ML052430384

Response to NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2004-10, Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing Examinations.

ML052430384
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee, Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire
Issue date:	07/12/2004
From:	Mccollum W Duke Energy Corp
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RIS-04-010
Download: ML052430384 (13)

Text

_ Duke WILLIAM R MCCOLLUM, JR.

rW ower VP, Nuclear Support A Duke Energy Company Duke Energy Corporation Duke Power EC07H / 526 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28202-1802 Mailing Address:

P. 0. Box 1006 - EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 704 382 8983 July 12, 2004 704 382 6056 fax wrmccoll@duke-energy. corn U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 ATTENTION: Document Control Desk

Subject:

Duke Energy Corporation Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, 50-287 McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370 Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-413, 50-414 Response to NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2004-10 Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing Examinations On June 14, 2004, the NRC issued Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2004-10, "Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing Examinations." The subject RIS requested an update the NRC on projected site-specific operator licensing examination schedules and estimated numbers of applicants planning to take operator licensing examinations and the NRC's generic fundamentals examinations (GFEs).

NRC Form 536, "Operator Licensing Examination Data" is attached for Oconee, McGuire, and Catawba.

Please direct any questions to L. B. Jones at (704) 382-4753.

Very truly yours, William R. McCollum, Jr.

Attachments

[IO3 www. dukepower. corn

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission July 12, 2004 Page 2 xc:

W. D. Travers, Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region II Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 L. N. Olshan (addressee only)

NRC Senior Project Manager (ONS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 H12 Washington, DC 20555-0001 J. J. Shea (addressee only)

NRC Senior Project Manager (MNS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 H12 Washington, DC 20555-0001 S. E. Peters (addressee only)

NRC Project Manager (CNS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 H12 Washington, DC 20555-0001 M. C. Shannon NRC Senior Resident Inspector Oconee Nuclear Station J. B. Brady NRC Senior Resident Inspector McGuire Nuclear Station E. F. Guthrie NRC Senior Resident Inspector Catawba Nuclear Station

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission July 12, 2004 Page 3 bxc:

B. G. Davenport - ON03RC C. J. Thomas - MG01 RC L. A. Keller - CN01 RC J. E. Smith - ON03RC K. L. Crane - MG01 RC K. E. Nicholson - CN01 RC NCMPA-1 SREC PMPA NCEMC ONS Master File - ON03DM (File OS 801.01)

MNS Master File - MG01 DM (File MG 801.01)

CNS Master File - CN01 DM (File CN 801.01)

ELL - ECO50

. I Attachment I RIS 2004-1 0 Page 1 of I NRC FORS 536 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMSSION APPROVEDI'y OML NO. 315C0t-l EXPRES C0711I2O "All Es .et~d budenpwi,! z t pywit Ii votlwday bkrww.diw andmescelI opo n sbwroonrfm ionh . SOW*s" rog; ang hw OPERATOR LICENSING os",o V.. to R" ll ral" .. Nod t EXAMINATION DATA aofff ° Otot met td do,t lid rupNy* .C0 yid> CUBcas6,s,1r)d h uhw.sMi ha w nt eoia~tnor . d s prnori I, riot r~ojlid Io Impenrdbo.trig naroq oerke ReOCri Oc/qC A. PROPOSED EXAMINATION PREPARATION SCHEDULE PROPOSED NUMBER cy 0l clin l0 cy ESTIMATED NUMBER OF LICENSEE-PREPARED EXA&hINA71ONS ESTIMATED NUMBER OF NRC-PREPARED EXAMNATIONS B. INmAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS PROPOSED NUMBER CYC CY NUMBER OF REACTOR OPERATORS NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - INSTANT NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - UPGRADE 4 1_1 NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS LIMITEDOe 0 PROPOSED DATES PRIMARY DATE G br oo 4/l °7

(/2o/* LI L I ALTERNATE DATE C413/o' / 6/ /o7 6/Z5/o C. PROPOSED GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION 41

Aftachment I RIS 2004-10 Page 1 of I NRC FOPIS IN Ua NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0MM3tION APPROVMIY OMS: RO. 11500131 EWJ'UtE*:0743110Ml

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t A. PROPOSED EXAMINATION PREPARATION SCHEDULE PROPOSEDNUfABER CVTO CYo?

