ML20151Z638
| ML20151Z638 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/23/1988 |
| From: | Hannon J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Berlinger C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8808300075 | |
| Download: ML20151Z638 (4) | |
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UNITED $TATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5
WASHINGTON, D. C 20555 AUG 2s1988
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Carl Berlinger, Chief Generic Comunications Branch Division of Operational Events Assessment, NRR FROM:
John N. Hannon, Chief Operator Licensing Branch Division of Licensee Performance and Quality Evaluation, NRR
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION NOTICE ON REVISIONS TO NRC-ADMINISTERED REQUALIFICATION EXAMINATIONS As a result of a complete revision to the NRC program for administering requalification examinations to facility licensed operators, it is desirable to inform these operators of the program changes. We had originally intended to promulgate this information in the form of a Generic Letter, but now feel it is more appropriate to issue an Information Notice. Therefore, you are requested to draft and issue an appropriate Information Notice based on the attached draft Generic Letter.
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John N. Hannon, of Operator Licensing Branch Division of Licensee Performance and Quality Evaluation, NRR inclosure:
As stated
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CONTACT:
L. A. Wiens, NRR fI 49-23171 B008300075 000023 ~~
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Distribution and concurrence for memo to Carl Berlinger dated E23 80 DISTRIBUTION:
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INFOR NOTICE NRC REQUAL EXAMS i
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DATE
- 8/.20/88
- 8/0/88 OFFICIAL FILE COPY I
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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t WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
\\.....,o TO ALL LICENSED' OPERATORS AND SENIOR OPERATORS AT POWER REACTORS
SUBJECT:
REVISIONS TO NRC-ADMINISTERED REQUALIFICATION EXAMINATIONS (GenericLetter88-
)
On March 25, 1987, a complete revision to 10 CFR 55, "Operators' Licenses," was published in the Federal Register (52 FR 9453) to be effective on May 26, 1987.
This revision includes a new arovision7or the renewal of operator licenses.
Briefly, it requires that eac1 licensee pass "a comprehensive requalification written examination and operating test administered by the Comission during the term of a six-year license."
Requalification training programs are designed to provide a continuing process to maintain the proficiency of licensed personnel, particularly in regard to infrequently performed tasks and activities, and to keep them informed of plant changes and events that affect plant operations. The objectives of the NRC requalification evaluation of operators are to ensure that these program objectives are being met. Through informal contact with individual operators and facility training staff, the NRC staff became concerned that the implementation of the new provision may have been having an adverse effect on licensed operators at nuclear power plants along with a potential adverse effect on plant safety.
In September 1987, the NRC suspended all NRC-administered requalification examinations to allow the staff to evaluate the concerns raised and to consider revisions to the program. The NRC-administered requalification evaluation process has been revised to minimize any adverse effect on safety.
An evaluation of this revised process has been conducted at one site in each region. On the basis of the lessons learned from these trial evaluations, final revisions are being made to the program.
Full-scale resumption of NRC-administered requalification evaluations will begin in October 1988.
The requalification examinations conducted by the NRC will consist of the following:
- 1. Operating Test
- a. Crew Evaluations:
Evaluations of crew performance will be performed in the simulator.
Individual operator weaknesses will be flagged for followup evaluation during the plant walkthrough,
- b. Individual Evaluations: The NRC will observe plant walkthroughs during which operators will be expected to successfully implement job performance measures for selected tasks. Operators also will be expected to demonstrate uiserstanding of the job performance measures by satisfactorily answering performance-based questions 1
related to the tasks.
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- 2. Written Examination The written examination will be administered in an open-reference format, which allows the use of available reference materials, and will consist of the following two sections:
a.
Plant Operations: This sectiv.1 will be sdministered in a simulator or an equivalent device. Questions will be based on the status of the "frozen" simulator (or the equivalent device). The operator will be able to refer to simulator indications and reference materials present in the simulator in responding to test questions, b.
Limits and Controls: This section will be conducted in a simulator or a classrnom. Questions will be asked about plant procedures ead administrative controls. A complete set of reference materisis used to operate the plant will be available during the written examination.
- 3. Examinee Critique Each examinee will be asked to anonymously critique the evaluation process.
Before the examination is administered all aspects of the examination will be reviewed by facility representatives to ensure that examination questions, scenarios and job performance measures are performance based and technically correct. This revised process will result in an examination that accurately reflects the ability of operators to satisfactorily perform licensed duties.
If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this !etter, please call your regional NRC operator licensing branch chief or Mr. John Hannon, OperatorLicensingBranch,(301)492-1031.
Sincerely, Frank Miraglia, Associate for Projects l
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation f
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