NRC Generic Letter 1988-09
-
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 May 17, 1988 TO LICENSEES OF ALL BOILING-WATER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A BOILING
WATER REACTOR OPERATORS' LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR 55 SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 88-09 )
This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under
10 CFR 55 of a pilot testing program of a fundamentals examination for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The pilot test is to refine the examination development methodology, administration, and grading process.. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or more will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination under §55.41 or §55.43.
The staff's review of the content of examinations under 10 CFR 55, which is contained in Examiner Standards 202 and 402 of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examiner Standards," indicates that the subject matter presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs. The subject matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow and component operations.
The staff's review of current training programs indicates that those topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of these fundamentals is an important first step of training, which include systems and plant characteristics, on-the-job training, and simulator training.
In developing the fundamentals examination, the staff used subject matter contained in the 291000 to 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors"
(NUREG-1123). The K/As provided the basis of testing objectives and a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. The examination will contain approximately 50 multiple choice questions and will require approximately three hours to complete. For pilot testing, we expect to simultaneously administer the pilot examination at each regional office throughout the country. Since the examination will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after administration of the examination.
Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department. Comments by the volunteers and training department managers will be accepted and summarized in a subsequent Commission Paper. The Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a condition for nuclear power plant operator license applications under 10 CFR 55.31.
LT12-
-2- The conditions listed below will apply for pilot testing of the fundamentals examination.
° The Commission will waive the usual requirements under 10 CFR 55.31 Subpart D - Applications. Therefore, Form NRC-398 does not need to be submitted.
V
Volunteers who pass the fundamental examination with a score of 70 percent or greater will be granted a waiver of the written examination under of Section 1 or Section 5, as appropriate. §55.47 o Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will be able to the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site. Since take formal application under §55.31 is not required, the provision of §55.35,a Re-applications, will not apply.
o Pilot testing of this examination is planned for Summer 1988. Licensees and volunteers will be informed of the date, time, and location of the examinations within 60 days after the date of this generic letter.
Licensees interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application for each candidate to Mr. John N. Hannon, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nulear Reguatoy Commission, Wasingtnn, DC 20555, witha-copytothe- U. S.
appropriate Regional Administrator. We appreciate the cooperation of participant. If you have any questions concerning this generic letter,each please call Mr. Hannon at (301) 492-1031.
This request was approved by the Office of Management and Budget under clearance number 3150-0131. Clearance number 3150-0131 expires August 31, 1988. Comments on burden and duplication may be directed Office of Management and Budget, Reports Management, Room 3208, New to the Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.
Sincerely, Frank J.Q4ragla ssoclate Director for Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enclosure:
Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination
N
I: v -
Enclosure (GL 88-09)
I, _, employed at the (Name) (Station Name)
50- request participation in the Pilot Test Program of (Docket Number)
the Fundamentals Examination for operator or senior operator licenses. I
agree to the conditions outlined in GL-88-( ).
Applicant:
Date e:;41 U4 1 14wv - - I -T a->
Approved:
Training Department Manager Date
RCINTIV
EIOF ISSULE GENERIC LETTERS
Generic Date :,
L*cttf Nc. Suojec: Issuancu tssued To GL 38-OS MAIL SENT DR DELIVERED To THO 09/03/S ALL LICENSEES
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR POWER AND
REGULATION NON-POWER
REACTORS AND
HOLDERS OF
CONSTRUCT I ON
PERMITS FOR
NUCLEAR POWER
REACTORS
DL 88-07 MODIFIED ENFORCEMENT POLICY 04/07/89 ALL POWER
RELATING TO 10 CFR S0.49. REACTOR
'ENVtRONMENTALCUALIFtCATION OF LICENSEES AND
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IMPORTANT APPLICANTS
To SL aa-0o REMOVAL OF ORGANIZATION CHARTS 03/22/S8 ALL POWER
FROM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION REACTOR
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL LICENSEES AND
REQUIREMENTS APPLICANTS
GL 9S-05 8ORtC ACID CORROSION OF CARsON 031t7/38 ALL LICENSEES -
STEEL REACTOR PRESSURE OF OPERATING
NOUNDARY COMPONENTS IN PWRS AND
PWR PLANTS HOLDERS OF
CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS FOR
PWRS
GL S9-04 DISTRISUTION OF GEMS 02/23/S8 ALL NON-POWER
IRRADIATED IN RESEARCH REACTOR
REACTORS LICENSEES
aL S9-03 RESOLUTION OF GENERIC SAFETY 02/17/89 ALL LICENSEES.
IStSU 93, "STEAM SINDIND OF APPLICANTS FOR
AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMPS' OPERATING
LICENSES, AND
HOLDERS Or CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS FOR
PRESSUR I ZED
WATER REACTORS
SL 88-02 'INTEGRATED SEFETY ASSESSMENT Ot/20/89 ALL POWER
PROGRAM tl (ISAP tl)' REACTOR
LICENSEES
DL 93-01. "NRC POSITION ON 19SCC IN *WR 01/29/33 ALL LICENSEES
AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL OF OPERATINS
PIPINS" 'OILINS WATER
REACTCRS AND
HOLDERS OF
CONSTRUCT ION
PERMITS FOR
BWRS
UNITED STATES MAIL
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION POSTAGE
- FEES PAID
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 USNRC
PERMIT No. O-Z7 OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300
Distribution and Concurrence for Ge tr on Pilot Testing Of Fundamentals Examination dated - fo e DISTRIBUTION:
uoLRFw Central Files JJBuzy SFShankman LAWiens TLSzymanski JNHannon JWRoe JHSniezek FJMiraglia
((A A
DW/COMMISSION PAPER/JB1 ^ 1a
11 OLB:DLPQ OLB:DLPQ OLB:DLPQ DDIR:DLPQ DIR:DLPQ TE a TA:NR
JJBuzy LAWiens JNHannon JAZwolinski JWRoe AThoma 87 II /8i
11/30/87 11/30/87 11/30/87 12/01/87 12/02/87 12/04/I
OFFICIAL FILE COPY
bJA2 ktg 4%/7/Sd
~:k k Ap;14* 5Vm*'
&LA-I ' t