Six employees at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Sequoyah Nuclear Plant passed exams administered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and now are licensed to operate the nuclear units at the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant.
“This is an important accomplishment for these individuals, for Sequoyah and for TVA,” said Sequoyah Site Vice President, John Carlin.
“It takes an extremely high level of knowledge, skill and personal sacrifice to receive an NRC license, and I commend these individuals for their hard work and dedication to the job. I’d also like to acknowledge the sacrifice and critical support that family members, friends, and the operating crews provided to these individuals.”
The six new licensees include one new reactor operator, William Ted Ivey of Soddy Daisy, and five new senior reactor operators: Joseph Welch and Jacques Olivier of Soddy Daisy; Robert Camenisch of Lakesite; Michael McDaniel of Dayton; and John Alexander of Chattanooga.
Each licensee candidate had to meet stringent requirements for education and experience to qualify for the 18-month training program. The candidates received classroom instruction and extensive practice in the Sequoyah control room simulator located in the training center, as well as significant on-the-job training with licensed operators for real-time experience and learning. The group had to become proficient in monitoring and manipulating hundreds of controls and instruments and skilled in precisely following procedures to operate the plant.
“Successfully going through this rigorous program and achieving an operator license takes immense perseverance and commitment,” Carlin said. “TVA is proud of these individuals, and we fully support them as they operate Sequoyah ? providing reliable electricity, furthering TVA’s progress toward its vision to be a leader in low-cost, reliable and cleaner energy.”
Adding additional licensed reactor operators to TVA’s nuclear program increases the “bench strength” of qualified individuals who can safely operate TVA’s nuclear plants and may become future senior leaders within TVA nuclear headquarters and at TVA’s nuclear sites.