RIS 2001-01, Eligibility of Operator License Applicants
| ML003733003 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/18/2001 |
| From: | Matthews D B Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs |
| To: | |
| Shapaker, J | |
| References | |
| RIS-01-001 | |
| Download: ML003733003 (6) | |
1ThisreviewwasconductedpursuanttotheCommission'scontinuedendorsementoftheindustry'saccreditationprocessfirstconferredintheNRC'sFinalPolicyStatementonTrainingandQualificationofNuclear PowerPlantPersonnel(50FR11147;March20,1985).OMBControlNo.3150-0090UNITEDSTATESNUCLEARREGULATORYCOMMISSIONOFFICEOFNUCLEARREACTORREGULATIONWASHINGTON,D.C.20555-0001January18,2001NRCREGULATORYISSUESUMMARY2001-01ELIGIBILITYOFOPERATORLICENSEAPPLICANTS
ADDRESSEES
Allholdersofoperatinglicensesfornuclearpowerreactors,exceptthosewhohavepermanentlyceasedoperationsandhavecertifiedthatfuelhasbeenpermanentlyremoved fromthereactorvessel.
INTENT
TheU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC)isissuingthisregulatoryissuesummary(RIS)tofamiliarizeaddresseeswiththeNRC'scurrentguidelinesforthequalificationandtrainingof reactoroperator(RO)andsenioroperator(SO)licenseapplicants.Thediscussionthatfollows reviewsandupdatesthestatusofthisissuesinceInformationNotice(IN)98-37,"Eligibilityof OperatorLicenseApplicants,"wasissuedonOctober1,1998.ThisRISdoesnottransmitany newrequirementsorstaffpositions,nordoesitrequireanyspecificactionorwrittenresponse.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATIONInaccordancewith10CFR55.31(a)(4),asamendedonMarch25,1987,alicenseapplicantmustprovideevidencethatheorshehassuccessfullycompletedthefacilitylicensee's requirementstobelicensedasanROorSO.Anauthorizedrepresentativeofthefacility licenseeshallcertifythisevidenceonthelicenseapplication;therequiredcertificationmust includethedetailsoftheapplicant'squalifications,training,andexperience.Inlieuofthese details,theCommissionmayacceptcertificationthattheapplicanthassuccessfullycompleted aCommission-approvedtrainingprogramthatisbasedonasystemsapproachtotraining (SAT)andusesasimulationfacilitythatisacceptabletotheCommission.Revision2ofRegulatoryGuide(RG)1.8,"QualificationandTrainingofPersonnelforNuclearPowerPlants,"whichwaspublishedinconjunctionwiththe1987rulechange,provided guidanceonanacceptablemethodofimplementingthisregulation.However,theNRCstaff hadreviewed1theindustry'slicensedoperatortrainingprogramexperienceguidelinesineffectatthetimeofthe1987rulechangeanddeterminedthattheywereequivalenttothebaseline experiencecriteriaofRG1.8,Revision2.Consequently,asindicatedinthestatementofML003733003
2TheNANToperatesundertheauspicesoftheInstituteofNuclearPowerOperations(INPO).ItintegratesthetrainingeffortsofallU.S.nuclearutilities,theactivitiesoftheNNAB,andthetraining-relatedactivitiesofINPO.3TheNRCstaffhasreviewedtheNANTguidelinesandconsidersthemtobeequivalenttotheNRC'sguidelinesinRevision3ofRegulatoryGuide(RG)1.8,whichwaspublishedinMay2000.RG1.8nowendorses AmericanNationalStandardsInstitute/AmericanNuclearSociety(ANSI/ANS)3.1-1993,"Selection,Qualification, andTrainingofPersonnelforNuclearPowerPlants,"withcertainclarifications,additions,andexceptions.It replacesRevision2ofRG1.8,whichwasissuedinconjunctionwiththe1987amendmentto10CFRPart55and endorsedthe1981revisionofthesameindustrystandard.RIS2001-01Page2of4considerationforthe1987rulechange,afacilitylicensee'strainingprogramwouldbeconsideredapprovedbytheNRCwhenitisaccreditedbytheNationalNuclearAccrediting Board(NNAB).OnMarch19,1987,GenericLetter(GL)87-07,"InformationTransmittalofFinalRulemakingforRevisionstoOperatorLicensing-10CFRPart55andConformingAmendments,"informed facilitylicenseesthattheyhadtheoptionofsubstitutinganaccredited,SAT-basedprogramfor theiroperatortrainingprogrampreviouslyapprovedbytheNRC.TheGLindicatedthatthis optionmaybeimplementeduponwrittennotificationtotheNRCandthatitdidnotrequireany staffreview.TheGLalsonotedtheNRC'sexpectationthatfacilitylicenseeswouldupdatetheir licensingbasisdocuments(e.g.,theirfinalsafetyanalysisreports(FSARs)andtechnical specifications(TSs)),asnecessary,toconformwiththeiraccreditedprogramstatus.InNovember1987,theNRCpublishedNUREG-1262,"AnswerstoQuestionsatPublicMeetingsRegardingImplementationofTitle10,CodeofFederalRegulations,Part55on Operators'Licenses,"whichreiteratedandclarifiedtheNRCstaff'sexpectationsregarding Section55.31(a),Revision2ofRG1.8,accreditedtrainingprograms,andtheneedforfacility licenseestoupdatetheirlicensingbasisdocumentsper10CFR50.71(e).NUREG-1262 remindedfacilitylicenseesthatRevision2ofRG1.8wouldgointoeffectonMarch31,1988.
