September 17, 2009 

MEMORANDUM TO: Michael Junge, Chief 

Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch 

Division of Construction 

 and Operational Programs 

Office of New Reactors 

FROM: Richard Pelton /RA/ 

Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch 

Division of Construction 

 and Operational Programs 

Office of New Reactors 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF AUGUST 26, 2009, MEETING WITH THE INDUSTRY 

FOCUS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING 

On August 26, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public meeting 

with the Industry Focus Group on New Reactor Operator Licensing to discuss the changes to the 

licensed operator examination process. Enclosure 1 lists the attendees at the meeting. 

Enclosure 2 is the agenda for the meeting. 

This meeting was the latest in a series intended to promote efficient, effective, and consistent 

preparation and administration of new reactor operator licensing examinations. The industry 

provided the “Operator Licensing Process Position Paper, Revision C” (ML09440070) for NRC 

comment and review. 

The submittal describes the industry recommendations to ensure sufficient numbers of licensed 

operators are available to support fuel load. In the paper, the NEI New Plant Training Task 

Force proposes changing the operator licensing process for the next generation reactors as 

follows: 

1. Allow variable sequencing and separation between the written examination and the 

operating test. Allow the separation to be increased from 30 days to 24 months. 

2. Allow site specific written examinations to be developed, approved, and administered to 

license candidates for all similar reactor types on the same day. 

NRC asked several questions related to the proposed changes including, how has the proposed 

operator licensing exam schedule changed; will experienced operators be trained in the first 

class or will they spread out throughout the program; and how will operations maintain 

profiency? 
- 2 - 

In response to the NRC questions, the task force stated that the schedule had been modified to 

administer the exam 18 – 24 months before fuel load, each class would be a mix of new and old 

operators, and operators would be entered into some type of continuing training between the 

written exam and the operating test. 

In closing, NRC agreed to review the proposal and provide comments at the next meeting to be 

held in October, 2009. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

Enclosures: As stated 

CONTACT: Rick Pelton, NRO/DCIP 

 (301) 415-1028
- 2 - 

In response to the NRC questions, the task force stated that the schedule had been modified to 

administer the exam 18 – 24 months before fuel load, each class would be a mix of new and old 

operators, and operators would be entered into some type of continuing training between the 

written exam and the operating test. 

In closing, NRC agreed to review the proposal and provide comments at the next meeting to be 

held in October, 2009. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

Enclosures: As stated 

CONTACT: Rick Pelton, NRO/DCIP 

 (301) 415-1028 

ADAMS Package Accession Number: ML092600577 

Meeting Notice Accession Number: ML092230623 

Meeting Handout Accession Number: ML092440070 

Meeting Summary Accession Number: ML092590622 

OFFICE DCIP/COLP DCIP/COLP/BC 

NAME R Pelton M Junge 

DATE 09/17/09 09/17/09 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 
Enclosure 1 

Meeting with the Industry Focus Group on 

New Reactor Operator Licensing 

August 26, 2009 

Meeting Attendees 

Name Organization 

Mike Junge NRC / HQ 

Rick Pelton NRC / HQ 

Fred Guenther NRC / HQ 

Jim Kellum NRC / HQ 

Bruce Palagi NRC / RIII via telecom 

Brian Larson NRC / RIV via telecom 

John Butler NEI 

Russell Smith NEI 

Tom Kuhar Westinghouse 

Charles Sawyer Duke 

Mike Wagner STPNOC 

Al Koon SCANA 

Mike Llewellyn INPO 

Phil Polefrone UNISTAR 

Todd Newkirk IBEW via telecom 

Chris Paulsen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 

Ted Amundson Southern Company 
Enclosure 2

AGENDA FOR THE CATEGORY 2 PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE 

INDUSTRY FOCUS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING ISSUES 

August 26, 2009 

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 

3 Main Conference Room 

1776 I Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20006-3708 

TOPIC LEAD

Introductions and Opening Remarks NRC/Focus Group 

Public Input Public 

Changes to the operator licensing process Focus Group 

Public Questions and Answers Public 

Summary / Conclusion / Action Item Review NRC/ Focus Group 
- 2 - 

DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC 

COLP Reading File 

RidsNroOd 

RidsNroDcip 

RidsNroDcipColp 

RidsEDOMailCenter 

RidsOgcMailCenter 

RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter 

SCoffin 

GHolahan 

MJohnson 

PMadden 

DMatthews 

DWilliams 

GTracy 

JTappert 

MJunge 

FBrown 

JMcHale 

SGuenther 

JMunro 

RRihm 

DRoberts, RI 

MDapas, RI 

PWilson, RI 

SHansell. RI 

HChristensen, RII 

RCroteau, RII 

LPlisco, RII 

MWidmann, RII 

VMcCree, RII 

AGody, RII 

KKennedy, RII 

COgle, RII 

RBaldwin, RII 

CKontz, RII 

ABoland, RIII 

HPeterson, RIII 

CPederson, RIII 

O’Brien, RIII 

MSatorius, RIII 

CCasto, RIV 

RCaniano, RIV 

TPruett, RIV 

RLantz, RIV 

MMiller, HRTD 

SCochrum, TTC 

RDevercelly, TTC 

REgli, TTC 

SRutledge. TTC 

RSmith (ras@nei.org) MLlewellyn (LlewellynMD@inpo.org) 
- 3 - 

Mr. Anthony Pietrangelo, Senior Director 

Risk Regulation 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 

Washington, DC 20006-3708 

Mr. H. A. Sepp, Manager 

Regulatory and Licensing Engineering 

Westinghouse Electric Company 

P. O. Box 355 

Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0355 

Mr. John Butler 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 

Washington, DC 20006-3708 

Mr. Charles B. Brinkman 

Washington Operations 

ABB-Combustion Engineering, Inc. 

12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 330 

Rockville, MD 20852 

Mr. Gary L. Vine, Executive Director 

Federal and Industry Activities, Nuclear 

Sector 

EPRI 

2000 L Street, NW, Suite 805 

Washington, DC 20036 

Mr. Pedro Salas 

Regulatory Assurance Manager - Dresden 

Exelon Generation Company, LLC 

6500 N. Dresden Road 

Morris, IL 60450-9765 

Ms. Barbara Lewis 

Assistant Editor 

Platts, Principal Editorial Office 

1200 G St., N.W., Suite 1100 

Washington, DC 20005 

Mr. Gary Welsh 

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Suite 100 

700 Galleria Parkway, SE 

Atlanta, GA 30339-5957 

Mr. James H. Riley, Director 

Engineering 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 

Washington, DC 20006-3708