Policy Statement on Engineering Expertise on Shift (Generic Letter No. 86-04)

                                UNITED STATES
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                          WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 

                             February 13, 1986  

TO ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES AND APPLICANTS FOR POWER REACTOR LICENSES 

Gentlemen: 

SUBJECT:  POLICY STATEMENT ON ENGINEERING EXPERTISE ON SHIFT (GENERIC LETTER
          86-04) 

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a copy of the Federal 
Register notice of the Policy Statement on Engineering Expertise on Shift, 
and to give you an opportunity to transmit your plans regarding 
modifications to your current program in light of the options now available 
as a result of the Policy Statement. 

The Policy Statement offers the licensees two options for meeting the 
current requirements for providing engineering expertise on shift 
(NUREG-0737, Item I.A.1.1) and meeting licensed operator staffing 
requirements (10 CFR 50.54 (m)(2)). Option 1 provides for elimination of the 
separate Shift Technical Advisor (STA) position by allowing licensees to 
combine one of the required Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) positions with the 
STA position into a dual-role (SRO/STA) position. Option 2 states that a 
licensee may continue to use an NRC-approved STA program while meeting 
licensed operator staffing requirements. Licensees may use either option on 
each shift. 

The Commission encourages licensees to move toward the dual-role (SRO/STA) 
position, with the eventual goal of the Shift Supervisor serving in the dual
role. However, the Commission realizes that some licensees may prefer the 
dedicated STA position for a number of reasons. If this latter option is 
chosen, then the Commission encourages licensees to work towards having the 
dedicated STA assume an active role in shift activities by having the STAs 
rotate with a shift and by including responsibilities to review plant logs, 
participate in shift turnover activities and training, and maintain an 
awareness of plant configuration and status. 

So that the NRC can be aware of the current status of, and future plans for,
the STA and dual-role programs in the industry, we would appreciate your 
response within 90 days concerning your intentions. Specifically: 

1.   Your current program for providing engineering expertise on shift; 

2.   If your current STA program utilizes an "equivalency" criteria to an 
     engineering degree, a description of the criteria used; and, 

3.   A description of any modifications you intend to propose to your 
     current program in order to take advantage of the options identified in 
     the Commission's Policy Statement. 


                                     -2- 

This request for information was approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget under clearance number 3150-0011 which expires September 30, 1986. 
Comments on burden and duplication may be directed to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Report Management Room 3201, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, D.C. 20503. 

Please direct your response to the appropriate Licensing Project Manager 
with a copy to F. Rowsome, Division of Human Factors Technology. If you need
additional information on the Policy Statement, please contact Dan Jones at 
301-492-4879. Thank you for your cooperation. 

                                   Sincerely, 


                                   Harold R. Denton, Director 
                                   Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Enclosure: 
Policy Statement on Engineering Expertise on Shift