ML20079L932
| ML20079L932 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 01/18/1984 |
| From: | Burstein S WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO. |
| To: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| GL-84-02, GL-84-2, TAC-52502, TAC-52503, NUDOCS 8401270045 | |
| Download: ML20079L932 (3) | |
Text
,.ns MSCORSin Electnc powea coursur 231 W. MICHIGAN, P.O. BOX 2046, MILWAUKEE, WI 53201 January 18, 1984 Mr.
D.
G.
Eisenhut, Director Division of Licensing U.
S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Washington, D. C.
20555
Dear Mr. Eisenhut:
NOTICE OF MEETING REGARDING FACILITY STAFFING GENERIC LETTER 84-02 We have received your letter of January 6 relating to the meeting scheduled for January 25 to discuss commercial nuclear plant operating experience considerations with applicants for operating licenses.
While Wisconsin Electric is not an applicant for an operating license, and accordingly does not plan to attend the meeting, we do have significant concern that resolution of the NRC's staffing requirements related to new plants could have an adverse impact on operating plants.
Point Beach, as you recall, is a two-unit pressurized water reactor plant with a central, common control.
For the last several years, we have taken steps to increase and stabilize our staffing by going to six shifts and adding a third licensed reactor operator (RO) on each shift.
We have recently met with the NRC staff to discuss our timetable for completing our plans to provide on each shift two senior reactor operators and three reactor operators.
The increases in licensed operators and other specialists on shift is in response to NRC requirements.
Further, in order to provide these increases and for future reassignments and retirements of our operating staff, we have initiated a Nuclear Plant Operator Trainee program to bring new, highly selected individuals into our organization for eventual promotion to licensed positions.
We estimate that it takes approximately four years from the time these individuals are hired until they can be licensed.
It seems obvious that any requirements imposed by the NRC on applicants for operating licenses to have personnel with recent commercial nuclear power plant experience on their staffs may well result in losses from the staffs of operating plants, since they are the source of such people.
Obviously, these losses could have an adverse impact on the safe operation of existing facilities, particularly in view of the lengthy period of time required.to train and license replacements.
O CSI 8401270045 840118 PDR ADOCK 05000266 glVA
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Mr.
D. G.
Eisenhut January 18, 1984 Some years ago, we worked with INPO to encourage new plants
'o send members of their staffs to operating plants to gain c
experience.
We used this technique to prepare members of our initial staff during the construction of Point Beach some fifteen years ago.
In our view, such trainees should spend at least six months on operating plant assignments.
INPO encouraged that concept, and we understand some thirty operating plants are willing to accept qualified trainees.
It is also my understanding that very few trainees have actually been placed in operating plants, possibly because it is not clear whether the NRC would accept such training as meeting its requirements.
I would like to encourage you to clarify the NRC's position on this matter during the January 25 meeting, and hopefully to encourage applicants for operating licenses to take advantage of offers of assistance from operating plants in order to reduce the pirating of licensed personnel which will probably take place otherwise.
Very truly yours, Executive Vice President Sol Burstein M