December 16, 2010 

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 NOVEMBER 17, 2010, MEETING WITH THE 

INDUSTRY FOCUS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR 

LICENSING 

On November 17, 2010, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public 

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

changes to the licensed operator examination process. Enclosure 1 lists the attendees at the 

meeting. Enclosure 2 is the meeting agenda. 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 AP1000 Owner’s Group training committee (APOG) provided a status update of the 

AP1000 knowledge and abilities (K & A) catalog efforts. The APOG reported that the APOG 

met the week of November 8, 2010 to finalize revisions to the generic sections of the catalog 

due to differences in the technology and terminology between AP1000 and current pressurized 

reactors. The AP1000 catalog is essentially complete, acronyms are being removed, and the 

APOG expects to submit the catalog to the NRC in January 2011. 

The South Texas Project Units 3 and 4 Operations Training Manager (STP) provided a status 

update of the ABWR K & A catalog efforts. STP reported that final changes are being 

incorporated into the catalog while ensuring consistency across the catalog and accompanying 

documentation is being completed. The ABWR catalog is on a timeline similar to AP1000 and 

STP plans to submit the catalog to the NRC in January 2011. 

It was suggested that, after submission of the ABWR and AP1000 K&A catalogs, a workshop be 

held to discuss the rating factors differences ABWR and AP1000, the rating factor development 

process, the stem statement development process, and answer any additional questions. The 

workshop, to be held the week of January 17, 2011, would include participants from the 

Regional offices, the Technical Training Center, and the industry. 

CONTACT: Rick Pelton, NRO/DCIP 

 (301) 415-1028 
M. Junge - 2 - 

Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems Inc. (MNES) reported that the K&A catalog for the 

USAPWR continues to evolve. MNES continues to request that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 

Ltd. (MHI) form an expert panel of formerly licensed operators to conduct a gap analysis of the 

current pressurized water reactor K&A. 

The Industry provided a paper, enclosure 3, discussing RO/SRO Technical Specification (TS) 

Knowledge Differences (ML103500465) specifically, knowledge differences related to one hour 

technical specification action statements. The NRC agreed to send the paper to Regional and 

headquarters examiners for review and discuss the results of that review at the next Focus 

Group meeting. 

Group waivers for allowing increased time between the written exam and the operating test 

were discussed. The NRC reported that it does not appear that there is any regulatory barrier to 

allowing group waivers in circumstances where the grounds for the waiver apply to the group. 

For example, a waiver could be considered if a plant is under construction and a plant walkthrough is not possible. However, the waiver discussion in NUREG-1021, “Operator Licensing 

Examination Standards for Power Reactors” assumes individual rather than group waivers and 

cites grounds for waivers that relate to the circumstances of specific individuals. If group 

waivers are contemplated, the grounds for granting them (and exactly what will be granted if 

they are approved – license conditions etc.) will need to appear in guidance (NUREG 1021) at 

some point. This assumes a temporary waiver related to the timing of the different phases of 

testing, not a permanent waiver. 

The NRC and the industry will work together to determine if a new examination format is 

necessary for highly integrated control rooms. During the Westinghouse training of industry 

instructors, mock exams will be developed and administered to the trainees by a consensus 

group of NRC staff and industry training personnel. These mock exams will be used to evaluate 

possible changes. An assessment will be performed to determine if changes to the current 

exam format are necessary. Resultant changes to the exam format will be incorporated into 

NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors.” 

A self assessment by a licensee following an operator licensing examination on a simulator with 

digital systems, identified several software issues. The focus group reviewed the results of the 

self assessment to determine if similar software issues could exist in the new digital control 

rooms and simulators. The industry and NRC staff agreed to follow up on the self assessment 

and investigate the validity of similar issues for the new reactor designs. 

No final positions were taken during the meeting. The staff agreed to review RO/SRO Technical 

Specification (TS) Knowledge Differences paper and to determine how the INPO ATV follow-up 

visits will impact NRC training inspections. The industry agreed to review NUREG 1021, ES401, “Preparing Initial Site-Specific Written Examinations” for potential changes to the 

requirements, procedures, and guidelines for preparing site-specific written examinations. The 

next meeting with the Industry Focus Group on New Reactor Operator Licensing has not been 

scheduled. 

Enclosures: As stated 
M. Junge - 2 - 

Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems Inc. (MNES) reported that the K&A catalog for the 

USAPWR continues to evolve. MNES continues to request that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 

Ltd. (MHI) form an expert panel of formerly licensed operators to conduct a gap analysis of the 

current pressurized water reactor K&A. 

The Industry provided a paper, enclosure 3, discussing RO/SRO Technical Specification (TS) 

Knowledge Differences (ML103500465) specifically, knowledge differences related to one hour 

technical specification action statements. The NRC agreed to send the paper to Regional and 

headquarters examiners for review and discuss the results of that review at the next Focus 

Group meeting. 

Group waivers for allowing increased time between the written exam and the operating test 

were discussed. The NRC reported that it does not appear that there is any regulatory barrier to 

allowing group waivers in circumstances where the grounds for the waiver apply to the group. 

For example, a waiver could be considered if a plant is under construction and a plant walkthrough is not possible. However, the waiver discussion in NUREG-1021, “Operator Licensing 

Examination Standards for Power Reactors” assumes individual rather than group waivers and 

cites grounds for waivers that relate to the circumstances of specific individuals. If group 

waivers are contemplated, the grounds for granting them (and exactly what will be granted if 

they are approved – license conditions etc.) will need to appear in guidance (NUREG 1021) at 

some point. This assumes a temporary waiver related to the timing of the different phases of 

testing, not a permanent waiver. 

The NRC and the industry will work together to determine if a new examination format is 

necessary for highly integrated control rooms. During the Westinghouse training of industry 

instructors, mock exams will be developed and administered to the trainees by a consensus 

group of NRC staff and industry training personnel. These mock exams will be used to evaluate 

possible changes. An assessment will be performed to determine if changes to the current 

exam format are necessary. Resultant changes to the exam format will be incorporated into 

NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors.” 

A self assessment by a licensee following an operator licensing examination on a simulator with 

digital systems, identified several software issues. The focus group reviewed the results of the 

self assessment to determine if similar software issues could exist in the new digital control 

rooms and simulators. The industry and NRC staff agreed to follow up on the self assessment 

and investigate the validity of similar issues for the new reactor designs. 

No final positions were taken during the meeting. The staff agreed to review RO/SRO Technical 

Specification (TS) Knowledge Differences paper and to determine how the INPO ATV follow-up 

visits will impact NRC training inspections. The industry agreed to review NUREG 1021, ES401, “Preparing Initial Site-Specific Written Examinations” for potential changes to the 

requirements, procedures, and guidelines for preparing site-specific written examinations. The 

next meeting with the Industry Focus Group on New Reactor Operator Licensing has not been 

scheduled. 

Enclosures: As stated 

DISTRIBUTION: 

See next page 

ADAMS Accession Number: ML103430022 NRO-002 

OFFICE DCIP/COLP DCIP/COLP: BC 

NAME RPelton MJunge 

DATE 12/16/2010 12/16/2010 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 
Meeting with the Industry Focus Group on 

New Reactor Operator Licensing 

November 17, 2010 

Name Organization 

Mike Junge NRC / NRO 

Rick Pelton NRC / NRO 

Jack McHale NRC / NRR 

John Munro NRC / NRR 

Jim Kellum NRC / NRO 

Mark Lintz NRC / NRO 

Sam Hansell NRC / RI 

Malcolm Widmann NRC / RII 

Bruno Caballero NRC/RII via telephonic bridge 

Hironori Petersen NRC / RIII via telephonic bridge 

Dave Reeser NRC / RIII via telephonic bridge 

Steve Garchow NRC / RIV 

Scott Egli NRC / TTC via telephonic bridge 

Wes Sparkman Southern Nuclear Company 

Glenn MacDonald STPNOC 

Charles Sawyer Duke 

Michael Llewellyn INPO 

Phil Polefrone Unistar via telephonic bridge 

Leonard Kabana MNES 

Ted Amundson Southern Nuclear Company 

Russ Godwin TVA 

Tim Clouser Luminant 

Paul Hippely Westinghouse 

Paul Mothena SCANA 

Walt Shira 

Jeff Mahan MNES – US 

Bob Post Dominion 
AGENDA FOR THE CATEGORY 2 PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE 

INDUSTRY FOCUS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING ISSUES 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Two White Flint North Room [T - 10A1] 

11545 Rockville Pike 

Rockville, MD 20852 

TOPIC LEAD

Introductions and Opening Remarks NRC/Focus Group 

Public Input Public 

Knowledge and Ability Catalog Update Focus Group 

Instrument Failures and Automatic Actions NRC 

One Hour Action Statements Focus Group 

Group versus Individual Waivers NRC 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Operator Licensing NRC/Focus Group 

Public Questions and Answers Public 

Summary / Conclusion / Action Item Review NRC/ Focus Group 
DISTRIBUTION: Summary of November 17, 2010, Meeting with the Industry Focus Group on 

New Reactor Operator Licensing 

PUBLIC 

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Paul Mothena (pmothena@scana.com) 
Nuclear Energy Institute Project No. 689 

cc (via email): 

Mr. Anthony Pietrangelo, Vice President 

Regulatory Affairs 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 

Washington, DC 20006-3708 

arp@nei.org

Mr. Jack Roe 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 

Washington, DC 20006-3708 

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Mike Melton, Senior Project Manager 

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Nuclear Operations & Engineering 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

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Engineering 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

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Nuclear Operations 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

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Safety-focused Regulation 

Nuclear Energy Institute 

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