IR 05000286/2017301
| ML18029A683 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 01/29/2018 |
| From: | Diane Jackson Operations Branch I |
| To: | Vitale A Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| Jackson D | |
| References | |
| ER 2017301 | |
| Download: ML18029A683 (10) | |
Text
ary 29, 2018
SUBJECT:
INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER, UNIT 3 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000286/2017301
Dear Mr. Vitale:
On November 7, 2017, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on January 8, 2018, with Messrs. C. Chapin, C. Kocsis, and R. Walpole of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of six 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 11. The license examiners determined that four of the six applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on January 8, 2018.
No findings were identified during this examination.
Two applicants for an instant senior reactor operator license failed the written portion of the exam and were denied licenses. 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 the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-286 License No. DPR-64
Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000286/2017301 w/Attachment: Supplementary Information
REGION I==
Docket: 50-286 License: DPR-64 Report: 05000286/2017301 Enterprise I-2017-301-0002 Identifier:
Licensee: Entergy Nuclear operations, Inc.
Facility: Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3 Location: Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Dates: October 30, 2017 - November 3, 2017 (Operating Test Administration)
November 7, 2017 (Written Examination Administration)
November 27, 2017 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)
January 3, 2018 (NRC Examination Grading)
January 8, 2018 (Licenses Issued)
Examiners: D. Silk, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch M. Patel, Operations Engineer P. Ott, Operations Engineer B. Tindell, Reactor Engineer (Under Instruction)
Approved By: Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure
SUMMARY
ER 05000286/2017301; 10/30/2017 - 01/08/2018; Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3; Initial
Operator Licensing Examination Report Three NRC examiners evaluated the competency of six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses at Indian Point Energy Center, Unit 3. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on October 30, 2017 - November 3, 2017. The written examination was administered by the facility on November 7, 2017. The NRC examiners determined that two instant senior reactor operator license applicants did not satisfy the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55 in that they failed the written examination. The licenses have been issued for the other four applicants.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings
No findings were identified.
Licensee-Identified Violations
None.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The examiners reviewed all six 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 a sample 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 November 7, 2017, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all six applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on November 27, 2017.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all six applicants on October 30, 2017 - November 3, 2017. The six applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
b. Findings
All six of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. Two instant senior reactor operator applicants failed the written examination. For the written examinations, the overall examination average score was 82.29 percent and ranged from 78.35 to 86.59 percent. The text of the examination questions and the licensees post-examination comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in Attachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.
The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on January 3, 2018, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions. Chapter ES-403 and Form ES-403-1 of NUREG 1021 require the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants. The licensee conducted this performance analysis for 20 questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.
The licensee submitted post-examination comments for three written questions on November 27, 2017. The NRC reviewed the facilitys post-exam comment submittal package and accepted the facility recommendations on all three of questions. Questions 21, 28, and 33 were deleted from the reactor operator exam. The text of the examination questions, the licensees examination analysis, and the licensees post-examination comments with the NRC resolutions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment 1.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 11. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The NRC provided the facility licensee with the written exam outline on April 18, 2017. The facility licensee submitted operating examination outlines on June 2, 2017. The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on August 17, 2017. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of October 2, 2017. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on October 24, 2017.
b. Findings
The NRC approved the initial examination outline and advised the licensee to proceed with the operating examination development.
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations initially submitted by the licensee 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. One issue identified during the preparation week is noted on Attachment 2 of the report.
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 11 requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
During the preparation week a potential exam security issue was identified by the licensee. A member of the facility licensee checked a locked door to the simulator booth and found it unlocked during the review of a simulator scenario. The door was clearly noted as an exam security area, but it was found unlocked. Because this had the potential to compromise the exam, the NRC examiners decided to delete this scenario from the exam and have the licensee develop a new scenario. The new scenario was made the spare and did not have to be used during exam administration. Since there was no actual exam compromise and the door was clearly marked as an exam security area, this issue was determined to be minor.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. C. Chapin, Training Manager, and other members of the licensee on January 8, 2018. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
- T. Jenkins, Nuclear Training Instructor
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened
NONE
Closed
NONE
Discussed
NONE