ML072060297

Corporate Notification Letter No. 50-170/OL-07-01, Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute

ML072060297
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	07/26/2007
From:	Isaac P NRC/NRR/ADRA/DPR/PRTB
To:	Miller S US Dept of Defense, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Isaac P, NRC/NRR/DPR/PRTB, 301-415-1019
Shared Package
ML072060308	List: ML072060297 ML072710014 ML072710029
References
OL-07-01
Download: ML072060297 (10)

Text

July 26, 2007Mr. Stephen I. Miller, Reactor Facility DirectorArmed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Naval Medical Center 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889-5603

SUBJECT:

CORPORATE NOTIFICATION LETTER NO. 50-170/OL-07-01, ARMEDFORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dear Mr. Miller:

I made arrangements with you for the administration of operator licensing examinations at theArmed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute reactor. The written and operating examinations are scheduled for the week of September 10, 2007.To meet this schedule, please furnish the material listed in Enclosure 1, "Reference Material for Operator Licensing Examinations," as soon as possible to the following address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionATTN: Patrick J. Isaac Mail Stop O-12 G-15 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738Enclosure 2, "Administration of Written Examinations," describes your responsibilities forconducting written examinations. Enclosure 3, "Procedures for the Administration of Written Examination," describes applicant responsibilities during the administration of the written examination. Please ensure that all applicants are aware of these rules. Your review of the written examination will be conducted in accordance with the proceduresspecified in Enclosure 4, "Facility Review of Written Examinations." Final, signed senior reactor operator license applications certifying that all training has beencompleted must be submitted at least 14 days before the first examination dates. This will allow the chief examiner time to review the training and experience of the candidates, process the medical certifications, and process the applications. If the review cannot be completed in time to determine an applicant's eligibility, that applicant may not be permitted to sit for the examination. Therefore, it is recommended that license applications be provided as soon as possible to ensure an appropriate level of review.

Mr. S. Miller The NRC has posted copies of the application forms Personal Qualification Statement --

Licensee (NRC form 398) and Certificate of Medical History by Facility Licensee (NRC form396) on the agency's Web site at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/ nrc398.pdf and www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/nrc396.pdf respectively.This letter contains information collection requirements that are subject to the PaperworkReduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). These information collections were approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval number 3150-0018.The burden to the public for these mandatory information collections is estimated to average7.7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of these information collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Records and FOIA/Privacy Services Branch (T-5 F52), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by Internet electronic ma il to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV;and to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-10202, (3150-0018), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, arequest for information or an information collection requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently valid OMB control number.If you have any questions regarding the examination procedures and requirements, pleasecontact me at (301) 415-1019, or Internet e-mail pxi@nrc.gov.Sincerely,

/RA/

Patrick J. Isaac, Chief ExaminerResearch and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-170

Enclosures:

1.Reference Material for Operator Licensing Examinations 2.Administration of Written Examinations 3.Procedures for the Administration of Written Examinations 4.Facility Review of Written Examinations Mr. S. Miller The NRC has posted copies of the application forms Personal Qualification Statement --

Licensee (NRC form 398) and Certificate of Medical History by Facility Licensee (NRC form396) on the agency's Web site at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/ nrc398.pdf and www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/nrc396.pdf respectively.This letter contains information collection requirements that are subject to the PaperworkReduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). These information collections were approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval number 3150-0018.The burden to the public for these mandatory information collections is estimated to average7.7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of these information collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Records and FOIA/Privacy Services Branch (T-5 F52), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by Internet electronic ma il to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV;and to the Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-10202, (3150-0018), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, arequest for information or an information collection requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently valid OMB control number.If you have any questions regarding the examination procedures and requirements, pleasecontact me at (301) 415-1019, or Internet e-mail pxi@nrc.gov.Sincerely, /RA/Patrick J. Isaac, Chief ExaminerResearch and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-170

Enclosures:

1.Reference Material for Operator Licensing Examinations 2.Administration of Written Examinations 3.Procedures for the Administration of Written Examinations 4.Facility Review of Written Examinations DISTRIBUTION

PUBLICPRTB r/f JEads Facility File (EBarnhill) O-6 F-2AAdams, PM ADAMS ACCESSION NO.: ML072060308ADAMS PACKAGE NO.: ML072060297TEMPLATE NO.: NRR-079OFFICE:PRTB:CEIOLB:LAPRTB:BCNAME:PIsaac PICHart for EBarnhill JEads jheDATE:07/25/0707/25/0707/26/07OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ENCLOSURE 1REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR OPERATORLICENSING EXAMINATIONS1.Training materials should include all substantive written material used for preparingapplicants for initial RO and SRO licensing. The written material should include learning objectives if available and the details presented during lectures, rather than outlines.

