IR 05000282/2016301
| ML16208A503 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 07/26/2016 |
| From: | Robert Orlikowski Operations Branch III |
| To: | Northard S Northern States Power Company, Minnesota |
| Shared Package | |
| ML15274A272 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-282/OL-16, 50-306/OL-16 | |
| Download: ML16208A503 (10) | |
Text
July 26, 2016
SUBJECT:
PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 -
NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000282/2016301; 05000306/2016301
Dear Mr. Northard:
On June 17, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the initial operator licensing examination process for license applicants employed at your Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. The enclosed report documents the results of those examinations.
Preliminary observations noted during the examination process were discussed on June 9, 2016, with you and other members of your staff. An exit meeting was conducted by telephone on June 17, 2016, between Mr. C. Boegeman, Prairie Island General Superintendent, Operations Training, and Mr. D. McNeil, NRC Senior Operations Engineer, to review the proposed final grading of the written examination for the license applicants. During the telephone conversation, it was confirmed that the plant had no post-examination comments that required NRC resolution.
The NRC examiners administered an initial license examination operating test during the weeks of May 30 and June 6, 2016. The written examination was administered by Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant training department personnel on June 10, 2016. Nine Senior Reactor Operator and six Reactor Operator applicants were administered license examinations.
The results of the examinations were finalized on July 13, 2016. All fifteen applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations and were issued applicable operator licenses.
The written examination and other related written examination documentation will be withheld from public disclosure for 24 months per your request.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding, of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRCs Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA Michael Bielby Acting for/
Robert J. Orlikowski, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-282; 50-306 License Nos. DPR-42; DPR-60
Enclosures:
1. OL Examination Report 05000282/2016301; 05000306/2016301 2. Simulation Facility Fidelity Report
REGION III==
Docket Nos:
50-282; 50-306 License Nos:
05000282/2016301; 05000306/2016301 Licensee:
Northern States Power Company, Minnesota Facility:
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 Location:
Welch, MN Dates:
May 31 - June 17, 2016 Inspectors:
D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer
B. Palagi, Senior Operations Engineer
C. Zoia, Operations Engineer Approved by:
R. Orlikowski, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
Examination Report 05000282/2016301; 05000306/2016301; 05/31/2016 - 06/17/2016;
Northern States Power Company, Minnesota, Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant;
Units 1 and 2; 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 10.
Examination Summary Fifteen of fifteen applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations. Nine senior reactor operator applicants were issued senior operator licenses and six applicants were issued operator licenses. (Section 4OA5.1).
REPORT DETAILS
4OA5 Other Activities
.1 Initial Licensing Examinations
a. Examination Scope
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners and members of the facility licensees staff used the guidance prescribed in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 10, 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 May 2, 2016, with the assistance of members of the facility licensees staff.
During the on-site validation week, the examiners audited fifteen 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 (JPMs)and dynamic simulator scenarios, during the period of May 31, 2016, through June 9, 2016. The facility licensee administered the written examination on June 10, 2016.
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% 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 will be 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) in 24 months (ML16204A022). The administered written examination will also be available in 24 months (ML16183A155).
On June 17, 2016, the licensee submitted documentation noting that there were no post-examination comments for consideration by the NRC examiners when grading the written examination.
The NRC examiners graded the written examination on July 1, 2016, 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, are available electronically in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRC's ADAMS. (ML16141A479, ML16141A490, ML16141A511)
The NRC examiners completed operating test grading on July 1, 2016.
- (3) Examination Results Nine applicants at the Senior Reactor Operator level and six applicants at the Reactor Operator level were administered written examinations and operating tests. All applicants passed all portions of their examinations and were issued their respective operating licenses on July 13, 2016
.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 licensees examination security activities.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
4OA6 Management Meetings
.1 Debrief
The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on June 9, 2016, to Mr. S. Northard, Site Vice-President, and other members of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Operations and Training Department staff.
.2 Exit Meeting
The chief examiner conducted an exit meeting on June 17, 2016, with Mr. C. Boegeman, General Superintendent Operations Training, by telephone. The NRCs final grading of the written examination was discussed with Mr. Boegeman 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. It was also confirmed during the telephone call that all written examination material would be withheld from public disclosure for 24 months after completion of the examination.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee
- S. Northard, Acting Site Vice President
- C. Boegeman, General Superintendent Operations Training
- T. Wadley, Training Manager
- M. Peterson, Corporate Training
- T. Borgen, Operations Manager
- W. Paulhardt, Plant Manager
- S. Sarrasin, Operations Training Supervisor
- T. Larson, Operations Instructor
- R. Collins, Operations Instructor
- R. Wirkkala, Operations Instructor
- M. Fish, Operations Instructor
- S. Ingalls, Shift Manager
- J. Hasner, Operations Instructor
- C. Schoo, Operations Instructor
- B. Hessenins, Operations Instructor
- R. Lexvold, Operations Training Supervisor
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- L. Haeg, Senior Resident Inspector
- P. LaFlamme, Resident Inspector
- D. McNeil, Chief Examiner
- B. Palagi, Examiner
- C. Zoia, Examiner
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened, Closed, and Discussed
None
LIST OF ACRONYMS USED
Agencywide Document Access and Management System
NRC
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Publicly Available Records System
SIMULATION FACILITY FIDELITY REPORT
Facility Licensee:
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant
Facility Docket Nos:
50-282; 50-306
Operating Tests Administered:
May 31 - June 9, 2016
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 Title 10 of
the Code of Federal Regulations 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
None
S. Northard
-2-
in the NRCs Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component
of the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is
accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public
Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA Michael Bielby Acting for/
Robert
- J. Orlikowski, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 50-282; 50-306
Enclosures:
1. OL Examination Report 05000282/2016301;
2. Simulation Facility Fidelity Report
cc: Distribution via LISTSERV
- T. Wadley, Training Manager,
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Plant