• l01 Co l y ESTIMATED NWBER OF IlCENSES-PREPARED f

_ _ _ NZ0 0_ _

EXA&VNATIONS \ _ _ _ _

ESTIMATED NUMER OF N;Fr-REPAREOf EXAm0A V _S_ _

B. IN1T1AL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS PROPOSED NUM3ER Cf C C?

N.AI£ER OF REACTOR OPERATORS 0 _ 2e NUMBER CF GeRIOR REACTOR OPERATORS- INSTANT 4 O . V NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS I UP4DE 4 0 3 NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR r OPERATORS - LIITED D. . (*1)

PROPOSED DATES PRIlARYDATE J-3I- 0J IA -3 12-I02 1 I 0' ALTERKATEDATE ,1l 3-I5-O1 <L[-O>

C. PROPOSED GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (GFE) SCHEDULE PROPOSED CY 0:5 e 0 NUMBER MARCH JUJNE SEPTEMBE DECEmBER MARCH JUNE SEPTi DEEMBER DC ESTIMATED NUMBER OF m c CANlDIDATES C WC ro MA oS2 r" mo a"xmcyc~co-r

NRC FORM 536 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVED BY 0MB: NO. 3150-0131 EXPIRES: 07/3112005 15-2003) Estimated burden per response to comply with this voluntary information collection request 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br />. This information collection is used to plan budgets and resources for operator examinations. Send comments regarding burden OPE RATOR LICENSING OPERTOR estimate to the Records Management Branch (T-6 E6). U.S. Nuclear Regulatory ICENINGCommission. Washington. DC 20555.0001. or by internet e-mail to infocoltects~nrc.gov. and to the Desk Ofticer. Office of Information and EXAMINATION DATA Re utatory Affairs, NEOB-10202. (3150.0131). Olfice of Management and Bugget. Washington. DC 20503. If a means used to impose an inlormation collection does not display a currently valid OLIB control number, the NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person Is not required to respond to. the information collection.

FACILITY NRC REGION Catawba Nuclear Station Region II A. PROPOSED EXAMINATION PREPARATION SCHEDULE PROPOSED NUMBER CY CY, CY &

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF LICENSEE-PREPARED EXAMINATIONS ESTIMATED NUMBER OF NRC-PREPARED EXAMINATIONS Q Q 0 0 B. INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS PROPOSED NUMBER CY ofCY7 CY OR NUMBER OF REACTOR OPERATORS 6 5 4 5 NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - INSTANT 1 1 2 2 NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - UPGRADE 2 3 3 2 NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - LIMITED 0 0 0 0 PROPOSED DATES . .

PRIMARY DATE 1210512005 1210412006 1210312007 1210512008 ALTERNATE DATE 1211212005 1211112006 1211012007 1211212008 C. PROPOSED GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (GFE) SCHEDULE CY 05.i CY 06 PROPOSED ..

NUMBER MARCH JUNE SEPTEMBER DECEMBER MARCH JUNE SEPTEMBER DECEMBER ESTIMATED 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 CANDIDATES NRC FORM 536 (5-2003) PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

OMB Clearance No.: 3150-0131 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 June 14, 2004 NRC REGULATORY ISSUE

SUMMARY

2004-10 PREPARATION AND SCHEDULING OF OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATIONS ADDRESSEES All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel.

INTENT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this regulatory issue summary (RIS) to inform addressees of the NRC staff's need for updated information on projected site-specific operator licensing examination schedules and the estimated numbers of applicants planning to take operator licensing examinations and the NRC's generic fundamentals examinations (GFEs). This information will help the NRC to more effectively plan the use of its resources.

This RIS requires no action or written response on the part of addressees. Any action on the part of addressees to collect and transmit the information noted herein is strictly voluntary.

