ML073370662

Y020070276- Simulator Scenario Based Testing Methodology

ML073370662
Person / Time
Site:	Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date:	11/20/2007
From:	Nancy Salgado NRC/NRR/ADRO/DIRS
To:	Roe J Nuclear Energy Institute
Shared Package
ml073460245	List: ML073370662 ML073460199
References
TAC MD7399, Y020070276
Download: ML073370662 (3)

Text

Original Due Date: 01/22/2008 Ticket Number: 020070276 Document Date: 11/20/2007 NRR Received Date: 11/28/2007 From: TACs:

Nancy Salgado MD7399 To: ***YELLOW ***

Jack Roe For Signature of: Routing:

Dyer Wiggins Grobe Boger

==

Description:==

NRR Mail Room Simulator Scenario Based Testing Methodology Assigned To:

Contact:

DIRS BROWN, FREDERICK, D Special Instructions:

The industry requests a letter confirming the staffs agreement with industry on the SBT performance and documentation process.

7 NUCLEAR ENE '6Y INSTII UTU Jack W. Roe DIRECTOR OPERATIONS SUPPORT NUCLEARGENERATION DIVISION November 20, 2007 Ms. Nancy L. Salgado Chief, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-12 D3 Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Simulator Scenario Based Testing Methodology Project Number: 689

Dear Ms. Salgado:

On August 24 2007, the NEI Licensed Operator Focus Group (LOFG) and the NRC met in a public meeting to discuss issues related to operator licensing. One of the focus areas for the meeting was the testing methodology, documentation, and bounding of simulator scenario based testing (SBT).

During the meeting, the industry recommended that the NRC:

1. Accept and endorse the Robinson Nuclear Plant SBT testing methodology, advertised as "validation = SBT".

2. Accept and endorse the Robinson Nuclear Plant SBT documentation methodology.

3. Bound the required scenarios to undergo SBT as NRC-required examination scenarios (i.e.,

NRC initial license examination scenarios and annual re-qualification examination scenarios) and scenarios utilized for license candidate reactivity manipulation credit.

We believe the staff agreed to the three points above, and offered one additional testing requirement. This requirement is to demonstrate that testing of the malfunctions listed in section 3.1.4 of ANSI/ANS 3.5-1998 has been performed at least once in the lifetime of the simulator and that the documentation will include the completed test results. In addition, these test results will be retained as simulator design data for the life of the simulator. The industry agrees with this additional testing and record retention requirement.

1776 1Street, NW I Suite 400 I Washington, DC I 20006-3708 I P: 202.739.8138 1 F: 202. 533.0139 I jwr@nei.org I www.nei.org

Ms. Nancy L. Salgado November 20, 2007 Page 2 The industry believes that agreement on the four points discussed above will close all outstanding issues with SBT and will allow the industry and NRC to move forward with a common SBT performance and documentation process. The industry requests a letter confirming the staff's agreement with this position. The industry would also like to discuss the appropriate method for communicating this position to the industry (e.g., generic letter, RIS, and interim staff guidance).

The LOFG appreciates the opportunity to work with the NRC to ultimately close the issues and uncertainties that have prevented the implementation of a standardized SBT performance and documentation method. We look forward to continuing this work in the future.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (202) 739-8138; jwr~nei.orcl or Chris Earls at (202) 739-8078; cee@nei.ora.

Sincerely, Jack W. Roe