Information Notice 1989-40, Unsatisfactory Operator Test Results and Their Effect on the Requalification Program

Unsatisfactory Operator Test Results and Their Effect on the Requalification Program

ML031180811
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, 03000306, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	04/14/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-040, NUDOCS 8904100376
Download: ML031180811 (5)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 14, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-40: UNSATISFACTORY OPERATOR TEST RESULTS AND THEIR

EFFECT ON THE REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to problems

associated with high failure rates for operators taking requalification

examinations. It is expected that recipients will review the information

for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as applicable, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information

notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or

written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

During the weeks of March 13, 1989, and March 20, 1989, requalification exami- nations were administered by the NRC to six crews of licensed operators at

Turkey Point Units 3 and 4. Three of the six crews performed unsatisfactorily

during the simulator portion of the operating test and 12 of the 24 licensed

operators failed at least one portion (written examination, simulator test, or plant walk-through examination) of the NRC-administered requalification

examinations. As a 'result, the Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 requalification

programs were evaluated as unsatisfactory by the NRC. The number of licensed

operators at the units currently is limited to the 27 licensed operators who

have not failed either a facility or an NRC-administered examination within

the past 12 months.

New crews have been formed using licensed operators who have not failed recent

facility or NRC-administered examinations. Under the terms of a Confirmatory

Action Letter issued by the Regional Administrator, Unit 3 has shut down to

allow the facility licensee time to train the new crews in team performance.

Unit 4 was already in a shutdown status for refueling. The NRC, in conjunction

with the licensee, will perform an operational assessment of the new crews'

performance before concurring in the decision to restart either unit.

'/ IN 89-40

April 14, 1989 Discussion:

The NRC resumed administration of requalification

examinations after conducting

extensive pilot tests of a system for examining candidates

ment on job-relevant tasks of great safety significance. in the work environ- provide licensed senior operators to the NRC examination Facility licensees

quality assurance responsibilities and to concur teams to share the

in the importance and relevancy

of the examinations. The examinations were field

by the examination team. tested before administration

The NRC's confidence in the ability of facility licensees

health and safety depends upon the licensee's ability to ensure public

effective requalification program that maintains to administer an

licensed operators and senior operators at the unit highly qualified, professional

The importance of this aspect of licensee responsibilitycontrols at all times.

cannot be overstated.

No specific action or written response is required

If you have any questions about this matter, please by this information notice.

listed below or the Regional Administrator of the contact the technical contact

appropriate regional office.

£1*les E. Rossi, Director

Divis-ion-of-Operationa--Events-Assessment -

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

K. Perkins Jr., NRR

(301) 492-1031 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment

IN 89-40

April 14, 1989 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-39 List of Parties Excluded 4/5/89 All holders of OLs

from Federal Procurement or CPs for nuclear

or Non-Procurement Programs power reactors.

89-38 Atmospheric Dump Valve 4/5/89 All holders of OLs

Failures at Palo Verde or CPs for nuclear

Units 1, 2, and 3 power reactors.

89-37 Proposed Amendments to 4/4/89 All U.S. NRC licensees.

40 CFR Part 61, Air

Emission Standards

for Radionuclides

89-36 Excessive Temperatures 4/4/89 All holders of OLs

in Emergency Core Cooling or CPs for nuclear

'System Piping Located power reactors.

Outside Containment

88-86, Operating with Multiple 3/31/89 All holders of OLs

Supp. 1 Grounds in Direct Current or CPs for nuclear

Distribution Systems power reactors.

89-35 Loss and Theft of Un- 3/30/89 All U.S. NRC byproduct, secured Licensed Material source and special

nuclear material

licensees.

89-34 Disposal of Americium 3/30/89 All holders of an

Well-Logging Sources NRC specific license

authorizing well- logging activities.

89-33 Potential Failure of 3/23/89 All holders of OLs

Westinghouse Steam or CPs for PWRs.

Generator Tube

Mechanical Plugs

89-32 Surveillance Testing 3/23/89 All holders of OLs

of Low-Temperature or CPs for PWRs.

Overpressure-Protection

Systems

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 89-40

April 14, 1989 Discussion:

The NRC resumed administration of requalification examinations after conducting

extensive pilot tests of a system for examining candidates in the work environ- ment on job-relevant tasks of great safety significance. Facility licensees

provide licensed senior operators to the NRC examination teams to share the

quality assurance responsibilities and to concur in the importance and relevancy

of the examinations. The examinations were field tested before administration

by the examination team.

The NRC's confidence in the ability of facility licensees to ensure public

health and safety depends upon the licensee's ability to administer an

effective requalification program that maintains highly qualified, professional

licensed operators and senior operators at the unit controls at all times.

The importance of this aspect of licensee responsibility cannot be overstated.

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

K. Perkins Jr., NRR

(301) 492-1031 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

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