IR 05000247/2019301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000247/2019301

ML19109A069
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	04/18/2019
From:	Diane Jackson Operations Branch I
To:	Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations
Jackson D
References
50-247/19-301
Download: ML19109A069 (9)

Text

ril 18, 2019

SUBJECT:

INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER, UNIT 2 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000247/2019301

Dear Mr. Vitale:

On February 15, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 2. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on March 26, 2019, with Messrs. Leonard Beller, Charles Kocsis, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses and seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The license examiners determined that 9 of the 11 applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on March 26, 2019.

No findings were identified during this examination.

Two applicants for reactor operator licenses failed the written exam and were denied licenses. 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 the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-247 License No. DPR-26 Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000247/2019301 w/Attachment: Supplementary Information cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUMMARY

ER 05000247/2019301; February 4-11, 2019, February 15, 2019; Indian Point Energy Center,

Unit 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for reactor operator licenses and seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses at Indian Point Energy Center,

Unit 2. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the facility on February 15, 2019. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on February 4-11, 2019. The NRC examiners determined that 9 of the 11 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 11 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 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 February 15, 2019, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 11 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on February 28, 2019.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all 11 applicants on February 4-11, 2019. The four applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in three dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The seven applicants seeking an instant senior reactor 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

No findings were identified.

Nine of the 11 applicants passed all portions of the exam. Two applicants for a reactor operator license failed the written exam portion. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 81.66 percent and ranged from 73.33 to 94.66 percent, and the senior operator applicants average score was 87.14 percent and ranged from 82 to 91 percent. 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 conducted this performance analysis for six questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on March 26, 2019, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions.

The licensee submitted one post-examination comment, recommending acceptance of two correct answers (Choices C and D) for Question #8. The NRC reviewed the recommendation and determined that the key answer (Choice D) was correct and was the only correct answer to the question. The grading standard for Question #8 was not changed. The text of the written examination questions, the operating test, and the licensees post-examination comment with the NRC resolution may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy the release of these documents 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 11. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The facility licensee submitted both the written and operating examination outlines on September 6, 2018.

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 November 21, 2018. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided comments during the week of January 7, 2019. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on for the operating exam on January 25, 2019, and for the written exam on February 4, 2019.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

The NRC approved the initial examination outline and advised the licensee to proceed with the operating examination development.

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 11 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 Messrs. Leonard Beller, Director Site Training, and Charles Kocsis, Superintendent of Initial Training Programs and other members of the licensee's management staff on March 26, 2019. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

C. Kocsis, Superintendent of Initial Training Programs

T. Jenkins, Exam Developer

R. Suneson, Exam Developer

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Opened and Closed

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE