ML110940169
| ML110940169 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Washington State University |
| Issue date: | 04/11/2011 |
| From: | Linh Tran Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch |
| To: | Wall D Washington State Univ |
| tran L, NRC/NRR/DPR/PRLB 415-4103 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML110940169 (5) | |
Text
April 11, 2011 Dr. Donald Wall, Director Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University PO Box 641300 Pullman, WA 99164-1300
SUBJECT:
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM
Dear Dr. Wall:
We have reviewed the Washington State University Nuclear Radiation Center Reactor Staff Requalification Program dated January 16, 2008, submitted by letter dated August 29, 2009.
During our review, questions have arisen for which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information within 30 days of the date of this letter in order for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff to complete the review.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 50.30(b), your response must be executed in a signed original under oath or affirmation. Also, your response must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.4, Written Communications. Information included in your response that is considered security, sensitive, or proprietary, that you seek to have withheld from the public, must be marked in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding.
If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at 301-415-4103 by electronic mail at: linh.tran@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Linh N. Tran, Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-27
Enclosure:
As Stated cc: See next page
Washington State University Docket No. 50-27 cc:
Dr. Kenneth Nash Chair, Reactor Safeguards Committee Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University P.O. Box 641300 Pullman, WA 99164 - 1300 Mr. C. Corey Hines Reactor Supervisor, Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University P.O. Box 641300 Pullman, WA 99164 - 1300 Mr. David Clark Director, Radiation Safety Office Washington State University P.O. Box 641302 Pullman, WA 99163-1302 Director Division of Radiation Protection Department of Health 7171 Cleanwater Lane, Bldg #5 P.O. Box 47827 Olympia, WA 98504-7827 Office of the Governor Executive Policy Division State Liaisons Officer P.O. Box 43113 Olympia, WA 98504-3113 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611
April 11, 2011 Dr. Donald Wall, Director Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University PO Box 641300 Pullman, WA 99164-1300
SUBJECT:
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY RADIATION CENTER REACTOR STAFF REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM
Dear Dr. Wall:
We have reviewed the Washington State University Nuclear Radiation Center Reactor Staff Requalification Program dated January 16, 2008, submitted by letter dated August 29, 2009.
During our review, questions have arisen for which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the enclosed request for additional information within 30 days of the date of this letter in order for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff to complete the review.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 50.30(b), your response must be executed in a signed original under oath or affirmation. Also, your response must be submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.4, Written Communications. Information included in your response that is considered security, sensitive, or proprietary, that you seek to have withheld from the public, must be marked in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding.
If you have any questions regarding this review, please contact me at 301-415-4103 by electronic mail at: linh.tran@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Linh N. Tran, Senior Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-27
Enclosure:
As Stated cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC DPR/PRT r/f RidsNrrDpr RidsNrrDprPrtb AFDiMeglio, NRR GLappert, NRR LTran, NRR RidsNrrDprPrta ACCESSION NO.:ML110940169 *concurrence via email NRR-088 Office PRLB:PM PRLB:LA PRLB:BC PRLB:PM Name LTran GLappert JQuichocho LTran Date 4/4/2011 4/5/2011 4/5/11 4/11/11 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY TRIGA REACTOR OPERATOR REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM LICENSE NO. R-76 DOCKET NO. 50-27 We have reviewed the Washington State University Nuclear Radiation Center (WSUNRC)
Reactor Staff Requalification Program dated January 16, 2008, submitted by letter dated August 29, 2009. Your requalification program was reviewed against Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 55 and the guidance provided in the American National Standards Institiute/American Nuclear Society 15.4. During our review, questions have arisen for which we require additional information and clarification. Please provide responses to the following request for additional information (RAI):
RAI 1
10 CFR 55.59(b) states:
Additional training. If the requirements of paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section are not met, the Commission may require the licensee to complete additional training and to submit evidence to the Commission of successful completion of this training before returning to licensed duties.
10 CFR 55.59(c)(4)(i) states:
Evaluation. The requalification program must include -- (i) Comprehensive requalification written examinations and annual operating tests which determine areas in which retraining is needed to upgrade licensed operator and senior operator knowledge.
ANSI/ANS 15.4, Selection and Training of Personnel for Research Reactors, Section 5.5 states:
5.5 Examination administration and evaluation The minimum acceptance score shall be 70% for each category of the written examination and 70% for the entire operating and oral examination. Individuals who did not achieve passing scores in one or more of the categories listed in Section 5.4 may be reexamined following retraining in the deficient areas. The responsible authority may waive reexamination in categories with passing scores provided the candidate has demonstrated proficiency in those portions of an examination.
ENCLOSURE
Section 2, Annual Operations Test, of the WSUNRC Reactor Staff Qualification Program, discusses the annual operating test and that individuals who fail must be given additional training. However, it does not address a pass/fail criteria nor does it address that personnel failing the operating test should successfully complete the addition training before returning to licensed duties. Please provide a pass/fail criteria for facility administered annual operating tests as part of the WSUNRC Reactor Staff Qualification Program.
RAI 2
10 CFR 55.53(h) states:
[Each license contains and is subject to the following conditions whether stated in the license or not:] The licensee shall complete a requalification program as described by
§ 55.59.
10 CFR 55.59(a), Paragraphs (1) and (2) state:
(a) Requalification requirements. Each licensee shall --(1) Successfully complete a requalification program developed by the facility licensee that has been approved by the Commission. This program shall be conducted for a continuous period not to exceed 24 months in duration. (2) Pass a comprehensive requalification written examination and an annual operating test.
The 1st paragraph of the WSUNRC Reactor Staff Qualification Program states:
Each licensed operator and Senior Operator at the Washington State University Nuclear Radiation Center reactor facility will participate in the reactor staff requalification program as outlined below, with the exception that the senior reactor operator who is in charge of the program will be exempted from taking the written examination.
This paragraph as written may exempt one person indefinitely from the requirements of taking a biennial written examination. The NRC recognizes that licensees may have limited qualified staff. On a case by case basis, the NRC may approve requalification programs with the statement described in the first paragraph of the WSUNRC Reactor Staff Qualification Program that additionally describes rotating the senior reactor operator who is in charge of the program among all senior operators for each operating cycle. This ensures that no one individual is permanently exempted from meeting the regulations of 10 CFR Part 55. Please modify the scope to ensure that one individual is permanently exempted from meeting the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55.