NANTeL Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 'Limiting Condition for Operation' (LCO) in a nuclear plant's Technical Specifications defines:
- The maximum fuel enrichment allowed
- The lowest functional capability or performance level of equipment required for safe operation (Correct answer)
- The maximum allowable reactor power level
- The minimum staffing required per shift
Correct answer: The lowest functional capability or performance level of equipment required for safe operation
An LCO specifies the minimum equipment performance level required for the plant to operate safely within its licensing basis.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'willful violation' in the nuclear compliance context?
- An error caused by inadequate training
- An intentional act or omission that violates NRC regulations or license conditions (Correct answer)
- A procedure step skipped due to time pressure
- A minor equipment malfunction not reported within 24 hours
Correct answer: An intentional act or omission that violates NRC regulations or license conditions
Willful violations involve deliberate acts or omissions that breach NRC requirements and carry the most severe enforcement consequences.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a Pre-Job Brief (PJB) in nuclear plant work control?
- To assign overtime compensation
- To review work scope, hazards, and critical steps before beginning a task (Correct answer)
- To document completion of a work order
- To obtain management approval for budget expenditure
Correct answer: To review work scope, hazards, and critical steps before beginning a task
Pre-Job Briefs ensure workers understand task scope, safety precautions, and critical steps before beginning work, reducing error likelihood.
Question 4: Under 10 CFR 26, a nuclear plant worker in a 'random testing pool' is subject to:
- Drug and alcohol testing at unannounced intervals throughout the year (Correct answer)
- Annual physical fitness assessments
- Monthly security clearance reviews
- Quarterly financial disclosures
Correct answer: Drug and alcohol testing at unannounced intervals throughout the year
10 CFR 26 establishes fitness-for-duty requirements including random, unannounced drug and alcohol testing for workers in safety-sensitive positions.
Question 5: When a nuclear worker identifies a potential nonconformance with a safety-related procedure, the FIRST action should be to:
- Continue the task and document the issue afterward
- Stop the task and initiate a Condition Report (Correct answer)
- Call the NRC directly
- Wait for the next shift briefing to report it
Correct answer: Stop the task and initiate a Condition Report
Workers must stop and initiate a Condition Report when identifying a nonconformance, supporting the plant's Corrective Action Program.
Question 6: The '10 CFR 50.59 screening process' is used to evaluate proposed changes to determine if they:
- Require additional staffing
- Require prior NRC approval or constitute an unreviewed safety question (Correct answer)
- Need financial justification
- Must be rescheduled to an outage window
Correct answer: Require prior NRC approval or constitute an unreviewed safety question
The 50.59 process screens changes to the facility or procedures to determine if NRC review and approval are required before implementation.
Question 7: In nuclear compliance terminology, a 'Notice of Violation' (NOV) issued by the NRC is classified by:
- Dollar amount of the fine
- Severity level (I through IV) based on safety significance (Correct answer)
- Type of equipment involved
- Length of time the violation persisted
Correct answer: Severity level (I through IV) based on safety significance
NRC NOVs are classified on a four-tier severity scale where Severity Level I represents the most serious violations with the highest safety significance.
NANTeL Compliance 3
A 'Limiting Condition for Operation' (LCO) in a nuclear plant's Technical Specifications defines: