NRC Generic Letter 1988-09

NRC Generic Letter 1988-009: Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

ML031130438
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Washington Public Power Supply System, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Clinch River, Crane
Issue date:	05/17/1988
From:	Miraglia F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
GL-88-009, NUDOCS 8805180235
Download: ML031130438 (5)

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UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 May 17, 1988 TO LICENSEES OF ALL BOILING-WATER REACTORS AND APPLICANTS FOR A BOILING

WATER REACTOR OPERATORS' LICENSE UNDER 10 CFR 55 SUBJECT: PILOT TESTING OF FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION (Generic Letter 88-09 )

This letter is to inform facility licensees and potential applicants under

10 CFR 55 of a pilot testing program of a fundamentals examination for Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The pilot test is to refine the examination development methodology, administration, and grading process.. Applicants who participate in this pilot test and achieve a passing grade of 70 percent or more will receive a waiver under 10 CFR 55.47 of the applicable section of the written examination under §55.41 or §55.43.

The staff's review of the content of examinations under 10 CFR 55, which is contained in Examiner Standards 202 and 402 of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examiner Standards," indicates that the subject matter presented in some sections is generic to all BWRs. The subject matter includes reactor theory, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid flow and component operations.

The staff's review of current training programs indicates that those topics are normally presented early in the operator and senior operator training programs. Mastery of these fundamentals is an important first step of training, which include systems and plant characteristics, on-the-job training, and simulator training.

In developing the fundamentals examination, the staff used subject matter contained in the 291000 to 293000 series of the "Knowledge and Abilities (K/A) Catalog for Nuclear Power Plant Operators: Boiling Water Reactors"

(NUREG-1123). The K/As provided the basis of testing objectives and a bank of multiple choice questions has been developed and screened for use in this examination. The examination will contain approximately 50 multiple choice questions and will require approximately three hours to complete. For pilot testing, we expect to simultaneously administer the pilot examination at each regional office throughout the country. Since the examination will be graded by machine, we expect to promulgate the test results within 10 days after administration of the examination.

Copies of the fundamentals examination test sheets will be returned to each volunteer and facility training department. Comments by the volunteers and training department managers will be accepted and summarized in a subsequent Commission Paper. The Commission will evaluate a policy to require passing the fundamentals examination as a condition for nuclear power plant operator license applications under 10 CFR 55.31.

LT12-

-2- The conditions listed below will apply for pilot testing of the fundamentals examination.

° The Commission will waive the usual requirements under 10 CFR 55.31 Subpart D - Applications. Therefore, Form NRC-398 does not need to be submitted.

V

Volunteers who pass the fundamental examination with a score of 70 percent or greater will be granted a waiver of the written examination under of Section 1 or Section 5, as appropriate. §55.47 o Volunteers who do not achieve a grade of 70 percent will be able to the entire regularly scheduled written examination at the site. Since take formal application under §55.31 is not required, the provision of §55.35,a Re-applications, will not apply.

o Pilot testing of this examination is planned for Summer 1988. Licensees and volunteers will be informed of the date, time, and location of the examinations within 60 days after the date of this generic letter.

Licensees interested in participating in this program are requested to submit the enclosed application for each candidate to Mr. John N. Hannon, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nulear Reguatoy Commission, Wasingtnn, DC 20555, witha-copytothe- U. S.

appropriate Regional Administrator. We appreciate the cooperation of participant. If you have any questions concerning this generic letter,each please call Mr. Hannon at (301) 492-1031.

This request was approved by the Office of Management and Budget under clearance number 3150-0131. Clearance number 3150-0131 expires August 31, 1988. Comments on burden and duplication may be directed Office of Management and Budget, Reports Management, Room 3208, New to the Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Sincerely, Frank J.Q4ragla ssoclate Director for Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enclosure:

Application for Pilot Testing of Fundamentals Examination

N

I: v -

Enclosure (GL 88-09)

I, _, employed at the (Name) (Station Name)

50- request participation in the Pilot Test Program of (Docket Number)

the Fundamentals Examination for operator or senior operator licenses. I

agree to the conditions outlined in GL-88-( ).

Applicant:

Date e:;41 U4 1 14wv - - I -T a->

Approved:

Training Department Manager Date

RCINTIV

EIOF ISSULE GENERIC LETTERS

Generic Date :,

L*cttf Nc. Suojec: Issuancu tssued To GL 38-OS MAIL SENT DR DELIVERED To THO 09/03/S ALL LICENSEES

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR POWER AND

REGULATION NON-POWER

REACTORS AND

HOLDERS OF

CONSTRUCT I ON

PERMITS FOR

NUCLEAR POWER

REACTORS

DL 88-07 MODIFIED ENFORCEMENT POLICY 04/07/89 ALL POWER

RELATING TO 10 CFR S0.49. REACTOR

'ENVtRONMENTALCUALIFtCATION OF LICENSEES AND

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IMPORTANT APPLICANTS

To SL aa-0o REMOVAL OF ORGANIZATION CHARTS 03/22/S8 ALL POWER

FROM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION REACTOR

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL LICENSEES AND

REQUIREMENTS APPLICANTS

GL 9S-05 8ORtC ACID CORROSION OF CARsON 031t7/38 ALL LICENSEES -

STEEL REACTOR PRESSURE OF OPERATING

NOUNDARY COMPONENTS IN PWRS AND

PWR PLANTS HOLDERS OF

CONSTRUCTION

PERMITS FOR

PWRS

GL S9-04 DISTRISUTION OF GEMS 02/23/S8 ALL NON-POWER

IRRADIATED IN RESEARCH REACTOR

REACTORS LICENSEES

aL S9-03 RESOLUTION OF GENERIC SAFETY 02/17/89 ALL LICENSEES.

IStSU 93, "STEAM SINDIND OF APPLICANTS FOR

AUXILIARY FEEDWATER PUMPS' OPERATING

LICENSES, AND

HOLDERS Or CONSTRUCTION

PERMITS FOR

PRESSUR I ZED

WATER REACTORS

SL 88-02 'INTEGRATED SEFETY ASSESSMENT Ot/20/89 ALL POWER

PROGRAM tl (ISAP tl)' REACTOR

LICENSEES

DL 93-01. "NRC POSITION ON 19SCC IN *WR 01/29/33 ALL LICENSEES

AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL OF OPERATINS

PIPINS" 'OILINS WATER

REACTCRS AND

HOLDERS OF

CONSTRUCT ION

PERMITS FOR

BWRS

UNITED STATES MAIL

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION POSTAGE

• FEES PAID

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 USNRC

PERMIT No. O-Z7 OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

Distribution and Concurrence for Ge tr on Pilot Testing Of Fundamentals Examination dated - fo e DISTRIBUTION:

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