ML21279A191

Draft Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4 - Request for Exemption from Operator Written Examination and Operating Test for Unit 4 Licenses

ML21279A191
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	11/22/2021
From:	Cayetano Santos NRC/NRR/VPOB
To:	Whitley B Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Tanny Santose, VPO
References
EPID L-2021-LLE-0034, NRC-2008-0252
Download: ML21279A191 (3)

Text

November 22, 2021 Mr. Brian H. Whitley Director Regulatory Affairs Southern Nuclear Operating Company Inc.

3535 Colonnade Parkway, Bin N-226-EC Birmingham, AL 35243

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 3 AND 4 EXEMPTION FROM WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND OPERATING TEST FOR UNIT 4 OPERATOR LICENSES (EPID L-2021-LLE-0034)

Dear Mr. Whitley:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has granted the enclosed exemption from specific requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 55.31, How to apply, paragraph (a)(3) and 55.33(a)(2), Written examination and operating test, for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Unit 4. This action is in response to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.s letter dated July 8, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Package Accession No. ML21189A153), as supplemented by letter dated October 1, 2021 (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML21281A214), regarding a request for an exemption from the requirements in 10 CFR 55.31(a)(3) and 10 CFR 55.33(a)(2) on behalf of 72 licensed operator candidates that have already successfully completed a written examination and an operating test on a standard AP1000 plant, which has been accepted by the NRC for licensing on VEGP Unit 3.

10 CFR 55.31(a)(3) requires each applicant for an operators license to submit a written request that the written examination and operating test be administered to the applicant. This written request must come from an authorized representative of the facility licensee by which the applicant will be employed. 10 CFR 55.33(a)(2) states, in part, that the Commission will approve an initial application for a license if it finds that the applicant has passed the requisite written examination and operating test in accordance with 10 CFR 55.41 and 55.45 or 55.43 and 55.45. The written examinations and operating tests determine whether an applicant for an operators license has learned to operate a facility competently and safely, and additionally, in the case of a senior operator, whether the applicant has learned to direct the licensed activities of licensed operators competently and safely.

The exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property, and is otherwise in the public interest. The granting of the exemption is based on Enclosure 1 of the July 8, 2021, letter, as supplemented by the enclosure of the October 1, 2021, letter. Enclosure 2 of the July 8, 2021, letter is superseded by the enclosure of the October 1, 2021, letter. The NRC staff did not review Enclosure 3 of the July 8, 2021, letter, Sample NRC Form 398 Personal Qualification Statement - Licensee. The exemption is effective immediately and is valid only for the 72 licensed operator candidates identified in the enclosure of the October 1, 2021, letter.

B. Whitley A copy of the exemption is enclosed. The exemption has been forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely, Signed by Santos, Cayetano on 11/22/21 Cayetano Santos Jr., Project Manager Vogtle Project Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 52-025 52-026

Enclosure:

Exemption cc: Listserv

ML21279A185 - Package *via email NRO-008 OFFICE NRR/VPO:LA NRR/VPO:PM NRR/DRO/:BC NAME RButler CSantos (c) CCowdrey*

DATE 10/07/2021 10/6/2021 10/8/2021 OFFICE NRR/VPO: BC OGC/NLO NRR/VPO:D NAME VHall* JWachutka GBowman*

DATE 10/8/2021 10/27/2021 11/22/2021 OFFICE NRR/VPO:PM NAME CSantos (s)

DATE 11/22/2021