NRC Generic Letter 1989-05

NRC Generic Letter 1989-005: Pilot Testing Fundamentals Examination

ML031150279
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, 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, Washington Public Power Supply System, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Clinch River, Crane
Issue date:	04/04/1989
From:	Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
GL-89-005, NUDOCS 8903300106
Download: ML031150279 (12)

KJ~

-s UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

4' ,April 4, 1989 TO: LICENSEES OF ALL POWER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS-FOR A REACTOR

OPERATOR'S LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR PART 55 SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF THE FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 89- 05)

This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under

10 CFR Part 55 that the NRC is offering a second pilot test of the fundamentals examination for candidates for an NRC operator's license. During this pilot test, examinations will be administered to candidates-for a license to operate both Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs).

The pilot test will be used to refine the development, administration, and grading process for the fundamentals examination. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or a higher percentage will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination that is required by 10 CFR 55.41 or 55.43.

The sta~ff's review of the content of examinations prepared in accordance with.

10 CFR Part 55 and the Examiner Standards 301 and 401 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examiner Standards," Revision 5, indicates that the subject matter presented in's6me sections is generic to *all BWRs or all PWRs. The subject matter includes reactor' theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow, and component operations. The staff's review of current training programs indicates that these topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of this fundamentals subject matter is an important first step of training, which includes 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 through 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A)

Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors" (NUREG-1123),

and the 191000 through 193000 s'eries of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Pressurized Water Reactors"

(NUREG-1122)._ The K/As-provided the basis for-the testing objectives from which a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. Each examination will contain approximately 50

multiple choice questions and will require approximately 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> to complete. We plan to administer the pilot examinations at one central location in each region. As the examinations will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after the administration of the examination.

Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department for comment. The NRC staff will summarize any comments received in a Commission paper. After reviewing this summary, the Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a prerequisite condition to applying for a license to operate a nuclear power plant under 10 CFR 55.31.

6too, 6ZX;oAND'

893

-2- The following conditions will apply to 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.

o Volunteers should be enrolled in either a facility-sponsored reactor operator or senior reactor operator training course.

o Volunteers who pass the fundamentals examination with a score'of 70 percent or a higher percentage will be granted a waiver under

10 CFR 55.47 of the appropriate-section (1 or 4) of the written examination.

o Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will subsequently be able to take the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the'site. 'As a formal application under 10 CFR 55.31 is not required, the provisions of

10 CFR 55.35, "Re-applications," will not apply.

• Pilot testing of these examinations is planned for June

28, 1989. You will be informed of the exact time, and location of the examinations within

60 days after the date of this generic letter.

Candidates interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application to Mr. Kenneth E. Perkins, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a copy to the appropriate Regional Administrator.

These applications must be received by April 21, 1989, to ensure participation in these pilot tests. We appreciate your cooperation.

If you have any questions concerning this generic letter, please call Mr. Perkins at (301)

492-1031.

This request is covered by Office of Management and Budget Clearance Number

3150-0090 which expires January 31, 1992. The estimated average burden is 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> per response. Comments on the accuracy of this estimate and suggestions reduce the burden may be directed to the Office of Management to and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3150-0090), Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Information Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

Sin eely, A.#Ag ,

Associate Director \ Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enclosure:

Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

IK)

-. Enclosure (CL 89-05)

I,__ ,employed at the (Name) (Station Name)

50- request participation in the Pilot Test Program of.

(Facility Docket Number)

the Fundamentals Examination for an operator or a senior operator license. -I

agree to the conditions outlined in GL-89-(05).

Applicant:

- 'Date Approved:

Training Department Manager Date

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED GENERIC LETTERS

Generic Date of Letter No. SubJect Issuance Issued To

89-04 GUIDANCE ON DEVELOPING 4/3/89 ALL HOLDERS OF LIGHT

ACCEPTABLE INSERVICE WATER REACTOR OPERATING

TESTING PROGRAMS LICENSES ANDCONSTRUCTION

PERMITS

89-03 OPERATOR LICENSING NATIONAL 3/24/89 ALL POWER REACTOR

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE LICENSEES AND

APPLICANTS FORAN

OPERATING LICENSE

89-02 ACTIONS TO IMPROVE TH4E 3/21/89 ALL HOLDERS OF

DETECTION OF COUNTERFEIT OPERATING LICENSES

AND FRAUDULENTLY MARKETED AND CONSTRUCTION

PRODUCTS PERMITS FORNUCLEAR

POWER REACTORS

89-01 IMPLEMENTATION OF 1/31/89 ALL LICENSEES HOLDING

PROGRAMMATIC CONTROLS OPERATING LICENSES

FORRADIOLOGICAL EFFLUENT AND CONSTRUCTION

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS PERMITS FORNUCLEAR

IN THE AD0INISTRATIVE POWER REACTOR FACILITIES.

