Information Notice 1996-19, Failure of Tone Alert Radios to Activate When Receiving a Shortened Activation Signal
'Se April 2, 1996NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 96-19: FAILURE OF TONE ALERT RADIOS TO ACTIVATE WHENRECEIVING A SHORTENED ACTIVATION SIGNAL
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear powerreactors.PurgoseThe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this informationnotice to alert addressees to the possibility that tone alert radios may notreliably activate when receiving a shortened activation signal. It isexpected that recipients will review the information for applicability totheir facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similarproblems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are notNRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response isrequired.
Description of Circumstances
In a report made pursuant to Section 50.72(b)(1)(v) of Title 10 of the Code oFederal Regulations (10 CFR 50.72(b)(1)(v)), Event Number 29907, datedJanuary 30, 1996, the licensee for the Callaway site reported a problem withtone alert radios. During a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), a radiostation engineer observed that a tone alert radio receiver did not activate.An investigation by the licensee found that the length of the broadcastactivation signal was insufficient to reliably activate the tone alert radioreceiver model in use at the radio station. The broadcast duration of theactivation signal had been reduced from 20 seconds to 8 seconds as permittedby current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. The radiostation restored the duration of the activation signal broadcast to theoriginal 20-second length and observed that the tone alert radio receiveractivated as expected.DiscussionSection 50.47(b)(5) of 10 CFR requires emergency response plans for nuclearpower reactors to include a means of providing early notification and clearinstruction to the populace within the plume exposure pathway emergencyplanning zone (EPZ) in the event of an emergency. Many nuclear power reactorsites have integrated tone alert radios into alert and notification systemsused to notify and provide instructions to members of the general public nearthe site during emergency situations.t$DR~~~~ If aeq 0n 9Goc96032701271\ -
% iKY-2 IN 96-19April 2, 1996 These radios may serve as supplements to a siren system by filling in voids insiren coverage, or they can be the principal means of notifying the EPZpopulation. Tone alert radio receivers are used in conjunction with the EAS.On December 28, 1994, the FCC issued a Report and Order (59 FR 67090)concerning the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). This Report and Orderreplaced the EBS with what is now known as the EAS. This change allowed forthe creation of a new generation of alerting equipment embracing digitaltechnology. The change also modified some of the old EBS requirements. Oneof the changes permits the use of a shorter duration tone activation signal toactivate tone alert radio receivers. This change may have decreased thereliability of some tone alert radios currently in use to activate whenrequired.Before July 1, 1995, the broadcast duration of the signal that activates tonealert radios was required to be between 20 and 25 seconds. After July 1,1995, the broadcast duration of the signal that activates tone alert radioswas permitted to be between 8 and 25 seconds. The FCC encourages the use ofthe longer (up to 25 seconds) tone during emergencies.Tone alert radio receivers are, and have been, available from variousmanufacturers for several years. Depending on the specifications provided bythe purchaser, the threshold for activation has been built into receivers.The signal duration needed for some tone alert radio receiver models may belonger than the currently approved 8-second minimum signal duration nowallowed by FCC regulations.The FCC regulations permit individual radio stations to select the duration ofthe activation signal they broadcast, provided it is within the limits of 8 to25 seconds. To reliably activate a tone alert radio receiver the duration ofthe activation signal broadcast by the radio station must be long enough tomeet the activation threshold built into tone alert radio receivers in servicein a particular reception area. If the duration of the activation signalbroadcast is not compatible with the threshold set in a receiver, thereliability of the receiver response is questionable. Either the duration ofthe activation signal broadcast or the threshold for activation built intoreceivers may need to be modified to ensure compatibilit i N' IN 96-19April 2, 1996 This Information notice requires no specific action or written response. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contactone of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office ofNuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Den4 o. Cru e , DirectorDivision of Reactor Project ManagementOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationTechnical contacts:D. M. Barss, NRR(301) 415-2922Internet:dmbl~nrc.govJ. L. Birmingham, NRR(301) 415-2829Internet:lb4@nrc.gov
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List ofA b1~f;ilivJ-Recently Issued NRC Information Notices%b eo AttachmentIN 96-19April 2, 1996 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDNRC INFORMATION NOTICESInformation Date ofNotice No. Subject Issuance Issued to96-1895-03Supp. 196-1796-16Compliance with 10 CFRPart 20 for AirborneThoriumLoss of Reactor CoolantInventory and PotentialLoss of Emergency Mitiga-tion Functions While in aShutdown ConditionReactor Operation Incon-sistent with the UpdatedFinal Safety AnalysisReportBWR Operation withIndicated Flow Less ThanNatural CirculationUnexpected Plant Perform-ance During Performanceof New Surveillance TestsDegradation of RadwasteFacility Equipment atMillstone Nuclear PowerStation, Unit 1Potential ContainmentLeak Paths ThroughHydrogen AnalyzersControl Rod InsertionProblems03/25/9603/25/9603/18/9603/14/9603/08/9603/01/9602/26/9602/15/96All material licenseesauthorized to possess anduse thorium in unsealedformAll holders of OLs or CPsfor PWR power plantsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor nuclear power reactorsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor boiling-water reactorsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor nuclear power reactorsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor nuclear power reactorsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor nuclear power reactorsAll holders of OLs or CPsfor nuclear power reactors96-1596-1496-1396-12OL = Operating LicenseCP = Construction Permit IN 96-xxMarch xx, 1996 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contactone of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office ofNuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Dennis M. Crutchfield, DirectorDivision of Reactor Project ManagementOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationTechnical contacts:D. M. Barss, NRR(301) 415-2922Internet:dmbl~nrc.govJ. L. Birmingham, NRR(301) 415-2829Internet:jlb4@nrc.gov
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List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices* See previous concurrenceOFFICE PERB:DRPM:NRR SC/PERB:DRPM I C/PERB:DRPM:NRRNAME DMBarss* THEssig* CLMiller*IDATE03/18/9603/18/96I03/18/96OFFICE TECHED:RPB PECB:DRPM:NRR C/PECT.VPM.?NRR D/DRPM:HRRNAME BCalure* l JBirmingham* AEChaffJ DMCrutchfieldDATE I03/ /96 03/21/96 03/a2/96 V0! 03/ /96.rrt -t~~s e rserl swur 1.w -ntn^ *a.PlrIULAL WULUiILFI wAML: b: JLL1 I\UNLALKI.1N IN 96-xxMarch xx, 1996 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. Ifyou have any questions about the information in this notice, please contactone of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office ofNuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.Dennis M. Crutchfield, DirectorDivision of Reactor Project ManagementOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationTechnical contacts:D. M. Barss, NRR(301) 415-2922Internet:dmbl@nrc.govJ. L. Birmingham, NRR(301) 415-2829Internet:jlb4@nrc.gov
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices11 5 ?ee-e a 4jo&5 Cti4et- A4J-t.OFFICE PERB:DRPM:NRR SC/PERB:DQPM C/PERB:DRPNRRNAME DMBarss Z&N 6 THEssig 1& J MWller l_ _ _ are __ _= .. .-_I_ .DATE 03/IJ/96 j 03/0TV/96 l 03I%'iI96 JOFFICE TECHED:RPB PECB:DRPM:NRR C/PECB:DRPM:NRR D/DRPM:NRRNAME 1 JBirmingham -AEChaffee DLCrutchfieldDATE I03/'t /96 1031&'196/4 03/ /96 103/ A96O DUMT N--E: : _ _ -._. ..OFFICIAL DOCUMENT NAME:G:.\MLMUS\1UNLALK1.1N OFFICE PERB:DRPM:NRR SC/PERB:DRPM C/PERB:DRPM:NRRNAME DMBarss THEssig CLMiller.DATE03/ /9603//9603/ /96OFFICE TECH PECB:DRPM:NRR C/PECB:DRPM:NRR D/DRPM:NRRNAME 4 JBirmningham AEChaffee DLCrutchfieldDATE 03//P96 03/ /96 03/ /96 03/ /96-.r .I .rl., , nu n ... uuS e -t. * .lr 4- AI .t ValUrlWlAL UULUMtNI NAML:b: FILMUZO\ I URALK I. I *