IR 05000244/2022301
| ML23018A149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Ginna  |
| Issue date: | 01/20/2023 |
| From: | Diane Jackson Division of Operating Reactors |
| To: | Rhoades D Constellation Energy Generation, Constellation Nuclear |
| References | |
| IR 2022301 | |
| Download: ML23018A149 (1) | |
Text
January 20, 2023
SUBJECT:
R. E. GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000244/2022301
Dear David Rhoades:
On October 25, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at the R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on December 9, 2022, with D.
Blankenship, Site Vice President, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, three applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12.
The license examiners determined all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on December 9, 2022.
No findings were identified during this examination. This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Sincerely, Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
Docket No. 05000244 License No. DPR-18
Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000244/2022301 w/Attachment 1: Supplementary Information Attachment 2: Simulator Fidelity Report
REGION I==
Docket Nos.
05000244
License Nos.
Enterprise Identifier:
Report No.
Licensee:
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC
Facility:
R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant
Location:
Ontario, NY 14519
Dates:
October 17-21, 2022 (Operating Test Administration)
October 25, 2022 (Written Examination Administration)
November 5, 2022 (Facility Submitted Post-Exam Package)
October 24-December 5, 2022 (NRC Examination Grading)
December 9, 2022 (Licenses Issued)
Examiners:
J. DeMarshall, Chief Examiner T. Fish, Senior Operations Engineer P. Ott, Operations Engineer S. Elkhiamy, Senior Project Engineer Approved By:
Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000244/2022301; October 17-25, 2022; R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant; Initial Operator
Licensing Examination Report.
Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for a reactor operator license, three applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12. The written examination was administered by the facility on October 25, 2022. NRC examiners administered the operating tests October 17-21, 2022. The NRC examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings
No findings were identified.
Licensee-Identified Violations
None.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The examiners reviewed all 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 100 percent of the license applications to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications. This audit focused on the applicants experience and on-the-job training, including control manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Examination Scope
On October 25, 2022, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on November 5, 2022.
The NRC examination team administered various portions of the operating examination October 17-21, 2022. The four applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of eleven system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The three applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses participated in at least one dynamic simulator scenario, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
All applicants passed the operating test and the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 85.9 percent and ranged from 80.8 to 93.1 percent. The senior operator applicants average score was 88.7 percent and ranged from 83.6 to 91.8 percent.
ES-4.4 of NUREG-1021 instructs the licensee to evaluate the overall group performance of each written examination question to identify any indications of a problem with the question or a deficiency in the facility licensee training program. The licensee conducted this analysis and submitted the results to the Chief Examiner. The performance analysis revealed that five questions were missed by more than 50 percent of the applicants.
Reactor Operator Questions 2 and 5 were missed by 60 percent, Reactor Operator Question 18 was missed by 90 percent, and Reactor Operator Questions 33 and 43 were missed by 70 percent of the applicants. The analysis concluded that Question No.
2 required enhancements to the stem in the form of additional information to facilitate understanding and that Question No. 43 warranted minor wording changes to Part 2 of the Question Statement to promote clarity, before being deposited in the examination bank. The licensee attributed applicant performance on Questions Nos. 5, 18, and 33 to knowledge gaps. The licensee determined that these questions were not flawed and addressed the associated knowledge deficiencies during the examination review session.
ES-4.4 of NUREG-1021 also instructs the licensee to submit all post-examination comments made by the facility licensee and the applicants. The licensee submitted two post-examination applicant comments for written examination Question Nos. 37 and 40, contending that neither had a correct answer. The NRC reviewed the applicants post-examination comment submittals and accepted their recommendations for deletion of both questions on the basis of technical merit. The text of the examination questions and the applicants post-examination comments with NRC resolutions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in Attachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy, release of the written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The facility licensee submitted the operating examination outline on May 20, 2022. The Chief Examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on July 25, 2022. The Chief Examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee on the examination. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of August 29, 2022. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on October 7, 2022.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
.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 were identified.
.5 Examination Security
a. Examination Scope
The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12 requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
The Chief Examiner presented the examination results to D. Blankenship, Site Vice President, and other members of the licensee's staff on December 9, 2022.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENT 1:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
Steve Minya, Senior Manager Site Training
Don Dean, Regulatory Exam Author
David Eckert, Regulatory Exam Author
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
NONE