CONTROLS SECTION OF THE

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ANDTHE RELOCATION OF

PROCEDURAL DETAILS OF

RETS TO THE OFFSITE DOSE

CALCULATION MANUAL OR TO

THE PROCESS CONTROL PROGRAM.

88-20 INDIVIDUAL PLANT 11/23/88 ALL LICENSEES HOLDING

EXAMINATION FORSEVERE OPERATING LICENSES

ACCIDENT VULNERABILITIES - AND CONSTRUCTION

10 CFR 50.54(f) PERMITS FORNUCLEAR

POWER REACTOR FACILITIES

88-19 USE OF DEADLY FORCEBY 10/28/88 ALL FUEL CYCLE FACILITY

LICENSEE GUARDS TO PREVENT LICENSEES WHO POSSESS.

THEFT OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR USE. IMPORT, EXPORT,

MATEPIAL ORTRANSPORT FORMUILA

QUANTITIES OF STRATEGIC

SPECIAL' NUCLEAR MATERIAL

88-18 PLANT RECORD STORAGE ON 10/20/88 ALL LICENSEES OF

OPTICAL DISKS OPERATING REACTORS

ANDHOLDERS OF

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FIRST CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE b FEES PAID

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 USNRC

PERMIT No G67 OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

v)

Distribution and concurrence for PM letter RE: GL-89-05 dated April 4, 1989.

DISTRIBUTION

Central Files OLB RF

PVDoyle LAWiens RACooley KEPerkins JZwolinski JWRoe SAVarga FJMiraglia JHSniezek/TEMurley DW4:PMCOVER.DOC 90SIt~

OFC :OLB:DLYQ :OLB:DLPQ

• OLB LPQ DIR:DtPQ :ADT: ---

NAME :AWiens APVoyle:pd  :  : JWR ia DATE  : 03/.22/89  : 33/X7.7189  : 03/.2z/89  : 03/ /89  : 03/L.&89 OFC  : ADP:N:::

NAME  : a DATE 8 9-

9*

tc

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Distribution and concurrence for Second Pilot Generic Letter dated April 4,.1989 DISTRIBUTION:

OLBRFI

Central Files PVDoyle LAWiens TLSzymanski RACooley KEPerkins JAZwolinski JWRoe SAVarga FJMiraglia JHSniezek/TEMurley CHBerlinger P ~r p-D

Me'ct . ti of COG eevwt" 5e0ft out 58t>wA I &/lsaq

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DOYLE - 1 OFC  : OLB:DLPQk OL :DLPQ OLB:DLPQ

• TECH EDITOR D :DLPQ  : & / j

---

NAME : e:pd L Wiens  : KEPerki alure  : JW  : CHBerlinger DATE :C22/0/89  : P-//d/89  :>/1-/89 l 2 1/2?/89  : 9/ 89 OFC  : ADT:NR  : ADP:NRR

NAME : FJMiraglia  : Va  :

DATE : /289  : 7 89 *

OFFICIAL FILE COPY

'--n3 jgLi8 j~@

Document Name:\_ K_>

DOYLE - 1 Requestor's ID:

CARTER

Author's Name:

DOYLE

Document Comments:

Gen Lttr for Second Pilot of Generic Fundamentals Exam 06/89

J UNITED STATES -

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 MAR 1 6 1983 MEMORANDUM FOR: Edward Jordan, Director Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data i

FROM: James H. Sniezek, Deputy Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation SUBJECT: WAIVER OF CRGR REVIEW OF GENERIC LETTER TO INFORM PWR AND BWR

LICENSEES AND APPLICANTS FOR OPERATOR LICENSES OF A PILOT

TESTING PROGRAM FOR THE FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION SECTION

Enclosed is a generic letter to be sent to all Pressurized-Water Reactor and Boiling-Water Reactor licensees and applicants for Operator licenses informing them of a pilot program for the administration of a generic fundamentals section of the written examinations conducted in accordance with 10 CFR 55.41 and 55.43.

The pilot program for administration of this section, separate from the site-specific written examination, is a change in the normal practice for administration of operator licensing written examinations, which is designed to simplify the training of licensed operators and reduce the burden on operator licensing examiners. The revised sequence of examination administration does not present any new staff positions and does not constitute a new requirement; therefore we believe that CRGR review is not necessary. This will be the second pilot test of this process. The first pilot test for BWR applicants was conducted on September 21, 1988. Volunteers for this pilot test are being requested in the enclosed GL-89-xx.

