ML13282A445
| ML13282A445 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission |
| Issue date: | 10/21/2013 |
| From: | Patrick Boyle Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch |
| To: | Goodwin C State of RI, Atomic Energy Comm, Nuclear Science Ctr |
| Boyle P, 301-415-3636 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME1598 | |
| Download: ML13282A445 (6) | |
Text
October 21, 2013 Dr. Cameron Goodwin, Director Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission 16 Reactor Road Narragansett, RI 02882-1165
SUBJECT:
RHODE ISLAND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REACTOR OPERATOR REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE RHODE ISLAND NUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER LICENSE RENEWAL (TAC NO. ME1598)
Dear Dr. Goodwin:
By application dated May 3, 2004, as supplemented, Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission requested renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-95 for the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is continuing the review of your application and determined that information and clarification regarding reactor operator requalification program, is required in order to complete its review. Please provide responses to the enclosed requests for additional information no later than 30 days from the receipt of this letter.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.30(b), you must execute your response in a signed original document under oath or affirmation. 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 301-415-3936 or by electronic mail at Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Patrick G. Boyle, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-193
Enclosure:
Request for Additional Information cc: See next page
Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission Docket No. 50-193 cc:
Governor 222 State House Room 115 Providence, RI 02903 Dr. Stephen Mecca Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission Providence College Department of Engineering-Physics Systems River Avenue Providence, RI 02859 Dr. Clinton Chichester, Chairman Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission College of Pharmacy Pharmacy Building 7 Greenhouse Road Kingston, RI 02881 Dr. Jack Breen, Chairman Nuclear and Radiation Safety Committee Providence College Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 549 River Avenue Providence, RI 02918 Dr. Nancy E. Breen Marine and Natural Sciences Building 226 Roger Williams University One Old Ferry Road Bristol, RI 02809 Dr. Bahram Nassersharif Dean of Engineering University of Rhode Island 102 Bliss Hall Kingston, RI 20881 Dr. Peter Gromet Department of Geological Sciences Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Supervising Radiological Health Specialist Office of Occupational and Radiological Health Rhode Island Department of Health 3 Capitol Hill, Room 206 Providence, RI 02908-5097 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611
ML13282A445 NRR-088 OFFICE NRR/DPR/PRLB/PM NRR/DPR/PRLB/LA NRR/DPR/PRLB/BC NRR/DPR/PRLB/PM NAME PBoyle PBlechman AAdams PBoyle DATE 10/9/2013 10/17/2013 10 /21/2013 10 /21/2013
Enclosure REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REACTOR OPERATOR REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE LICENSE RENEWAL FOR RHODE ISLAND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RHODE ISLAND NUCLEAR SCIENCE CENTER LICENSE NO. R-95 DOCKET NO. 50-193 By application dated May 3, 2004, as supplemented, Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission requested renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-95 for the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC). The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has reviewed the revision to your requalification plan submitted with the license renewal package. As part of this review the staff has generated the following requests for additional information (RAIs).
RAI-1
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 55.59(a)(1) states that each licensee shall:
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.
Section V of the RINSC requalification plan has provisions for an annual operational examination and a biennial written examination.Section IV of the Requalification Plan requires that each operator complete a two year written examination. The RINSC Requalification Plan makes no mention of the duration of the requalification program and one assumes that the written examination is administered at the completion of the program. In theory, if a written examination is administered in January 2013 and the next one in September 2015, this practice would meet the two year requirement of the Requalification Plan but would not be in accordance with 10 CFR 55.59(a)(1).
Provide justification for how the wording in the RINSC requalification plan assures that the periodicity of the requalification program will meet the regulations in 10 CFR 55.59(a)(1), or propose changes to the plan to ensure that the requirements are met.
RAI-2
10 CFR 55.59(c)(3)(i) states:
(i) Each licensed operator of a utilization facility manipulates the plant controls and each licensed senior operator either manipulates the controls or directs the activities of individuals during plant control manipulations during the term of the licensed operator's or senior operator's license. For reactor operators and senior operators, these manipulations must consist of the following control manipulations and plant evolutions if they are applicable to the plant design.
Items described in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) (A) through (L) of this section must be performed annually; all other items must be performed on a two-year cycle.
However, the requalification programs must contain a commitment that each individual shall perform or participate in a combination of reactivity control manipulations based on the availability of plant equipment and systems. Those control manipulations which are not performed at the plant may be performed on a simulator. The use of the Technical Specifications should be maximized during the simulator control manipulations. Senior operator licensees are credited with these activities if they direct control manipulations as they are performed Related to the above, the American National Standards Institute/American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-15.4, Selection and Training of Personnel for Research Reactors, Section 6.0, Requalification and relicensing, Sections 6.2.4 and 6.2.5 state:
6.2.4 Reactivity control manipulations The licensed individual shall perform a number of reactivity manipulations in any combination of reactor start-ups, shutdowns, and reactivity or power changes as approved in the facilitys requalification program or established by Level 2. The recommended number is five. For senior reactor operators, direct supervision of these operations may be considered equivalent to actual performance.
6.2.5 Operating test or evaluation At least five tasks selected from Sec. 5.4 including a reactor start-up and shutdown shall be performed and evaluated. The performance of the task may be actual or simulated.
Provide justification for how the evaluation process as delineated in the Requalification Plan meets the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(c)(i), or propose changes to the plan to ensure that these requirements are met. Note, the NRC has endorsed ANSI/ANS-15.4, and the above listed paragraphs may be used to assist in the development of the guidance within your plan to meet this requirement.