IR 05000244/2024301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000244/2024301

ML24296A460
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	10/22/2024
From:	Diane Jackson NRC/RGN-I/DORS/OB
To:	Rhoades D Constellation Energy Generation, Constellation Nuclear
References
2024301
Download: ML24296A460 (1)

Text

October 22, 2024

SUBJECT:

R. E. GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000244/2024301

Dear David Rhoades:

On July 30, 2024, 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 September 13, 2024, with D. Blankenship, Site Vice President, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of three applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two 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 that four of the five applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on September 13, 2024.

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 050002 44/2024 301 w/Attachment 1: Supplementary Information and Attachment 2: Simulator Fidelity Report

REGION I==

Docket No. 05000244

License No. DPR-18

Enterprise L-2024-OLL- 0018 Identifier:

Report No. 05000244/2024301

Licensee: Constellation Energy Generation, LLC

Facility: R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant

Location: Ontario, NY 14519

Dates: July 22-24, 2024 ( Operating Test Administration)

July 30, 2024 ( Written Examination Administration)

August 16, 2024 ( Facility Submitted Post-Exam Package)

July 25-September 5, 2024 (NRC Examination Grading)

September 13, 2024 ( Licenses Issued)

Examiners: J. DeMarshall, Senior Operations Engineer (CE)

T. Fish, Senior Operations Engineer T. Hedigan, Operations Engineer S. Elkhiamy, Senior Project Engineer

Approved By: Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY

ER 050002 44/2024301; July 22-30, 2024; R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant; Initial Operator

Licensing Examination Report.

Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of three applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two 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 July 30, 2024. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on July 22 through July 24, 2024. The NRC examiners determined that four of the five 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

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 examiner s 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 July 30, 2024, 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 August 16, 2024.

The NRC examination team administered various portions of the operating examination July 22-24, 2024. 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 two 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 five of the applicants passed the operating test. One instant senior reactor operator applicant failed the SRO-only portion of the written examination.

For the written examinations, the senior operator applicants average score was 84.4 percent and ranged from 78.0 to 90.0 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 nine questions (20, 23, 28, 70, 72, 78, 81, 92, and 99) were missed by more than 50 percent of the applicants. The analysis attributed applicant performance on each of these questions 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 Questions 16 and 39, contending that Question 16 had two correct answers and that Question 39 necessitated a change to the answer key. The NRC reviewed the applicants post-examination comment submittals and accepted their recommendations for 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 A ttachment 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 February 20, 2024. The C hief 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 May 7, 2024. The C hief 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 June 24, 2024. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on July 1, 2024.

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 September 13, 202 4.

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

Thomas Siglin, Manager, Operations Training

Don Dean, Regulatory Exam Author

David Eckert, Regulatory Exam Author

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

NONE