Training materials should be identified, bound, and indexed. Training materials shouldinclude the following: System descriptions including descriptions of all operationally relevant flowpaths, components, controls and instrumentation. System training material should draw parallels to the actual procedures used for operating and applicable system. Learning objectives, student handouts, and lesson plans (including training manuals,facility orientation manual, system descriptions, reactor theory, thermodynamics).Complete and operationally useful descriptions of all safety-system interactions,secondary interactions under emergency and abnormal conditions, including consequences of anticipated operator error, maintenance error, and equipment failure. Training material used to clarify and strengthen understanding of emergencyoperating procedures. 2.Complete Procedure Index (including temporary procedures).

3.All administrative procedures as applicable to reactor operation or safety.

4.All integrated plant procedures, normal or general operating procedures and proceduresfor experiments. 5.All emergency procedures, emergency instructions, abnormal or special procedures.

6.Standing orders or procedures changed by reactor supervision and important orders orchanges that are safety related and may supersede the regular procedures. 7.Applicable procedures (procedures that are run frequently).

8.Fuel-handling and core-loading procedures and initial core-loading procedure, whenappropriate. 9.Any annunciator/alarm procedures, as applicable. 10.Radiation protection manual, radiation control manual or procedures.

11.Emergency plan implementing procedures.

12.Safety Analysis Report, Technical Specifications and interpretations, if available. 13.System operating procedures, including experiments.

14.Piping and instrumentation diagrams, electrical single-line diagrams, or flow diagrams, asapplicable. 15.Technical Data Book, and/or plant curve information as used by operators and facilityprecautions, limitations, and set points for the facility. 16.Questions and answers specific to the facility training program which may be used in thewritten or operating examinations (voluntary by facility licensee).17.Facility modification authorizations, which were authorized since the last revision to thesafety analysis report. 18.Additional material as requested by the examiners to develop examinations that meet therequirements of the Non-power Reactor Examiner Standards and Regulations. The above reference material should be approved final issues and so marked. If a facility hasnot finalized some of the material, the Chief Examiner should verify with the facility that the most complete, up-to-date material is available and that agreement has been reached with the licensee for limiting changes before the administration of the examination.

ENCLOSURE 2ADMINISTRATION OF WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS1.A single room must be provided for the administration of the written examination. Thisroom and supporting restroom facilities should be located as to prevent contact with other facility personnel during the written examination. 2.Minimum spacing is necessary to ensure examination integrity. The Chief Examiner wildetermine whether the room as adequate area to support minimum spacing between examination applicants to ensure examination integrity.3.The facility may make arrangements subject to chief examiner review, if the applicants areto have lunch, coffee or other refreshments. These arrangements shall comply with Item 1 above.4.The facility licensee may provide pads of 8-1/2 by 11 inch lined paper in unopenedpackages for each applicant's use in completing the examination. The examiner will distribute these pads to the applicants as needed. 5.Applicants may bring pens, pencils, calculators and slide rules into the examination room. Only black ink or dark pencils should be used for writing answers to questions. 6.The Chief Examiner must approve any wall charts, models, or other training materialspresent in the examination room 7.The facility staff will be provided a copy of the written examination with answer key at thebeginning of the administration of the written examination. The facility staff will then have five (5) working days to provide formal written comments with supporting documentation regarding written examination questions and answers to the Chief Examiner.

ENCLOSURE 3PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS1.Verify candidate identity. 2.Pass out examinations and handouts. Instruct applicants not to review examination until instructed to do so. READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS VERBATIM:1.Cheating on the examination means an automatic denial of your application and couldresult in more severe penalties. 2.When you have completed your examination, you must sign the statement at the bottom ofthe cover sheet. This indicates that the work is your own and you have not received or given assistance in completing the examination. READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:With the start of the examination, you must comply with the following rules. These rules are ineffect within the examination area (DEFINE THE AREA), until the last candidate has handed in his or her examination:1.Restroom trips are limited to only one applicant at a time. You must avoid all contact withanyone outside the examination room to preclude even the appearance of cheating. 2.Use black ink or dark pencil only to facilitate legible reproductions. 3.Print your name in the blank provided in the upper right corner of the examination coversheet and each answer sheet.4.Mark your answers on the answer sheet(s) provided.

