The following violation of very low safety significance (Green) was identified by the licensee and is a violation of NRC requirements which meet the criteria of Section VI of the
NRC Enforcement policy,
NUREG-1600, for being dispositioned as an
NCV.
10 CFR 55.46(c) states, in part, a plant-referenced simulator used for the administration of the operating test or to meet experience requirements in 55.31(a)(5) must demonstrate expected plant response to operator input and to normal,
transient, and accident conditions to which the simulator has been designed to respond.
10 CFR 55.46(d) states, in part, that facility licensees that maintain a simulation facility shall conduct performance testing throughout the life of the simulation facility in a manner sufficient to ensure that paragraphs (c)(2)(ii), as applicable, and (d)(3) of
10 CFR 55.46 are met. The intent of the performance testing is to ensure that no noticeable differences exist between the simulator control room and the Unit 3 control room. The results of performance tests must be retained for four years after the completion of each performance test or until superseded by updated test results. Contrary to the above, the licensee identified three simulator performance testing deficiencies as required by
10 CFR 55.46(c) and (d). This finding was considered more than minor because of the potential for negative training. Negative training could have occurred because of the simulator fidelity testing deficiencies. This finding was of very low safety significance because the discrepancy was on the simulator verses the actual plant. Furthermore, no negative training occurred as a result of these performance testing deficiencies. The licensee has entered these deficiencies into their corrective action program (Condition Reports 2008-462, 2008-460, and 2008-1812)
