Subject: 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".

Mr. Larry Vick, USNRC, communicated to me today that the subject NRC document is available for viewing on the NRC Website.

SECY-01-0125 was posted this date, October 2, 2001, which documents the NRC’s approval to publish the final rule to amend 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators’ Licenses" regarding operator license eligibility and the use of simulation facilities in operator licensing, and to inform the Commission of the staff’s intent to issue Revision 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.149, "Nuclear Power Plant Simulation Facilities for Use in Operator Training and License Examinations" (RG 1.149 - which endorses the 1998 edition of the ANS-3.5 Standard).

The final rule permits applicants for operator and senior operator licenses to fulfill a portion of the required experience prerequisites by manipulating a plant-referenced simulator as an alternative to manipulation of the controls of the actual plant. In addition, this final rule also removes requirements for:

(1) Utilities to certify their simulation facilities (i.e., to state in formal communication, on NRC Form 474, "Simulation Facility Certification," to the Commission that the simulation facility meets the Commission’s regulations); (2) routine submittal of reports to the NRC for review that identify any uncorrected performance test failures; and (3) if applicable, submission of a schedule for test failure correction.

Respectfully,

Jim Florence
USUG Secretary
ANS-3.5 Vice-Chairman