May 4, 2016 

MEMORANDUM TO: Maurin Scheetz, Acting Chief

Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

FROM: Eric J. Cushing, Reactor Operations Engineer /RA/ 

 Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

 Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE MARCH 31, 2016, PUBLIC MEETING WITH 

THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE’S LICENSED OPERATOR 

FOCUS GROUP 

On March 31, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public meeting 

with the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) Licensed Operator Focus Group (LOFG). The meeting 

was held to provide the opportunity for the LOFG and members of the public to comment on 

proposed changes to NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power 

Reactors,” regarding: (1) the elimination of the informal NRC staff review process for 

examination failures, (2) changes to the Generic Fundamentals Examination (GFE) schedule, 

and (3) changes to the NRC initial examination preparation timeline. This meeting was the 

latest in a series of meetings intended to promote efficiency, effectiveness, and open 

communications with regard to initial operator licensing. Representatives of the NRC and the 

industry agreed that this meeting was useful for the exchange of information and agreed to 

continue the periodic meetings. 

Enclosures: 

1. List of Attendees 

2. Agenda 

3. Discussion Topics 

4. Additional Changes NUREG-1021 

 Revision 11 Presentation 

CONTACT: Eric Cushing, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

 (301) 415-1064 
 

MEMORANDUM TO: Maurin Scheetz, Acting Chief

Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

FROM: Eric J. Cushing, Reactor Operations Engineer 

 Operator Licensing and Training Branch 

 Division of Inspection and Regional Support 

 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE MARCH 31, 2016, PUBLIC MEETING WITH 

THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE’S LICENSED OPERATOR 

FOCUS GROUP 

On March 31, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public meeting 

with the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) Licensed Operator Focus Group (LOFG). The meeting 

was held to provide the opportunity for the LOFG and members of the public to comment on 

proposed changes to NUREG 1021, “Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power 

Reactors,” regarding: (1) the elimination of the informal NRC staff review process for 

examination failures, (2) changes to the Generic Fundamentals Examination (GFE) schedule, 

and (3) changes to the NRC initial examination preparation timeline. This meeting was the 

latest in a series of meetings intended to promote efficiency, effectiveness, and open 

communications with regard to initial operator licensing. Representatives of the NRC and the 

industry agreed that this meeting was useful for the exchange of information and agreed to 

continue the periodic meetings. 

Enclosures: 

1. List of Attendees 

2. Agenda 

3. Discussion Topics 

4. Additional Changes NUREG-1021 

 Revision 11 Presentation 

CONTACT: Eric Cushing, NRR/DIRS/IOLB 

 (301) 415-1064 

DISTRIBUTION: 

GGuthrie MScheetz GMcCoy DJackson VGaddy ROrlikowski 

ADAMS Accession No.: ML16112A349 

OFFICE IOLB IOLB/ActingBC 

NAME ECushing MScheetz 

DATE 04/22/2016 05/4/2016 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
 

 Enclosure 1 

List of Attendees – Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) / Nuclear Energy Institute’s 

Licensed Operator Focus Group (NEI LOFG) 

March 31, 2016 

Name Organization 

Scott Sloan NRC 

John Munro NRC 

David Muller NRC 

Larry Vick NRC 

Tim Kolb NRC 

Theresa Buchanan NRC 

Jake Dolecki NRC 

David Allsopp NRC 

Eric Cushing NRC 

Maurin Scheetz NRC 

Jeff Cruz NRC 

Gregg Ludlam NEI LOFG 

Chuck Sizemore NEI LOFG 

Russel Joplin NEI LOFG 

Scott Bauer NEI 

Roger Jones Duke Energy 

Ed Rau Duke Energy 

Aaron Forsha Duke Energy 

Ken Kowalik Duke Energy 

Roy Vogel Exelon Corporation 

Eric Hipp Exelon Corporation 

Travis Ouret NextEra Energy 

John Terry Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station 
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Dave Hick PVNGS 

List of Attendees – Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) / Nuclear Energy Institute’s 

Licensed Operator Focus Group (NEI LOFG) 

March 31, 2016 

Name Organization 

Gary Ohmstede Southern Nuclear Company 

Matt Henson Southern Nuclear Company 

James Dugas Southern Nuclear Company 

Deann Raleigh Curtis-Wright Corporation 

Robert Meyer Public/Professional Reactor Operator 

Society 
 

 Enclosure 2 

AGENDA FOR THE CATEGORY 2 PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE NUCLEAR ENERGY 

