ML21320A353
| ML21320A353 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/05/2021 |
| From: | Michele Desouza Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| DeSouza M | |
| References | |
| Download: ML21320A353 (12) | |
Text
U.S. NRC public meeting with the National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors on Operator Licensing Training Please ensure you have connected to MS Teams audio either through your computer or by phone.
Discussion of Operator Licensing Training Concerns Provided by the National Organization of Test, Research, and Training Reactors November 5, 2021 Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Oversight Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ADAMS Accession No. ML21320A353
Todays Meeting
- Purpose
- To discuss TRTR comments during the June 15, 2021, public workshop on operator training requirements
- Goals
- Obtain clarity of NRC training requirements for licensed operators
- Identify suggested alternative training requirements
- Alignment on path forward / next steps 3
NRC Presentation Agenda
- TRTR comments
- Ongoing NRC Activities
- Operator Licensing Requirements
- Feedback and questions 4
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments
- Concerns with NRC residency requirement at the facility
- NRC scrutiny on nuclear experience and education for SRO-I
- Experience justification required by NRC
- Amount of time for new and renewal document processing
- Inspection reports not received in a timely manner 5
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments (cont.)
- Concerns with NRC residency requirements
- One year at the facility prior to application; inferred eligibility requirements for all candidate types
- SROI waiver for less than a year disputed
- TRTR previously provided that power reactors do not have one year requirement for SROI 6
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments (cont.)
- NRC scrutiny on SROI nuclear experience
- 3 years of nuclear experience being scrutinized by NRC
- 2 years of academic training can be substituted for 2 of the 3 years nuclear experience allowed
- ANSI/ANS 15.4 nuclear experience can be many related activities
- TRTR believes facility management should be able to make the SROI determination 7
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments (cont.)
- Experience justification required by the NRC
- TRTR says reactor management should determine an individuals qualification status
- NRC asked for required additional information not relevant to nuclear experience; results in delays in application process and examinations and TRTR feels this is burdensome
- TRTR stated that NRC reviewers cannot make qualification statements; TRTR believes it should be up to licensee if their candidate(s) has enough experience and training to sit for operator license examination 8
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments (cont.)
- Amount of time for new and renewal document processing
- Burdensome
- Disrupts mission
- Staffing issues
- Timely renewal should be frozen
- Inconsistency on NRC staff required information 9
TRTR Operator Licensing Comments (cont.)
- Inspection reports from the NRC were not received in a timely manner 10
Ongoing Activities
- Document process improvements and enhanced tracking
- Revision to NUREG-1478
- ANSI/ANS 15.4 Working Group Participation
- White paper on Medicals for Operator Licensing 11
Discussion
- The NRC is interested in any additional information, specific examples, and feedback regarding the operator licensing issues and concerns, such as:
- Does the current process meet your needs?
- Hurdles encountered?
- Other concerns?
- Ideas for possible flexibilities or improvements to the current approach?
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