Information Notice No. 91-10: Summary of Semiannual Program Performance Reports on Fitness-For-Duty (FFD) in the Nuclear Industry

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                              February 12, 1991


Information Notice No. 91-10:  SUMMARY OF SEMIANNUAL PROGRAM PERFORMANCE
                                   REPORTS ON FITNESS-FOR-DUTY (FFD) IN THE 
                                   NUCLEAR INDUSTRY


Addressees:

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power 
reactors.

Purpose:

This information notice is intended to inform licensees of the results of 
the industry's experience with drug and alcohol testing, as required by Part 
26 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 26), 
"Fitness-for-Duty Programs," for all personnel having unescorted access to 
the protected area of the plant during the first six months of 1990.  The 
attached report, "Fitness for Duty in the Nuclear Power Industry," of 
January, 1991, presents a summary of 84 semiannual program performance 
reports provided by 54 utilities representing 75 nuclear power plant sites 
and 9 corporate offices.  It is expected that recipients will review the 
information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as 
appropriate.  However, suggestions contained in this information notice do 
not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written 
response is required.

Description of Circumstances:

Drug and alcohol testing programs are a central element of the FFD program 
required by 10 CFR Part 26.  Because of the importance of this element, 
semi-annual reports from licensees on the performance of their drug and 
alcohol testing programs have been required by 10 CFR Part 26.  The NRC 
compiled the enclosed report to summarize the industry's experience from 
January 3 to June 30, 1990.  The information contained in the attached 
report comes from all current power reactor licensees.  In all cases, the 
reported results pertain to confirmed positive test results that were 
verified by the Medical Review Officer.  

Discussion:

From January 3 to June 30, 1990, licensees reported that they had conducted 
137,953 tests for illegal drugs and alcohol.  Of these tests, 1,313(0.95%) 
yielded positive results.  The attached report provides information 
pertaining 


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                                                       February 12, 1991
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to positive test results categorized by the type of tests, the type of 
drugs, the types of workers found to be abusing drugs, and the region in 
which the plant is located.  The report contains other information and 
lessons learned that may be useful to assess FFD programs and to improve and 
refine these programs.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response.  If 
you have any questions about the information contained in this notice, 
please contact the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR 
project manager. 




                                   Charles E. Rossi, Director
                                   Division of Operational Events Assessment
                                   Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation


Technical Contact:  Loren Bush, NRR
                    (301) 492-0944


Attachments:  
1.  Fitness for Duty in the Nuclear Power 
      Industry - Summary of Semi-annual 
      Program Performance Reports, January, 1991
2.  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
.