ML20214U994

Forwards Revised Operator Requalification Program, Incorporating 860821 Suggestions Where Applicable.Rev Should Be Evaluated W/O Regard for Previous Submittals

ML20214U994
Person / Time
Site:	University of New Mexico
Issue date:	09/26/1986
From:	Busch R NEW MEXICO, UNIV. OF, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
To:	Dosa J NRC, NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM)
References
NUDOCS 8610020057
Download: ML20214U994 (7)

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The 8 M University of New Mexico DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING Albuquerque, NM 87131 Telephone 505: 277-5431 September 26, 1986 ep C

Mr. John Dosa Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Document Control Desk

Dear Mr. Dosa:

Enclosed is a copy of our revised operator requalification program for the University of New Mexico AGN-201M reactor facility. We have tried to incorporate the suggestions from your letter of August 21, 1986 where applicable. This revisicn represents a number of changes from previous submittals and should be evaluated without regard to such documents.

We look forward to your favorable reply on this matter. If there are any additional questions or clarifications required, please contact me at (505) 277-5431.

Sincerely, sJ Robert D. Busch, Ph.D., P.E.

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OPERATOR AND SENIOR OPERATOR REQUALIFICATION PROGRAM UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO 1

AGN-201M REACTOR FACILITY A. Introduction The University of New Mexico AGN-201M Reactor Facility is used

primarily as a training reactor for undergraduate and graduate

! students. Experiments performed include sample activation, an approach to critical, reactor period and reactivity measurements, control rod calibrations, importance function measurements, and transfer function measurements. The reactor is also used for activation of samples for the College of Pharmacy and the Departments of Archaeology and Chemistry.

! The licensed staff for the Facility is made up of three

categories of personnel:

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1. Faculty Members: Reactor supervisors (including the

, Chief Reactor Supervisor) are faculty members who are

! licensed senior operators. The faculty members are c regularly engaged in teaching reactor theory, reactor engineering, and nuclear engineering laboratory I

Courses.

2. Nuclear Enaineerina Graduate Students: Graduate students serve as teaching assistants and licensed l operators. These students are actively engaged in a i rigorous academic program covering reactor theory, reactor engineering, and nuclear engineering laboratory

! experimental methods. Students who have been licensed l generally serve as operators for 2 to 3 years while j they are completing their graduate study programs.

' 3. Nuclear Encineerina Deoartment Technician: The Department Technician is a licensed operator who generally has had broad experience in a military reactor program, and who serves the dual function of l

reactor operator and reactor maintenance technician.

! For all three categories of personnel, the typical training l program for preparation to take the USAEC licensing exam has been about 1 day / week for 12 weeks. Because of the academic and work experience of the staff and the basic simplicity of the reactor facility and operating procedures, extensive training programs are j not required. Therefore it is concluded that the requalification

program for licensed personnel of this facility will not be required

{ to be as elaborate and extensive as that outlined in Appendix A of i 10CFR55.

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B. Requalification Program

1. Schedule A one-day requalification training session will be scheduled annually. All licensed personnel will be required to participate. For scheduling purposes the session may consist of two 1/2 day sesssions. The yearly schedule is given in Table Bl.

2. Lectures one-half-day of the Training session will consist of a review and discussion of the material prepared for new operator and senior operator trainees. This material includes:

a. Fundamentals of reactor theory

b. General design features

c. General operating characteristics

d. Safety systems

e. Instrumentation and controls

f. Shielding and containment

g. Standard and emergency operating procedures

h. Radiation monitoring equipment

i. Radiological safety

j. Technical specifications and bases

k. Review of applicable Federal Regulations To keep current with changes in the facility and with information from other sources, the operations staff will attend meetings of the Reactor Operations Committee as requested by the Chief Reactor Supervisor or the Reactor Administrator.

3. On-the-iob Trainino The other half-day of the training session will consist of the following activities:

a. Review and perform a monthly maintenance check

b. Review and perform a daily reactor checkout

c. Startup of the reactor and operation at licensed power

d. Measurement of excess reactivity

e. Measurement of reactivity worths of typical samples used in the training and activation experiments

f. Measurement of a safety rod reactivity worthy using rod-drop techniques

g. Simulated emergency with practice evacuation Manipulation of the controls during these checks and operations will be rotated among the participating personnel. Participation in this session will assure that each licensed operator or senior operator is cognizant of facility design changes, procedure changes, and facility license changes.

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4. Evaluation

a. Written examination covering the topics ,

specified in B.2: Each licensed individual shall be given an annual written examination covering the areas described in Section B.2 of this F document. (The licensed individual who develops, l administers, and grades these examinations shall i

be waived from taking the examination in that year. The responsibility for the examination j shall rotate among the licensed senior operators i or other qualified individuals so that each I

licensed senior operator shall be evaluated at least every other year.) A score of 70% or higher will require no additional training.

An overall score of 55% to 69% requires additional training in those areas or topics where weakness or deficiencies are indicated. During the training, the individual can continue to perform licensed duties under.the supervision of a

! licensed senior operator. After the training i program is completed, an oral examination shall be administered to evaluate the individual's performance in those areas covered by the i program. Unsuccessful performance on the oral

, examination shall require the individual to i complete an accelerated training program followed by a written examination. An overall score below 55% requires that an individual be relieved of

licensed duties and receive training in an accelerated program. The accelerated program j shall cover those areas where weakness and deficiencies are indicated, and it shall be completed within four months following the grading of the written examination. After the accelerated training is completed, a written' examination shall be administered and successfully completed before the individual can resume performance of licensed duties.

b. Evaluation of Reactor Operation by Certified l

Individuals: Over a two-year period, each certified individual shall perform at least ten reactivity manipulations in any combination of reactor startups, shutdowns, or other significant reactivity changes which demonstrate skill or familiarity with the reactivity control systems.

Direct supervision of these operations by licensed senior operators shall be considered equivalent to actual performance. A systematic evaluation of performance for each licensed individual will be made at least once every two years with the results certified on the requalification record.

If any weakness is noted, then additional

operation times will be scheduled for retraining.

After this is completed, the individual will undergo an operational examination to ensure that the individual can competently manipulate the I controls of the reactor. If the weakness is in a safety area, then the individual will be relieved of licensed duties until the deficiency is corrected.

5. Records A separate file for each licensed operator or senior operator shall be established. The attached form will be used to record and certify (1) participation in the requalification training sessions, (2) reactivity control manipulations, and (3) written and oral examination results. These files will also contain copies of written examinations administered, the answers given the licensee, and any additional information regarding training or requalification or each licensee.

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i i r Table B1 Yearly Schedule for AGN-201M Reactor Major Uses for AGN-201M Reactor Scheduled Activities Spring NE 513L & NE 413L Re-certification (training)

Reactor Laboratory Re-certification (written evaluation)

Tours Reactor Operations Committee

• Reactor Safeguards Advisory Committee Summer Summer Break Some tours Fall Tours Re-certification (operational Some Sample evaluation)

Irradiations Reactor Operations Committee

• Reactor Safeguards Advisory Committee

• Winter meetings to comply with semi-annual requirements other meetings scheduled as necessary

• • as performed at least every other year

REQUALIFICATION TRAINING RECORD.

AGN-20lM REACTOR FACILITY

. UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO .

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Name License No.

l Title Expiration Date REQUALIFICATION TRAINING SESSIONS DATE COMMENT CERTIFICATION REACTIVITY CONTROL MANIPULATIONS TIME INTERVAL TOTAL NUMBER COMMENT CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION RESULTS DATE WRITTEN OR ORAL PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION ChE & NE Form 12-1-73

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