Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR NUCLEAR TRAINING
Since the Three Mile Island accident, there have been extensive
improvements in training initiated by utilities and encouraged
and facilitated by INPO and the accreditation process. As a
logical next step, the National Academy for Nuclear Training was
established to strengthen and unify industry efforts to pursue
excellence in training. The Academy provides a framework to
integrate the training-related activities of nuclear utilities,
INPO, and the National Nuclear Accrediting Board. It serves also
to enhance the pride and professionalism of plant personnel and
to aid utilities in obtaining recognition for their training
accomplishments.
Since all nuclear utilities have made a commitment to achieve
accreditation of their training programs, all are, therefore,
provisional members of the Academy. When its first programs are
accredited, a plant becomes a branch of the Academy and is
authorized to award Academy certificates to graduates of its
accredited programs.
As of June 15, 1986, there were 40 Academy branches, with 186
programs accredited at those branches. A utility becomes a
member when all of the 10 programs at its operating plants are
accredited. As of June 15, 1986, there were three members of the
Academy. All of INPO's member utilities have designated senior
management personnel to serve as their Academy representatives.
INPO's Group Vice President for Training and Education serves as
the Academy's Executive Director. He is advised by the Academy
Council, which consists of 10 utility executives and managers.
INPO provides administrative support for the Academy.
Chronology of Training-related Events Leading up to the Formation
of the National Academy for Nuclear Training
o A formal institution for the accreditation of nuclear plant
training programs was first suggested by the President's
Commission on Three Mile Island— the Kemeny Commission— in
1979.
o On December 7, 1979, the President of the United States, in
his response to the Kemeny Commission recommendations,
encouraged INPO, with assistance from the Department of
Energy (DOE), to develop a program for upgrading and
accrediting training.
o In March 1980, the President appointed the Nuclear Safety
Oversight Committee, chaired by Governor Bruce Babbit of
Arizona. The Committee recognized INPO's programs as a
suitable approach to implementing the Kemeny Commission
recommendations
o In September 1980, INPO formed a task force to review the
question of whether training centers should be located at
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