IR 05000255/2008301

Er 05000255-08-301(DRS), on 07/07/2008 - 07/11/2008, Palisades Nuclear Plant, Initial License Examination Report

ML082330332
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	08/14/2008
From:	Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III
To:	Schwarz C Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
ER-08-301
Download: ML082330332 (11)

Text

ust 14, 2008

SUBJECT:

PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT INITIAL LICENSED OPERATOR EXAMINATION 05000255/2008301(DRS)

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

On July 14, 2008, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners completed the initial operator licensing examination process for an examination administered at your Palisades Nuclear Plant. The enclosed report documents the results of the examination and the examination process which was discussed with you and other members of your staff during an exit meeting on July 10, 2008. A memorandum was received from Mr. R. A. White of your staff on July 14, 2008, stating the Palisades Nuclear Plant Training Department personnel had no post examination comments for this examination.

The NRC examiners administered an initial license examination operating test during the week of July 7, 2008. The written examination was administered by Palisades Nuclear Plant training department personnel on July 11, 2008. Two Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants and one Reactor Operator (RO) applicant were administered license examinations. Both SRO applicants were previously licensed ROs at the Palisades Nuclear Plant. The results of the examination were finalized on July 18, 2008. All three applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations and were issued applicable operator licenses.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosures 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

C. Schwarz -2-(ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this examination.

Sincerely,

/RA by M. Bielby for/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20

Enclosures:

1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000255/2008301 2. Simulation Facility Report 3. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO/SRO)

REGION III==

Docket No: 50-255 License No: DPR-20 Report No: 05000255/2008-301 Licensee: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Facility: Palisades Nuclear Plant Location: Covert, MI Dates: July 7 - 11, 2008 Inspectors: D. McNeil, Chief Examiner C. Moore, Examiner C. Zoia, Examiner Approved by: H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000255/2008301(DRS); 07/07/2008 - 07/11/2008; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Initial License

Examination Report The announced initial operator licensing examination was conducted by regional Nuclear Regulatory Commission examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9.

• Three license examinations were administered (one reactor operator and two senior reactor operators).

• All applicants passed all sections of their examinations, resulting in the issuance of one reactor operator and two senior reactor operator licenses.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities

.1 Initial Licensing Examinations

a. Examination Scope

An announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted during the week of July 07, 2008. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners and members of the facility licensees staff used the guidance prescribed in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, to develop, validate, administer, and grade the written examination and operating test. Members of the facility licensees staff prepared the outline and developed the written examination and operating test. The NRC examiners validated the proposed examination during the week of June 9, 2008, with the assistance of members of the facility licensees staff. The NRC examiners administered the operating test, consisting of job performance measures and dynamic simulator scenarios, during the period of July 7, 2008 - July 10, 2008. The facility licensee administered the written examination on July 11, 2008.

b. Findings

Written Examination The NRC examiners determined that the written examination, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

All changes made to the submitted examination, were made in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, and documented on Form ES-401-9, Written Examination Review Worksheet, which is available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). The licensee had no post-examination comments on the written examination, as stated in a memorandum, dated July 14, 2008, from Mr. R. A. White. The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on July 17, 2008, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions.

Operating Test The NRC examiners determined that the operating test, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed operating test.

All changes made to the submitted operating test, were made and documented in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." Changes were documented in a document titled, Operating Test Comments, which is available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's document system (ADAMS).

During administration of the examination, control room JPM f was administered on Monday, July 07, to the RO applicant. It was intended that the two Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants also be administered JPM f. However, the JPM was not scheduled correctly and was missed for the two SRO applicants. This was discovered on Tuesday, July 08, and control room JPM d was administered to the two SRO applicants vice JPM f. This caused the two SRO applicants to receive one more alternate path JPM than specified in NUREG-1021, but does not invalidate the examination results. The NRC examiners completed operating test grading on July 17, 2008.

Examination Results Two applicants at the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) level and one applicant at the Reactor Operator (RO) level were administered written and operating tests. All applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of two senior reactor operator and one reactor operator licenses.

.2 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners briefed the facility contact on the NRCs requirements and guidelines related to examination physical security (e.g., access restrictions and simulator considerations) and integrity in accordance with 10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of Examinations and Tests, and NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standard for Power Reactors. The examiners reviewed and observed the licensees implementation and controls of examination security and integrity measures (e.g., security agreements) throughout the examination process.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were observed in the area of examination security.

4OA6 Management Meetings

Exit Meeting Summary

On July 10, 2008, the inspectors presented an examination status report to Mr. C. Schwarz, and other members of the licensee staff. The licensee acknowledged the issues presented. The inspectors confirmed that none of the potential report input discussed was considered proprietary.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

C. Schwarz, Site Vice President

T. Kirwin, Plant General Manager

S. Martin, Operations Initial Training Superintendent

B. Nixon, Assistant Operations Manager

A. Pullam, Acting Training Manager

M. Sicard, Operations Manager

R. White, Assistant Operations Manager - Training

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

D. McNeil, Senior Operations Specialist

LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Open, Closed, and

Discussed

None