IR 05000263/2013301
| ML13063A493 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 03/01/2013 |
| From: | Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III |
| To: | Schimmel M Northern States Power Co |
| Dell McNeil | |
| References | |
| ER-13-301 | |
| Download: ML13063A493 (9) | |
Text
rch 1, 2013
SUBJECT:
MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000263/2013301
Dear Mr. Schimmel:
On February 12, 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the initial operator licensing examination process for license applicants employed at your Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The enclosed report documents the results of those examinations.
Preliminary observations noted during the examination process were discussed on February 5, 2013, with you and other members of your staff. An exit meeting was conducted by telephone on February 19, 2013, between Mr. G. Allex, Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Operations Training Superintendent, and Mr. D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer, to review the proposed final grading of the written examination for the license applicants. There were no post examination comments provided by the training department on the operating test and the written examination, received by the NRC on February 12, 2013.
The NRC examiners administered an initial license examination operating test during the weeks of January 29, 2013, and February 4, 2013. The written examination was administered by Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant training department personnel on February 6, 2013. Six Senior Reactor Operator and four Reactor Operator applicants were administered license examinations. The results of the examinations were finalized on February 22, 2013. All applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations and were issued applicable operating licenses.
During the telephone conversation with Mr. Allex, he requested the written examination and other related written examination documentation be withheld from public disclosure for 24 months. We will withhold that examination and associated documentation per his 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/
H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-263 License No. DPR-22
Enclosure:
1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000263/2013301 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information 2. Simulation Facility Report
REGION III==
Docket No: 50-263 License No: DPR-22 Report No: 05000263/2013301 Licensee: Northern States Power Company, Minnesota Facility: Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Location: Monticello, MN Dates: January 29, 2013 - February 12, 2013 Inspectors: D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer D. Reeser, Operations Engineer R. K. Walton, Senior Operations Engineer Approved by: H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000263/2013301(DRS); 01/29/2013 - 02/12/2013; Monticello Nuclear Generating 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:
Ten of ten applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations. Six applicants were issued senior operator licenses and four applicants were issued operator licenses. (Section 4OA5.1).
REPORT DETAILS
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 and operating test. Members of the facility licensees staff prepared the outline and developed the written examination and operating test. The NRC examiners validated the proposed examination during the week of January 7, 2013, with the assistance of members of the facility licensees staff. During the on-site validation week, the examiners audited two license applications for accuracy. The NRC examiners, with the assistance of members of the facility licensees staff, administered the operating test, consisting of job performance measures and dynamic simulator scenarios, during the period of January 29, 2013, through February 5, 2013. The facility licensee administered the written examination on February 6, 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 from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS).
No post examination comments were submitted by the stations training department as received by the NRC for the written examination documentation from the licensee on February 12, 2013. The administered examination and answer key (ADAMS Accession Number ML13042A425 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 February 19, 2013, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions.
- (2) Operating Test The NRC examiners determined that the operating test, as originally proposed by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Changes made to the operating test, documented in a document titled, Operating Test Comments, as well as the final as administered dynamic simulator scenarios and JPMs, will be available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's ADAMS.
The NRC examiners completed operating test grading on February 19, 2013.
- (3) Examination Results Six applicants at the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) level and four applicants at the Reactor Operator (RO) level were administered written examinations and operating tests. All applicants passed all portions of their examinations and were issued their respective operating licenses.
.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 Title10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 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 identified.
4OA6 Meetings
.1 Debrief
The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations on February 5, 2013, to Mr. Mark Schimmel and other members of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Operations and Training Department staff.
.2 Exit Meeting
The chief examiner conducted an exit meeting on February 19, 2013, with Mr. G. Allex, Operations Training Superintendent, by telephone. 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
Enclosure 1
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee
- M. Schimmel, Site Vice President
- G. Allex, General Supervisor Operations Training
- R. Becker, Operations Instructor
- D. Bush, Operations Instructor
- J. Grubb, Plant Manager
- J. Jackson, Operations Instructor
- P. Kissinger, Regulatory Affairs Manager
- W. Paulhardt, Operations Manager
- M. Slack, Operations Training Supervisor
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- D. McNeil, Chief Examiner
- D. Reeser, Examiner
- R. K. Walton, Examiner
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened, Closed, and Discussed
None
LIST OF ACRONYMS USED
ADAMS Agency-Wide Document Access and Management System
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DRS Division of Reactor Safety
ER Examination Report
NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
RO Reactor Operator
SRO Senior Reactor Operator
Attachment
SIMULATION FACILITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant
Facility Docket No: 50-263
Operating Tests Administered: January 29, 2013 - February 5, 2013
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 10 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 performing a JPM to remove the stack WRGM from service, the
candidate was supposed to check some indications (JPM Step 7). The
Stack WRGM applicant was to note that the Green LOW RANGE Oper LED was OFF.
During administration of the examination the Green LED did not extinguish
when the correct conditions were met.
Enclosure 2
M. Schimmel -2-
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/
- H. Peterson, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No. 50-263
License No. DPR-22
Enclosure: Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000263/2013301(DRS)
w/Attachment: Supplemental Information
cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ
cc w/encl:
- T. Shortell, Training Manager, Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant