ML20006E228

Advises That Written Licensing Reexam Scheduled for 900306. Completed License Applications Should Be Submitted at Least 30 Days Prior to Exam Date.Ref Matl Requirements for Licensing Exams Listed on Encl

ML20006E228
Person / Time
Site:	University of Lowell
Issue date:	02/09/1990
From:	Eselgroth P NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Beghian L MASSACHUSETTS, UNIV. OF, LOWELL, MA (FORMERLY LOWELL
References
NUDOCS 9002220343
Download: ML20006E228 (11)

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i FTB 91990 Docket No: 50-223 University of Lore 11 l

ATTN:.Dr. Leon " Beghian Associate vice President l

for Research 1 University Avenue Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Gentlemen:

SUBJECT:

REACTOR OPERATOR RE-EXAMINATION l.

In a telephone conversation between Mr. David Wallace of the NRC and Mr. Thomas Wallace of your facility, arrangements were made for the administration of a licensing re-examination at the University of Lowell Reactor.

The written examination conshts of two sections (A & F) and is scheduled for

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March 6, 1990.

The NRC is in receipt of the University of Lowell Reactor reference materials.

Additional reference material will be requested if discrepancies are found

-between the materials provided and those listed in Enclosure 1, as applicable.

You are responsible fer providing adequate space and accommodations for admini-stration of the written examinations.,-" Requirements for Admini-stration of Written Examination," describes our requirements for conducting these examinations. contains the Rules and Guidelines that will be in effect during the.

administration of the written examination.

The facility management is respons-ible for~ ensuring that all applicants are aware of these rules.

1he facility staff review of the written examination will be conducted in accordance with requirements specified in Enclosure 4, " Requirements for Facility Review of Written Examinations."

All completed license applications should be submitted at least 30 days before the first examination dates so that we will be able to review the training and experience of the candidates, process the medical certifications, and prepare final examiner assignments-after applicant eligibility has been determined.

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the applications are not received at least 30 days before the examination dates, it is possible that a postponement will be necessary.

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY WALACE/U. OF LOWELL/2/6/90 -

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"Jnisersity of Lowell 2

This request is covered by Office of Management and Budget Clearance Number 3150-0101 which expires May 31, 1992. The estimated average burden is 7.7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> per response, including gathering, xeroxing and mailing the required material.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Records and Reports Management Branch, Division of Information Support Services, Of fice of Information Resources Management, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C. 20555; and to the Paperwork Reduction Project (3150-0101), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D. C. 20503.

Thank you fo your consideration in this matter.

If you have any questions regarding the examination procedures and requirements, please contact me at (215) 337-5211.

Sincerely,

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bbiggd Peter w Eselgroth, Chief 4 -

PWR Section e4 Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosures:

1.

Reference Material Requirements for Reactor Operator Licensing Examinations 2.

Requirements for Administration of Written Examinations 3.

NRC Rules and Guidelines for Written Examinations 4.

Requirements for Facility Review of Written Examinations cc w/encls:

Dr. J. Phelps, Chairman, Reactor Safety Subcommittee T. Wallace, Reactor Supervisor Leo Bobek, Chief Reactor Operator Dr. William Vernetson, Director of Nuclear Facilities, University of Florida 9ublic Document Room (PDR) local Public Document Room (LPDR) g' Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

Coramonwealth of Massachusetts (2) bcc w/ercis:

Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)

Management Assistant, DRMA (w/o encis)

Wallace, DRS P. Eselgroth, DRS SRI - Seabrook Chief Examiner 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY WALACE'U. OF LOWELL/2/6/90 -

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' ENCLOSURE 1 REFERENCE MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REACTOR / SENIOR REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATIONS 1.

Existing learning objectives, Job Performance Measures and lesson plans (including training manuals, plant orientation manual, system descript-ions, reactor theory, thermodynamics, etc.)

A copy of the facility Job and Task Analysis (JTA), specifying the know-ledges and abilities required of an operator at the facility.

Each parti-cular knowledge and/or ability will include an importance rating correlat-ing it to ensuring the health and the safety of the public.

If a JTA is not furnished, the Knowledges and Abilities Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators, NUREG 1122(1123) will be used to establish content valid-1ty for-the examination.

All Job Performance Measures (JPMs) used to ascertain the competence of-the operators in performing tasks within the control room complex and, as identified _in the facility JTAs, catside of the control room, i.e., local operations.

Training materials'shall include all substantive written material used for preparing applicants for initial R0 and SRO licensing.

The written mater-ial shall include learning objectives and the details presented during lectures, rather than outlines. Training materials shall be identified by

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plant and unit, bound, tabbed, and indexed.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE, PROPERLY BOUND AND INDEXE0 PLANT REFERENCE MATERIAL MAY RESULT IN THE RETURN OF THE MATERIAL TO THE PERSON WHO IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CORPORATE MANAGEMENT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANT OPERATIONS (E.G., VICE PRESIDENT OF NUCLEAR OPERATIONS). ACCOMPANYING THE MATERIAL WILL BE A C0VER LETTER EXPLAINING THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE REFERENCE MATERIAL AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE REASON THE EXAMINATIONS WERE CANCELLED.0R POSTPONED. Train-

- ing materials, which include the'following, shall be provided:

System descriptions including descriptions of all operationally relevant flow paths, components, controls and instrumentation.