ThisNUREGalsonotedthatfacilitieshavingNNABaccreditedlicensetrainingprogramsdidnot needtomeettheguidanceinRevision2ofRG1.8.SUMMARYOFISSUEOperatorlicenseapplicantsandfacilitylicenseesmustprovidetheNRCwithsufficientinformationtoenableittodeterminewhethertograntordenytheapplications.However,some facilitylicenseesdidnotrespondtoGL87-07and/orfailedtoupdatetheirlicensingbasis documentstoeliminateinconsistenciesandcontradictions.Thishasmadeitdifficultforthe NRCstafftodeterminewhethersomelicenseapplicantshavesuccessfullycompletedtheir facilitylicensee'srequirementstobelicensedasanROorSO.Thefactthateveryfacility licenseehasvoluntarilyobtainedandperiodicallyrenewedtheaccreditationofitslicensed operatortrainingprogramsuggeststhateveryfacilitylicenseeisimplementingtheeducation andexperienceguidelinesendorsedbytheNNAB.TheNRCstaffunderstandsthatthecurrent versionofthoseguidelinesareoutlinedbytheNationalAcademyforNuclearTraining(NANT)2inits"GuidelinesforInitialTrainingandQualificationofLicensedOperators,"3(NANT2000guidelines)whichwereissuedinJanuary2000.Consequently,unlessotherwiseinformedbyafacilitylicensee,theNRCbelievesthattheeducationandexperienceguidelinesdescribedintheNANT2000guidelinesarethefacility licensee'seducationandexperiencerequirementstobelicensedasanROorSO.
RIS2001-01Page3of4Inanefforttoclarifythesituation,theNRCstaffhasrevisedNRCForm398tomakeitclearthatwhenafacilitylicenseecertifies,pursuantto10CFR55.31(a)(4),thatanapplicanthas successfullycompletedaCommission-approved,SAT-basedtrainingprogram,itmeansthat theapplicantmeetsorexceedstheminimumeducationandexperienceguidelinescurrently outlinedbytheNANT(andbyextension,Revision3ofRG1.8).Facilitylicenseescanuse revisedNRCForm398todocumentanyexceptionsorwaiversthattheapplicanthastaken fromthebaselineeducationandexperiencecriteriaoutlinedbytheNANT.Inrecognitionthat theonlysignificantdifferencebetweenRevision3ofRG1.8andthecurrentaccreditation guidelinespertainstocertifiedinstructorsseekinganSOlicense,thoseapplicantscanusethe revisedNRCForm398todocumentthedetailsoftheirexperience.Thiswillminimizethe potentialformisunderstandingandtheneedtoseekadditionalinformation.Insummary,theNRChasnotchangeditsrequirementsorpositionwithregardtolicenseeligibilityforROsandSOssince1987.RG1.8(Revision2or3)andtheNANT'sguidelinesfor educationandexperience(thosethatwereineffectin1987orthosethatwereissuedin January2000)outlineacceptablemethodsforimplementingtheCommission'sregulationsin thisarea.MethodsdifferentfromthosesetoutinRG1.8(Revision2or3)ortheNANT's guidelinesmaybeacceptableifafacilitylicenseeprovidesanadequatebasisforsucha finding.ThestaffencouragesallfacilitylicenseestoreviewtheirrequirementsandcommitmentsrelatedtoROandSOeducationandexperienceandtoupdatetheirdocumentation(e.g.,FSAR,TS,
andtrainingprogramdescriptions)toenhanceconsistencyandminimizeconfusion.ThisRIS
doesnotaddressexpectationsforupdatingtrainingandqualificationcommitmentsand requirementsforpositionsotherthanlicensedROsandSOs.Whenafacilitylicensee'slicensedoperatortrainingprogramdescriptionorlicensingbasisdocumentscontaineducationandexperiencerequirementsthataremorerestrictivethaneither Revision3ofRG1.8orthecurrentNANTguidelines,themostrestrictiverequirementswill continuetoapplypendingtheinitiationofactionbythelicenseetoamendtheserequirements;
anyrequiredTSchangeswouldbeconsideredadministrativeinnature.BACKFITDISCUSSIONNobackfittingwasintendedorapprovedinconnectionwiththeissuanceofRevision3ofRG1.8orthisRIS.MethodsorsolutionsdifferentfromthosesetoutinRG1.8ortheNational Academy'saccreditationguidelinesmaybeacceptableifafacilitylicenseeprovidesan adequatebasisforsuchafinding.Furthermore,thisRISrequiresnoactionorwritten response.Consequently,thestaffdidnotperformabackfitanalysis.FEDERALREGISTERNOTIFICATIONTheNRCstaffdidnotpublishanoticeofopportunityforpubliccommentintheFederalRegisterbecausetheRISisinformationalandpertainstoastaffpositionthatdoesnotrepresenta