October 10, 2012 

MEMORANDUM TO: Michael Junge, Chief 

 Operator Licensing 

 and Human Performance Branch 

 Division of Construction, Inspection 

 and Operational Programs 

 Office of New Reactors 

FROM: James Kellum, Senior Reactor Engineer /RA/

 Operator Licensing 

 and Human Performance Branch 

 Division of Construction, Inspection, 

 and Operational Programs 

 Office of New Reactors 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2012, PUBLIC MEETING WITH 

 AP-1000 OWNERS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR 

 LICENSING 

On September 18, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a category 

2 public meeting with the AP-1000 Owners Group (APOG) on New Reactor Operator Licensing 

at the Region II Offices in Atlanta, GA, 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 discussed the ongoing progress in developing and administering 

effective new reactor operator licensing examinations. 

The meeting discussed the NRC examiners mock simulator exams given to Vogtle and Summer 

licensed instructors on the Vogtle simulator during the week of August 20, 2012. The NRC used 

six qualified examiners and three observers who validated and administered the scenarios. The 

NRC staff determined, from the administration of the scenarios, that they would be able 

administer a valid operator exam with only minor enhancements needed to NUREG-1021, 

Operator Licensing Examiner Standards. The staff also determined the Senior Reactor 

Operator was able to be evaluated in the command and control role. The biggest factor in a 

valid exam on the AP-1000 simulator was determined to be scenario construction. 

The NRC staff discussed with the APOG the future examination schedule and potential issues 

to completing the exams. Possible methods of conducting Job Performance Measures (JPM) 

were discussed, such as mockups, 3D models and labs, since it is likely a significant portion of 

plant equipment will not yet be installed in the plant when the first exams are given. It was 

decided that the NRC staff will visit the Vogtle 3D models to assess suitability for use in JPM 

CONTACT: James Kellum, NRO/DCIP 

 (301) 415-5305 
M. Junge - 2 - 

performance. This visit will likely take place in October 2012. Performance of licensed operator 

candidate’s reactivity manipulations was also discussed and it was determined that these could 

potentially be waived, with the license not being issued until their completion, until simulator 

availability allows them to be completed. 

The NRC staff and APOG discussed the industry developed critical tasks for AP-1000 and 

agreed that the list is a final draft. These critical tasks will be used for exam development per 

NUREG-1021 including its tentative new section (ES-401N) for AP-1000 exams. 

The next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 2013, at NRC Region II in 

Atlanta. 

Action items for both the industry and the NRC were assigned and will be reviewed at the next 

meeting. Tentative agenda items for the next meeting were also listed. 

Questions and comments raised by meeting participants will be evaluated by the NRC staff. 

Enclosure: 

As stated 
M. Junge - 2 - 

performance. This visit will likely take place in October 2012. Performance of licensed operator 

candidate’s reactivity manipulations was also discussed and it was determined that these could 

potentially be waived, with the license not being issued until their completion, until simulator 

availability allows them to be completed. 

The NRC staff and APOG discussed the industry developed critical tasks for AP-1000 and 

agreed that the list is a final draft. These critical tasks will be used for exam development per 

NUREG-1021 including its tentative new section (ES-401N) for AP-1000 exams. 

The next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for January, 2013 at NRC Region II in 

Atlanta. 

Action items for both the industry and the NRC were assigned and will be reviewed at the next 

meeting. Tentative agenda items for the next meeting were also listed. 

Questions and comments raised by meeting participants will be evaluated by the NRC staff. 

Enclosure: 

As stated 

DISTRIBUTION: 

J Luehman S Rutledge D Roberts P Wilson 

D Jackson T Reis H Christensen C Ogle 

L Wert M Widmann M Franke J Moorman 

R Egli S Reynolds H Peterson C Pederson 

K O’Brien A Howell T Blount M Haire 

M Miller S Cochrum R Devercelly RidsNroOd 

RidsNroDcip RidsNroDcipColp RidsEDOMailCenter 

RidsOgcMailCenter RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter 

charles.sawyer@duke-energy.com

ADAMS Accession No.: ML12284A224 NRC-001 

OFFICE NRO/DCIP/COLP NRO/DCIP/COLP 

NAME JKellum MJunge 

DATE 10/10/2012 10/10/2012 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 
Enclosure 1 

NRC/APOG AP-1000 OWNERS GROUP ON 

NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING 

September 18, 2012 

Name Organization 

Mike Junge NRC / NRO 

Mark Franke NRC / R-II 

Jim Kellum NRC / NRO 

Dan Bacon NRC/ R-II 

Malcolm Widmann NRC / R-II 

Charles Sawyer Duke Energy 

Dave Neal Westinghouse 

Tony Spring Southern Nuclear 

W. Tom Ryan TVA 

Mark Verbeck Southern 

Andy Barbee SCANA 

Phil Capehart NRC / R-II 

Tim Dennis ANSI3.5 Working Group 

Leon Ray Southern Nuclear 

Gary Calloway NRC / TTC 

Edwin Lea NRC / R-II 

Amanda Toth NRC / R-II 

James Chang NRC / RES 

DaBin Ki NRC / RES 

Paul Mothena SCANA 

Wes Sparkman Southern 

Mark Bates NRC / R-II 

Rodney Delop SCANA 
Enclosure 2 

AGENDA FOR THE CATEGORY 2 PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE 

AP-1000 OWNERS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Marquis One Tower, 

Executive Conference Room R2-1486-32p (14th floor) 

245 Peachtree Center Avenue N.E. 

Atlanta, GA 30303 

TOPIC LEAD

Introductions and opening remarks NRC/APOG 

Public input Public 

Discussion of August 20-24 mock simulator examinations NRC 

Examination schedule (RIS response) NRC/APOG 

Discussion on ‘final’ critical tasks draft APOG 

JPMs – in plant system availability/alternate methods NRC/APOG 

AP-1000 simulator development NRC/APOG 

Simulator physical fidelity for simulator inspection NRC 

Reactivity manipulations NRC/APOG 

Miscellaneous/Emergent topics NRC/APOG 

Public input Public 

Summary/Conclusion/Action item review NRC/APOG