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Commission (SECY) Papers

The following recent SECY papers are related to the operator licensing program. The SECY papers are listed in serial and chronological order, with the most recent paper first. Each paper is cross-referenced to a Meeting Transcript, Commission Voting Record (CVN), Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM), and/or Federal Register Notice (FRN), as appropriate. Links are provided where possible.

Docket Number Description
SECY-16-009

"Recommendations Resulting from the Integrated Prioritization and Re-baselining of Agency Activities", dated January 31, 2016. As directed in an SRM of April 13, 2016 (which responded to SECY-16-009), this paper approved the recommendation to decrease the number of NRC administered Generic Fundamentals Written Examinations for licensed reactor operators from 4 times per year to 2 times per year (Item 45 in Enclosure 1 of SECY-16-009). In addition, the paper approved the recommendation to eliminate the informal NRC staff review of individual reactor operator applicants' appeals on the validity of examination items (Item 46 in Enclosure 1 of SECY-16-009).

SECY-12-0151 "Status Report on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Operator Licensing and Requalification Training Inspection Programs for Licensed Operators," dated November 2, 2012
SECY-08-0166 "Training and Infrastructure Needs Due to Digital Modifications on Operating Reactors to Support Reactor Inspections and Operator Licensing," dated October 30, 2008
SECY-08-0096 "Training and Infrastructure Needs to Accomplish New Reactor Inspections and Operator Licensing," dated July 3, 2008
SECY-08-0033 Approaches For An Integrated Digital Instrumentation And Control And Human-Machine Interface Test Facility In The United States
SECY-03-038

"Annual Status Report for FY 2002 on the Administration of the NRC's Requalification Program and the Results of Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated March 12, 2003

SECY-02-044

"Annual Status Report for FY 2001 on the Administration of the NRC's Requalification Program and the Results of Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated March 14, 2002

SECY-01-0125

"Final Rulemaking to Amend 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators' Licenses," Regarding Operator License Eligibility and the Use of Simulation Facilities in Operator Licensing; And, Revision 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.149, "Nuclear Power Plant Simulation Facilities for Use in Operator Training and License Examinations, " dated July 10, 2001

SECY-01-038 "Annual Status Report on the Administration of NRC's Requalification Program and the Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated March 9, 2001
SECY-00-083

"Proposed Rule: Revision of 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators' Licenses," Regarding The Use of Simulation Facilities in Operator Licensing," dated April 12, 2000

SECY-00-059 "Annual Status Report on the Administration of NRC's Requalification Program and the Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated March 6, 2000
SECY-99-225

"Rulemaking Plan for Changes to 10 CFR Part 55 to Reduce Unnecessary Regulatory Burden Associated With the Use of Simulation Facilities in Operator Licensing," dated September 8, 1999

SECY-99-096

"Staff Proposal to Amend Supplement I, 'Reactor Operations,' of the Enforcement Policy by Adding Examples of Violations Involving the Compromise of an Application, Test, or Examination Required by 10 CFR Part 55," dated March 30, 1999

SECY-99-056 "Annual Status Report on the Administration of NRC's Requalification Program and the Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated February 22, 1999
SECY-98-266

"Final Rule -- Requirements for Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated November 13, 1998

SECY-98-43 "Annual Status Report on the Administration of NRC'S Requalification Program and the Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated March 6, 1998
SECY-97-079

"Proposed Rule - Initial Licensed Operator Examination Requirements," dated April 18, 1997

SECY-97-033 "Annual Status Report on the Administration of NRC'S Requalification Program and Initial Operator Licensing Examinations," dated February 11, 1997
SECY-96-206 "Rulemaking Plan for Amendments to 10 CFR Part 55 to Change Licensed Operator Examination Requirements," dated September 25, 1996. As directed in an SRM of July 23, 1996 (which responded to SECY-96-123), this paper provided the Commission with additional information regarding the initial operator licensing examination pilot process and requested the Commission's approval of the staff's plan to amend 10 CFR Part 55 to require power reactor facility licensees to prepare the entire initial examination for reactor operators and senior reactor operators and to proctor the written portion of the examination. The Commission approved the rulemaking plan and authorized continuation of the voluntary pilot program in an SRM dated December 17, 1996. The Commission's ruling was communicated to facility licensees in Supplement 1 to Generic Letter 95-06, dated January 31, 1997
SECY-96-123

"Proposed Changes to the NRC Operator Licensing Program," dated June 10, 1996. This paper informed the Commission of the results of a pilot program under which facility licensees were permitted, in accordance with the pilot examination guidance in Generic Letter 95-06, to draft the written examinations and operating tests that the NRC administers to determine the competence of operator license applicants at power reactor facilities. The paper also requested the Commission's approval to implement the revised examination process on a voluntary basis, while in parallel pursuing mandatory implementation by the industry. The staff briefed the Commission in a public meeting held on June 18, 1996, and the Commission, in an SRM dated July 23, 1996, requested additional information regarding the pilot process and directed the staff to prepare a detailed rulemaking plan to amend 10 CFR Part 55

SECY-95-075 "Proposed Changes to the NRC Operator Licensing Program," described the staff's intent to revise the process for examining individuals applying for reactor operator (RO) or senior reactor operator (SRO) licenses at power reactor facilities and to adjust the degree of NRC involvement in facility requalification examinations. The staff briefed the Commission regarding the proposed changes during a public meeting held on May 25, 1995. The Commission responded to the briefing in an SRM dated June 2, 1995

Operator Licensing Fact Sheet

NRC's Office of Public Affairs maintains Nuclear Power Plant Fact Sheets covering a number of topics and programs, including Operator Licensing, that might be of interest to stakeholders. The Fact Sheets are generally reviewed and updated annually.

Operator Licensing Program History and Chronology

NRC's Operator Licensing Program was established pursuant to Section 107 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which directed the Commission to prescribe uniform conditions for licensing operators. See our Operator Licensing Program History for a discussion of the significant events between 1954 and 1994 and our Chronology of events since the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979.

Training Rule (10 CFR 50.120) History

NRC's training rule was developed pursuant to Section 306 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, which directed the Commission to promulgate regulations, or other appropriate Commission guidance for training and qualifications, not only for operators, but for other plant personnel as well. See our Training Rule History for a discussion of the significant events related to this regulation.