Home
> NRC Library
> Document Collections
> Generic Communications
> Information Notices
> 1987 > IN 87-54
Information Notice No. 87-54: Emergency Response Exercises
SSINS No.: 6835 IN 87-54 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 October 23, 1987 Information Notice No. 87-54: EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISES Addressees: All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power reactors. Purpose: This information notice is being provided to remind addressees of flexibility that exists in certain requirements contained in emergency planning rules. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their program. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. Description of Circumstances: To satisfy the current requirements of 10 CFR 50.47 and 10 CFR Part 50, Appen- dix E, each licensee must annually exercise its emergency plan. In addition, each licensee is required to exercise with offsite authorities such that the State and local government emergency plans are exercised biennially. Currently there are no specific requirements which address whether each exercise scenario must lead to the declaration of a General Emergency. However, perhaps as a carryover from the previous requirements for annual State and local exercises, almost all exercise scenarios are planned to progress to a General Emergency condition. Discussion: While it may be appropriate for biennial offsite exercises to proceed to a General Emergency declaration, exercises other than biennial offsite exercises (off-year exercises) are not required to proceed to severe core damage. Such exercises can provide an opportunity for more realistic emergency response training and evaluation of licensee staff. For example, before severe core damage would be expected to occur, the operating staff may be given the oppor- tunity to diagnose and attempt to correct the problem through an interactive scenario. In addition, some exercise scenarios may be designed with initiating events at the Alert or Site Area Emergency classification. Since actual events may go directly to these higher level classifications without sequencing 8710190144 IN 87-54 October 23, 1987 Page 2 of 2 through each emergency class, advance opportunity to activate response facili- ties may not occur. The flexibility within the requirements allows for the development of other realistic scenarios which, in turn, can improve emergency response capability. 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.3.f, states that "licensees shall enable any State or local government located within the plume exposure pathway EPZ to participate in annual exercises when requested by such State or local government." To satisfy this requirement, it may be necessary for licensees to develop an exercise scenario which provides opportunities to test the appropriate aspects of the offsite response plan. Such participation may need to be negotiated between the licensee and the offsite authorities. Licensees that have conducted realistic and interactive exercises have identi- fied and corrected weaknesses in their ability to respond to such simulated onsite events as fire, loss of electrical power, and equipment failure. The response of personnel and availability and utilization of alternate equipment to mitigate simulated severe off-normal plant conditions have been challenging and have led some licensees to conduct further training and provide added procedures and support equipment. In addition, interactive exercises can provide a training opportunity for personnel that would be called upon to make strategic decisions in areas that are not addressed by existing procedures. Licensees and applicants may wish to consider incorporating these concepts in planning and conducting off-year emergency response exercises. The revision to the exercise frequency requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E has been previously discussed in Information Notice No. 85-55, "Revised Emergency Exercise Frequency Rule." No specific action or written response is required by this information notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office. Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational Events Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical Contact: Cheryl A. Sakenas, AEOD (301) 492-9004 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, May 22, 2015
Home
About Us
Popular Documents
Stay Connected
