June 25, 2014 

MEMORANDUM TO: Scott Morris, 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 2014 ANNUAL U. S. NUCLEAR 

REGULATORY COMMISSION/INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR 

POWER OPERATIONS COORDINATION MEETING ON 

TRAINING-RELATED ISSUES 

On May 7, 2014, a periodic public U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)/Institute of 

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

NRC Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland. Such meetings are conducted in accordance with the 

NRC/INPO Memorandum of Agreement dated September 11, 2013. 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; Office of New Reactors; a Regional Operations Branch; 

INPO’s Workforce Training, Education and Proficiency Division, and three 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 and current activities involving mutual support, 

including the INPO Examination Authors Course and efforts to update the Knowledge and 

Abilities Catalogs for Nuclear Power Plant Operators. 

Accreditation Update

INPO conducted 31 Accreditation Team Visits (ATVs) and 37 Accreditation Boards in 2013. An 

NRC observer participated in INPO activities at the Farley facility, including the sequester, ATV, 

and the National Nuclear Accreditation Board (NNAB). INPO stated that they had recently 

selected a former NRC manager to fill an open position on the NNAB. 

CONTACT: David Allsopp, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

 301-415-3073 
S. Morris - 2 - 

Proficiency Discussion

INPO discussed bench marking activities and actions to implement a new ten-year strategic 

focus to advance workforce proficiency. 

Regulatory Issues 

The NRC noted that significant progress has been made to update the Knowledge and Abilities 

Catalogs for Nuclear Power Plant Operators (NUREG’s 1122 and 1123). The current plan is to 

complete developmental work by the end of this calendar year. 

The NRC discussed Inspection Procedure 71111.11, “Licensed Operator Requalification 

Program and Licensed Operator Performance.” The discussion included an update on the 

implementation of the interim guidance for simulator test examination quality, whether the ten 

percent remediation threshold is problematic due to the small sample size, and the NRC plans 

to adjust the allotted time to allow more flexibility for an inspector to observe longer complex 

activities in the control room. 

The NRC presented a status of issues it is working on with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 

Operator Licensing Focus Group. These issues include simulator test grading, industry 

feedback on changes to IP 71111.11, and actions from the NEI/NRC National Operating 

Licensing Workshop. In addition, the Operator Licensing Focus Group recommended adding 

guidance to ACAD 10-001, “Guidelines for Initial Training and Qualification of Licensed 

Operators,” to give reactor operators credit for non-comparable plant experience similar to that 

afforded to senior reactor operators. 

The NRC stated that its participation in the INPO Exam Authors Course has been worthwhile as 

it promotes understanding and consistency. The NRC plans to attend the upcoming class in 

July. 

The NRC discussed the pending changes to NUREG-1021, “Operator Licensing Examination 

Standards for Power Reactors” scheduled to be published later this summer. These changes 

primarily clarify the process for an operator to obtain an operating license for a new reactor. A 

later revision is planned to clarify the conditions for the NRC to grant a waiver, to enhance the 

appeal process, and to improve the grading of simulator tests. 

The NRC provided a status update of new reactor operator licensing. Operator licensing 

examinations at Vogtle 3 & 4 and Summer 2 & 3 are scheduled for May 2015. 

The NRC discussed the status of the Rulemaking associated with Recommendation 8 from the 

Near-Term Task Force report that relates to onsite emergency response capabilities. The 

current schedule indicates that the proposed rule would be submitted to the Commission by the 

end of December, 2014 with the Final Rule submitted to the Commission by the end of 

December, 2016. Additionally, it was noted that the current recommendation for training 

requirements for severe accidents would use a Systems Approach to Training as defined in 10 

CFR 55.4, but not necessarily add requirements in 10 CFR 55.41 and 10 CFR 55.43. 

 
S. Morris - 3 - 

Industry Learning Activities

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 2013, about 100,000 workers completed over a million courses. 

Emergency Response 

INPO discussed various training activities to improve facility response to extreme events. INPO 

is developing two courses dealing with beyond design basis accidents that will be available 

using the NANTeL system. The first is a basic-level course explaining how, why, and when the 

industry’s Diverse and Flexible Coping Capability, or FLEX, program would be exercised. The 

second is an advanced course dealing with how to implement FLEX strategies including the 

acquisition of support and equipment from a Regional Response Center. 

