ML21074A311

Summary of Public Meeting with Representatives of Industry and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations

ML21074A311
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/31/2021
From:	Brian Tindell NRC/NRR/DRO/IOLB
To:	Cowdrey C NRC/NRR/DRO/IOLB
Tindell B
References
Download: ML21074A311 (7)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 March 24, 2021 MEMORANDUM TO: Christian B. Cowdrey, Chief Operator Licensing and Human Factors Branch Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Signed by FROM: Brian W. Tindell, Reactor Engineer (Examiner Qualified) on 03/18/

Operator Licensing and Human Factors Branch Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUMMARY

OF MARCH 3, 2021, PUBLIC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS On March 3, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public meeting with representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institutes Licensed Operator Focus Group, Entergy Inc., NextEra Energy Inc., and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the application of the Commission Policy Statement, Education for Senior Reactor Operators and Shift Supervisors at Nuclear Power Plants; Policy Statement (54 FR 33639; August 15, 1989). Specifically, the NRC staff and industry representatives discussed the goal of a diverse mixture of education and experience among operators.

Enclosures:

1. List of Attendees

2. Agenda

3. Discussion Summary CONTACT: Brian Tindell, NRR/DRO (301) 415-2026

SUMMARY

OF MARCH 3, 2021, PUBLIC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS Dated: March 24, 2021 DISTRIBUTION:

DJackson, RI EGuthrie, RII GMcCoy, RII PPelke, RIII GWerner, RIV ADAMS Accession No.: ML21074A311 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DRO/IOLB NRR/DRO/IOLB:C NAME BTindell CCowdrey (LNist for)

DATE 03/24/2021 03/24/2021 LIST OF ATTENDEES - MARCH 3, 2021, PUBLIC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS Name Organization Chris Miller NRC (via videoconference)

Gregory Suber NRC (via videoconference)

Christian Cowdrey NRC (via videoconference)

Theresa Buchanan NRC (via videoconference)

Brian Tindell NRC (via videoconference)

Maurin Scheetz NRC (via videoconference)

Travis Iskierka-Boggs NRC (via videoconference)

Eugene Guthrie NRC (via videoconference)

Gerald McCoy NRC (via videoconference)

Patricia Pelke NRC (via videoconference)

Greg Werner NRC (via videoconference)

Chuck Zoia NRC (via videoconference)

Randy Baker NRC (via videoconference)

David You NRC (via videoconference)

John Kirkland NRC (via videoconference)

Rodney Fanner NRC (via videoconference)

Matt Emrich NRC (via videoconference)

Jim Nance NRC (via videoconference)

Institute of Nuclear power Operations (via George Manaskie videoconference)

Nuclear Energy Institute (via Tim Riti videoconference)

Kostas Dovas Exelon (via videoconference)

Gregg Ludlam Entergy (via videoconference)

Richard Baird NextEra (via videoconference)

Seth Duston NextEra (via videoconference)

Craig Prost Energy Northwest (via videoconference)

Jason Stone Unknown (via videoconference)

LIST OF ATTENDEES - MARCH 3, 2021, PUBLIC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS Name Organization Bobby Simpson South Texas Project (via videoconference)

Matthew Reid Unknown (via videoconference)

Jana Bergman Curtiss-Wright (via videoconference)

Charlie Kocsis Entergy (via videoconference)

Kellen Ashander Entergy (via videoconference)

Wallace Lien Energy Northwest (via videoconference)

Jason Jennings Talen Energy (via videoconference)

RJ Frederes Entergy (via videoconference)

Michael Petersen Xen Nuclear (via videoconference)

Fred Madden Certrec (via videoconference)

Gerald Allex Unknown (via videoconference)

Michael Fortner South Texas Project (via videoconference) 2

3 AGENDA FOR THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PARTIALLY CLOSED PUBLIC MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Via Videoconference and Telephone TOPIC PRESENTER Operator Eligibility and Mixture of Backgrounds NRC, INPO, and Industry Public Comments Public Closed Portion (Proprietary) NRC, INPO, and Industry Adjourn Enclosure 2

DISCUSSION

SUMMARY

Introduction This videoconference and teleconference meeting between U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of INPO and industry was called to discuss the application of the Commission Policy Statement, 54 FR 33639, Education for Senior Reactor Operators and Shift Supervisors at Nuclear Power Plants; Policy Statement, effective August 15, 1989. Specifically, the NRC and industry representatives discussed the goal of a diverse mixture of education and experience among operators.

No regulatory decisions were made on the call.

NRC Staff Presentation The NRC staff opened the meeting by recognizing the important role that licensed operators play in nuclear safety. Licensed operators backgrounds in education and experience, including engineering education and hands-on experience in power plants, have a direct effect on the safety of nuclear power plants. The industry has drafted revised guidelines for education and experience eligibility due to changes in the job market and changes in training programs. So, the staff called this meeting to better understand the changes and how licensees will continue to find and train high quality operator license applicants.

The NRC staff presented the current regulatory structure for operator license eligibility. For current power reactors, 10 CFR 55.31(a)(4) references facility licensees training programs based on a systems approach to training for determining education and experience eligibility requirements for licensing as an operator. The Commission Policy Statement states, in part, that the safety of commercial power reactors is enhanced by having on each shift a team of NRC-licensed professionals that combine technical and academic knowledge with plant-specific training and substantial hands-on operating experience. In addition, the Policy Statement states, in part, Ideally, licensees should strive to have in the control room individuals with a mix of education, training, and experience in plant operations. In summary, licensees select and train professional licensed operators with diverse backgrounds. The NRC staff reviews the selection and training and conducts rigorous examinations and testing before approving a license application.

The industrys draft guidelines would change, and in some cases reduce, the amount of education or experience required for licensing as an operator. The staff concluded its presentation by stating that the industrys guidelines should continue to select operators with a mixture of backgrounds, including operators with an engineering background and with hands-on experience, consistent with the Commissions Policy Statement.

INPO and Industry Representatives Presentation The INPO and Industry representatives stated that they had a goal to maintain high standards, including significant requirements for education and hands-on experience at all license levels.

The draft guidelines will reduce administrative burden while continuing to select high quality applicants for licensing as reactor operators and senior reactor operators.

The representatives further said that the draft guidelines should result in selecting high-quality applicants with more diverse backgrounds that continue to meet the intent of the Commission Enclosure 3

Draft Performance Deficiency Guidance for Rev. 12 of NUREG-1021 Policy Statement. While there will be a small increase in applicants with non-traditional backgrounds, the industry representatives do not expect a significant shift in the education and experience background of licensed operators as a whole. For those applicants with a non-traditional background, a proven systems approach to training methodology would be utilized when determining the necessary prerequisites, based on individual applicants education and experience.

In addition to the academic and experience eligibility guidelines for individuals, INPO and industry representatives stated that there are additional INPO guidelines for considering a diverse mixture of education and experience in plant operations among licensed operators.

These guidelines address the Commissions Policy Statement.

The INPO representatives stated that they will send a non-proprietary version of the revised guidelines for posting on the NRC public webpage to replace the current summary of the guidelines (available at Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML19053A433) when the document is finalized.

Public Comments There were no public comments.

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