ML20249B398

Informs That NRC Reviewed Re Eligibility Requirements for Senior Reactor Operator License Applicants. Licensee Should Provide Rationale for Reduction in Plant Eligibility Requirements to NRC within 30 Days of Ltr Date

ML20249B398
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	06/18/1998
From:	Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Patulski S WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 9806230028
Download: ML20249B398 (3)

Text

-_-_-_-_ - _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ - __ _ - - . _ - _ _ - .-.

(.;

l June 18, 1998 l

l Mr. S. A. Patuiski Site Vice President Point Beach Nuclear Plant

'6610 Nuclear Road Two Rivers, WI 54241 i

SUBJECT:

SENIOR REACTOR OPERATOR ELIGIBILITY REVIEW

Dear Mr. Patulski:

i This letter is to inform you that we have reviewed your letter regarding eligibility requirements .

for senior reactor operator license applicants, dated May 20,1998. As stated in your letter, we

. understand that you believe that your SRO training program meets the experience and eligibility requirements of ANSI N18.1-1971, as committed to in your technical specifications. However, following our review of your training program, as outlined in various revisions of your training procedure TRPR-19.0, it is evident that the program requirements for eligibility have been reduced since your program was initially accredited in 1986 and the amendments to 10 CFR Part 55 were implemented in 1987.

We have reviewed various information provided by your staff and determined the following chronology. Prior to renewal of accreditation in 1990, your program was described by TRPR-19.0, Revision 8, dated June 19,1989, which contained detailed prerequisites taken from NUREG-1021, Revision 5, dated January 1,1989. NUREG-1021 references Regulatory Guide 1.8, Revision 2, April 1987 and ANS 3.1-1981 for eligibility requirements. TRPR-19.0, Revision 19 was in effect at the start of this current class and provided additional experience criteria to j be considered for senior reactor operator positions. These criteria included Regulatory Guide 1.8, Revision 2 and NUREG-1021 for determining responsible power plant experience with at least six months of the responsible, nuclear power plant experience at Point Beach.

Subsequently, TRPR-19.0, Revision 20, dated August 8,1997, was issued, which reduced the eligibility requirements to those contained in ANSI N18.1-1971. The experience requirements for entry into the licensed operator training program are contained in a section termed prerequisites / selection criteria.

Based on our review, it is our position that the Point Beach training program's licensed operator I

eligibility requirements which required you to evaluate the candidates' experience against the eligibility standards of NUREG-1021, Regulatory Guide 1.8, Revision 2, and ANS 3.1-1981 prior to accepting applicants into the class, were consistent with the regulations in 10 CFR Part 55 and the associated guidance at the time this class commenced. Since your program's g accreditation in 1986 and the implementation of 10 CFR Part 55 in 1987, your eligibility g requirements for licensed operators have been reduced. In addition, it appears that you are applying the reduced eligibility requirements to the current applicants which you implemented V after the commencement of this class. Pursuant to 10 CFR 55.31(b), please provide to us the rationale for the reduction in the Point Beach eligibility requirements within 30 days from the date of this letter.

9806230028 980618 '

PDR ADOCK 05000266 V PDR .

h

~

I S. Patuiski 2 June 18 1998 f

l This letter is also to inform you that the certifications of eligibility for two applicants, submitted on their respective applications for a senior reacter operator license for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, dated June 8,1998, are currently under review. The NRC is also considering two letters from Mr. Tom Anderson, Operations Training Supervisor, dated May 27,1998, and June 3, 1998, which were submitted to supply additionalinformation regarding experience of these applicants. The NRC will review the acceptability of taking credit for time spent performing operations related duties and applying that credit towards meeting the four years of responsible.

l power plant experience with six months of the responsible, nuclear power plant experience at Point Beach criteria. The NRC may grant or deny these applications based upon a further review of the information provided by you.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Melvyn Leach of my staff at 630-829-9705.

Sincerely, original signed by:

John A. Grobe, Director Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-266; 50-301 License Nos. DPR-24; DPR-27 cc: R. Grigg, President and Chief Operating Officer, WEPCO M. Sellman, Chief Nuclear Officer M. Reddeman, Plant Manager J. O'Neill, Jr., Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge K. Duveneck Town Chairman Town of Two Creeks B. Burks, P.E., Director Bureau of Field Operations Chairman, Wisconsin Public Service Commission S. Jenkins, Electric Division Wisconsin Public Service Commission

• State Liaison Officer DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\ pol 061 8.DRS

v. . . y e.ie. c . eb ,m, . u.c==u,. r copy in ..i. cam.nii.ncio.u,. w . wo copy OFFICE Rill J, Rlli lc Rill le NRR lc OGC lc Bill NAME RBailey:Jp #6 MLeach/W4 JMcCormick-B RGallo *jg,.* MSchvf5 rte JGr6f' DATE 06/Id/98 06/d#98 06////98 o A K 06//d/98 06F4/98 06/)f/98 y ., J e_ , OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 8

b. Patulski 3 . June 18, 1998-Distribution:

CAC (E-Mail)

Project Mgr., NRR -

. C. Paperiello, Rlli J. Caldwell, Rlli B. Clayton, Rlli -

SRI Point Beach-DRP TSS DRS Rlli PRR

. PUBLIC IE-42

- Docket File GREENS LEO (E-Mall)

DOCDESK (E-Mall)

R. M. Callo. NRR/HOLB i

i, t.

j.

l.