RECOMMENDATION 90-1 TO THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
                   pursuant to Section 312(5) of the
                Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.



Dated: February 22, 1990



The Board has proceeded to give high-priority attention to the
contemplated restart of the K, L, and P reactors at the
Department's Savannah River site.  This is in line with the
intention of the Board to perform its duties on a schedule
compatible with the Department's defense missions, to the extent
such course is consistent with the Board's statutory
responsibilities.

The Board believes that the DOE standards for training of reactor
plant operators and supervisors at Savannah River have not been
adequately determined and specified.  Having given due regard to
the technical and economic feasibility of implementation in
accordance with the statute, the Board recommends:

      a.   That DOE determine and specify the qualifications that
           reactor plant operators and supervisors will be required
           to demonstrate before restart of the K, L, and P
           reactors;

      b.   That DOE identify any differences between its approved
           qualifications and those prescribed by NRC for analogous
           positions in the civilian nuclear power field; that where
           differences, if any, exist, DOE identify any supplemental
           measures that have been adopted in view thereof;

      c.   That DOE make a comprehensive review of the current level
           of qualifications of each reactor operator and supervisor
           employing both written and oral examinations, so as to
           establish that the scope and content of the training
           program will achieve the knowledge prerequisite for
           restart;

      d.   That the reactor plant operator and supervisor training
           programs be modified as necessary to take account of the
           required qualifications and the current state of
           knowledge and experience of the operators and supervisors
           as indicated in c. above;






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      e.   That DOE accelerate implementation of a configuration
           management program to help assure that as-built drawings
           of safety-related systems are available for training of
           operators and supervisors in procedures and for
           discipline of operations (e.g. valve line-ups); and

      f.   That the operators and supervisors be qualified in use of
           the revised procedures that will be in place for normal
           operations and for emergency situations.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   /s/

                                                                                                                                                                                                   John T. Conway
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chairman