June 1, 2011 

MEMORANDUM TO: Frederick D. Brown, Director 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

FROM: John J. McHale, Chief /RA/ 

 Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE 2011 ANNUAL U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION/INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS 

COORDINATION MEETING ON TRAINING-RELATED ISSUES 

On May 11, 2011, a periodic public U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)/Institute of 

Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) coordination meeting on training-related issues was held at 

INPO Headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia. Such meetings are conducted in accordance with the 

NRC/INPO Memorandum of Agreement dated December 10, 2007. The purpose of the meeting 

was to discuss items of mutual interest concerning INPO's training program accreditation 

process. Participants included representatives of the NRC=s Division of Inspection and Regional 

Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR); NRC’s Division of Construction, 

Inspection, and Operational Programs, Office of New Reactors (NRO); Regional Operator 

Licensing Branch Chiefs; INPO=s Training and Accreditation Division, and one member of the 

public. The list of meeting attendees is provided as Enclosure 1. The meeting agenda is 

provided as Enclosure 2. A summary of the discussions related to key agenda topics covered 

during the meeting follows. 

Introductions and Opening Remarks

An introduction of the member of the public and NRC and INPO personnel present was 

conducted. NRC/INPO provided opening remarks. As part of the opening remarks, INPO and 

NRC discussed organizational changes since the 2010 Coordination Meeting. 

Accreditation Update

INPO conducted 33 Accreditation Visits in 2010. NRC observed one Accreditation Team Visit 

(ATV) and observed eleven of twelve accrediting boards during calendar 2010. 

INPO reported good industry support, in the form of peer members, for ATVs. To improve 

facility accreditation skills, INPO is: 

• Conducting three Accreditation Self-Evaluation Report workshops per year using peers, 

• Providing mid-cycle accreditation assistance, 

• Conducting a corporate training director meeting twice a year, 
• Conducting instructional technology workshops to introduce new instructional 

technologists to nuclear training 

INPO updated job performance requirements for existing engineering positions and some new 

positions, to more fully cover issues such as boric acid corrosion control programs, underground 

piping, cyber security, and dry cask storage. 

INPO announced plans to publish this summer, an Appendix A to ACAD 10-001, “Guidelines for 

Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed Operators.” The appendix will highlight best 

practices associated with qualifying licensed operators. This appendix will include topics such 

as training program oversight, candidate selection, program design, preparing license 

candidates, initial operator training progression and oversight, examination strategy, 

examination validation, and station staffing of training staff and licensed operators. 

INPO developed an Examination Developer Course to help licensees better understand 

examination standards in NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power 

Reactors” The NRC requested to be informed of any insights learned from teaching the course 

that could result in improved clarity of the NUREG. 

New Reactor Accreditation Update 

INPO has worked with the NRC and interested utilities on initial accreditation of training 

programs for licensed operators. INPO expects to conduct initial ATVs beginning in 2011. New 

reactor initial accreditation is expected three to four years prior to fuel with renewal of 

accreditation within one year of fuel load. 

Regulatory Issues

The NRC issued Regulatory Guide 1.149, “Nuclear Power Plant Simulation Facilities for Use in 

Operator Training and License Examinations and Applicant Experience Requirements,” revision 

4, in April 2011. The NRC is encouraging licensees to voluntarily adopt the new revision. 

The NRC is updating Inspection Procedure 71111.11, “Licensed Operator Requalification 

Program” and plans to enhance observation of on-shift operators within the scope of inspection 

activities. The NRC is also developing a new procedure to inspect the suitability of simulation 

facilities for use as a plant-reference simulator to meet licensed operator training, examination, 

and experience requirements. 

In the new reactor area, the NRC stated that ANSI/ANS 3.1, “Selection, Qualification, and 

Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants” is being revised to address new reactor issues 

with the intent to revise and update Regulatory Guide 1.8, “Qualification and Training of 

Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants” in 2012. The NRC is working to develop an appendix to 

NUREG 1021 to address new reactor operating licensing issues and processes. 

Future of Learning

The Future of Learning is fully staffed with three instructors conducting instructor certifications. 

Instructor certification is a two-week blended training program. Blended training programs have 

curriculum that can incorporate all methods of training including web-based, face-to-face, 

discussion boards, and individual activities. This training has been well received as evidenced 

by the increase from 15 planned courses to 25 based on utility requests. 
A Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is being implemented and was pilot tested by 

five utilities in 2010. An LCMS is a multi-user system where course developers can create, 

store, and manage learning content for reuse and delivery via different methods. LCMS allows 

stronger configuration control because there is a master set of content that can be updated 

based on operating experience and feedback. This improves training program efficiency and 

effectiveness. 

NANTel Update

The National Academy for Nuclear Training e-Learning (NANTeL) system is a national webbased system that provides standardized, generic training for the supplemental workforce that 

satisfies the industry and the insurer. All U.S. nuclear power plants have agreed to accept 

training delivered through NANTeL. Qualification of the individual remains the responsibility of 

site. 

