1 85-20 Sup. 1 Radiography

Events At Power Reactors Loose Phosphor In Panasonic 800 Series Badge Thermo-luminescent

Dosimeter (TLD)Elements Scheduling

Of Pre-Licensing

Emergency

Preparedness

Exercises Deficiencies

In Equipment Qualification

Testing And Certification

Process Auditability

of Electrical

Equipment-Qualification

Records At Licensees'

Facilities

Loose Parts Obstruct Control Rod Drive Mechanism Chemical Cleaning Of Steam Generator

At Milestone

2 Seal Table Leaks At PWRs 5/30/85 5/29/85 5/24/85 5/22/85 5/22/85 5/21/85 5/14/85 5/14/85 All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All power reactor facilities

holding a CP All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All PWR facilities

designed by B&W holding an OL or CP All pressure water reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP All power reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP Motor-Operated

Valve Failures 5/14/85 Due To Hammering

Effect OL = Operating

License CP = Construction

Permit