ML23075A331

KM Session OL Process February 9, 2023

ML23075A331
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	03/16/2023
From:	Jason Bundy, Kenneth Kolaczyk, Tom Stephen NRC/RGN-II, NRC/NRR/DRO/IRAB
To:
References
Download: ML23075A331 (19)

Text

Overview of Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors Jason Bundy (Region II Senior Operations Engineer)

Tom Stephen (Region II Chief, Operations Branch 1)

NUREG-1021

• NUREG - 1021 establishes the standard that is in accordance with 10CFR part 55 Operators Licenses to examine applicants and licensees

• 3 Levels of licenses

• Reactor Operators (RO) - manipulates the controls of the facility

• Senior Reactor Operators (SRO) - responsible for directing the licensed activities of a licensed operator

• Senior Operator Limited to Fuel Handing (LSRO)

• Trainee exemption - under the direction and in the presence of an RO/SRO an individual in an approved training program may manipulate the controls

[55.13]

Operator Requirements

• Education

• Experience

• Training

• Medical certification

• Application

• Examination

• Licenses

• Issuing

• Conditions [10 CFR 55.53]

• Expiration

• Renewal

• Requalification

• Enforcement

Operator Requirements

• RO

• High School diploma / GED

• Power Plant experience

• 18 months nuclear / military

• 27 months non-nuclear

• Minimum Time on site

• SRO (Flow Paths)

• RO upgrade

• Direct SRO (a.k.a. Instant)

• Prior RO license

• military

• College degree or professional engineer

• SRO certified instructor

• Minimum Time on site

Operator Requirements

• 12-24 months of training

• Classroom training

• Generic Fundamental Concepts

• Systems training

• Procedures

• Simulator training

• Startup-shutdown

• Normal, Alarm, Abnormal, Emergency Procedures

• On-shift under instruction and qualification book

• 5 Reactivity Manipulations

Operator Requirements

• Medical Certification (NRC Form 396 - PII)

• Sight, Hearing, Smell, Tactile, Physical and Mental ability / capacity

• Required to be conducted every 2 years

• Changes in medical status reported within 30 days

• Restrictions on license:

• None, Corrective lenses, hearing aids, medications, therapeutic devices, no solo operation, medical status report, other

Operator Requirements

• Application:

• Personal Qualification Statement (NRC Form 398)

• License being applied for and qualification basis

• Medical Certification (NRC Form 396)

• NRC contract physicians review medical information other than corrective lenses, hearing aids, and CPAP needs (NRC Form 396A)

Examination

• NUREG -1021, Rev. 12 Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors

• Agency estimate:

• 48 examinations a year

• 12 per region, nominal exam

• 714 hours0.00826 days <br />0.198 hours <br />0.00118 weeks <br />2.71677e-4 months <br /> per exam

• Each region writing 1 exam per year

• RO exam - 75 written exam questions, simulator test plus Job Performance Measures (JPMs)

• SRO exam - 100 written exam questions, simulator test plus JPMs

Examination Scheduling

• Annually Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) requests site exam needs (with class size) for the next 3 years

• Regional offices coordinate with facilities to schedule exams

• Facilities can request to develop their own exam or NRC developed

• NRC informs facilities which exams they will write (1 per year for NRC training, each region)

Examination - Written

• Developed from a technology specific outline and a sampling of technology specific Knowledge and Abilities [K/A] catalog

• Four tiers of questions

• Tier 1, Emergency and Tier 1, Emergency and Abnormal Plant Evolutions

• Tier 2, Plant Systems

• Tier 3, Generic Knowledge and Abilities

• Tier 4, Theory

• SRO portion tests items such as use of technical specifications, procedure choice, and emergency plan implementation

• All written examination questions are multiple-choice

• Four answer options with each plausible and only 1 correct answer

Examination - Operating

• Simulator test consists of dynamic simulator scenarios (a.k.a. scenario set)

• One or more scenarios per applicant

• ROs 2 to 3 scenarios (with one at the controls)

• Direct SRO 2 to 3 scenarios (with one SRO position and one control board position)

• Upgrade SRO 1 to 2 scenarios (with one at SRO position)

• Each scenario has the following events

• Reactivity

• Normal

• Instrument/Control Malfunctions

• Major casualty

• Manual control of automatic system

• Technical Specifications

Examination - Job Performance Measures

• 15 JPMs for RO/SRO direct, 10 for Upgrade SRO

• Administrative JPMs covers shift staffing, clearance, surveillance, release permits, and emergency plan

• Control room system and In-Plant system JPMs require demonstration of procedures

• Common to all JPMs: initial conditions and a cue

• Some JPMs have equipment failures that impact the outcome (called alternative path)

• 3 types: Administrative, Control room system and In-Plant system

Examination Milestones (Facility Prepared)

• 18 months before the exam facility gets written exam sample plan

• 210 days prior to exam is the project milestone discussion

• 150 days prior to exam start operating test outlines with draft operating test schedule

• 75 days prior to exam start all proposed exam material is due

Examination Milestones (Facility Prepared)

• 60 days prior to exam start preliminary waiver / excusal requests

• 35 days prior to exam start NRC validation (on site) occurs

• 14 days prior to exam start final license applications

• 7 days prior to exam start

• NRC supervisor approves exam

• Final applications reviewed / audited for eligibility

• List of applicants generated

• Exam approval letter generated

Examination Milestones (Facility Prepared)

• Exam administration - NRC examiners conduct operating test at the facility 1 to 2 weeks

• Written exam conducted within 30 days of Operating test

• Post exam package from the facility within 20 days of completion of all parts of the initial examination

• NRC makes licensing decisions within 30 days of receiving the post examination package

• Exam records are uploaded in ADAMS and available for public review (2 year delay)

Licenses

• Applicants are issued licenses for 6 years

• Applicants license must comply with license conditions and restrictions

• License renewal required prior to expiration on same forms as initial application

• Requalification training is required for all licensed operators and inspected every 2 years

Enforcement

• Licensed operators must comply with the conditions of their license (10CFR55.53)

• Maintaining an active license, or reactivation

• Attend requal

• Biennnial medical exam

• The licensee shall not perform activities authorized by their license while under the influence of a substance that could adversely affect their ability to safely and competently perform their licensed duties

• Fitness for duty rules in accordance with 10 CFR 26

Enforcement

• Issued significant enforcement actions - public information

• https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/current.html

• 2022 Turkey Point licensed operator under the influence of alcohol while performing licensed activities - Severity Level III violation

• 2022 Limerick licensed operator under the influence of alcohol while performing licensed activities - Severity Level III violation

• 2021 Palo Verde licensed operator under the influence of an illegal substance (marijuana) while performing licensed activities - Severity Level III violation

• 2021 Vogtle 1&2 licensed operator failure to report prescription medications, deliberately provided incomplete and inaccurate information to the licensee -

Severity Level III violation

Conclusion Thank you for your participation!