The following information was obtained by the licensee via facsimile:
During the May 7, 2004 monthly siren test, it was determined that the Ottawa County Sheriff dispatcher did not have the capability to activate the EPZ [Emergency Preparedness Zone] Sirens. Follow-up investigation determined that a time difference between the control station in the Emergency Operations Facility (EOF) and the sheriff's dispatch control station caused the sheriff's control station to be unable to activate the sirens. This condition was corrected within minutes of discovery, however it appears that the Sheriff's dispatcher had lost capability to activate the sirens when the EOF computer clock was reset due to daylight savings time (reset manually on April 5, 2004).
All 54 sirens were successfully tested using the vendors control station. The ability to [activate] the sirens from the Sheriff's control station was restored. The EOF control station retained the ability to activate the sirens throughout this time period.
Because the sirens could not be sounded from a 24-hour manned station, in accordance with station procedures, this event represents a Loss of Emergency Preparedness Capability. Therefore, this event is reportable within 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> of discovery in accordance with 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(xiii).
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office was notified of this event. The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector.
