ML20128P283
| ML20128P283 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/17/1996 |
| From: | Chris Miller NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Barr K, Creed J, Joyner J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20128P286 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9610170199 | |
| Download: ML20128P283 (2) | |
Text
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August. 17, 1995 MEMORANDUM T0: James H. Joyner, DRSS/FRSSB, Region I Kenneth P. Barr, DRSS/RPEP, Region 11 James R. Creed, DRSS/ SIRS, Region III Blaine Murray, DRSS/FIPB, Region IV FROM: Charles L. Miller, Chief Original Signed by: Richard L. Emch, Jr.
Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Branch Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POSITION (EPPOS) ON TIMELINESS OF CLASSIFICATION OF EMERGENCY CONDITIONS Attached is an EPPOS paper regarding the timeliness of classification of emergency conditions. The purpose of the paper is to provide guidance to NRC staff in evaluating the. amount of time taken by a licensee to classify an event and declare an emergency once indications are available to control room operators that an emergency action level (EAL) has been exceeded. Staff assessments of licensee ac.tions in response both to actual events and during exercises have shown the need for additional guidance in this area.
Based upcn (1) the inherent need to rapidly communicate emergency conditions to offsite authorities, (2) the obligation of licensees to have adequate personnel available at all times for assisting the Shift Supervisor / Emergency Director in classification of emergencies, and (3) the use of objective and unambiguous criteria for classification, licensees are expected to promptly classify an emergency once conditions have reached an emergency threshold in accordance with the licensee's EAls. The regulations state that a licensee shall have the capability to notify responsible State and local governmental agencies within 15 minutes after declaring an emergency. However, the regulations do not specify a time limit for classifying an emergency. It is the staff's position that 15 minutes is also an appropriate limit for classification of an event once indications are available to control room operators that an EAL has been exceeded. Fifteen minutes is expected to be used as a guideline for the staff in both evaluating a licensee's response to an actual event and performance during an exercise.
Attachment:
EPPOS No. 2 f b $ $ -. F -l L= n p~uy Plwa CONTACT: Falk Kantor, NRR/PERB 415-2907 DlSIRIBUTION: s DCrutchfield FCongel PERB R/F RKeimig, RI PUBLIC Central Files j
RBarrett 170023 EPS Staff AMohseni yo
'I K)CUMENT NAME: A:\EPPOS *See previous concurrence e ,eceive e ceiy of thie document. Indicate in the boa: *C* = Copy without ettechnwnt/ enclosure *E' = Copy whh attachment / enclosure *N* = No copy l5 0FFICE lE SC:EPS:PER P ,, l$lADR:0E l OGC l C:PERB EPS:PERS Frantor #J d M, WME TEssig JGray' Sireby* CMitter M g DATE 08/ 1L /95 08/e0 /95 05/23/95 04/11/95 08/ / 0 /95
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0FFlCIXL RECORD COPY 9610170199 960817 PDR ORG NRRA PDR
4c og pe -4 UNITED STATES
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't NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055M001
$ ,o 9***** August 17, 1995 MEMORANDUM T0: James H. Joyner, DRSS/FRSSB, Region I ,
Kenneth P. Barr, DRSS/RPEP, Region I' !
James R. Creed, DRSS/ SIRS, Region III Blaine Murray, DRSS/FIP8, Region IV M [0 FROM: Charles L. Miller, Chief / .
Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Branch Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
EMERGENC'Y PREPAREDNESS POSITION (EPPOS) ON TIMELINESS OF CLASSIFICATION OF EMERGENCY CONDITIONS l
Attached is an EPPOS paper regarding the timeliness of classification of i emergency conditions. The purpose of the paper is to provide guidance to NRC !
staff in evaluating the amount of time taken by a licensee to classify an '
event and declare an emergency once indications are available to control room operators that an emergency action level (EAL) has been exceeded. Staff j assessments of licensee actions in response both to actual events and during l exercises have shown the need for additional guidance in this area. l l
Based upon (1) the inherent need to rapidly communicate emergency conditions to offsite authorities, (2) the obligation of licensees to have adequate personnel available at all times for assisting the Shift Supervisor / Emergency Director in classification of emergencies, and (3) the use of objective and unambiguous criteria for classification, licensees are expected to promptly classify an emergency once conditions have reached an emergency threshold in accordance with the licensee's EAls. The regulations state that a licensee shall have the capability to notify responsible State and local governmentai agencies within 15 minutes after declaring an emergency. However, the regulations do not specify a time limit for classifying an emergency. It is the staff's position that 15 minutes is also an appropriate limit for classification of an event once indications are available to control room operators that an EAL has been exceeded. Fifteen minutes is expected to be used as a guideline for the staff in both evaluating a licensee's response to an actual event and performance during an exercise.
Attachment:
EPPOS No. 2 l
CONTACT: Falk Kantor, NRR/PERB 415-2907 l
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