NRC Generic Letter 1984-10

NRC Generic Letter 1984-010: Administration of Operating Tests Prior to Initial Criticality (10 CFR 55.25)

ML031150686
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill
Issue date:	04/26/1984
From:	Eisnehut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
GL-84-010, NUDOCS 8404260428
Download: ML031150686 (3)

, XNUCLEAR

UNITED STATES

REGULATORY COMMISSION Co OTJda, WASHINGTON, D. C. 2555 April 26, 1984 TO ALL APPLICANTS FOR AN OPERATING LICENSE

Gentlemen:

Subject: Administration of Operating Tests Prior to Initial Criticality

(10 CFR §55.25) (Generic Letter No. 84-10)

This letter is to inform you that all applicants for Reactor Operator (RO) and Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) licenses at facilities prior to initial criti- cality who have not had extensive actual operating experience at a comparable facility must obtain an exemption to 10 CFR §55.25(b) if they meet the conditions discussed below pending completion of NRC rulemaking effort identified below.

On April 13, 1984, the Commission met to consider the existing staff practice of allowing satisfactory completion of an approved cold license training program as meeting the 10 CFR §55.25(b) requirement for extensive actual operating experience at a comparable facility. They determined that additional rule- making action was required to clarify the Commission position that satisfactory completion of NRC-approved training programs could be substituted for experience requirements. They directed the Office of the General Counsel to initiate a rulemaking to make 10 CFR §55.25(b) fully consistent with current staff practice.

They also affirmed that operator licenses in effect will remain valid.

For future operator licensing actions pending Commission action on the revised rule, the Commission authorized the staff to grant exemptions to the requirements of §55.25(b) for those individuals who have completed an approved cold license training program for their facility. The program must have included: (a)

nuclear fundamentals, including ten reactor startups at a nuclear reactor, (b) observation training on shift at a comparable operating reactor, (c)

training on a simulator and (d) training on actual system design of the candidate's plant.

No specific exemption request is needed for individuals who have completed a cold license training program that includes all elements. The necessary exemption will be granted as part of the issuance of the operator's license, provided that our records clearly indicate satisfactory completion of a program containing the above elements. Accordingly, until 10 CFR §55.25(b) is modified as discussed above, applicants should identify those cold license candidates who satisfy the foregoing criteria. for candidates whose application is presently before the Commission, a list of those who satisfy the criteria should be furnished promptly to avoid unnecessary delays. For future candidates, this information should be provided along with the individual applications.

Specific exemption requests for individuals who have completed cold license training programs that did not include all elements identified above are necessary and shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with I

8404260428

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-2- the provision of 10 CFR §55.7. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Don Beckham, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch,

(301) 492-4868.

This request has been approved by OMB Clearance Number 3150-0018, which expires February 28, 1987.

Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director F Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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r ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES AND APPLICANTS FOR AN OPERATING LICENSE

Gent en:

Subject: Administration of Operating Tests Prior to Initial Criticality

10 CFR §55.25)

This letter is to inform you that all applicants for Reactor Operator (RO)

and Senior Reac r Operator (SRO) licenses at facilities prior to initial criticality who h ye not had extensive actual operating experience at a comparable facilit must be granted an exemption to 10 CFR §55.25(b) pending completion of NRC rueraking effort identified below.

On April 13, 1984, the ommission met to consider the existing staff practice of allowing satisfactory completion of an approved cold license training program as meeting the 10 FR §55.25(b) requirement for extensive actual operating experience at a c parable facility. They determined that additional rulemaking action as required to clarify the Commission position that satisfactory completion o NRC approved training programs could be substituted for experience requl ments. They directed the Office of the General Counsel to initiate a rule king to make 10 CFR §55.25(b) fully consistent with current staff practi . They also affirmed that operator licenses in effect will remain valid.

For future licensing actions pending Comm sion action on the revised rule, the Comnission authorized the staff to gran exemptions to the requirements of §55.25(b) for those individuals who have mpleted an approved cold license training program for their facility, he program must have included:

(a) nuclear fundamentals, including ten reactiv ty manipulations at a nuclear reactor, (b) observation training on shift at a mparable operating reactor, (c) training on a simulator and (d) training on ac ual system design of the candidate's plant. For candidates who are eligible to be licensed based on the completion of a training program (e.g., cold li cse candidates and instant SRO's at operating plants) an exemption must b granted.

No specific exemption request is needed for individuals o have completed a cold license training program that includes all elements. xemption requests for individuals who have completed cold license training pro rams that did not include all elements identified above must be specificall requested and shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with e provision of 10 CFR §55.7. If you have any questions concerning this mat r, please contact Don Beckham, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch or Ed Chris enbury, Office of the Executive Legal Director.

Darrell G. Eisenhj t Dire-tor DW/OPERATING TESTj/TE~ Division of Licaf__ng _ _\

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NRC FORM 318 (10/801 NRCM 0240 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY * US. GPO 1983-400-247