IR 05000259/2007301
| ML072760003 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 10/01/2007 |
| From: | Widmann M NRC/RGN-II/DRS/OLB |
| To: | Campbell W Tennessee Valley Authority |
| References | |
| 50-259/07-301, 50-260/07-301, 50-296/07-301 50-259/07-301, 50-260/07-301, 50-296/07-301 | |
| Download: ML072760003 (8) | |
Text
October 1, 2007
SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT-NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000259/2007301, 05000260/2007301 AND 05000296/2007301
Dear Mr. Campbell:
During the period August 27 - 29, 2007, 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 Units 1, 2, and 3. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed the tests and preliminary findings with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on August 31, 2007.
One Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the written examination and operating test. There were no post examination comments. The draft operating test outline and the draft written examination submittals were considered unsatisfactory because they failed to meet the requirements of NUREG 1021.
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 (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).
Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 562-4550
Sincerely,
\\\\RA\\\\
Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos.: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 License Nos.: DPR-33, DPR-52, DPR-68
Enclosures:
(See page 2)
Enclosure:
1. Report Details
REGION II==
Docket Nos.:
50-259, 50-260, 50-296 License Nos.:
DPR-33, DRP-52, DRP-68 Report No.:
05000259/2007301, 05000260/2007301 and 05000296/2007301 Licensee:
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Facility:
Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1,2 & 3 Location:
10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611 Dates:
Operating Tests - August 27 - 29, 2007 Written Examination - August 31, 2007 Examiners:
R. Aiello, Chief, Senior Operations Engineer J. Munro, NRR P. Capehart, Operations Engineer Approved by:
Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER05000259/2007301, ER05000260/2007301 and ER05000296/2007301; 08/27 - 29, 2007 &
08/31, 2007; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1,2 & 3, Licensed Operator Examinations.
The NRC examiners conducted operator licensing initial examinations in accordance with the guidance in NUREG-1021, Revision 9, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors. This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements of 10 CFR
§55.41, §55.43, and §55.45.
The draft operating test outline and the draft written examination submittals were considered unsatisfactory because they failed to meet the requirements of NUREG 1021. The NRC administered the operating tests during the period of August 27 - 29, 2007. Members of the Browns Ferry training staff administered the written examination on August 31, 2007. The written examinations and the operating test were developed by the facility.
One Reactor Operators (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operators (SRO) passed both the operating test and written examination. All of the applicants were issued operator licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. There were no post examination comments.
No findings of significance were identified.
Report Details 4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Initial Examinations
a.
Inspection Scope The facility developed the written examination and the operating test in accordance with NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9. The NRC reviewed the proposed written examination and the operating test. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made according to NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination and test materials.
The examiners reviewed the licensees examination and test security measures while preparing and administering the examinations and tests to ensure examination and test security and integrity complied with 10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The examiners evaluated one RO and three SRO applicants who were being assessed under the guidelines specified in NUREG-1021. The examiners administered the operating tests during the period of August 27 - 29, 2007. The written examination was administered by the Browns Ferry training staff on August 31, 2007. The evaluations of the applicants and review of documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, met requirements specified in 10 CFR 55, Operators Licenses.
b.
Findings No findings of significance were identified.
The draft operating test outline and the draft written examination submittals were considered unsatisfactory because they failed to meet the requirements of NUREG 1021. The draft outline was unsatisfactory because insufficient information was sent to determine if the Qualitative and Quantitative Attributes of ES-301-4, 5, 6 were met. The draft written examination was unsatisfactory because more than 20% of the questions were unsatisfactory due to the following reasons:
-
Eight questions failed to meet the Knowledge and Ability statement from Nureg 1123, Knowledge and Abilities Catalog.
-
Seven of the SRO questions were NOT considered SRO only.
-
Twenty of the questions had either to little discriminatory value or two or more non-plausible distractors.
The NRC determined that the examination and test feedback provided by the licensee for the written examination and operating test were within the range of acceptability expected for the proposed examination and test respectively. One RO and three SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination.
The as given RO and SRO written examinations may be accessed in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers, ML072750664 -SRO Written Examination and ML072750654 RO Written Examination).
4OA6 Meetings Exit Meeting Summary On August 29, 2007, the examination team discussed generic issues with Mr. Gilbert Little, Unit 1 Plant Restart Manager, and members of his staff. The examiners asked the licensee whether any materials examined during the inspection should be considered proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.
PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee personnel P. Chadwell, Operations Support J. Emens, Site Licensing Supervisor D. Higgins, Operations Reactor Operator R. Knight, Lead Initial Instructor D. Langley, Site Licensing Manager D. Matherly, Site Training Manager R. Moye, Training Instructor B. Scillian, Operations Training Manager J. Wallace, Site Licensing Engineer NRC personnel W. Bearden, Senior Resident Inspector, Unit 1 T. Ross, Senior Resident Inspector, Units 2 & 3 C. Stancil, Resident Inspector, Unit 1