ML25154A433
| ML25154A433 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/02/2025 |
| From: | Maurin Scheetz NRC/NRR/DRO |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25154A433 (9) | |
Text
Main Control Room Minimum Staffing Maurin Scheetz Operator Licensing and Human Factors Specialist US Nuclear Regulatory Commission June 2, 2025
Shift Staffing is prescribed
- Regulations established after TMI-2 accident
- Must have a Shift Technical Advisor (STA)
Per Shift Minimums Other requirements:
1.
Must have a person with SRO license for all fueled at the site who is responsible for overall plant operation 2.
An SRO must always be in the control room*
3.
An SRO or RO must always be at the controls. One for each fueled unit*
4.
During fuel loading or transferring, must have an SRO directly supervising with no other duties
Licensed Operator Qualifications Education, Experience, Training and Other Requirements RO must have:
- High school diploma
- About 1-2 years nuclear or other power plant experience SROs must have:
- Previous RO at site for 12 months OR
- 18 months in military as a RO/SRO equivalent OR year engineering/science degree AND 18-27 months nuclear power plant experience Spend about 6 months on site Complete an NRC-approved training program derived from a systems approach to training and using a simulator Medical certification Can only operate units that are same or almost the same Expect changes to education/experience requirements for advance reactors including SMRs
Shift Technical Advisor position Post TMI-2 accident, an interim measure Advisor to the shift supervisor and provides additional technical support for operations staff on best course of actions to terminate abnormal events or mitigate consequences of accidents.
Must have a bachelors degree in science or engineering and specific training on analysis and response of plant during transients and accidents Can serve more than one unit Does not assume command and control functions
How to take exception from prescribed staffing regulations
- Option to request an exemption for regulations for minimum staffing
- NRC staff review exemption requests using NUREG-1791 1.
Concept of operations 2.
Operational conditions 3.
Operating experience 4.
Functional Requirements Analysis and Function Allocation 5.
Task Analysis 6.
Job Definitions 7.
Staffing Plan Validation
Staffing Plan for NuScale SMR
- NRC staff used NUREG-1791 to review and approve:
- 6 operators for 12 units, including a STA
- 3 operators for 12 units, no STA
- Focus on results from multiple validation tests
- Task performance, workload, situational awareness
- STA role is not necessary because of a combination of elements
Proposed Requirements for Staffing at Advance Reactor sites
- Applicant proposes minimum staffing levels by submitting a staffing plan with application
- Consider differences in staffing levels when operators have/do not have a safety role - if safety role, staffing plan needs to be supported by human factors engineering analysis and assessments
- Acknowledge that operators may fill multiple roles (e.g.,
maintenance, radiation protection, etc.) so must include these details in staffing plan submittal
- Staffing plan must include description of how engineering expertise will be available to the on-shift operating personnel during all plant conditions to assist in the event that they encounter a situation not covered by procedures or training
- NRC will review and approve the staffing plan. Changes will be subject to administrative controls.
Note: these are draft requirements
QUESTIONS