INPO reported that the use of NANTeL has increased significantly. The number of users in 

2008 was 60,981 with 338,673 course completions. In 2010, the number of users increased to 

95,348 and the number of course completions increase to 703,433. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

There was a short discussion of INPO’s SOER regarding human performance errors committed 

by station personnel. INPO has taken steps to enhance the crew performance observation 

process as part of plant evaluations. 

Regarding potential follow-up actions to the recent events at the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant 

in Japan, the NRC and INPO stated that reviews of the event were in progress and would likely 

have implications in the training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. Final 

actions will be implemented based on the outcome of the reviews. 

Closing Remarks

In closing, it was decided that additional meetings related to the training and qualification of 

reactor operators will be held. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

CONTACT: D. Allsopp, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

301-415-3073 

 
A Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is being implemented and was pilot tested by 

five utilities in 2010. An LCMS is a multi-user system where course developers can create, 

store, and manage learning content for reuse and delivery via different methods. LCMS allows 

stronger configuration control because there is a master set of content that can be updated 

based on operating experience and feedback. This improves training program efficiency and 

effectiveness. 

NANTel Update

The National Academy for Nuclear Training e-Learning (NANTeL) system is a national webbased system that provides standardized, generic training for the supplemental workforce that 

satisfies the industry and the insurer. All U.S. nuclear power plants have agreed to accept 

training delivered through NANTeL. Qualification of the individual remains the responsibility of 

site. 

INPO reported that the use of NANTeL has increased significantly. The number of users in 

2008 was 60,981 with 338,673 course completions. In 2010, the number of users increased to 

95,348 and the number of course completions increase to 703,433. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

There was a short discussion of INPO’s SOER regarding human performance errors committed 

by station personnel. INPO has taken steps to enhance the crew performance observation 

process as part of plant evaluations. 

Regarding potential follow-up actions to the recent events at the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant 

in Japan, the NRC and INPO stated that reviews of the event were in progress and would likely 

have implications in the training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. Final 

actions will be implemented based on the outcome of the reviews. 

Closing Remarks

In closing, it was decided that additional meetings related to the training and qualification of 

reactor operators will be held. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

CONTACT: D. Allsopp, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

301-415-3073 

DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC J Tappert, NRO 

COLP Reading File M Junge, NRO 

IOLB Reading File B Westreich, NRR 

RidsNroDcip J McHale, NRR 

RidsNroDcipColp S Hansell, RI 

RidsEDOMailCenter M Widmann, RII 

RidsNrrOdResource M Franke, RII 

RidsNrrDirs H Peterson, RIII 

RidsNrrDirsIolb M Haire, RIV 

B Boger, NRR 

ADAMS Accession No: ML11146A043 

OFFICE DIRS/IOLB DIRS/IOLB 

NAME DAllsopp JMcHale 

DATE 06/01/2011 06/ 01/2011 

 Official Record Copy 
ATTENDEES

INPO-NRC Coordination Meeting, May 11, 2011

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations

David Igyarto, Vice President Industry Training and Accreditation, and Executive Director of the 

National Academy 

Pete Knoetgen, Director, Accreditation 

Steve Johnson, Deputy Director, Accreditation 

George Mortensen, NRC Liaison 

Elizabeth Brattin, Director, Industry Learning 

Bob Wood, Senior Program Manager in Future of Learning 

William Russell, Senior Program Manager in Industry Learning and Development 

Robert Coovert, Manager, NANTeL 

Burl McCosh, Senior Evaluator 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Bruce Boger, Deputy Director for Reactor Safety Programs, NRR 

Laura Dudes, Director, Division of Construction Inspection and Operational Programs, NRO 

John McHale, Chief, Operator Licensing and Training Branch, NRR 

Michael Junge, Chief, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch, NRO 

Malcolm Widmann, Chief, Operations Branch 1, RII 

Mark Franke, Chief, Operations Branch 2, RII 

Mike Bielby, Operations Branch, RIII 

Mark Haire, Chief, Operations Branch, RIV 

David Allsopp, Operator Licensing and Training Branch, NRR 

Richard Pelton, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch, NRO 

Other

Katie Van Ewyk, Aerotek 

 ENCLOSURE 1 
AGENDA FOR PUBLIC MEETING 

WITH INPO ON TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION 

May 11, 2011 

9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Institute Of Nuclear Power Operations 

700 Galleria Parkway, Room 216 

Atlanta, Georgia 30339-5957 

TOPICS 

● Introductions and Opening Remarks 

● Public Input 

● Accreditation Update

● New Reactor Accreditation Update 

● Regulatory Issues 

● Future of Learning 

● NANTeL Update 

● Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

● Public Questions and Answers 

● Closing Remarks 

 ENCLOSURE 2