Information Notice 1987-22, Operator Licensing Requalification Examinations at Nonpower Reactors

Operator Licensing Requalification Examinations at Nonpower Reactors

ML031140506
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill
Issue date:	05/22/1987
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-87-022, NUDOCS 8705180155
Download: ML031140506 (9)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 87-22 UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 22, 1987 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 87-22: OPERATOR LICENSING REQUALTFICATION

EXAMINATIONS AT NONPOWER REACTORS

Addressees

All research and nonpower reactor facilities.

Purpose

The purpose of this information notice is to inform recipients of practices

involving the requalification examinations for renewal of reactor operator and

senior reactor operator licenses, that have been found to be contrary to

existing NRC requirements. It is expected that recipients will review this

information for applicability to their operator requalification programs and

consider action as appropriate to preclude similar practices at their facili- ties. However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

NRC recently identified three nonpower reactor licensees who make a practice of

giving take-home or on-shift requalification examinations. Generic Letter 83-17, issued on April 8, 1983, addressed the use of take-home and on-shift

examinations as a means of determining an applicant's individual performance as

part of the requalification program. This generic letter was issued as a result

of an investigation into a case of cheating, in which an individual had submit- ted another person's work in response to some examination ouestions. The

aeneric letter states, "In particular, unproctored examination(s), take-home

quizzes and on-shift tests allow ample opportunity for cheating which could go

undetected and, therefore, are not an acceptable means for certifying indivi- dual performance." (See Attachment 1.)

Discussion:

The integrity of the requalification examination is essential because it is

used to certify that the operator's performance is adequate to warrant renewal

of his or her license. As a result of the recent discovery of inadequate

examination practices, the NPC initiated detailed reviews of examination

practices at the three facilities. Processing of license renewal requests from

these facilities were held in abeyance pending the completion of these reviews.

8705o1P155 .

IN 87-22 May 22, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald Kirkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-8166 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

Eoss

05//f/87

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR *LOLB:NRR *LOLB:NRR *PPMB:ARM *C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrlck JHannon THendiola MHarwell CHBerlinger

04/23/87 05/05/87 05/05/87 05/01/87 05/08/87

v .chment P

.*

tN A72?

May 22, 1987 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

INFORMATION NOTICES 1187 Infoation

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to -

87-21 Shutdown Order Issued Sactusa 6/11/87 All nuclear power

Lcaensed Operators Asleep facilities holdinp

while on Duty an OL or CP and ll

licensed operators.

87-20 Hydrogen Leak In Auxiliary 4/20/87 All nuclear power

luilding facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-108 Degradaton of Reactor 4/20/87 All PWRfacilities

Sup. 1 Coolant ysten Pressure holding an OL or CP.

• oundary Resulting from

loric Acid Corrosion

86-64 Deficiencies In Upgrade 4/20/87 All nuclear power

Sup. 1 Programs for Plant facilities holding

Emergency Operating a CP or OL.

Procedures.

85-61 Nisadvinistrations to 4/15/87 All licensees

Sup. 1 Patients Undergoing Thyroid authorized to use

Scans byproduct material

87-19 Perforation and Cracking of 4/9/87 All Westinghouse

Rod Cluster Control Assemblies power PWR facilities

holding an OL or CP

87-18 Unauthorized Service on 4/8/87 All IIRC licensees

Teletherapy Units by Non- authorized to use

licensed Maintenance Personnel radioactive material

in teletherapy units

87-17 Response Time of Scram 4/7/87 Arn 6E BWRfacilities

Instrument Volume Level holding an OL or CP

Detectors

87-16 Degradation of Static "0" 4/2/87 All LWRfacilities

Ring Pressure Switches holdinq an OL or CP

OL

• Operating License

CP* Construction Pevuit

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FIRST CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE

• fEES PAID

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 USNRC

YWASH D.C.

PERrT IWOG47 OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE. $300

IN 87-XX

May, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald K1rkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-8166 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

os//s a,"O'weeA

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR *LOLB:NRR LOLB:NRR *PPMB:ARM C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrick JHannon TMendi ola MHarwell CHBerlingeny1 0

04/23/87 05/05/87 05/ /87 05/01/87 05/ t/87 KIM

IN 87-XX

May, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald Kirkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-8166 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR

CERossi

05/ /87

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR LOL R LOL 4iR *PPMB:ARM C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrick JHannon T 4ddla Harwell CHBerlinger

04/23/87 05/ 5/87 7 05/01/87 05/ /87

IN 87-XX

May, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald Kirkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-8166 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR .

CERossi

05/ /87

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR LOLB:NRR LOLR:NRR *PPMB:ARM C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrick JMan on TMendiola MHarwell CHBerlinger

04/23/87 05/1/87 05/ /87 05/01/87 05/ /87 C cA~ u_

IN 87-XX

May, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Reculation

Technical Contacts: Donald Kirkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-8166 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR

CERossi

04/ /87

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR LOLB:NRR LOLB:NRR C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrick JHannon TMendiola CHBerlinger

04/23/87 04/ /87 04/ /87 04/ /87

IN 87-XX

April, 1987 No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Adminis- trator of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Donald Kirkpatrick, NRR

(301) 492-'@O &956 6 Tony Mendiola, NRR

(301) 492-9695 Attachments:

1. Generic Letter 83-17

2. List of Recently Issued Information Notices

D/DOEA:KRR -

CERossi

04/ /87 OGCB:DOEA:NPR LOLB:NRR LOLB:NRR PPMP:ARM C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

DCKirkpatrick JHannon TMendiola MHarwell CHBerlinger

04/23/8706%~ 04/ /87 04/ /87 04/ /87 04/ /87

Attachment 1 April 8, 1983 TO ALL POWER AND NON-POWER REACTOR LICENSEES, APPLICANTS FOR AN OPERATING

LICENSE AND HOLDERS OF A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT

Gentlemen:

Subject: Integrity of the Requalification Examinations for Renewal

of Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator Licenses

(Generic Letter 83-17)

Recently, an investigation was completed which determined that a senior offi- cial at a nuclear power plant certified to the NRC that a licensed individual

had successfully completed the licensed operator requalification program, when

in fact, that individual had cheated by submitting another person's work in

response to some examination questions.

Such an individual has not successfully completed the requalification program

and has not discharged his licensed responsibility in a safe and competent

manner, as required by 10 CFR 55. Furthermore, it should be noted that

cheating on examinations which are used to certify individuals to the NRC will

result in an automatic denial of a license application or license renewal and

could result in more severe penalties.

The purpose of this letter is to highlight the need for you to ensure that the

validity of the certifications required by 10 CFR Part 55 and the integrity

and honesty of the requalification program are adequately addressed in

facility procedures. You should review your procedures on this subject to

ensure that an applicant's individual performance can be determined. Your

procedures should include provisions to detect and prevent instances of

cheating. In particular, unproctored examination, take-home quizzes and

on-shift tests allow ample opportunity for cheating which could go undetected

and, therefore, are not an acceptable means for certifying individual

performance. While some portions of examinations may be conducted in an

open-book format (e.g. use of steam tables on thermodynamics problems or use

of facility procedures and drawings during oral examinations), adequate

monitoring provisions are essential to ensure that the persons being evaluated

are working independently and are using only authorized instructional or

reference materials.

No submittals of procedures or results of your procedure reviews are required

by this letter; however, we will review these procedures as a part of our

audits of the licensed reactor operator and senior reactor operator requalifi- cation programs.

Original signed by -

Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director

Division of Licensing