IR 05000277/2025301
| ML25240A003 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom  (DPR-044, DPR-056) |
| Issue date: | 08/28/2025 |
| From: | Sarah Elkhiamy NRC/RGN-I/DORS/OB |
| To: | Rhoades D Constellation Energy Generation, Constellation Nuclear |
| References | |
| 50-277/25-301, 50-278/25-301 | |
| Download: ML25240A003 (1) | |
Text
August 28, 2025
SUBJECT:
PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000277/2025301 AND 05000278/2025301
Dear David Rhoades:
On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on July 17, 2025, with Martin Bonifanti, Site Vice President, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12. The license examiners determined that six of the seven applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on July 17, 2025. One applicant for a senior reactor operator license failed the written examination and was issued a preliminary denial letter.
No findings were identified during this examination. This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Sincerely, Sarah H. Elkhiamy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 05000277 and 05000278 License Nos. DPR-44 and DPR-56
Enclosure:
As stated
cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV
SARAH ELKHIAMY Digitally signed by SARAH ELKHIAMY Date: 2025.08.28 07:35:35 -04'00'
SUMMARY
ER 05000277/2025301 and 05000278/2025301; 05/19/2025 - 05/23/2025; Peach Bottom
Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.
Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12.
The written examination was administered by the facility on May 29, 2025. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on May 19-23, 2025. The NRC examiners determined that six of the seven applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on July 17, 2025. One applicant for a senior reactor operator license failed the written examination and was issued a preliminary denial letter.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities Initial Operator License Examination
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The examiners reviewed all license applications submitted by the licensee to ensure the applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The applications were submitted on NRC Form 398, Personal Qualification Statement, and NRC Form 396, Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee. The examiners also audited 10 percent of the license applications in detail to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications. This audit focused on the applicants experience and on-the-job training, including control manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Examination Scope
On May 29, 2025, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on June 6, 2025.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all applicants on May 19-23, 2025. The applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 10 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
b. Findings
Six of the seven applicants passed all parts of the operating test and the written examination. One applicant for a senior reactor operator license failed the written examination. For the written examinations, the senior reactor operator applicants average score was 85.4 percent. The text of the examination questions may be accessed in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.
Chapter ES-4.4 of NUREG 1021 requires the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants.
Licensee training staff performed this analysis and forwarded it to the Chief Examiner.
Constellation provided post-exam comments on the written examination for question 52 and question 84. Specifically, Constellation requested a change to the answer key for question 52 to make answer choice D the correct answer. Additionally, Constellation requested a change to the answer key for question 84 to accept both answer choices A and C as correct. The NRC evaluated the post exam comments and agreed with Constellations request for question 84. As a result, two correct answers were accepted for question 84, and all candidates were regraded as appropriate.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12.
All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The NRC developed the written exam outline and provided it to the licensee on November 5, 2024. The licensee submitted the operating examination outline on December 20, 2024. The licensee submitted the draft examination package on March 5, 2025. The Chief Examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the exam authors. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of April 21, 2025.
b. Findings
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
No findings were identified.
.4 Simulation Facility Performance
a. Examination Scope
The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
.5 Examination Security
a. Examination Scope
The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12, requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
The Chief Examiner presented the examination results to Martin Bonifanti, Site Vice President, and other members of the licensee's staff on July 17, 2025. The licensee acknowledged the observations presented.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
Martin Bonifanti, Site Vice President
Ryan Stiltner, Plant Manager
Adam Frain, Operations Director
Matt Grohol, Training Director
Bill Linnell, Operations Training Manager
Durand Adams, Exam Author
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
None
ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED
Accession No. ML25239A103 - Final Written Exam (Note: In accordance with current
NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for 2
years.)
Accession No. ML25239A104 - Final Operating Exam (Note: In accordance with current NRC
policy, the release of this operating examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for
years.)