INSTITUTE’S (NEI) LICENSED OPERATOR FOCUS GROUP (LOFG) 

Wednesday, March 31, 2016, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST 

NRC One White Flint North, Room O4B06 

11555 Rockville Pike 

Rockville, MD 20852 

Time Topic Speaker 

 

1:00 p.m. Introductions and Openings NRC/NEI 

1:20 p.m. Discuss ES-501 and ES-502 changes NRC 

2:30 p.m. Discuss changes to the GFE guidance and ES-201 timeline NRC 

3:30 p.m. Public Comments Public 

4:00 p.m. Adjourn 
 

 Enclosure 3 

DISCUSSION SUMMARY 

The NRC Staff presented to the meeting attendees proposed changes to select sections of 

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

Initial Post-Examination Activities (ES-501) Changes 

The staff presented and discussed with the attendees the following proposed changes to 

NUREG-1021, Section ES-501: 

• eliminating the informal NRC staff review process for examination failures 

• extending the post-examination comment period for facility licensees and applicants 

from five working days to twenty calendar days 

• requiring a facility position on all post-examination comments submitted by applicants 

• clarifying guidance to ensure applicants are medically fit prior to issuing a license 

• updating guidance for electronic filing for hearing requests 

• specifying that all exam information will be placed in the NRC’s Agencywide Document 

Access and Management System (ADAMS) 

The Nuclear Energy Institute’s Licensed Operator Focus Group (NEI LOFG) suggested that 

eliminating informal NRC staff reviews may raise costs because an applicants’ only option to 

contest the results will be to request a hearing. The NRC stated that around 7 informal reviews 

are conducted each year and zero hearings in a year since they are typically resolved before 

the hearing. The NRC stated that hearings are not expected to increase due to the added 

requirement for the facility licensees to provide a position for each applicant comment which is 

expected to result in a higher quality of post-exam submittals and that applicants always have 

the option to retake the exam in 2 months rather than going through the process of a hearing. 

The NEI LOFG raised a concern that extending the post-examination comment period to 20 

calendar days would delay issuing licenses. The NRC stated that most post-examination 

comments are from the written examination and that NRC examiners would not wait the 20 

calendar days to start documenting the results of the operating test. The NRC stated that with 

the facility licensee providing a position for each applicant comment should increase the quality 

of post-exam submittals, and the decisions should be made well before the current 75 day goal 

for an informal NRC staff review. Additionally, the NRC clarified that the process of holding 

licenses in abeyance would be discontinued for those applicants that received a minimal 

passing score as specified in the current process which allows for an informal NRC staff review, 

thereby issuing some licenses sooner than in the past. 

Application Denials and Hearings (ES-502) Changes 

The NRC has proposed adding additional guidance to ES-502 that explains options for an 

applicant for any type of application denial, specifies actions and the timeline for re-applications, 

eliminates the informal NRC staff review, and specifies that the NRC will conduct operator 

licensing hearings in accordance with 10 CFR part 2.
2 

 

 

General Fundamental Exam (GFE) Changes 

The NRC discussed with the NEI LOFG a proposal to reduce the number of offerings of the 

GFE from 4 per fiscal year to 2 per fiscal year by 2018. The LOFG proposed 3 GFE offerings in 

calendar year 2017, because narrowing down the number of offerings too quickly may cause 

the industry problems with scheduling applicants for the subsequent site-specific portion of NRC 

operator licensing examinations. The NRC staff said that 3 GFE in calendar year 2017 may be 

acceptable, with 2 GFE offerings in fiscal year 2018 and thereafter. The LOFG commented that 

letting the industry administer the GFE program or eliminating the GFE entirely could be 

possible options for the NRC to consider. The NRC staff responded that eliminating the GFE 

entirely would require a rule change and that this rule change would probably be low priority. 

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Process (ES-201) Changes 

Representatives of the industry proposed a revision to Form ES-201-1, “Examination 

Preparation Checklist,” to provide an improved examination schedule that better supports the 

process of examination development and to avoid last minute changes to exams during the 

approval process. Essentially, it provides the licensee more time to prepare the exam and 

establishes the date of receipt for the exam outline much earlier. The NRC provided comments 

on the proposed timeline and that the new timeline makes some improvements without adding 

workload.

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