IR 05000259/2021301
| ML21209A064 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 07/28/2021 |
| From: | Gerald Mccoy Division of Reactor Safety II |
| To: | Jim Barstow Tennessee Valley Authority |
| References | |
| Download: ML21209A064 (9) | |
Text
July 28, 2021
SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE
EXAMINATION REPORT NOS. 05000259/2021301, 05000260/2021301,
Dear Mr. Barstow:
During the period May 17 - 20, 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests and the written examination submittal with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on May 25, 2021.
All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 2.
The initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and your staff were made according to NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 11.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs 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 the NRCs document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room). If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4551.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Gerald J. McCoy, Chief
Operations Branch 1
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 License Nos: DPR-33, DPR-52, and DPR-68
Enclosures:
1. Report Details
2. Simulator Fidelity Report
REGION II==
Examination Report
Docket No.:
50-259, 50-260, 50-296
License No.:
Report No.:
05000259/2021301, 05000260/2021301, 05000296/2021301
Licensee:
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), LLC
Enterprise identifier: L-2021-OLL-0029
Facility:
Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3
Location:
Athens, AL 35611
Dates:
Operating Test - May 17 - 20, 2021
Written Examination - May 25, 2021
Examiners:
D. Bacon, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer B. Caballero, Senior Operations Engineer
A. Goldau, Operations Engineer
K. Kirchbaum, Operations Engineer
N. Lacy, Operations Engineer
J. Viera, Senior Operations Engineer
Approved by:
Gerald J. McCoy, Chief
Operations Branch 1
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000259/2021301, 05000260/2021301, 05000296/2021301; operating test May 17 - 20, 2021 & written exam May 25, 2021; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant; Operator License Examinations.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 11 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements identified in 10 CFR §55.41, §55.43, and §55.45, as applicable.
Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. The initial operating test, written RO examination, and written SRO examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period May 17 - 20, 2021. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on May 25, 2021. All seven Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
There were no post-examination comments.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations
a.
Inspection Scope
The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and JPMs in order to determine the percentage of submitted test items that required replacement or significant modification. The NRC also evaluated the submitted written examination questions (RO and SRO questions considered separately) in order to determine the percentage of submitted questions that required replacement or significant modification, or that clearly did not conform with the intent of the approved knowledge and ability (K/A) statement. Any questions that were deleted during the grading process, or for which the answer key had to be changed, were also included in the count of unacceptable questions. The percentage of submitted test items that were unacceptable was compared to the acceptance criteria of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Standards for Power Reactors.
The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The NRC performed an audit of license applications during the preparatory site visit to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications in accordance with NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period May 17 - 20, 2021. The NRC examiners evaluated seven Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on May 25, 2021. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.
The NRC evaluated the performance or fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating tests.
b.
Findings
No findings were identified.
The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 11 of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team reviewed the proposed examination. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.
Using NUREG-1021, the NRC determined that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination and were issued licenses.
Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation of weaknesses and determination of appropriate remedial training.
The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final RO and SRO written examinations and answer keys, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than May 25, 2023, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number ML21174A078 and ML21174A080).
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
Exit Meeting Summary
On May 20, 2021 the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. J. Quinn, Plant Manager, and members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee personnel
J. Quinn, Plant Manager D. Komm, Assistant Plant Manager E. Q. Leonard, Director, Engineering S. D. Brown, Director, Maintenance C. L. Vaugh, Director, Operations R. D. Busick, Director, Training T. A. Bradford, Director, Work Management D. E. Charlton, Director, Plant Support J. A. Kent, Director, Site Projects L. Coe, Senior Manager, Site Security J. W. Eggart, Senior Manager, RP T. P. Veitch, Senior Manager, Chemistry G. M. Pierce, Site Monitoring Lead R. Coons, Site Licensing Engineer D. Binkley, Manager, Simulator Services E. Lambert, BFN SRO G. Graff, Senior Manager, Site QA J. A. Yarbrough, Senior Manager, Design Engineering R. Joplin, Program Manager, Corporate Nuclear Exam Sim.
M. Schulte, Instructor, Operations Lead W. Miller, BOP Systems Engineer S. Brooks, Superintendent, Nuclear Operations
NRC personnel
J. Steward, Senior Resident Inspector N. Karlovich, Resident Inspector M. Kirk, Resident Inspector
Enclosure 2 SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
Facility Docket No.: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296
Operating Test Administered: May 17 - 20, 2021
This form is to be used only to report observations. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings and, without further verification and review in accordance with Inspection Procedure 71111.11 are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46. No licensee action is required in response to these observations.
While conducting the simulator portion of the operating test, examiners observed the following:
Item PR 21-30048-064 Description Flow indicator 3-FI-64-37 did not respond as expected.