INPO is also developing crisis leadership training to equip decision makers to handle stress 

during a crisis. In addition, INPO is developing three case studies that focus on decision 

making during extreme external events, specifically, at Turkey Point during Hurricane Andrew, 

at Browns Ferry during a tornado, and at Fukushima Daiichi during the earthquake and tsunami. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

An NRC branch chief mentioned that he was seeing a number of untimely requests for waivers 

of ACAD 10-001 experience requirements shortly before the scheduled date of NRC 

administered examinations. 

A representative from the Professional Reactor Operator Society discussed the impacts on plant 

operations staff caused by the focus on Fukushima Daiichi activities. 

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. 
S. Morris - 3 - 

Industry Learning Activities

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 2013, about 100,000 workers completed over a million courses. 

Emergency Response 

INPO discussed various training activities to improve facility response to extreme events. INPO 

is developing two courses dealing with beyond design basis accidents that will be available 

using the NANTeL system. The first is a basic-level course explaining how, why, and when the 

industry’s Diverse and Flexible Coping Capability, or FLEX, program would be exercised. The 

second is an advanced course dealing with how to implement FLEX strategies including the 

acquisition of support and equipment from a Regional Response Center. 

INPO is also developing crisis leadership training to equip decision makers to handle stress 

during a crisis. In addition, INPO is developing three case studies that focus on decision 

making during extreme external events, specifically, at Turkey Point during Hurricane Andrew, 

at Browns Ferry during a tornado, and at Fukushima Daiichi during the earthquake and tsunami. 

Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

An NRC branch chief mentioned that he was seeing a number of untimely requests for waivers 

of ACAD 10-001 experience requirements shortly before the scheduled date of NRC 

administered examinations. 

A representative from the Professional Reactor Operator Society discussed the impacts on plant 

operations staff caused by the focus on Fukushima Daiichi activities. 

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. 

DISTRIBUTION:

See next page 

ADAMS Accession No: ML14175B278 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 

OFFICE DIRS/IOLB DIRS/IOLB 

NAME DAllsopp JMcHale 

DATE 06/25/2014 06/25/2014 
 

 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE 2014 ANNUAL U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION/INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS 

COORDINATION MEETING ON TRAINING-RELATED ISSUES 

 

DISTRIBUTION: 

PUBLIC JUhle RidsNrrOdResource 

COLP Reading File SMorris DJackson 

IOLB Reading File AValentin MWidmann 

RidsNrrDirs JMcHale GGuthrie 

RidsNroDcip MJunge HPeterson 

RidsNroDcipColp JKellum VGaddy 

RidsEDOMailCenter RidsNrrDirsIolb 
 Enclosure 1 

 ATTENDEES

 NRC-INPO Coordination Meeting, May 7, 2014

Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

David Igyarto, Senior Vice President Workforce Training, Education and Proficiency 

Stephen Johnson, Director, Industry Training and Proficiency 

Tammy Love, Deputy Director, Accreditation 

Charles Brooks, Manager, Accreditation Assistance and Support 

Joel Bohlmann, Director, Industry Learning

Brian O’Donnell, Manager, Learning Delivery 

Sarah Glenn, Accreditation Team Manager 

NRC

Scott Morris, Director, Division of Inspection and Regional Support, NRR 

Craig Erlangler Deputy Director, Division of Inspection and Regional Support, NRR 

Andrea Valentin, Deputy Director, Division of Construction Inspection and Operational 

Programs, NRO 

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

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

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 

William Baines, Reactor Technology Training Branch A, OCHCO 

Timothy Kolb, Operator Licensing and Training Branch, NRR 

Mark Lintz, Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch, NRO 

Maurin Scheetz, Operator Licensing and Training Branch, NRR 

Other 

Nick Pappas, NEI 

Ross Snuggerud 

Robert Meyer, Professional Reactor Operator Society
 Enclosure 2 

AGENDA FOR PUBLIC MEETING 

WITH INPO ON TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION 

May 7, 2014 

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Three White Flint North, 1C03 

11601 Landsdown Street 

Rockville, MD 20852 

TOPICS 

● Introductions and Opening Remarks 

● Public Input 

● Accreditation Update

● Proficiency Discussion 

● Regulatory Issues 

● Industry Learning Activities 

● Emergency Response 

● Other Items of Mutual Interest Related to Training 

● Public Questions and Answers 

● Closing Remarks