We plan to issue the enclosed generic letter shortly. Therefore, any comments concerning waiver of CRGR review are requested asfoon as possible.

Enclosure:

As Stated

CONTACT

Kenneth E. Perkins, NRR

X21031

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

~WASHINGTON,

W D. C.20555 TO LICENSEES OF ALL POWER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A REACTOR OPERATOR'S

LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR PART 55 SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF THE FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 89-xx )

This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under

10 CFR Part 55 that the NRC is offering a second pilot test of the fundamentals examination for candidates for an NRC operator's license. During this pilot test, examinations will be administered to candidates for a license to operate both Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs).

The pilot test will be used to refine the development, administration, and grading process for the fundamentals examination. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a-passing grade of 70 percent or a higher percentage will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination that is required by 10 CFR 55.41 or 55.43.

The staff's review of the content of examinations prepared in accordance with

10 CFR Part 55 and the Examiner Standards 301 and 401 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examiner Standards,' Revision 5, indicates that the subject matter presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs or all PWRs. The subject matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow, and component operations. The staff's review of current training programs indicates that these topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of this fundamentals subject matter is an important first step of training, which includes 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 through 293000 series of the 'Knowledge and Abilities (K/A)

Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors" (NUREG-1123),

and the 191000 through 193000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Pressurized Water Reactors"

NUREG-1122). The K/As provided the basis for the testing objectives from which a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. Each examination will contain approximately 50

multiple choice questions and will require approximately 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> to complete. We plan to administer the pilot examinations at one central location in each region. As the examinations will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after the administration of the examination.

Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department for comment. The NRC staff will summarize any comments received in a Commission paper. After reviewing this summary, the Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a prerequisite condition to applying for a license to operate a nuclear power plant under 10 CFR 55.31.

"I4 1\t The following conditions will apply to pilot testing of the fundamentals examination:

0 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 should be enrolled in either a facility-sponsored reactor operator or senior reactor operator training course.

Volunteers who pass the fundamentals examination with a score of 70 percent V

or a higher percentage will be granted a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the appropriate section (1 or 4) of the written examination.

O Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will subsequently be able to take the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site. As a formal application under 10 CFR 55.31 is not required, the provisions of

10 CFR 55.35, "Re-applications," will not apply.

° Pilot testing of these examinations is planned for June 28, 1989. You will be informed of the exact time, and location of the examinations within

60 days after the date of this generic letter.

Candidates interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application to Mr. Kenneth E. Perkins, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, with a-copy to the appropriate Regional Administrator.

These applications must be received by April 14, 1989, to ensure participation in these pilot tests. We appreciate your cooperation. If you have any questions concerning this generic letter, please call Mr. Perkins at (301)

492-1031.

This request is covered by Office of Management and Budget Clearance Number

3150-0090 which expires January 31, 1992. The estimated average burden is 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> per response. Comments on the accuracy of this estimate and suggestions to reduce the burden may be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3150-0090), Room 3208, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Records and Reports Management Branch, Office of Information Resources Management, Washington, D.C. 20555.

Sincerely, Steven A. Varga, Acting Associate Director for Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enclosure:

Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

Enclosure (GL 89-xx)

I, , employed at the (Name) (Station Name)

50- request participation in the Pilot Test Progran ot (Facility Docket Number)

the Fundamentals Examination for an operator or a senior operator license. I

agree to the conditions outlined in GL-89-( ).

Applicant:

Date Approved:

Training Department Manager Date

Distribution and concurrence for memo to Edward Jordan dated MA1R I B 19 ?

DISTRIBUTION

Central Files OLB RF

PVDoyle LAWiens RACooley TLSzymanski KEPerkins JZwolinski JWRoe FJMiraglia JHSniezek/TEMurley

.b DOYLE -22 OFC  : OLB p4  : OLB-DLPQ  : OLB:DLP J  : DIR:DLPQ  : AD R '  : DDIR RR

______ - -- .... - -- -'--- ---- ----- CA -- -------  : -- 7-+ e-<

NAME  : PVDoyle:pd :LA1iens  : KEPerk~is'  : JW e  : aglia  : zek

______----- _ _________ __________*-----____

---

-------------- A-t_ _

DATE  : o:/q/89  : /: /ID/89 * j/:/89 OFC  : RN:

NAME: 7RfQVQyrlinger  :

--- ---- -- -- - -- ---- --- -- -- -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DATE: XKX4B  : 2/J9/89 OFFICIAL FILE COPY