ML20132C582
| ML20132C582 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/29/1996 |
| From: | Mcgaffigan NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20132C509 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-96-206-C, NUDOCS 9612180403 | |
| Download: ML20132C582 (1) | |
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NOTATION VOTE itESPONSE SHEET TO:
John C.
Hoyle, Secretary FROM:
COMMISSIONER MCGAFFIGAN
SUBJECT:
SECY-96-206 - RULEMAKING PLAN FOR AMENDMENTS TO 10 CFR PART 55 TO CHANGE LICENSED OPERATOR EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS Approved X
Disapproved Abstain Not Participating Request Discussion COMMENTS:
I coacur with Commissioner Rogers' comments and with Chairman Jackson's addition, with one edit, namely "the staff should draft at least one initial licensing examination per region per year."
I also recommend that, in light of past press interest in this matter and the continuing opposition of at least one " concerned member of the public" to the change proposed, the Statements of Consideration should specifically describe (1) the continuing NRC involvement and oversight in approving individual initial operator licensing examinations--written, dynamic simulator, and plant walk through, and (2) the complete NRC control over the administration of the dynamic simulator and plant walk through.
In addit n, the press release accompanyirg the proposed rule should similarly describ the NRC's co trol over this process.
na SIGNATDRE
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Release Vote
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DATE Withhold Vote
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Entered on "AS" Yes K
No 4
9612180403 961217 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
[sco CEcg'o UNITED STATES y"
p' n NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION O
WASHINGTON. D C 20555-0001 Q
/* E Dec embe:- 17, 1996
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY MEMORANDUM TO:
James M. Taylor Execu 'v Director for Operations YM b i
FROM:
JohrV Hoyle', Secretary
SUBJECT:
ST FF REQUIREMENTS - SECY-96-206 - RULEMAKING PLAN FOR AMENDMENTS TO 10 CFR PART 55 TO CHANGE LICENSED OPERATOR EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS The Commission has approved the staff's rulemaking plan to establish new procedures for the preparation and administration of initial examinations for power reactor operators.
The Commission also approved implementation of Revision 8 of NUREG-1021 on a voluntary basis until the rulemaking is complete.
The revised press release, as attached, should be issued to announce the agency plans in this matter.
The headquarters staff should evaluate, on a continuing basis, a
sampling of examinations developed under the new examination procedure and the quality of the Regional Operator Licensing Program to ensure that the quality of examinations is maintained.
Further, the Statements of Consideration for the rule should specifically describe (1) the continuing NRC involvement and oversight in approving site specific initial operator licensing examinations - written, dynamic simulator, and plant walk through; and (2) the complete NRC control over administration of the dynamic simulator and plant walk through examinations.
The press release should reflect the Commission's decision to proceed with rulemaking and should similarly describe the NRC's control over the licensed operator examination process.
The staff should continue to monitor pilot program results and present the most current data to the Commission with the proposed and final rulemaking packages.
If additional experience gained during the remainder of the voluntary pilot program together with insights gained as a result of the rulemaking process suggest SECY NOTE:
THIS SRM, SECY-96-206, AND THE COMMISSION VOTING RECORD CONTAINING THE VOTE SHEETS OF ALL COMMISSIONERS WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE 5 WORKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS SRM.
{plE(Y S
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. that this may not be the appropriate direction to take, the Commission should be informed of such results in order to reconsider its position prior to approving the final rule.
(EDO)
(SECY Suspense:
2/21/97) 1 The proposed examination process is dependent upon the abilities of the NRC Chief Examiners to identify weak examinations and to work with facility licensees to maintain examination quality.
Maintaining examiner proficiency in these matters is of paramount
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importance and should be reflected appropriately in the staff procedures and by the budgeting of adequate resources every year.
The staff should draft at least one initial operator licensing examination per region per calendar year to aid in maintaining j
proficiency in examination writing, to aid in training of new examiners, and to serve as a quality check.
The staff should also regularly convene, on intervals not to exceed 24 months, operator licensing examiner conferences and refresher training sessions, to sustain and improve examiner proficiencies in the relevant technical and communication skills.
Once the final rule is in place, the staff should provide the Commission with an annual update of experience with the new examination procedure and the results of headquarters oversight of examination development.
(EDO)
(SECY Suspense:
Annually, after approval of final rule)
Attachment:
As stated cc:
Chairman Jackson Commissioner Rogers Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan OGC OCA OIG Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail)
COMMISSION APPROVES RULEMAKING PLAN FOR UTILITY ROLE IN INITIAL REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS i
i The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized the NRC j
staff to develop a rule requiring that all nuclear power plant j
licensees prepare
.under NRC direction - initial reactor i
j operator license examinations.
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i The' proposed rule will be prepared for Commission review and approval for public comment early next year.
Until a final rule is adopted, applicants for operator licenses will continue to be examined by using either NRC-prepared tests or those prepared by t
utilities participating voluntarily in.an NRC-supervised pilot program begun last year.
The Commission will take the agency's experience with the pilot program into consideration when it evaluates both the proposed and final rules.
i Reactor operator applicants seeking a license to manipulate the controls of a nuclear power plant must pass both a j
comprehensive, multiple-choice written test and a practical, hands-on examination.
The generic fundamentals examination, a
second written test that each applicant must pass to be considered for the final license examination, will continue to be written and administered by the NRC.
In the practical phase, applicants must demonstrate a mastery of plant systems and procedures, and the ability to deal with operational events on a control room simulator.
Licenses are issued for a specific facility.
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i The rulemaking plan includes these provirions:
NRC will continue to administer and grade the control e
room simulator and plant walk-through examination phases, during which each candidate is evaluated on a one-on-one basis.
All examinations drafted by utilities will be subject e
to review, modification and approval by NRC examiners before the tests are given.
NRC will have the option of preparing a test in lieu of accepting or modifying one prepared by a utility.
e To be approved by NRC, examinations must comply with detailed NRC guidance which deals with such matters as appropriate level of difficulty, maintenance of examination security, and restrictions on test preparation by those significantly involved in training license applicants.
The guidance document, " Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors" (NUREG-1021), has been revised to implement the new process.
Once the new licensing examination process has become o
fully operational, the NRC staff will prepare at least one examination annually in each of the agency's four I
f regions to ensure that the staff maintains its
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proficiency in examination writing and to serve as a quality check on the process.
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Historically, either NRC staff examiners or NRC contractors But I
have prepared and administered all operator license tests.
in April 1995, the Commission approved a staff proposal that the agency begin evaluating a system wherein nuclear power plant licensees would prepare the tests under NRC oversight.
The Commission took this acticn to recognize substantial improvements in industry training programs, to make the operator licensing program more efficient, and to realize budgetary savings.
The staff solicited volunteers for a pilot program in a letter sent to all nuclear utilities in August of last year, and launched the program two months later.
Between October 1995 and April of this year, the staff reviewed and approved 22 operator licensing examinations prepared by utilities in accordance with published NRC guidance, These examinations were used to test 146 applicants for reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses.
After a staff briefing in June, the Commission authorized continuation of the pilot program through July 1997 to provide time for the rulemaking process.
About half the initial reactor and operator licensing examinations now being given are prepared, i
one of the written examinations is administered, by utilities I
l taking part in the voluntary, pilot program.
A w
J It is esimated that the new license examination process t
would permit the NRC to save between 43 million and $4 million paid annually to contractors for support of operator licensing i
i and requalification inspection programs.
Unaffected by the new rule is the licensing of operators for non-power reactors, who
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Also unchanged is the 4
present system whereby utilities prepare and administer requalification examinations to licensed operators as part of an NRC-approved training program.
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