IR 05000266/2005301

Er 05000266-05-301 (Drs); Er 05000301-05-301(DRS) 10/17/2005-11/18/2005; Point Beach Nuclear Plant; Initial License Examination Report

ML053630342
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	12/28/2005
From:	Hironori Peterson Division of Reactor Safety III
To:	Koehl D Nuclear Management Co
References
50-266/05-301, 50-301/05-301 50-266/05-301, 50-301/05-301
Download: ML053630342 (12)

Text

ber 28, 2005

SUBJECT:

POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 & 2 NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000266/2005301(DRS); 05000301/2005301(DRS)

Dear Mr. Koehl:

On November 18, 2005, the NRC completed initial operator licensing examinations at your Point Beach Nuclear Plant. The enclosed report documents the results of the examination which were discussed on November 18 and November 23, 2005, with Mr. and Mr. M. Lorek, and with other members of your staff.

The NRC examiners administered the operating test during the week of November 7 to 10 and November 14 to 17, 2005. NRC examiners and members of the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant Training Department staff administered the written examination on November 18, 2005.

Five Reactor Operator (RO), four Senior Reactor Operator-Instant (SRO-I) and two Senior Reactor Operator-Upgrade (SRO-U) applicants were administered license examinations. The results of the examinations were finalized on December 19, 2005. All eleven applicants passed all sections of their examinations and five operator and five senior operator licenses were distributed.

During the NRCs review of initial license applications, one senior operator applicant was granted eligibility deferments so that the applicant could take the examination. This applicant will need to complete a minimum of 6 months onsite responsible power plant experience before he will receive a license. The applicant will be granted a license only after you certify in writing to the NRC that the applicant has completed the eligibility requirement that was previously deferred.

In accordance with 10 CFR Part 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). We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this examination.

Sincerely,

/RA N. Valos acting for/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-266; 50-301 License Nos. DPR-24; DPR-27

Enclosures:

1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 050000266/2005301(DRS);

05000301/2005301(DRS)

2. Simulation Facility Report 3. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO & SRO)

REGION III==

Docket No: 50-266, 50-301 License No: DPR-24; DPR-27 Report No: 050000266/2005301(DRS)

050000301/2005301(DRS)

Licensee: Nuclear Management Company, LLC Facility: Point Beach Nuclear Plant Location: 6612 Nuclear Road Two Rivers, WI 54241-9516 Dates: October 17 through November 18, 2005 Examiners: R. K. Walton, Chief Examiner N. Valos, Examiner C. Moore, Examiner Approved by: H. Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000266/2005301(DRS); ER 05000301/2005301(DRS) 10/17/2005-11/18/2005;

Point Beach Nuclear Plant; Initial License Examination Report.

The announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted by regional examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9.

Examination Summary:

• Eleven examinations were administered (five Reactor Operator, four Senior Reactor Operator-Instant and two Senior Reactor Operator-Upgrade).

• All eleven applicants passed all sections of their examinations, ten of these applicants were issued respective operator or senior operator licenses. One SRO applicant license was withheld pending his completion of responsible power plant experience.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other

.1 Initial Licensing Examinations

a. Examination Scope

The NRC examiners conducted an announced initial operator licensing examination during the weeks of November 7, 2005, and November 14, 2005. The NRC examiners used the guidance established in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, to review the examination outline and to review the written examination and operating test. The NRC examiners and members of the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant (PBNPP) Training Department administered the written examination on November 18, 2005. Five Reactor Operator (RO), four Senior Reactor Operator-Instant (SRO-I), and two Senior Reactor Operator-Upgrade (SRO-U)applicants were examined.

b. Findings

Written Examination The licensee developed the written examination. During their internal review, the NRC examiners determined that the examination, as submitted, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. Written examination comments developed during review by the Point Beach staff, and as a result of examination validation were incorporated into the written examination in accordance with the guidance contained in NUREG-1021.

On November 23, 2005, the licensee discussed post-examination editorial comments with the NRC examiner which had no effect on the content or grading of the written examinations. In addition, two questions were changed during the written examination due to improper noun names; however, there were no official post-examination comments.

Operating Test The NRC examiners determined that the operating test, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

The examiners validated the operating test during the validation week and modified several items in the proposed operating test. Test changes, agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee, were made in accordance with NUREG-1021 guidelines.

Examination Results Eleven applicants passed all sections of their examinations. Ten of these applicants were issued respective operator or senior operator licenses. One SRO applicant has had his license withheld pending his completion of responsible power plant experience.

.2 Examination Security

a. Examination Security Scope The NRC examiners briefed the facility contact on the NRCs requirements and guidelines related to examination physical security (e.g., access restrictions and simulator considerations). The examiners observed the implementation of examination security and integrity measures (e.g., security agreements) throughout the examination process.

b. Findings

No findings were noted in this area. The licensee staff was observed to be enforcing correct examination security procedures.

4OA6 Meetings

.1 Exit Meeting

The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on November 18 and November 23, 2005, to Mr. D. Koehl and other members of the Operations and Training Department staff. The purpose of the re-exit was to acknowledge the receipt and review of the licensees post-examination comments on the written examinations. The licensee acknowledged the observations and findings presented. No proprietary information was identified by the stations staff during the exit meetings.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Enclosure 1

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

D. Koehl Site Vice President

J. Schweitzer Engineering Director

M. Lorek Plant Manager

F. Forrest Nuclear Oversight Manager

R. Grazio Regulatory Compliance Manager

C. Hill Operations Training Supervisor

NRC

H. Peterson Branch Chief, Operator Licensing Branch

G. Gibbs Resident Inspector

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None

Attachment

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED

ADAMS Agency-Wide Document Access and Management System

DRS Division of Reactor Safety

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

PARS Publicly Available Records

RO Reactor Operator

SRO Senior Reactor Operator

Attachment

SIMULATION FACILITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant

Facility Docket No.: 50-266; 50-301

Operating Tests Administered: November 7 - November 17, 2005

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

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

Plant Process The plant process computer locked up during Scenario 1, Operating

Computer (PPCS) Examinations 1 and 2.

During onsite validation, when the Operator Select Switch was

returned to the Normal position from the Level Adjust Position, the

N31 Source Range

High Flux in Shutdown annunciator in the control room did not clear.

Operator Selector

Simulator operators operated the switch numerous times and the

Switch

condition did not repeat. Believed that infrequently operated switch

developed an oxide layer on contacts.

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS AND ANSWER KEYS (RO/SRO)

RO/SRO Initial Examination ADAMS Accession #ML053610151.