ML20134L910

Submits Responses to Operations Staffing Issues Discussed in Insp Repts 50-282/96-08 & 50-306/96-08.Rev 35 of Operations Section Work Instruction (Swi) O-2,shift Organization, Operation & Turnover Attached & Identified Plant Position

ML20134L910
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	11/13/1996
From:	Wadley M NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML20134L911	List: ML20134L910 ML20134L915
References
NUDOCS 9611220083
Download: ML20134L910 (3)

Text

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Northern States Power Company Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant 1717 Wakonade Dr. East Welch, Minnesota 55089 November 13,1996 10 CFR 55 l

U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT Docket Nos. 50-282 License Nos. DPR-42 50-306 DPR-60 i

Response to Operations Staffing issues Discussed in Insoection Reoort No. 50-282/306/96008 (DRP)

NRC Inspection Report No. 50-282/306/96008 (DRP) of October 7,1996, identified that working in the work control center had occasionally been used to credit operator as

" actively performing the functions of an operator or senior operator" for the purposes of maintaining operator licenses in an active status. This practice has been discontinued.

The report also identified that the Shift Manager is credited with actively performing the functions of a senior operator even though neither Technical Specifications nor 10 CFR 50.54 requires the Shift Manager be licensed. The report did note that administrative procedures do require that the Shift Manager hold a senior operator license.

Revision 35 of Operations Section Work Instruction (SWI) O-2, Shift Organization, Operation & Turnover (attached) identifies the positions and responsibilities of the crew positions at Prairie Ishnd. Four NRC licensed positions are delineated in the procedure. These positions and their license respor.3ibilities are: \;

l Shift Manager - There shall be one senior licensed Shift Manager on duty at all times. The Shift Manager is responsible for the direction and coordination of the g g'h activities of the Shift Supervisor and may direct the activities of licensed operators 7 or manipulate the controls that directly affect reactivity or reactor power level.

9611220003 961113 2 DR ADOCK 0500

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USNRC NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY November 13,1996 Page 2 Shift Supervisor - There shall be one senior licensed Shift Supervisor on duty at all times for each reactor that contains fuel. The Shift Supervisor has the primary management responsibility for safe operation of the unit. The Shift Supervisor directs the activities of licensed operators and may manipulate the controls that directly affect reactivity or reactor power level.

Lead Plant Equipment and Reactor Operator-The Lead Plant Equipment and Reactor Operator (LPE & RO) is responsible for direct operation of the plant controls and equipment and for ensuring that routine plant operations and requirements of the assigned are carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

J Plant Equipment and Reactor Operator - The Plant Equipment and Reactor i Operator (PE & RO) is responsible for direct operation of the plant controls and equipment.

Shift Managers and Shift Supervisors are licensed at the senior operator level. LPE &

POs and PE & ROs are licensed at the operator level and may be licensed at the senior operator level.

A Technical Specification amendment has been submitted which requires the Shift Manager position be licensed at the senior operator level.

With these responsibilities, our interpretation of 10 CFR 55.53 and NUREG-1262 is that  !

the Shift Manager, Shift Supervisor, Lead Plant Equipment and Reactor Operator, and Plant Equipment and Reactor Operator all maintain active operator or senior operator licenses. Please advise if this interpretation is incorrect.

In this letter we have made the following new Nuclear Regulatory Commission commitment:

Working in the work control center will no longer be used to credit operators as

" actively performing the functions of an operator or senior operator" for the purposes of maintaining operator licenses in an active status.

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USNRC NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY November 13,1996

Page 3 Please contact Joel Sorensen (612-388-1121, Ext. 4567) if you have any questions l

related to this letter. '

A tk

! h Michael D Wadley l

h Plant Manager

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant i l c: Regional Administrator - Region Ill, NRC Senior Resident inspector, NRC NRR Project Manager, NRC l J E Silberg l Melvin Leach, Director, Operator Licensing Branch - Region lil, NRC l

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Attachment:

Prairie Island Section Work Instruction SWI O-2, Rev 35, Shift Organization, Operation & Turnover l l

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