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System training material should draw parallels to the actual proce-dures used %r operating the applicable system.

Complete and operationally useful descriptions of all safety-system interactions and, where available, B0P system interactions under emergency and abnormal conditions, including consequences of anti-cipated operator error, maintenance error, and equipment failure.

Training material used to clarify and strengthen understanding of emergency operating procedures.

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Comprehensive. theory material that. includes fundamentals. in the area of theory.of reactor operation,-thermodynamics, heat tran5fer and

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fluid flow,.as well as specific application to actual in plant com-ponents.

For example, mechanical theory material on pumps shall i

include pump theory as well as descriptions of how these principles actually apply to major plant pumps and the systems in which they are installed (i.e., Reactor Coolant Pumps, all ECCS pumps). Reactor i

Theory material shall. include descriptions that draw explicit ties between the fundamentals and the actual operating limits followed in the plant (i.e., reactor theory material should contain explanations how principles relate to the actual curves used by operators to verify shutdown margin or calculate an ECP).

2..

Complete Procedure Index (including surveillance procedures, etc.)

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All administrative procedures (as applicable to reactor operation a safety)~

4.

All inte' grated plant' procedures (normal or general operating procedures) 5.

All. emergency procedures (emergency instructions, abnormal or special pro-cedures) 6.

Standing orders (important orders that are safety related and may super-sede the regular procedures)

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Surveillance procedures (procedures that are run-frequently, i.e. weekly or that can be run on the simulator) z8.

Fuel-handling and core-loading procedures, (initial core-loading proce-dure, when appropriate) 9.

All annunciator / alarm response procedures 10.

Radiation protection manual (radiation control manual or procedures) 11.

Emergency plan implementing procedures

12. Technical Specifications'(and interpretations, if available) for all units 1.

for which licenses are sought.

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System operating procedures 14.

Piping and Instrumentation diagrams, electrical single-line diagrams, or flow diagrams

15. Technical Data Book, and/or Plant curve information as used by operators L,

and facility precautions, limitations, and set points (PLS) for the

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16. Questions and answers specific to the facility training program which may be used in the written or operating examinations.

17.- Additional material required by the examiners to develop examinations that meet the requirements of these standards and regulations.

The above reference material shall be approved, final issues and shall be so marked.

If a plant has not finalized some of the material, the Chief Examiner shall verify with the facility that the most complete, up-to-date material is available and that agreement has been reached with the licensee for limiting changes before the administration of the examination. All procedures and

- reference material shall be bound with appropriate indices or tables of contents so that they can be used efficiently.

Failure to provide complete, properly bound and indexed plant reference material could result in cancella-tion or rescheduling of the examinations.

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ENCLOSURE 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS 1.

A single room shall be provided for administration of the written examina-tion. The. location of this room and supporting restroom facilities shall be such as to prevent contact with all other facility and/or contractor personnel during the written examination.

If necessary, the facility should make arrangements for the use of a suitable' room at a local school, motel, or other building. Obtaining this room is the responsibility of the licensee.

2.-

Minimum spacing is required to ensure examination integrity as determined by the Chief Examiner. Minimum spacing should be one applicant per table, with.a three foot space between tables.

3.

Suitable arrangements shall be made by the facility if the applicants are to have lunch, coffee, or other refreshments. These arrangements shall comply with Item 1 above and shall be reviewed by the examiner and/or proctor.

4.

The facility licensee shall provide pads of 8-1/2 by 11 inch lined paper

- in unopened packages for each applicant's use in completing the examina--

tion. The examiner shall distribute these pads to the applicants.

5.

Applicants may bring pens, pencils, calculators or slide rules into the examination room. Only black ink or dark pencils-should be used for writing answers to questions.

6.

The licensee shall provide one set of steam tables for each applicant.

The examiner.shall distribute the steam-tables to the applicants.

No wall charts, models, and/or other training materials shall be present in the examination room. No other equipment or reference material shall be allowed unless provided by the examiner.

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1 ENCLOSURE 3 1

NRC E'JLES AND GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

1..

Check identification badges, l

2.

Pass out examinations and all handouts.

Remind applicants not to review examination until instructed to do so.

j READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS VERBATIM:

During the administration of this examination the following rules apply:

1.

Cheating on the examination means an automatic denial of your application and could result in more severe penalties, E

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After the examination has been completed, you must sign the statement on the cover sheet indicating that the work is your own and you have not received or given assistance in completing the examination.

This must be t

done af ter you complete the examination.

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS' l

3.

Restroom trips are to be limited and only one applicant at a time may leave.

You must. avoid all contacts with anyone outside the examination room to avoid even the appearance or possibility of cheating.

4.

Use black ink or dark pencil only to facilitate legible reproductions.

5.

Print your name in the blank provided in the upper right-hand corner of

-the examination cover' sheet.

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Fill in the date on the cover sheet of the examination (if necessary).

7.

You may write your answers on the examination question page or on a separate sheet of paper. USE ONLY THE PAPER PROVIDED AND 00 NOT WRITE ON THE'BACK SIDE OF THE PAGE.

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If you write your answers on the examination question page and you need more space to answer a specific question, use a separate sheet of the l

paper provided and insert it directly after the specific question.

DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK SIDE OF TKE EXAMINATION QUESTION PAGE.

9.

Initial each page of your answer sheets.

10.

Before you turn in your examination, consecutively number each answer sheet, including any additional pages inserted when writing your answers on the examination question page.

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11. Write "Last Page" on the last answer sheet.

2-12.

Use abbreviations only if they are commonly used in facility literature.

Avoid using symbols such as < or > signs to avoid a simple transposition

-error resulting in an incorrect answer. Write it out.

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13. The point value for each question is indicated in parentheses after the question. The amount of blank space on an examination question page is NOT an indication of the depth of answer required.

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Show all calculations, methods, or assumptions used to obtain an answer.

15.

Partial credit may be given for other than multiple choice questions.

Therefore, ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION AND 00 NOT LEAVE ANY ANSWER BLANK.

16.

Partial credit will NOT be awarded for questions using multiple choice selection formatting.. The correct answer must stand on its own merit.

17. - Proportional grading will be applied. Any additional wrong information that is provided may count against you.

For example, if a question is worth one point and asks for four responses, each of which is worth 0.25 points, and you give fivo responses, each of your responses will be worth 0.20 points.

If one of your five responses'is incorrect, 0.20 will be deducted and your total credit for that question will be 0.80 instead of 1.00 even though you got the four correct answers.

18.

If the intent of a question is unclear, ask questions of the examiner-only.

19.

Ensure that all information you wish to have evaluated as part of your answer is on your answer sheet.

Scrap. paper will be disposed of immedi-ately following the examination without reviews.

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20. When turning in your examination, assemble the completed examination with examination questions, examina'. ion aids and answer sheets. :In addition, turn in all scrap paper.

21. To pass'the examination, you must achieve an overall grade of 80% or greater.

22. There is a time limit of 4.5 nours for completion of the examination (or some other time if less than the full examination is taken).

23. When you are done and have turned in your examination, leave the examina-tion area (DEFINE THE AREA).

If you are found in this area while the

' examination is still in progress, your license may be denied or revoked.

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ENCLOSURE'4 REQUIREMENTS FOR' FACILITY. REVIEW 0F WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS 1.

At the option of the Chief Examiner, the facility may review the written examination up to two weeks prior _to its administration.

This review may take pl&ce at the facility or in the Regional office.

The Chief Examiner will coordinate the details of the review with the facility. An NRC exam-iner will always be present during the review.

When this option of examination review is utilized, the facility reviewers will sign the following statement prior to being allowed access to the examination.

The examination or written notes will not be retained by the

facility, a.

Pre-Examination Security Agreement I.

_ agree that I will not knowingly divulge any informa-tion concerning the replacement (or initial) examination scheduled for to any unauthorized persons.

I understand that I am not to participate in any instruction involving those reactor a

operator or senior reactor operator applicants scheduled to be admini-stered the above replacement (or initial) examination from now until after the examination has been administerea.

I understand that viola-tion of this security agreement could result in the examination being voided.

Signature /Date In addition, the facility staff-reviewers will sign the following statement after the written examination has been administered.

b.

Post-Examination Security Agreement I

did not, to the best of knowledge, divulge any information concerning the written examination administered on to any unauthorized persons.

I did not. participate.

in providing.any instruction to those reactor operator and senior reactor operator applicants who were administered the examination from the time that I was allowed access to the examination.

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Regardless of whether the above examination review option is exercised, immediately following the administration of the written examination, the facility staff shall be provided a marked up copy of the examination and the answer key. The copy of the written examination shall include pen and-ink changes made to questions during the examination administration.

If.the facility did not review the examination prior to its administra-tion, they will have five (5) working days from the day of the written examination to submit formal comments.

If the facility reviewed the examination prior to its administration, any additional comments must be given to an examiner prior to his/her leaving the site at the end of the week of the written examination administration.

In either case, the

. comments will be addressed to the_ responsible Regional Office by the highest on site level of corporate management for plant operations, e.g.,

Vice President for Nuclear Operations. A copy of the submittal will be forwarded to the Chief Examiner, as appropriate.

Comments not submitted within the required time-frame will be. considered for inclusion in the grading process on a case-by-casc basis by the Regional Office Section Chief.

Should the comment submittal deadline not be met, a long delay in grading the examination may occur.

3.

The following format should be adhered to for submittal of specific

-comments:

a.

Listing of NRC Question, answer and reference

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Facility comment / recommendation c.

Reference'(to support facility comment) r.

NOTES:

1.

No change to the examination will be made without submittal of of a reference to support the facility comment. Any supporting i

documentation that was not previously supplied, should be L

.provided.

2.

Comments made without a' concise facility recommendation will not be addressed, n

4.

A two hour post-examination review may be held at the discretion of the' Chief Examiner.

If this review is held, the facility staff should be informed that only written comments that are properly supported will be considered in the grading of the examination.

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