July 7, 2013 

MEMORANDUM TO: Jim Kellum, Acting Chief 

Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch 

Division of Construction, Inspection 

 & Operational Programs 

Office of New Reactors 

FROM: Richard Pelton /RA/ 

Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch 

Division of Construction, Inspection 

 & Operational Programs 

Office of New Reactors 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF JULY 2, 2013, PUBLIC MEETING WITH AP-1000 

OWNERS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR 

LICENSING 

On July 2, 2013, 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 

Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, TN to discuss the ongoing issues, challenges and 

concerns to administering licensed operator examinations under the existing process for new 

AP-1000 units. Enclosure 1 lists the attendees at the meeting. Enclosure 2 is the meeting 

agenda. 

The NRC staff discussed with the APOG the required knowledge of the plant Technical 

Specifications for license operator candidates for new reactors. The presentation provided by 

Region II staff is attached as attachment 1. The future examination schedule and potential 

issues to completing the exams were discussed. 

One of the biggest concerns is plant reference simulator (PRS) development. Both APOG and 

Westinghouse personnel discussed actions they are taking to attempt to have the PRS available 

as needed to support the exam schedule. The NRC staff reiterated that scheduling for operator 

examinations is done well in advance and affects not only new reactors but the examination 

schedule for legacy plants. The industry is continuously evaluating the examination schedule 

and will inform the NRC as far in advance as possible of any required schedule adjustments. 

Possible methods of conducting Job Performance Measures (JPMs) were discussed, such as 

mockups, 3D models and labs, since a significant portion of plant equipment will not yet be 

installed when the first exams are given. The NRC staff is currently evaluating options for 

conducting the required three in-plant JPMs. It was also reiterated by the NRC staff that the inplant JPMs are part of the operational test and will be required to complete that portion of the 

examination. 

CONTACT: Rick Pelton, NRO/DCIP 

 (301) 415-1028 
The revision to NUREG-1021, Rev. 10, “Operator Licensing Examination Standard for Power 

Reactors,” is drafted and on track to be issued near the end of calendar year 2013; currently it is 

being reviewed by the NRC Technical Editing group. 

The NRC staff and APOG discussed inspection of the differences training for candidates 

licensed before fuel load and up to plant startup. It is expected that this evaluation will be 

similar to a requalification inspection. 

The NRC Technical Training Center staff presented two examples of recurring problems with 

Senior Reactor Operator Only questions. This short presentation was to assist APOG 

examination writers who are beginning to develop examination questions. This presentation is 

attached as attachment 2. 

The next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2013 at NRC Region II 

Offices in Atlanta, GA. 

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 identified. 

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

Enclosures: As stated 
The revision to NUREG-1021, Rev. 10, “Operator Licensing Examination Standard for Power 

Reactors,” is drafted and on track to be issued near the end of calendar year 2013; currently it is 

being reviewed by the NRC Technical Editing group. 

The NRC staff and APOG discussed inspection of the differences training for candidates 

licensed before fuel load and up to plant startup. It is expected that this evaluation will be 

similar to a requalification inspection. 

The NRC Technical Training Center staff presented two examples of recurring problems with 

Senior Reactor Operator Only questions. This short presentation was to assist APOG 

examination writers who are beginning to develop examination questions. This presentation is 

attached as attachment 2. 

The next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2013 at NRC Region II 

Offices in Atlanta, GA. 

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 identified. 

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

Enclosures: As stated 

DISTRIBUTION: 

Region II Receptionist (hard copy) RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter 

RidsEDOMailCenter RidsNroDcipColp RidsNroDcip 

RidsNroOd ADAMS/PUBLIC RidsOpaMail Resource 

CMiller, RI DLew, RI DJackson. RI 

JClifford, RI FBrown, RII JMunday, RII 

TReis, RII HChristensen, RII MWidmann, RII 

MFranke, RII LWert, RII JYerokun, RII 

PLouden, RIII HPeterson, RIII GShear, RIII 

CPederson, RIII RLewis, RIV JClark, RIV 

TBlount, RIV VGaddy, RIV SRutledge, TTC 

JKellum, NRO SCochrum, TTC REgli, TTC 

 

Charles Sawyer (charles.sawyer@duke-energy.com) 

ADAMS Accession Number: ML13191A092 NRC-001 

OFFICE DCIP/COLP DCIP/COLP BC 

NAME RPelton JKellum 

DATE 07/10/2013 07/10/2013 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 
ENCLOSURE 1 

NRC/APOG AP-1000 OWNERS GROUP ON 

NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING 

July 2, 2013 

Name Organization 

Mark Franke NRC / R-II 

Dan Bacon NRC / R-II 

Jim Kellum NRC / NRO 

J. Amanda Toth NRC/ R-II 

Malcolm Widmann NRC / R-II 

Charles Sawyer Duke Energy 

Tom Kuhar Westinghouse 

Andy Barbee SCANA

Gary Calloway NRC / TTC 

Mark Verbeck Southern Nuclear 

Rick DeVercelly NRC / TTC 

Jana Bergman Public / Curtiss Wright 

Leon Ray Southern Nuclear 

Paul Hippley Westinghouse 

Key Warren Southern Nuclear 

Michael LLewellyn INPO 

Terry McCool FPL 

Dick Swiegart Duke 

Scott Egli NRC / TTC 

Al Harris SCANA 

Neil Constance SCANA 

 

 
ENCLOSURE 2 

AGENDA FOR THE CATEGORY 2 PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE 

AP-1000 OWNERS GROUP ON NEW REACTOR OPERATOR LICENSING 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013 

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

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

5746 Marlin Rd., Room 4A 

Chattanooga, TN 37411 

TOPIC LEAD

Introductions and opening remarks NRC 

Public input Public 

“Above the line” Tech. Spec. response from Mark Bates NRC/APOG 

AP-1000 simulator development 

• Status APOG 

• Discuss procedures and amount of FAT and HFE 

V&V NRC to observe APOG/NRC 

Examination schedule/development APOG/NRC 

Discussion of potential waivers APOG/NRC 

JPMs 

• in plant system availability / alternate methods NRC/APOG 

• Construction schedule outlook APOG 

Status of revision to NUREG-1021 NRC 

Inspection of differences training NRC/APOG 

Action Item Review from Previous Meeting not discussed above NRC/APOG 

Miscellaneous/Emergent topics NRC/APOG 

Public input Public 

Summary / Action item review / Conclusion NRC