ML033180436

G20030685/LTR-03-0729 - Bob Meyer Ltr. Fatigue Rule - 16 Hour Wording

ML033180436
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	11/09/2003
From:	Meyer B Professional Reactor Operator Society
To:	Diaz N NRC/Chairman
References
G20030685, LTR-03-0729
Download: ML033180436 (3)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 12/01/03 EDO CONTROL: G20030685 DOC DT: 11/09/03 FINAL REPLY:

Bob Meyer Professional Reactor Operator Society Chairman Diaz FOR SIGNATURE OF  : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 03-0729 Dyer, NRR DESC: ROUTING:

Fatigue Rule - 16 Hour Wording Travers Norry Paperiello Kane Collins Dean DATE: 11/14/03 Burns/Cyr Zimmerman, NSIR ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET DatePrinted:Nov 14,'2003 07:53 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-03-0729 LOGGING DATE: 11/14/2003 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Bob Meyer AFFILIATION:

ADDRESSEE: Nils Diaz

SUBJECT:

Fatigue rule--1 6 hour6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> wording -not the right choice ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: Chairnan, Comrs LETTER DATE: 11/09/2003 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: Made publicly available in ADAMS via SECY/EDO/DPC NOTES: SECY to Ack FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 12/01/2003 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20030685

Page 1 I

- Rule - 16 Nils Diaz - Fatigue Rule - Wording - not Hour Wording 16 Hour -

right choice the right not the choice Page 1 From: "Bob Meyer" <RNM1 @insightbb.com>

To: <NJD nrc.gov>

Date: 11/9/03 11:30AM

Subject:

Fatigue Rule - 16 Hour Wording - not the right choice Dr. Diaz, Here is a news item posted on the News Board of the Professional Reactor Operator Society.

I find it very disturbing that 16 hour1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> work limit is proposed in the new Fatigue Rule (draft).

NRC Fatigue Issue Includes 16 Hours Provision Under pressure from utility groups, the NRC caves in to allowing the utilities to work licensed operators up to 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> straight. This defies the studies and the findings that the NRC has discovered in their research for the basis for the new proposed rule.

NEI, the utilities mouthpiece in Washington has basically stated that it would simply cost too much money for the utilities to change the way they do business.

Meanwhile operators submit condition reports that they are being forced to work 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> a day and at times have to be evaluated if they can safely drive home. All this information is available to the NRC as the condition reports and corrective actions are part of the inspection process the NRC uses to monitor the utilities.

Do you want your neighborhood nuclear plants being run by operators who can barely drive home from work?

Workers called in on short notices at the Byron Nuclear Plant have been required to work a midnight shift, followed by a day shift, 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br /> straight. This is with little or no sleep the previous day due to short notice call in. I do not want to see one operator die because of this rule. Cars are much less forgiving with fatigue.

I beg we do the right thing here and limit the working hours to 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />.

Bob Meyer Founder, Professional Reactor Operator Society President of Domestic and Foreign Affairs Professional Reactor Operator Society www.nucpros.com