IR 05000255/2013301
| ML13099A419 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 04/09/2013 |
| From: | Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III |
| To: | Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| Dell McNeil | |
| References | |
| 50-255/13-301 | |
| Download: ML13099A419 (8) | |
Text
April 9, 2013
SUBJECT:
PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000255/2013301
Dear Mr. Vitale:
On March 5, 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the initial operator licensing examination process for one license applicant employed at your Palisades Nuclear Plant. The applicant failed the written examination administered during the October 2012 initial license examination and was administered a re-take written examination. The enclosed report documents the results of that examination. An exit meeting was conducted by telephone on March 28, 2013, between Mr. J. Iliff, Operations Initial Training Superintendent, of your staff and Mr. D. McNeil, Senior Operation Engineer, to review the proposed final grading of the written examination for the license applicant. During the telephone conversation it was noted that there were no post-examination comments from the facility and the facility agreed with the final grading of the examination.
The NRC waived the operating test based on the applicants performance during the October 2012 initial license examination. The written examination was administered by Palisades Nuclear Plant training department personnel on February 26, 2013. The result of the examination was finalized on March 5, 2013. The applicant passed the examination and was issued an operator license.
The written examination and other related written examination documentation will be withheld from public disclosure for 24 months per Palisades Training Department request. In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 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 Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA by M. Bielby for/
H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-255 License No. DPR-20
Enclosure:
Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000257/2013301(DRS)
w/Attachment: Supplemental Information
REGION III==
Docket No:
50-255 License No:
DPR-20 Report No:
05000255/2013301 Licensee:
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Facility:
Palisades Nuclear Plant Location:
Covert, MI Dates:
February 26 - March 5, 2013 Examiners:
D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer
R. K. Walton, Senior Operations Engineer Approved by:
H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000255/2013301; 02/28/2013 - 03/05/2013; Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Palisades
Nuclear Plant Initial License Examination Report.
The announced initial operator licensing examination was conducted by regional Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021,
Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1.
Examination Summary:
One Reactor Operator applicant passed the written retake examination. The operating test was waived based on the applicants performance during the October 2012 Initial License Examination. The applicant was issued an operator license. (Section 4OA5.1).
REPORT DETAILS
REACTOR SAFETY
4OA5 OTHER
.1 Initial Licensing Examinations
a. Examination Scope
The 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, Supplement 1, to develop, validate, administer, and grade the written examination. Members of the facility licensees staff prepared the outline and developed the written examination. Because the applicants performance during the October 2012 operating test portion of the Initial License Examination, the NRC waived that portion of this examination as requested by the licensee. Since the operating test was waived, no outline was developed for the operating test. The facility licensee administered the written examination on February 26, 2013.
b. Findings
- (1) Written Examination The NRC examiners determined that the written examination, as proposed by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Less than 20 percent of the proposed examination questions were determined to be unsatisfactory and required modification or replacement. All changes made to the proposed written 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 in the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) (ML13087A371).
On March 5, 2013, the licensee submitted documentation noting that there were no post-examination comments for consideration by the NRC examiners when grading the written examination. The final as-administered written re-take examination and answer key (ADAMS Accession Number ML13092A285), will be available in 24 months electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's ADAMS.
The NRC examiners graded the written examination on March 5, 2013, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions.
- (2) Operating Test Because of the applicants performance during the October 2012 Initial License examination, and per the applicants request, the Operating Test portion of this examination was waived. No operating test was proposed or administered.
- (3) Examination Results One applicant at the Reactor Operator (RO) level was administered a written examination. The applicant passed the written re-take examination and was issued an operating license.
.2 Examination Security
a. Scope
The NRC examiners reviewed and observed the licensee's implementation of examination security requirements during the examination development and administration to assure compliance with Title10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of Examinations and Tests. The examiners used the guidelines provided in NUREG 1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, to determine acceptability of the licensee=s examination security activities.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were observed in this area.
4OA6 Meetings
.1 Debrief
The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on February 26, 2013, to Mr. J. Iliff, Operations Initial Training Superintendent, during a telephone call.
.2 Exit Meeting
The chief examiner conducted an exit meeting on March 28, 2013, with Mr. J. Iliff, Operations Initial Training Superintendent, by telephone. The NRCs final grading, confirmation there were no post examination comments, and issuance of the applicants license were discussed with Mr. Iliff during the telephone discussion. The examiner asked the licensee whether any of the material used to develop or administer the examination should be considered proprietary. No proprietary or sensitive information was identified during the examination or debrief/exit meetings.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee
- J. Iliff, Operations Initial Training Superintendent,
- K. Lewis, Initial License Examination Author
NRC
- D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer
- R. K. Walton, Senior Operations Engineer
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened, Closed, and Discussed
None