ML023030583

License Amendment, Revises Section 5.3.1.1, Unit Staff Qualifications, of Technical Specifications to State New Education & Experience Eligibility Requirements for Operator License Applicants,

ML023030583
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	11/26/2002
From:	Donohew J NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4
To:	Maynard O Wolf Creek
Donohew J N, NRR/DLPM,415-1307
Shared Package
ML023380193	List: ML023030583 ML023360270
References
TAC MB3017
Download: ML023030583 (9)

Text

November 26, 2002 Mr. Otto L. Maynard President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT RE: UNIT STAFF QUALIFICATIONS (TAC NO. MB3017)

Dear Mr. Maynard:

The Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 150 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 for the Wolf Creek Generating Station. The amendment consists of changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs) in response to your application dated September 27, 2001 (WO 01-0038), as supplemented June 27 and September 19, 2002 (WO 02-0032 and WO 02-0051, respectively).

The amendment revises Section 5.3.1.1, "Unit Staff Qualifications," of the TSs to state new education and experience eligibility requirements for operator license applicants. As stated in the letter dated September 19, 2002, the new requirements are outlined by the National Academy for Nuclear Training in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators," which were issued January 2000.

A copy of our related Safety Evaluation is enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions next biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Jack Donohew, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-482

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 150 to NPF-42

2. Safety Evaluation cc w/encls: See next page

November 26, 2002 Mr. Otto L. Maynard President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KA 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT RE: UNIT STAFF QUALIFICATIONS (TAC NO. MB3017)

Dear Mr. Maynard:

The Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 150 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 for the Wolf Creek Generating Station. The amendment consists of changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs) in response to your application dated September 27, 2001 (WO 01-0038), as supplemented June 27 and September 19, 2002 (WO 02-0032 and WO 02-0051, respectively).

The amendment revises Section 5.3.1.1, "Unit Staff Qualifications," of the TSs to state new education and experience eligibility requirements for operator license applicants. As stated in the letter dated September 19, 2002, the new requirements are outlined by the National Academy for Nuclear Training in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators," which were issued January 2000.

A copy of our related Safety Evaluation is enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions next biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Jack Donohew, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-482 DISTRIBUTION PUBLIC GHill (2)

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 150 to NPF-42 PDIV-2 Reading DGraves, RIV

2. Safety Evaluation RidsNrrDlpmPdiv(WRuland)

SDembek cc w/encls: See next page RidsNrrPMJDonohew RidsNrrLAEPeyton RidsOGCRp RidsACRSACNWMailCenter WBeckner TS: ML023360270 Package: ML023380193 DTrimble ACCESSION NO.: ML023030583

• See IOLB memorandum dated 10/10/2002 OFFICE PDIV-2/PM PDIV-2/LA IOLB/DIPM OGC PDIV-2/SC NAME JDonohew EPeyton DTrimble* SUttal SDembek DATE 11/6/2002 11/5/2002 10/10/02 11/25/2002 11/25/2002 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-482 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 150 License No. NPF-42

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment to the Wolf Creek Generating Station (the facility)

Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 filed by the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (the Corporation), dated September 27, 2001, as supplemented by letters dated June 27 and September 19, 2002, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commissions rules and regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, as amended, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations; D. The issuance of this license amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commissions regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

2. Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment and Paragraph 2.C.(2) of Facility Operating License No. NPF-42 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2. Technical Specifications The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 150 , and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, both of which are attached hereto, are hereby incorporated in the license. The Corporation shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

3. The license amendment is effective as of its date of issuance and shall be implemented within 90 days of the date of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Stephen Dembek, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Changes to the Technical Specifications Date of Issuance: November 26, 2002

ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 150 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-42 DOCKET NO. 50-482 Replace the following page of the Appendix A Technical Specifications with the attached page.

The revised page is identified by the amendment number and contains marginal lines indicating the areas of change. The corresponding overleaf page is provided to maintain document completeness.

REMOVE INSERT 5.0-4 5.0-4

SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 150 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-42 WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-482

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By application dated September 27, 2001, as supplemented June 27 and September 19, 2002, Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (the licensee) requested changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs, Appendix A to Facility Operating License No. NPF-42) for the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS). The proposed changes would revise Section 5.3.1.1, "Unit Staff Qualifications," of the TSs to state new education and experience eligibility requirements for operator license applicants.

The supplemental letter of September 19, 2002, provided additional information that clarified+-

the application, did not expand the scope of the application as originally noticed, and did not change the NRC staffs original proposed no significant hazards consideration determination as published in the Federal Register on July 23, 2002 (67 FR 48223).

2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION

On March 20, 1985, the NRC issued the Commission Policy Statement on Training and Qualification of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel which endorsed the training accreditation process and the National Academy for Nuclear Training (NANT). In Generic Letter 87-07, "Information Transmittal of Final Rulemaking for Revisions to Operator Licensing - 10 CFR 55 and Conforming Amendments," dated March 19, 1987, and in NUREG-1262, "Answers to Questions at Public Meetings Regarding Implementation of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 55 on Operators' Licenses," published November 1987, the NRC indicated it would accept a facilitys licensed operator training program if the facility certified in writing that the program was accredited and based on a systems approach to training (SAT). This certification would supersede the requirements of ANSI N18.1-1971, "Selection and Training of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel," and ANSI/ANS-3.1-1978, "Selection, Qualification and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants." Facility licensees were advised to submit a request to the NRC for an administrative change to their licensing documents to revise or delete, as appropriate, the requirements that had been superseded.

In 1992 the NRC published its proposed rule 10 CFR 50.120, "Training and Qualification of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel." The proposed rule stated that, if adopted, the rule would supersede the Policy Statement on Training and Qualification of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel and would not result in any change to accredited programs. The Commission

concluded that accredited programs, implemented consistent with industry objectives and criteria would be in compliance with this regulation. In April 1993, the NRC published its final rule on training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. The rule requires nuclear power plant licensees to establish, implement, and maintain SAT-based training programs for nine non-licensed positions. Accreditation of these nine training programs is an acceptable means of meeting the requirements of 10 CFR 50.120.

On January 18, 2001, the NRC published NRC Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2001-01, Eligibility of Operator License Applicants," to familiarize licensees with the NRC's current guidelines for the qualification and training of reactor operator and senior operator license applicants. RIS 2001-01 acknowledged that 10 CFR 55.31(a)(4) allows the NRC to accept an application for an operators license if the facility licensee certifies that the applicant has successfully completed a Commission-approved training program that is based on a systems approach to training. RIS 2001-01 stated in part that the NANT guidelines for education and experience (those in effect in 1987 or those issued in January 2000) outline acceptable methods for implementing the Commission's regulations for the qualification and training of reactor operator and senior operator license applicants.

3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION

The revision proposed by the licensee will revise Wolf Creek TS Section 5.3, "Unit Staff Qualifications." The requested revision will update requirements that had been outdated based on licensed operator training programs being accredited by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and promulgation of the revised 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators Licenses." TS Section 5.3 describes the requirements for unit staff qualifications. These changes conform to the current requirements of 10 CFR Part 55. The TS requirements for all other unit staff qualifications remain unchanged.

The licensee stated in its letter of September 19, 2002, that the proposed new requirements are outlined by the National Academy for Nuclear Training in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators," which were issued January 2000. In RIS 2001-01, the Commission stated that these guidelines were an acceptable method for implementing the Commission's regulations for the qualification and training of reactor operator and senior operator license applicants.

The NRC staff concludes that the revised qualification requirements in TS Section 5.3 are adequate as they conform with the reactor operator and senior reactor operator license eligibility criteria and standards acceptable to the NRC, as discussed in Section 2.0 above. In addition, the changes will not affect the 10 CFR 50.36(c)(5) requirement to ensure the licensee maintains administrative controls that assure the operation of the facility in a safe manner by properly qualified licensed operators.

Based on the above discussion, the staff concludes that the proposed revision to TS Section 5.3 is consistent with 10 CFR Part 55 and does not adversely affect nuclear safety or plant operations. Therefore, the staff also concludes that the proposed amendment is acceptable.

4.0 STATE CONSULTATION

In accordance with the Commissions regulations, the Kansas State Official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment. The State official had no comments.

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION

This amendment relates to changes in recordkeeping, reporting, or administrative procedures or requirements. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(10). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b) no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.

6.0 CONCLUSION

The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

Principal Contributor: R. Pelton Date: November 26, 2002

Wolf Creek Generating Station cc:

Jay Silberg, Esq. Vice President Operations Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 2300 N Street, NW P.O. Box 411 Washington, D.C. 20037 Burlington, KS 66839 Regional Administrator, Region IV Superintendent Licensing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 P.O. Box 411 Arlington, TX 76011 Burlington, KS 66839 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspectors Office P.O. Box 311 8201 NRC Road Burlington, KS 66839 Steedman, MO 65077-1032 Chief Engineer Mr. Otto L. Maynard Utilities Division President and Chief Executive Officer Kansas Corporation Commission Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 1500 SW Arrowhead Road P.O. Box 411 Topeka, KS 66604-4027 Burlington, KS 66839 Office of the Governor State of Kansas Topeka, KS 66612 Attorney General Judicial Center 301 S.W. 10th 2nd Floor Topeka, KS 66612 County Clerk Coffey County Courthouse Burlington, KS 66839 Vick L. Cooper, Chief Radiation Control Program, RCP Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310 Topeka, KS 66612-1366