ZSE controller described confusing situation when restr airspace altitude limitations were unclr and...

Attributes
ACN	685271
Time
Date	200601
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zse.artcc
State Reference	WA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 21 controller time certified in position1 : 19
ASRS Report	685271
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

ZSE sent a message to the sectors saying R5701 would go hot 6000 ft and below from XA00-XE00. At XB00 my supervisor asked about R5701 altitude because he was briefed 10000 ft and below. He went to tmu and confirmed the airspace was hot 10000 ft and below; not 6000 ft. Since chinook approach touches R5701; I called them to see what altitude they were protecting and they said their message and 6000 ft and below (sent to them by ZSE tmu). I expressed concern that for the hour we thought the airspace was only hot to 6000 ft that VFR aircraft overflew it or that IFR aircraft into chinook approach were given descent to 7000 ft. My supervisor went to the front desk and came back within 5 mins and said 'no harm.' how did they know no aircraft went through the airspace during that hour? In 5 mins? No one seemed to care -- the attitude was just shut up. That will not fix the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZSE CTLR DESCRIBED CONFUSING SIT WHEN RESTR AIRSPACE ALT LIMITATIONS WERE UNCLR AND INCORRECTLY COORD.

Narrative: ZSE SENT A MESSAGE TO THE SECTORS SAYING R5701 WOULD GO HOT 6000 FT AND BELOW FROM XA00-XE00. AT XB00 MY SUPVR ASKED ABOUT R5701 ALT BECAUSE HE WAS BRIEFED 10000 FT AND BELOW. HE WENT TO TMU AND CONFIRMED THE AIRSPACE WAS HOT 10000 FT AND BELOW; NOT 6000 FT. SINCE CHINOOK APCH TOUCHES R5701; I CALLED THEM TO SEE WHAT ALT THEY WERE PROTECTING AND THEY SAID THEIR MESSAGE AND 6000 FT AND BELOW (SENT TO THEM BY ZSE TMU). I EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT FOR THE HR WE THOUGHT THE AIRSPACE WAS ONLY HOT TO 6000 FT THAT VFR ACFT OVERFLEW IT OR THAT IFR ACFT INTO CHINOOK APCH WERE GIVEN DSCNT TO 7000 FT. MY SUPVR WENT TO THE FRONT DESK AND CAME BACK WITHIN 5 MINS AND SAID 'NO HARM.' HOW DID THEY KNOW NO ACFT WENT THROUGH THE AIRSPACE DURING THAT HR? IN 5 MINS? NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE -- THE ATTITUDE WAS JUST SHUT UP. THAT WILL NOT FIX THE PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

ZSE controller described confusing situation when restr airspace altitude limitations were unclr and incorrectly coordination.