IR 05000220/2009301

Er 05000220-09-301 on 09/08/09 for Nine Mile Point Unit 1

ML093010273
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	10/24/2009
From:	Hansell S Operations Branch I
To:	Belcher S Nine Mile Point
Shared Package
ml083020408	List: IR 05000220/2009301
References
ER-09-301
Download: ML093010273 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

SUBJECT:

NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT NO. 05000220/2009301

Dear Mr. Belcher:

On September 8, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Nine Mile Point Unit 1. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on September 17, 2009, with Mr. Robert Brown.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, and seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that six of eight applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on September 17, 2009. In addition, two applicants for instant senior operator licenses passed their exams but their licenses are being held as explained in paragraph D.3.c of Examination Standard (ES) 501 in NUREG-1021 until the facility has certified in writing that the applicants have completed all of their experience requirements.

No findings of significance were identified during this examination. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/readlng-rm/aqams.html(the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely, IRAJ Samuel L. Hansell, Jr., Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure: NRC Examination Report No. 05000220/2009301 cc: w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

Mr. Sam Belcher Vice President Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC P.O. Box 63 Lycoming, NY 13093-0063 SUB"IECT: NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT NO. 05000220/2009301 Dear M

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000220/2009301; August 31 - September 8, 2009; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 1;

Initial Operator licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license, and seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 1.

The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on August 31- September 3,2009. The written examination was administered by the facility on September 8, 2009. The license examiners determined that six of the eight applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on September 17, 2009. In addition, two of the seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses passed their exams but their licenses are being held as explained in paragraph D.3.c of Examination Standard (ES) 50'1 in NUREG-1021 until the facility has certified in writing that the applicants have completed all of their waived items.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings of significance were identified

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

ii

REPORT DETAILS

OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)

40A5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiners reviewed all eight of license applications submitted by the licensee to ensure the applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The applications were submitted on NRC Form 398, "Personal Qualification Statement," and NRC Form 396, "Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee." The examiners also audited three of the license applications in detail to confirm that they accurately reflected the applicant's qualifications. This audit focused on the applicant's experience and on-the-job training, including control manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified .

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On September 8, 2009, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all eight applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on September 15, 2009.

Note: The applicant for a reactor operator (RO) license was administered a written retake examination only and was granted a waiver for the various portions of the operating examination which he had passed previously.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all seven instant senior operator (SROI) license applicants on August 31 September 3, 2009. The seven applicants seeking an instant senior operator license participated in three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.

b. Findings

All seven of the SROI applicants passed all parts of the operating test. One RO applicant and all seven SROI applicants passed the written examination. For the written examinations, the RO applicant's average score was 85.33 percent. The senior operator applicants' average score was 90.28 percent and ranged from 85.00 to 95.00 percent. The overall written examination average was 89.66 percent. The operating test and the text of the written examination questions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.

Chapter ES-403 and Form ES-403-1 of NUREG 1021 require the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants. The licensee graded the examination on September 8, 2009, and subsequently conducted this performance analysis for two questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. This analysis concluded that all the questions were technically valid as administered .

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9, Supplement 1. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination validation were on a security agreement. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations the week of July 27, 2009. The NRC satisfactorily completed comment resolution on August 21, 2009.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified .

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Examination Scope

The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified .

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development, the onsite preparation week, and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG 1021 requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

40A6 Meetings, Including Exit The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. Robert Brown, Operations Training Manager on September 17, 2009. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.

The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

ATIACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

R. Dean, Manager, Nuclear Training

R. Brown, Operations Training Manager

T. Hooper, Nuclear Training Instructor

NRC Personnel

E. Knutson, Senior Resident Inspector

D. Dempsey, Resident Inspector

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE