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APPROVED INTERPRETATION GUIDANCE FOR DOE M 232.1-1A

"Weather causing serious disruption of facility activities"

Approved 9/27/99

REQUIREMENT

GROUP 1 - FACILITY CONDITION

H. Operations

Unusual Occurrence

(3) Weather conditions/natural phenomenon causing serious disruption of facility activities.



INTERPRETATION
Issue:

Under Group 1.H, Operations, there is an Unusual Occurrence described as, "Weather conditions/natural phenomena causing serious disruption of facility activities." What is the definition of a "serious disruption?" Do we have the latitude to define it ourselves? We might have a winter snowstorm every year or two serious enough to shut down access to the oil field for a day or two, isolating some workers in the field and preventing others from getting to work. We occasionally have a "power bump" from the power company, sometimes related to weather, which can shut down all the electrically operated oil wells and facilities, and it may take several hours or a day to return to normal operations. We work with the power company to limit the impact, but this seems almost routine and not worth processing an Occurrence Report.

Intent:

There is latitude to define "Weather conditions/natural phenomena causing serious disruption of facility activities" as long as it is within reason. Each site should include their definition in their implementing procedure.

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