5.The point value for each question is shown in brackets after the question.

6.If the intent of a question is unclear, ask questions of the examiner or proctor only.

7.There is a time limit of 1 hour1.157407e-5 days <br />2.777778e-4 hours <br />1.653439e-6 weeks <br />3.805e-7 months <br /> per section of the written examination. For example, a one-section retake examination has a 1-hour time limit, while a normal three-section initial examination has a 3-hour time limit.8.You must achieve a grade of 70 percent or greater in each category to pass theexamination. 9.When turning in your examination, assemble the completed examination with examinationquestions, examination aids, answer sheets, and all scrap paper. Give the proctor your answer sheet(s) along with the signed cover sheet. Take all other material collected with you out of the examination area.

10.After turning in your examination, leave the examination area. If you are observed in thisarea while the examination is still in progress, your license may be denied or revoked. 11.During the examination you will be evaluated for your actions as if you were the actualwatchstander. Please operate the reactor as if you were licensed, with the exception that you should announce your actions, then pause momentarily to give the operator of record time to correct you or stop you, if necessary, before you actually perform the action. In addition, the examiner will be observing that you meet all conditions of your license, (e.g.,

wearing corrective lenses to perform licensed duties).

ENCLOSURE 4FACILITY REVIEW OF WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS PRIOR TO ADMINISTRATION1.At the option of the appropriate NRC management, the facility may review the writtenexamination up to 2 weeks before its administration. This review may take place at the facility or an NRC office. The chief examiner will coordinate the details of the review with the facility. An NRC examiner will be present at all times during the review. The facility staff may not retain copies of the examination or any written notes.When using this option, the facility reviewers must sign the following statement beforebeing allowed access to the examination. a.Preexamination Security Agreement:

I ______________________ acknowledge that I have acquired specialized knowledge [Print Name]

concerning the examination scheduled for ____________ at __________________________ [Print Date][Print Facility Name]as of the date of my signature below. I agree that I will not knowingly divulge any information concerning this examination to any unauthorized persons. I understand that I am not to participate in any instruction involving those applicants scheduled to be administered the above examination from this date until after the examination has been administered. I further understand that violation of the conditions of this agreement may result in the examinations being canceled and/or enforcement action against myself or the facility licensee by whom I am employed or represent.

______________________________________Signature/DateIn addition, the facility staff reviewers will sign the following statement after the writtenexamination has been administered. b.Postexamination Security Agreement: I _____________________ did not, to the best of my knowledge, divulge any information [Print Name]concerning the examinations administered during the week of _____ at _________________

[Print Date] [Print Facility Name]or provide any instruction to those applicants who were administered the examination from thedate I entered into this security agreement until the completion of examination administration.

__________________________________Signature/Date2.The facility staff will be provided a copy of the examination and the answer key at thebeginning of the examination. A copy will be kept of any pen and ink changes made to questions during the examination administration.

If members of the facility staff did not review the examination before its administration, theywill have 5 working days from the day of the written examination to submit formal comments. If the facility staff reviewed the examination before its administration, they must submit any additional comments before the examiner leaves the facility. The reactor supervisor will address the comments to the chief examiner. The NRC will consider comments submitted after the required period on a case-by-case basis. This may cause delays in grading the examinations. 3.The facility licensee should submit comments in the following format: *list the question section and number and state the comment along with arecommendation for correction (e.g., delete, two correct answers) *support the comment with a reference and provide a copy of the reference if it wasnot included in the original reference material submittedNOTES:

(1)No change to the examination will be made without a reference to support the facilitycomment. Provide any supporting documentation not previously supplied.(2)Comments made without a concise facility recommendation will not be addressed.

(3)Comments not submitted within the requested time will be included in the grading processon a case-by-case basis as determined by the NRC. Comments not submitted within the requested time will delay the examination grading process.(4)NRC policy is to delete a multiple-choice question that has no correct answer or more thantwo correct answers and to give credit for either response for questions that have two correct answers.