IR 05000255/2009301
| ML091890126 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 06/30/2009 |
| From: | Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III |
| To: | Schwarz C Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| References | |
| 50-255/09-301 ER-09-301 | |
| Download: ML091890126 (13) | |
Text
June 30, 2009
SUBJECT:
PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT
NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000255/2009301(DRS)
Dear Mr. Schwartz:
On June 9, 2009, the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the initial operator licensing examination process at your Palisades Nuclear Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of the examination which were discussed on June 4 and June 9, 2009, with you and with other members of your staff.
The NRC examiners administered initial license examination operating tests from June 1, 2009 through June 5, 2009. Members of the Palisades Training Department administered the initial license written examination on June 8, 2009, to the applicants. Five senior reactor operator (SRO) and four reactor operator (RO) applicants were administered license examinations. The results of the examinations were finalized on June 22, 2009. All nine applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of five senior reactor operator and four reactor operator licenses.
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 System (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is 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/
Hironori Peterson, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20
Enclosures:
1.
Operator Licensing Examination
Report 050000255/2009301(DRS)
2.
Simulation Facility Report
3.
Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO and SRO)
REGION III==
Docket No:
50-255
License No:
DPR-20 Report No:
Licensee:
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Facility:
Palisades Nuclear Plant
Location:
Covert, MI
Dates:
June 1 through June 9, 2009
Examiners:
N. Valos, Chief Examiner
C. Zoia, Examiner
D. Reeser, Examiner
Approved by:
Hironori Peterson, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000255/2009301 (DRS); 06/01/09 - 06/09/09; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Initial License
Examination Report.
The announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted by regional examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1.
Examination Summary:
$
Nine examinations were administered (five senior reactor operator and four reactor operator).
$
All nine applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of five senior reactor operator and four reactor operator licenses.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other
.1 Initial Licensing Examinations
a. Examination Scope
The NRC examiners conducted an announced operator licensing initial examination during the week of June 1, 2009. The facility licensees training staff used the guidance prescribed in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1, to prepare the outline and develop the written examination and operating test. The examiners administered the operating test, consisting of job performance measures and dynamic simulator scenarios, during the period of June 1 through June 5, 2009. The facility licensee administered the written examination on June 8, 2009. Five senior reactor operator and four reactor operator applicants were examined. During the on-site validation week of May 4, 2009, the examiners audited one license application for accuracy.
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.
The licensee had no post examination comments on the written examination.
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 examination.
All changes made to the submitted examination were made in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors."
Examination Results
All nine applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of five senior reactor operator and four reactor operator licenses.
.2 Examination Security
a. Inspection 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 identified.
4OA6 Meetings
Exit Meeting
The chief examiner presented the examination teams preliminary observations and findings with Mr. C. Schwartz and other members of the licensee management on June 4, 2009. A subsequent exit was held on June 9, 2009, with Mr. J. Iliff following the determination that there were no site post-examination comments. No proprietary information was identified during the exit meeting with the licensee. The licensee acknowledged the observations provided.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee
- C. Schwartz, Site Vice President
- T. Kirwin, Plant General Manager
- G. Sleeper, Assistant Operations Manager
- J. Moceri, Operations
- T. Mulford, Operations
- P. Pitcher, Operations
- R. White, Operations
- H. Nixon, Training Manager
- S. Martin, Initial License Training Supervisor
- J. Iliff, Training/Examination Author
- P. Schmidt, Training
- P. Anderson, Licensing Manager
- T. Davis, Licensing
NRC
- N. Valos, Chief Examiner
- J. Ellegood, Senior Resident Inspector
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened, Closed, and Discussed
None.
LIST OF ACRONYMS
Agency-Wide Document Access and Management System
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CR
Condition Report
Division of Reactor Safety
Initial License Training
NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Publicly Available Records System
Reactor Operator
Significance Determination Process
Senior Reactor Operator
SIMULATION FACILITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Palisades Nuclear Plant
Facility Licensee Docket No. 50-255
Operating Tests Administered: June 1 through June 5, 2009
The following documents observations made by the NRC examination team during the initial
operator license examination. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings
and are not, without further verification and review, indicative of non-compliance with
CFR 55.45(b). These observations do not affect NRC certification or approval of the
simulation facility other than to provide information which may be used in future evaluations.
No licensee action is required in response to these observations.
During the conduct of the simulator portion of the operating tests, the following items were
observed:
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
While following guidance given in the Duty Plant Managers Book to fill the piping
from the Boric Acid Blender to the charging pump suction with 40 gallons of boric
acid, an unanticipated 10 gallons of boration occurred.
[Condition Report CR-PLP-2009-02981 issued]
WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS AND ANSWER KEYS (RO/SRO)
RO/SRO Initial Examination ADAMS Accession #ML091680280.