IR 05000263/2009301
| ML091180229 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 04/24/2009 |
| From: | Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III |
| To: | O'Connor T Northern States Power Co |
| References | |
| 50-263/09-301 | |
| Download: ML091180229 (10) | |
Text
April 24, 2009
SUBJECT:
MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 1 NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000263/2009301(DRS)
Dear Mr. OConnor:
On March 18, 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners completed initial operator licensing examinations at your Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The enclosed report documents the results of the examination which were discussed on March 5, 2009, with Mr. B. Sawatzke and other members of your staff. An exit meeting was conducted by telephone on March 18, 2009, between Mr. M. Walter of your staff and Mr. M. Bielby of Operator Licensing, to review the resolution of the station=s post examination comments and the proposed final grading of the written examination for the license applicants.
The NRC examiners administered an initial license examination operating test during the weeks of February 23 and March 2, 2009. The written examination was administered by Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant training department personnel on March 5, 2009. Seven Senior Reactor Operators and five Reactor Operator applicants were administered license examinations. One of the applicants was a previously licensed reactor operator at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The results of the examinations were finalized on April 10, 2009. All applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of six senior reactor operator and five reactor operator licenses. One senior operator license was withheld until the individual met experience requirements.
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), 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 Bruce Palagi acting for/
Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No. 50-263 License No. DPR-22
Enclosures:
1.
Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000263/2009301(DRS)
2.
Simulation Facility Report
3.
Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO/SRO)
REGION III==
Docket No:
50-263 License No:
DPR-22 Report No:
Licensee:
Nuclear Management Company, LLC Facility:
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Location:
Monticello, MN Dates:
February 23 - 27, 2009, and March 2 - 5, 2009 Inspectors:
M. Bielby, Chief Examiner D. Reeser, Examiner C. Zoia, Examiner Approved by:
Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosure 1
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000263/2009301(DRS); 02/23/2009 - 03/05/2009; Nuclear Management Company, LLC;
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant; Initial License Examination Report.
The announced initial operator licensing examination was conducted by regional NRC examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1.
Examination Summary:
$
Twelve examinations were administered (seven senior reactor operator and five reactor operator).
$
All applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of six senior reactor operator and five reactor operator licenses. The license for one senior reactor operator who passed the examination was withheld until the individual met experience requirements.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other
.1 Initial Licensing Examinations
a. Examination Scope
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission=s examiners prepared the examination outline and developed the written examination and operating test. The NRC examiners validated the proposed examination during the week of February 2, 2009, at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Training Building with the assistance of members of the licensee training staff. During the on-site validation week on February 3, 2009, the examiners audited two license applications for accuracy. The NRC examiners conducted the operating portion of the initial license examination during the weeks of February 23 and March 2, 2009. The NRC Chief Examiner and members of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant training department staff administered the written examination on March 5, 2009. The NRC examiners used the guidance established in NUREG-1021, AOperator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors,@
Revision 9, Supplement 1, to prepare, validate, revise, administer and grade the examination.
b. Findings
Written Examination
During the validation of the written examination several questions were modified or replaced. Changes made to the written examination were documented on Form ES-401-9, AWritten 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 submitted two written examination clarifications made during the examination in addition to a list of the applicants questions and proctor responses. However, the licensee did not submit any post examination comments for consideration by the NRC examiners when grading the written examination. The NRC examiners graded the written examination on March 17, 2009, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions.
Operating Test
During the validation of the operating test, information was added or modified for four Job Performance Measures (JPMs) and changes were made to the dynamic simulator scenarios. Changes made to the operating test were documented in a document titled, AOperating 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). The NRC examiners completed operating test grading on April 10, 2009.
Examination Results
Seven applicants at the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) level and five applicants at the Reactor Operator (RO) level were administered written and operating tests. One of the SRO applicants was previously licensed as an RO at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. Twelve applicants passed all portions of their examinations and eleven applicants were issued operator licenses. One applicants license was withheld until experience requirements have been met.
.2 Examination Security
a. Scope
The NRC examiners reviewed and observed the licensee's implementation of examination security requirements during the examination validation and administration to assure compliance with 10 CFR 55.49, AIntegrity 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
4OA6 Meetings
Debrief
The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on March 5, 2009, to B. Sawatzke, and other members of the Monticello Operations and Training Department staff.
Exit Meeting
The chief examiner conducted an exit meeting by telephone on March 18, 2009, with Mr. M. Walter, Monticello Training Director. The NRC=s preliminary written examination results were provided to M. Walter during the telephone discussion. The examiners 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
- B. Sawatzke, Plant Manager
- G. Allex, General Supervisor Operations Training
- R. Becker, Initial License Training
- D. Kaopuiki, Supervisor Operations Training
- R. Loeffler, Regulatory Affairs
- K. Markling, Exam Development
- O. Olson, Initial License Training
- M. Petersen, Fleet General Supervisor NRC Exams
- S. Sharp, Operations Manager
- J. Shriver, Simulator Lead
- M. Slack, Supervisor Operations Training
- T. Taylor, Nuclear Oversight
- M. Walter, Training Manager
NRC
- M. Bielby, Chief Examiner
- S. Thomas, Senior Resident Inspector
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened, Closed, and Discussed
None