ML050340189

License Amendment No. 159, Revises Section 5.3.1.1, Unit Staff Qualifications, of the Technical Specifications to Add the Qualification Requirements for the Shift Manager and Control Room Supervisor,

ML050340189
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	01/31/2005
From:	Donohew J NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4
To:	Muench R Wolf Creek
Donohew J N, NRR/DLPM,415-1307
Shared Package
ML050340204	List: ML050340189 ML050350264
References
TAC MC4795
Download: ML050340189 (8)

Text

January 31, 2005 Mr. Rick A. Muench President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Post Office Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT RE:

REVISIONS TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 5.3 (TAC NO. MC4795)

Dear Mr. Muench:

The Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 159 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 October 7, 2004 (WO 04-0031).

The amendment revises Section 5.3.1.1, "Unit Staff Qualifications," of the TSs to add the qualification requirements for the shift manager and control room supervisor. As stated in the letter dated October 7, 2004, the revised requirements are outlined by the National Academy for Nuclear Training in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators,"

which were issued April 2004. The amendment also makes editorial corrections to the TSs.

A copy of our related Safety Evaluation is enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commission's 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. 159 to NPF-42

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

January 31, 2005 Mr. Rick A. Muench President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Post Office Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT RE:

REVISIONS TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 5.3 (TAC NO. MC4795)

Dear Mr. Muench:

The Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 159 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 October 7, 2004 (WO 04-0031).

The amendment revises Section 5.3.1.1, "Unit Staff Qualifications," of the TSs to add the qualification requirements for the shift manager and control room supervisor. As stated in the letter dated October 7, 2004, the revised requirements are outlined by the National Academy for Nuclear Training in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators,"

which were issued April 2004. The amendment also makes editorial corrections to the TSs.

A copy of our related Safety Evaluation is enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commission's 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

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No.159 to NPF-42 PDIV-2 Reading

2. Safety Evaluation RidsNrrDlpmPdiv (HBerkow)

RidsNrrPMJDonohew cc w/encls: See next page RidsNrrDlpmLpdiv2 (RGramm)

RidsNrrLAEPeyton RidsOcgRp RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsRgn4MailCenter (D. Graves)

TBoyce GHill (2)

DTrimble TS: ML050350264 NRR-100 PKG.: ML050340204 ACCESSION NO.: ML050340189 NRR-058 w/comments OFFICE PDIV-2 PDIV-2/PM PDIV-2/LA IROB/SC OGC Nlo PDIV-2/SC NAME JWalker:mp JDonohew EPeyton DTrimble DTrimble RGramm DATE 1/12/05 1/19/05 1/7/05 1/19/05 1/21/05 1/28/05 DOCUMENT NAME: E:\Filenet\ML050340189.wpd OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-482 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 159 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 October 7, 2004, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's 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 Commission's 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 Commission's 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. 159, 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/

Robert A. Gramm, 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: January 31, 2005

ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 159 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-42 DOCKET NO. 50-482 Replace the following pages of the Appendix A Technical Specifications with the attached pages. The revised pages are identified by amendment number and contain marginal lines indicating the areas of change. The corresponding overleaf pages are provided to maintain document completeness.

REMOVE INSERT 3.2-1 3.2-1 5.0-3 5.0-3 5.0-4 5.0-4 5.0-7 5.0-7 5.0-11 5.0-11 5.0-18 5.0-18 5.0-27 5.0-27 5.0-31 5.0-31

SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 159 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 October 7, 2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML042940568), 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.

The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specification (TS) 5.3, "Unit Staff Qualifications," to add the qualification requirements for the shift manager and control room supervisor positions that were inadvertently eliminated through the issuance of Amendment No.

150. TS 5.3 is also being revised to reference this application for the adoption of the National Academy for Nuclear Training (NANT), ACAD 00-003, Revision 1, "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators." Various other TSs are being corrected based on a comparison review performed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the licensee.

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 NANT guideline. 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 Commission's 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 NRCs 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. In addition, RIS 2001-01 stated that: (1) a training program would be considered approved by the NRC when it receives or renews accreditation from the National Nuclear Accrediting Board (NNAB); (2) accreditation of operator training programs suggests that facilities are implementing the education and experience guidelines endorsed by the NNAB; (3) 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; and (4) the staff encourages all facility licensees to review their requirements and commitments related to licensed operator and senior operator education and experience and to update their documentation (e.g., Final Safety Analysis Report, Technical Specifications, and training program descriptions) to enhance consistency and minimize confusion."

3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION

The licensee has proposed to add the qualification requirements for the shift manager and control room supervisor positions that were inadvertently eliminated through the issuance of Amendment No. 150 to TS 5.3. TS 5.3 is also revised to reference the application dated on October 7, 2004, for the adoption of the NANT guidelines. Also, the licensee has proposed to make various other editorial changes to the TSs based on a comparison review performed by the NRC and licensee personnel.

The licensee stated in its letter of September 19, 2002, that the proposed requirements are outlined by NANT in its "Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators,"

which were issued January 2000, and viewed as an acceptable method for implementing the Commissions regulations for the qualification and training of reactor operator license applicants. In its letter dated October 7, 2004, the licensee stated that TS 5.3.1.1 will be revised to reference the same application so they may adopt NANT guideline, ACAD 00-003, Revision 1, issued in April 2004, in lieu of the previous NANT guideline issued in January 2000.

The revised NANT guideline provides additional guidance and clarification for reactor operator equivalent experience.

Additionally, TS 5.3.1 is revised to specify an exception that requires the shift manager and control room supervisor positions comply with the requirements of ANSI/ANS 3.1-1981, "Selection, Qualification and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants," in lieu of ANSI/ANS 3.1-1978.

The NRC staff concludes that the revised qualification requirements in TS 5.3 are adequate as they conform with the reactor operator and senior reactor operator license eligibility criteria and standards acceptable to the NRC. 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.

The licensees proposed changes involving corrections to the TSs are either associated with the issuance of the improved TSs or subsequent amendments. The changes correct the format, on their respective pages, and do not change any requirements in the TSs. Therefore, the changes are seen as administrative changes because they do not modify, add, delete, or relocate any technical requirements of the TSs.

Based on the above discussion, the staff concludes that the proposed revision and editorial changes to TS 5.3, are consistent with 10 CFR Part 55 and do not adversely affect nuclear safety or plant operations. Therefore, the staff concludes that the proposed changes to TS 5.3 are acceptable.

4.0 STATE CONSULTATION

In accordance with the Commission's 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 Commission's 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: J. Walker Date: January 31, 2005

Wolf Creek Generating Station cc:

Jay Silberg, Esq. Vice President Operations/Plant Manager Shaw Pittman, LLP Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 2300 N Street, NW P.O. Box 411 Washington, D.C. 20037 Burlington, KS 66839 Regional Administrator, Region IV Supervisor Licensing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 P.O. Box 411 Arlington, TX 76011-7005 Burlington, KS 66839 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspectors Office/Callaway Plant P.O. Box 311 8201 NRC Road Burlington, KS 66839 Steedman, MO 65077-1032 Chief Engineer, Utilities Division Kansas Corporation Commission 1500 SW Arrowhead Road Topeka, KS 66604-4027 Office of the Governor State of Kansas Topeka, KS 66612 Attorney General 120 S.W. 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor Topeka, KS 66612-1597 County Clerk Coffey County Courthouse 110 South 6th Street Burlington, KS 66839 Vick L. Cooper, Chief Air Operating Permit and Compliance Section Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310 Topeka, KS 66612-1366