departurefromcurrentregulatoryrequirementsandpractice.TheNRCstaffpreviously solicitedandresolvedpubliccommentsinconnectionwiththedevelopmentofRG1.8, RIS2001-01Page4of4Revision3,andhasworkedwithINPO,theNuclearEnergyInstitute,andindustryrepresentativesindevelopingthestaffpositiondiscussedherein.TheNRCalsopreviously solicitedpubliccommentsontheproposedrenewaloftheinformationcollectionrequest associatedwithrevisedNRCForm398;nocommentswerereceived.PAPERWORKREDUCTIONACTSTATEMENTTheinformationcollectionassociatedwithNRCForm398iscoveredbytherequirementsof10CFRPart55andwasapprovedbytheOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB),approval number3150-0090.PUBLICPROTECTIONNOTIFICATIONIfameansusedtoimposeaninformationcollectiondoesnotdisplayacurrentlyvalidOMBcontrolnumber,theNRCmaynotconductorsponsor,andapersonisnotrequiredtorespond to,theinformationcollection.IfthereareanyquestionsconcerningthisRIS,pleasecontactthepersonlistedbelow./RAbyScottF.NewberryActingFor/DavidB.Matthews,DirectorDivisionofRegulatoryImprovementPrograms OfficeofNuclearReactorRegulationTechnicalContact:SiegfriedGuenther,NRR301-415-1056 E-mail:sxg@nrc.govAttachment:ListofRecentlyIssuedNRCRegulatoryIssueSummaries RIS2001-01Page4of4Revision3,andhasworkedwithINPO,theNuclearEnergyInstitute,andindustryrepresentativesindevelopingthestaffpositiondiscussedherein.TheNRCalsopreviously solicitedpubliccommentsontheproposedrenewaloftheinformationcollectionrequest associatedwithrevisedNRCForm398;nocommentswerereceived.PAPERWORKREDUCTIONACTSTATEMENTTheinformationcollectionassociatedwithNRCForm398iscoveredbytherequirementsof10CFRPart55andwasapprovedbytheOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB),approval number3150-0090.PUBLICPROTECTIONNOTIFICATIONIfameansusedtoimposeaninformationcollectiondoesnotdisplayacurrentlyvalidOMBcontrolnumber,theNRCmaynotconductorsponsor,andapersonisnotrequiredtorespond to,theinformationcollection.IfthereareanyquestionsconcerningthisRIS,pleasecontactthepersonlistedbelow./RAbyScottF.NewberryActingFor/DavidB.Matthews,DirectorDivisionofRegulatoryImprovementPrograms OfficeofNuclearReactorRegulationTechnicalContact:SiegfriedGuenther,NRR301-415-1056 E-mail:sxg@nrc.govAttachment:ListofRecentlyIssuedNRCRegulatoryIssueSummaries DISTRIBUTION:PUBLIC
RISFile*SeepreviousconcurrenceAccessionNo.:ML003733003TemplateNo.:052Toreceiveacopyofthisdocument,indicateintheboxC=Copyw/oattachment/enclosureE=Copywithattachment/enclosureN=NocopyOFFICEIOLBLA:IOLBTechEditorSC:IOLBC:IOLBNAMESGuenther*EBarnhill**DTrimble*GTracy*
DATE12/11/0012/11/007/18/008/9/00/12/12/008/16/00/12/14/00OFFICED:DIPMREXBOGCC:REXB:DRIPD:DRIPNAMEBBoger*JShapaker*JLieberman*LMarsh*Dmatthews/SFNActingfor DATE12/19/0001/03/0112/27/0001/15/0101/18/01OFFICIALRECORDCOPY
______________________________________________________________________________________OL=OperatingLicense CP=ConstructionPermitAttachmentRIS2001-01 Page1of1LISTOFRECENTLYISSUEDNRCREGULATORYISSUESUMMARIES____________________________________________________________________________________RegulatoryIssueDateofSummaryNo.SubjectIssuanceIssuedto____________________________________________________________________________________2000-25PotentialDeficiencyinQualificationofOkoniteSingle- ConductorElectricalControl Cables12/26/00AllholdersofOLsforpressurized-waterreactors(PWRs),except thosewhohavepermanently ceasedoperationsandhave certifiedthatfuelhavebeen permanentlyremovedfromthe reactorvessel2000-24ConcernsaboutOffsitePowerVoltageInadequaciesandGrid ReliabilityChallengesDueto IndustryDeregulation12/21/00AllholdersofOLsforpressurized-waterreactors(PWRs),except thosewhohavepermanently ceasedoperationsandhave certifiedthatfuelhavebeen permanentlyremovedfromthe reactorvessel2000-23RecentChangestoUraniumRecoveryPolicy11/30/00Allholdersofmaterialslicensesforuraniumandthoriumrecovery facilities