B12611, Comments on NRC Evaluation of Util Program for Training & Qualifying Individuals for dual-role,senior Reactor Operator/Shift Technical Advisor Positions W/Specific Emphasis on Whether Program Meets NRC Requirements

Comments on NRC Evaluation of Util Program for Training & Qualifying Individuals for dual-role,senior Reactor Operator/Shift Technical Advisor Positions W/Specific Emphasis on Whether Program Meets NRC Requirements

ML20236N198
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone, Haddam Neck, 05000000
Issue date:	08/07/1987
From:	Mroczka E CONNECTICUT YANKEE ATOMIC POWER CO., NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY CO., NORTHEAST UTILITIES
To:	NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM)
References
B12611, GL-86-04, GL-86-4, TAC-67187, TAC-67188, TAC-67189, NUDOCS 8708110404
Download: ML20236N198 (3)

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i August 7,1987 Docket Nos. 50-213 50-245 50-336 50-423 B12611 Re: 10CFR50.54(m)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 Gentlemen Haddam Neck Plant Millstone Nuclear Power Station Unit Nos.1,2, and 3 Engineering Expertise on Shif t In a letter dated April 22,1987,(I) the NRC Staff notified Northeast Utilities (NU) that the Commission had evaluated our program for training and qualifying individuals for dual-role, senior reactor operator (SRO)/ shift technical advisor (STA) positions with regard to the issue of whether our program meets the provisions of the Commission's Policy Statement on Engineering Expertise on Shift. With that letter, the NRC indicated its acceptance of individuals currently serving in the dual-role SRO/STA positions, but encouraged us to comply with the Policy Statement for the future. Af ter reviewing that letter and reevaluating our current program, we offer the following comments.

As an initial point of clarification, we are interpreting your letter to accept all NU on-shif t personnel who are both SRO-qualified and who have gone through the Memphis State University or Thames Valley State Technical College (TVSTC) training programs previously described to you.

We also hereby advise you that we have no current plans to alter the current scope of education and training programs which leads to an individual being qualified for the dual-role SRO/STA position at the Haddam Neck Plant, Millstone Unit No.1, and Millstone Unit No. 2. At this time, we continue to believe that our current approach yields thoroughly qualified individuals for the dual-role positions and, as such, we are not persuaded that changes are appropriate. We do plan to periodically re-visit this matter and will keep you advised of any significant developments. We plan to evaluate the success of programs at other utilities with degreed operators, paying particular attention +< ttrition rates (ability to retain adequate levels of experience on shift) and t. iorale of the l Operations department in general.

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$b (1) T. E. Murley letter to E. 3. Mroczka, dated April 22,1987. L i 8708110404 870807

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o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission B12611/Page 2 August 7,1987 In reviewing the various documents on the subject of engineering expertise on shif t, we have identified two aspects of SECY-86-231 which merit clarification.

On page 4 of the text and in the table provided in Enclosure 1 of the SECY paper, it is indicated that our dual-role SRO/STA individuals at the Haddam Neck Plant, Millstone Unit No. I and Millstone Unit No. 2 have Associates Degrees. This point is not correct for all of our candidates, in that the Memphis State University STA program met the existing NRC criteria and INPO guidelines, but did not yield un Associates Qqgree, as does the TVSTC program. We refer you to our June 13, 1986,letterW for further explanation of the details of the program.  !

Secondly, page 3 of the table indicates that Millstone Unit No. 3 relies exclusively on Option 1 of the Policy Statement. This statement is not entirely correct for Millstone Unit No. 3 at this time, given the partialloss of the very limited number of degreed, SRO-licensed individuals. Two of the six degreed shif t supervisors have transferred out of the Operations department. Millstone Unit No.3 currently employs a combination of Options 1 and 2 of the policy statement, and page 3 of the table should so indicate if there is any intent to keep it current.

We are reaffirming our previously stated position that we are not planning any '

changes to the STA qualification requirements (which meet the Policy Statement) i at Millstone Unit No. 3 at this time. However, recognizing the benefits of consistency between our four nuclear plants, if in the future any changes were to be proposed to the current program at Millstone Unit No. 3, we envision that they will be of the type which will render the Millstone Unit No. 3 program similar or identical to that plans are noted in in use at 1the(W of SECY-86-383._qther three nuclear units in the NU syst Enclosure 1 Very truly yours, CONNECTICUT YANKEE ATOMIC POWER COMPANY NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY

$ WL E. gr'o' czka //

Senior Vice President (2) 3. F. Opeka letter to C. I. Grimes, et. al., " Policy Statement on Engineering Expertise on Shift (Generic Letter 86-04)," dated June 13,1986.

(3) D. M. Crutchfield memorandum to D. H. Jaffe, et. al., " Engineering Expertise on Shift, Northeast Utilities, Millstone Units No. I and 2 and Haddam Neck (TAC Nos. 62190 and 62189)," dated December 9,1986, i

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, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission B12611/Page 3 August 7,1987 cc: W. T. Russell, Region I Administrator F. M. Akstulewicz, NRC Project Manager, Haddam Neck Plant

3. T. Shedlosky, Resident Inspector, Haddam Neck Plant M. L. Boyle, NRC Projec' Manager, Millstone Unit No.1 T. Rebelowski, Resident Inspector, Millstone Unit Nos. I and 2 D. H. Jaffe, NRC Project Manager, Millstone Unit No. 2 R. L. Ferguson, NRC Project Manager, Millstone Unit No. 3 W. 3. Raymond, Resident Inspector, Millstone Unit No. 3

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