ML20210F298
| ML20210F298 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Buffalo |
| Issue date: | 01/22/1987 |
| From: | Henry L NEW YORK, STATE UNIV. OF, BUFFALO, NY |
| To: | Elsasser T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8702110049 | |
| Download: ML20210F298 (2) | |
Text
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _.
\\
3M%
o o
BUFFALO MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER
_ D. ] l. 3 January 22, 1987 Mr. Thomas C. Elsasser Section Chief, Projects Branch No. 3 Division of Reactor Projects U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
Dear Sir:
Docket No. 50-57 The management staff of the Buffalo Materials Research Center has recently reviewed the 1986 reector operator requalification examinations. This review has raised suspicions that one or more operators may have cheated on the exam.
Circumstantial evidence to support this premise includes:
1.
Correct answers to numerical questions without correct algebra to support them.
2.
The answer to one question was mistakenly typed "12" on the Answer Key (correct answer "0.2").
One operator answered the question "12".
There is no sensible explanation for a response of "12".
When confronted, the operator could not explain his answer.
The BMRC Operating Committee has discussed the problem and has identified the following contributing factors:
1.
The exams have been administered on an " honor system" basis. Operators are given the exam and required to complete it on their assigned shifts. They are not required to complete it in a single shift. Over a period of years, there has been a tendency for the exam to stretch out over an extended period of time.
This problem is compounded, in that exam grading does not start until the last exam is returned.
Because several people are involved, the grading process itself takes a long time.
Since exams are not returned promptly to operators, this could create a false impression that the exam is not taken seriously by management.
2.
The exams and answer keys have not been rigorously maintained under lock and key.
3.
Last summer the BMRC was shut down for three weeks. During this period, the cooling tower was replaced and virtually all major plant mechanical systems received preventative maintenance. These maintenance activities were plagued by a series of malfunctions, including the complete failure of the cooling tower fan and failure of new bearings in the air-conditioning systems.
In order to limit lost operational time, the requalification program was implemented on a piecemeal rather than contiguous basis.
),,
8702110049 870122 I
I O PDR ADOCK 05000057 1
V PEWt SUNY BUFFALO, ROTARY ROAD, BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14214-TELEPHONE (716) 8312826
- EasyLink 62910144
l\\
' S.
_,~
Mr. Thomas C. Elsasser - Page Two - January 22, 1987 i
Corrective actions are being implemented as follows:
i 1.
The-1987 requalifications program will be administered as sdon es.possible.
We have scheddled lectures for January 29th dnd 30th, and the examination for February 13th.
2.
The exam will be! administered in a manner similar to NRC exams and will be strictly proctored by management.
3.
The exams and answer keys will be rigorously maintained under lock and key.
4.
Exams will be graded and a management review will be performed promptly.
I consider this problem to be extremely serious, and a result of insufficient management oversight.
I welcome an opportunity to discuss it with you.
I may be reached at (716) 831-2826, or at home at (716) 773-3186.
i Yours truly, 5.9AAo Louis G. Henry Director amt
'l cc:
V.P. D. Rennie M. Greenblatt P. Orlosky M. Pierro C. Wilson n
-.