IR 05000269/2024301
| ML24267A190 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 09/23/2024 |
| From: | Tom Stephen NRC/RGN-II/DRS/OLB |
| To: | Snider S Duke Energy Carolinas |
| References | |
| IR 2024301 | |
| Download: ML24267A190 (1) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000269/2024301, 05000270/2024301, AND 05000287/2024301
Dear Steven Snider:
During the period August 12 - 15, 2024, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Oconee Nuclear Station. On August 22, 2024, the chief examiner discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests with you and other members of your staff. The written examination was administered by your staff on August 21, 2024.
Four Reactor Operator (RO) and Ten Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-administration comments concerning the operating test, and there were no post-administration comments concerning the written examination. 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 12.
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).
September 23, 2024 If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4703.
Sincerely, Thomas A. Stephen, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket No.: 50-269, 50-270, 50-287 License No.: DPR-38, DPR-47, DPR-55 Enclosures:
1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report Signed by Stephen, Tom on 09/23/24
SUNSI Review X
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive X
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DRS RII/DRS RII/DRS NAME K. Wallace M. Donithan T. Stephen DATE 09/20/24 09/23/24 09/23/24
Enclosure 1 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION II
Examination Report Docket No.:
50-269, 50-270, 50-287 License No.:
DPR-38, DPR-47, DPR-55 Report No.:
05000269/2024301, 05000270/2024301, AND 05000287/2024301 Enterprise Identifier:
L-2024-OLL-0033 Licensee:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Facility:
Oconee Nuclear Station Location:
Seneca, South Carolina Dates:
Operating Test - August 12 - 15, 2024 Written Examination - August 21, 2024 Examiners:
J. Bundy, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer K. Kirchbaum, Senior Operations Engineer M. Meeks, Senior Operations Engineer A. Goldau, Operations Engineer M. Doyle, Senior Resident Inspector (Training only)
Approved by:
Thomas A. Stephen, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY ER 05000269/2024301, 05000270/2024301, AND 05000287/2024301; August 12 - 15, 2024 &
August 21, 2024; Oconee Nuclear Station; Operator License Examinations.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 12 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 Oconee Nuclear Station staff developed both the operating test and the written examination. The initial operating test, written Reactor Operator (RO) examination, and written Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating test during the period August 12 - 15, 2024. Members of the Oconee Nuclear Station staff administered the written examination on August 21, 2024.
Four Reactor Operator (RO) and ten Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Fourteen (14) applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
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 in order 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 in order to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications in accordance with NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating test during the period August 12 - 15, 2024. The NRC examiners evaluated four Reactor Operator (RO) and ten Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Oconee Nuclear Station staff administered the written examination on August 21, 2024.
Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate Oconee Nuclear Station, 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 test.
b.
Findings No findings were identified.
The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the Oconee Nuclear Station staff developed both the operating test and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 12 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.
The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021, that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Four Reactor Operator (RO) and Ten Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) 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 submitted no post-examination comments concerning the operating test and no post-examination comments concerning the written examination. A copy of the final written examination and answer key may be accessed not earlier than August 24, 2026--two years after administration of the written exam--in the ADAMS system, Accession Numbers ML24243A002 and ML24243A003.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On August 22, 2024, the NRC chief examiner discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. Steven Snider, Site Vice President, and other members of the Oconee Nuclear Station. The chief examiner asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.
Enclosure 2 SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Oconee Nuclear Station Facility Docket No.: 05000269, 05000270, AND 05000287 Operating Test Administered: August 12 - 15, 2024 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 sufficient simulator fidelity. No performance deficiencies were observed during administration of the operating test.