BACKGROUND On April 23,1999, the NRC published a notice in the Federal Register (64 FR 19868) amending 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators' Licenses," to allow nuclear power facility licensees to prepare, proctor, and grade the written examinations required by 10 CFR 55.41 and 55.43, provided certain conditions are satisfied. The amendment also allows facility licensees to prepare the NRC-administered operating tests required by 10 CFR 55.45. Pursuant to 10 CFR 55.40(c),

facility licensees that elect not to prepare their own examinations and operating tests must request in writing that the NRC prepare the examination and the operating tests.

Regulatory Information Summary (RIS) 2003-14, "Preparation and Scheduling of Operator Licensing Examinations," issued August 27, 2003, requested that facility licensees submit proposed schedules of examinations that they intended to prepare and estimate the number of applicants to be tested in both site examinations and GFEs in calendar years (CYs) 2004 through 2007. This RIS supersedes RIS 2003-14; the objective is to update examination schedules and applicant estimates for CYs 2005 through 2007 and add an estimate for CY 2008.

ML041400040

RIS 2004-10 Page 2 of 4

SUMMARY

OF ISSUE The NRC uses about twice the resources to prepare an examination as it does to review, approve, administer, and document a facility-prepared examination. Furthermore, the total number of examinations administered by licensees fluctuates from year to year. Consequently, the NRC has found it helpful to request an annual update of power reactor facility licensees' initial operator licensing examination needs. The update should include an estimate of the number of applicants to be examined and whether the licensee or the NRC will prepare the exam. This information will help the NRC budget its resources. The NRC regional offices will continue to coordinate specific examination dates with the training managers of affected facility licensees.

The NRC requests that each licensee provide the following information on NRC Form 536, "Operator Licensing Examination Data" (Attachment 1):

A. Proposed Examination Preparation Schedule Estimate the number of examinations you intend to prepare and estimate the number of examinations you will request the NRC to prepare during CYs 2005 through 2008. For examinations that are prepared by facility licensees, the NRC will assume that each examination includes the required outline, the written examination, and the operating test, unless otherwise specified joint NRC/licensee examination development is permitted and should be coordinated with the NRC regional office).

B. Initial Operator License Examinations For each desired examination, estimate the number of applicants to be tested and enter the proposed primary and alternate dates of examination. If you are requesting more than one examination per calendar year, split the applicable column or use additional forms, as necessary, to cover all the examinations through CY 2008.

C. Proposed Generic Fundamentals Examination Schedule Estimate by examination month the number of applicants who plan to take the GFE in CYs 2005 and 2006. As requested by the industry, the GFE will be administered 4 times a year starting in CY 2004.

RIS 2004-10 Page 3 of 4 VOLUNTARY RESPONSE Addressees that choose to submit the information identified in NRC Form 536 are asked to do so within 30 days of receiving this RIS. NRC Form 536 is available on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/. Your response should be directed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and a copy of the response should be sent to the applicable regional office.

BACKFIT DISCUSSION This RIS requires no action or written response. Any action on the part of addressees to collect and transmit operator licensing examination data in accordance with the guidance in this RIS is strictly voluntary. Therefore, this is not a backfit under 10 CFR 50.109, and the staff did not perform a backfit analysis.

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION A notice of opportunity for public comment on this RIS was not published in the Federal Register because it pertains to an administrative aspect of the regulatory process and involves the voluntary submission of information by addressees.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT This RIS contains information collection requirements that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). These information collections were approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval number 3150-0131, which expires July 31, 2005.

The burden to the public for this voluntary information collection is estimated to average 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br /> per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of these information collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Records and FOIAJPrivacy Services Branch (T-5 F52), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by Internet electronic mail to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV; and to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-10202, (3150-0131), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

Public Protection Notification The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a request for information or an information collection requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently valid OMB control number.

RIS 2004-10 Page 4 of 4 If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation project manager.

IRA/

William D. Beckner, Chief Reactor Operations Branch Division of Inspection Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical Contacts: David C. Trimble, NRR Richard J. Conte, RI 301-415-2942 610-337-5183 E-mail: dct~nrc.gov E-mail: ric@ nrc.gov Michael E. Ernstes, RII Roger D. Lanksbury, RIII 404-562-4638 630-829-9631 E-mail: mee@nrc.gov E-mail: rdl nrc.gov Anthony T. Gody, RIV 817-860-8159 E-mail: atg@nrc.gov Attachments:

1. NRC Form 536, "Operator Licensing Examination Data"

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Regulatory Issue Summaries

ML041400040 OFFICE JIFOB:DIPM lTech Editor lSC:IOHS:IROB:DIPM OES:IROB:DIPM Pi B:PMAS:NRR NAME EBamhill I PKIeene* DCTrimble* CDPetronel DMcCaln DATE 105/19/2004 105/18/2004 105/19/2004 105/19/2004 05/19/2004 OFFICE l 1 @OGG I (A)SC:OES:IROB:DIPM C:IROB:DIPM NAME Mlkowitz MzBShelton I CPJackson lWDBeckner DATE 05/27/2004 06/07/2004 106/09/2004 106/14/2004 Attachment 1 RIS 2004-1 0 Page 1 of 1 NRC FORM 536 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVED BYOMB: NO. 3150-0131 EXPIRES:57/31f2005 Estmaled burden pen response to comnplywviththis voluntary Information colteclon request: I hour. This Inionmatlon collection Is used to pln budgets aid resourcesforoperatorenaiinetions. Send commntnes r egadingburden OPERATOR LICENSING ental.

Commisslon. Records to lirt°e Ma*ranment Washington. Brandsh DC 20555.0001.(T- EeI.

or U.S. Nucear Regulatory by Internet e-mail to EXAMINATION DATA InfoceIIetsrirc.g-o. endto tohe Desot001cr Off0iceof inoormation end Regu~tlatoryeAffairs. DCO 120Z653.1if 013eanOfoo Mngmn end Bdget Washingson DC 20503 Ifa means usedto Impose enhIrnmabon ollectiondoes nol disply e cundnartyveid OiB contiol nunber. te NRC may not eonduct or sponsor, end a person is not required to respond to. the kinonnraon collecion.

ACILTnY NrCREG0ru A. PROPOSED EXAMINATION PREPARATION SCHEDULE PROPOSED NUMBER Cy CY' CY CY ESTIMATED NUMBER OF LICENSEE-PREPARED EXAMINATiONS ESTIMATED NUMBER OF NRC-PREPARED EXAMINATIONS B. INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS PROPOSED NUMBER CY rCf CY CY NUMBER OF REACTOR OPERATORS NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - INSTANT NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - UPGRADE NUMBER OF SENIOR REACTOR OPERATORS - LIMITED PROPOSED DATES PRIMARY DATE ALTERNATE DATE C. PROPOSED GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (GFE) SCHEDULE CY CY PROPOSED NUMBER MARCH JUNE SEPTEMBER DECEM8E; MARCH JUNE SEPTEMBEF DECEMBER ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CANDIDATES NiRCFORM Sfi 3 oC I20 FRINTEDONRECYCLEDPAPER

Attachment 2 RIS 2004-10 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARIES Regulatory Issue Date of Summary No. Subject Issuance Issued to 2004-09 Status on Deferral of Active 06/07/2004 All holders of materials licenses for Regulation of Ground-water uranium and thorium recovery Protection At In Situ Leach facilities.

Uranium Extraction Facilities 2004-08 Results of the License Termination 05/28/2004 All holders of operating licenses Rule Analysis for nuclear power reactors, research and test reactors, as well as decommissioning sites.

2004-07 Release of Final Review Standard 05/19/2004 All holders of operating licenses (RS)-002, 'Processing for nuclear power reactors, all Applications for Early Site Permits" applicants for early site permits (ESPs), and all prospective vendors of nuclear power plants in the United States.

2004-06 Independent Survey of Power 04/16/2004 All holders of operating licenses Reactor Licensees for nuclear power reactors except those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel.

2004-05 Grid Reliability and the Impact on 04/15/2004 All holders of operating licenses Plant Risk and the Operability of for nuclear power reactors except Offsite Power those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel.

Note: NRC generic communications may be received in electronic format shortly after they are issued by subscribing to the NRC listserver as follows:

To subscribe send an e-mail to <listprocQnrc.ov >, no subject, and the following command in the message portion:

subscribe gc-nrr firstname lastname OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit