May 29, 2013 

MEMORANDUM TO: Ho Nieh, Director 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

FROM: John McHale, Chief /RA/ 

 Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE 2013 ANNUAL U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION/INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS 

COORDINATION MEETING ON TRAINING-RELATED ISSUES 

On May 8, 2013, 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 and other initiatives. Participants included representatives of the NRC=s Office of 

Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR); Office of New Reactors (NRO); Regional Operator 

Licensing Branch Chiefs; INPO=s Training and Accreditation and Industry Evaluation Divisions, 

and six members 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 members of the public and NRC and INPO personnel present was 

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

and NRC discussed organizational changes including the selection of an NRC nominee to the 

National Nuclear Accrediting Board (NNAB) and the need to fill two additional positions by the 

end of 2013. 

Accreditation Update

INPO conducted 33 Accreditation Team Visits (ATVs) and 38 Accreditation Boards in 2012. 

The accrediting boards reviewed 227 training programs. As a result of these evaluations, INPO 

placed a total of 7 training programs at two facilities on accreditation probation in 2012. 

INPO reported good industry support, in the form of peer members, for ATVs. INPO has 10 

team managers and 12 evaluators. INPO continued to participate in a corporate training 

director meeting twice a year. 
H. Nieh - 2 -

Last year, the NRC observed an initial accreditation ATV and 36 of 38 Accreditation Boards. 

The NRC plans to observe two ATVs in 2013. 

New Reactor Accreditation Update 

INPO reported the schedule of completed and planned training actions related to initial 

accreditation of training programs at new reactor facilities. INPO is updating ACAD 07-001, 

“Guidelines for the Continuing Training of Licensed Personnel” and requested feedback from 

the NRC. 

Regulatory Issues

The NRC discussed actions related to the Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 8 for onsite 

emergency response capabilities related to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. 

As part of NRC’s effort to develop a new rule in this area, the NRC solicited public comments on 

a draft regulatory basis for the new rule and is working to issue the final regulatory basis. The 

NRC discussed issues associated with the strengthening and integration of the accident 

management procedures, training and qualification of key personnel, command and control, and 

exercises. The NRC plans to issue the final rule in this area in the third quarter of 2016. 

The NRC discussed insights from implementing a revision to Inspection Procedure 71111.11, 

“Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance” which was 

updated in 2011 and 2012. The intent of the revisions was to enhance the focus on operator 

performance within the scope of inspection activities. 

The NRC thanked INPO for participating in the Regulatory Information Conference, the update 

to the knowledge and ability catalogs (NUREG’s 1122 and 1123), the Region III operator 

licensing workshop, and the commission briefing on the operator licensing program in 2012. 

The NRC stated that it was conducting a review of the consistency of the region’s 

implementation of the operator licensing process and welcomed INPO’s perspective. 

The NRC commented on possible changes to the licensed operator examination process used 

for new reactors. No significant changes were identified regarding written examinations; 

however, the exams will be based on new knowledge and ability catalogs, NUREG’s 2103 and 

2104. It was noted that some scenarios may need to make expanded use of time compression 

to test some critical tasks and scenario construction will be more important for new reactors to 

adequately evaluate both board operators since their consoles have similar capabilities. There 

was a short discussion regarding the selection of three valid in-plant job performance measures 

(JPMs) given the relatively small number of JPMs that may be available in the plant during 

construction. The NRC is revising NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards 

for Power Reactors” primarily to clarify issues with new reactors and the updated NUREG is 

expected to be issued later this year.

Industry Learning Initiatives

INPO provided the status of several initiatives under development including an industry-wide 

performance indicator to measure the effectiveness of training programs and a case study 

based on Fukushima Daiichi to be added as a training material for senior managers. 
H. Nieh - 3 -

INPO developed an addendum to INPO 11-005, Special Report on the Nuclear Accident at the 

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, to identify and share operational and organizational 

lessons from the accident. 

INPO reported that over 1,000 students have completed the industry’s Instructor Certification 

Program. 

INPO reported that it continues to see benefits from the National Academy for Nuclear Training 

e-Learning (NANTeL) and the learning content management system. NANTeL is a national 

web-based system that provides standardized, generic training for supplemental and utility 

workforce that satisfies the industry and the insurer. NANTeL contains over 300 generic and 

utility-specific courses. In 2012, over 100,000 workers completed almost 800,000 courses. 

INPO is developing training from Fukushima lessons learned. INPO plans to add this training to 

the learning content management system by the end of 2013. 

Operator Fundamentals 

INPO reported it continues to see improvement from their focus on operator fundamentals. 

INPO revised the plant evaluation process to emphasize operator fundamentals and 

conservative decision making in the control room. INPO reported that the revised process 

makes training scenarios in the simulator more realistic and challenging. Specifically, scenarios 

run longer, include scripted distracters, and limit available crew size to actual shift staffing 

levels. The revised process evaluates more crews and more positions, and adds post scenario 

technical interviews during plant walkthroughs with licensed and non-licensed operators. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

An NRC branch chief mentioned that he was seeing an increase in the number of untimely 

requests for exemption from NUREG 1021 experience requirements shortly before the 

scheduled date of NRC administered examinations. 

A representative from the Professional Reactor Operator Society discussed concerns he had 

with the low experience level of new operations instructors and operator trainees, and 

questioned whether utilities were preconditioning crews when preparing for INPO administered 

plant evaluations. INPO answered in the negative. 

Closing Remarks

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

nuclear power plant personnel will be held. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

CONTACT: David Allsopp, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

301-415-3073
H. Nieh - 3 -

INPO developed an addendum to INPO 11-005, Special Report on the Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima 

Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, to identify and share operational and organizational lessons from the accident. 

INPO reported that over 1,000 students have completed the industry’s Instructor Certification Program. 

INPO reported that it continues to see benefits from the National Academy for Nuclear Training e-Learning 

(NANTeL) and the learning content management system. NANTeL is a national web-based system that 

provides standardized, generic training for supplemental and utility workforce that satisfies the industry and the 

insurer. NANTeL contains over 300 generic and utility-specific courses. In 2012, over 100,000 workers 

completed almost 800,000 courses. INPO is developing training from Fukushima lessons learned. INPO 

plans to add this training to the learning content management system by the end of 2013. 

Operator Fundamentals 

INPO reported it continues to see improvement from their focus on operator fundamentals. INPO revised the 

plant evaluation process to emphasize operator fundamentals and conservative decision making in the control 

room. INPO reported that the revised process makes training scenarios in the simulator more realistic and 

challenging. Specifically, scenarios run longer, include scripted distracters, and limit available crew size to 

actual shift staffing levels. The revised process evaluates more crews and more positions, and adds post 

scenario technical interviews during plant walkthroughs with licensed and non-licensed operators. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

An NRC branch chief mentioned that he was seeing an increase in the number of untimely requests for 

exemption from NUREG 1021 experience requirements shortly before the scheduled date of NRC 

administered examinations. 

A representative from the Professional Reactor Operator Society discussed concerns he had with the low 

experience level of new operations instructors and operator trainees, and questioned whether utilities were 

preconditioning crews when preparing for INPO administered plant evaluations. INPO answered in the 

negative. 

Closing Remarks

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

plant personnel will be held. No final positions were taken during the meeting. 

CONTACT: David Allsopp, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

301-415-3073

DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC J Uhle, NRR RidsNrrOdResource 

COLP Reading File H Nieh, NRR D Jackson, RI 

IOLB Reading File L Dudes, NRO M Widmann, RII 

RidsNrrDirs J McHale, NRR M Franke, RII 

RidsNroDcip M Junge, NRO H Peterson, R III 

RidsNroDcipColp J Kellum, NRO V Gaddy, RIV 

RidsEDOMailCenter RidsNrrDirsIolb 

ADAMS Accession No: ML13148A213 

 Official Record Copy 

OFFICE DIRS/IOLB DIRS/IOLB 

NAME DAllsopp JMcHale 

DATE 05/ 29/2013 05/29/2013 
H. Nieh - 3 -

 ATTENDEES

 NRC-INPO Coordination Meeting, May 8, 2013

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

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

National Academy 

Steve Johnson, Director, Accreditation 

Elizabeth Brattin, Director, Industry Learning 

Michael Llewellyn, Accreditation Team Manager 

Michael Reandeau, Accreditation Team Manager 

Robert Coovert, Manager, Learning Development

Sarah Glenn, Accreditation Team Manager

Charlie Brooks, Section Manager, Accreditation

David Hembree, Vice President, Emergency Response

Burl McCosh, Senior Evaluator

Terry Bellocchio, Administrative Assistant

George Hutcherson, Director, Industry and External Relations

NRC

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

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

James Kellum, Acting Chief, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch, NRO 

Mark Franke, Chief, Operations Branch 2, Division of Reactor Safety, RII 

Hironori Peterson, Chief, Operations Branch, Division of Reactor Safety, RIII 

David Allsopp, Operator Licensing and Training Branch, NRR 

Richard Pelton, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch, NRO 

Other 

Mark Verbeck, Vogtle 3 & 4 

William Rogers, Lockheed Martin 

Donald Ferris, Lockheed Martin 

Tom Kuhar, Westinghouse Electric Corporation 

Daniel Cronin, University of Florida Training Reactor 

Robert Meyer, Professional Reactor Operator Society 

ENCLOSURE 1
 AGENDA FOR PUBLIC MEETING 

WITH INPO ON TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION 

May 8, 2013 

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 

● Industry Learning Initiatives 

● Operator Fundamentals 

● Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

● Public Questions and Answers 

● Closing Remarks 

ENCLOSURE 2