IR 05000298/2007301

Er 05000298-07-301; 1/29-30/2007; Cooper Nuclear Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML070660629
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	02/23/2007
From:	Gody A Operations Branch IV
To:	Minahan S Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
References
ER-07-301
Download: ML070660629 (10)

Text

ary 23, 2007

SUBJECT:

COOPER NUCLEAR STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000298/2007301

Dear Mr. Minahan:

On January 30, 2007, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed a retake examination at Cooper Nuclear Station. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on January 30, 2007, with Messrs. Joe Waid, David Tune, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license. The retake examination consisted of two dynamic simulator scenarios and was developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9.

The license examiner determined that the applicant satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate license has been issued.

No findings of significance were identified during this examination.

In accordance with 10 CFR 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).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Anthony T. Gody, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Nebraska Public Power District -2-Docket: 50-298 License: DPR-46

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 05000298/2007301

REGION IV==

Dockets: 50-298 Licenses: DPR-46 Report : 05000298/2007301 Licensee: Nebraska Public Power District Facility: Cooper Nuclear Station Location: P.O. Box 98 Brownville, NE 68321 Dates: January 29-30, 2007 Inspectors: S. M. Garchow, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch Approved Anthony T. Gody, Chief By: Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety-1- Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000298/2007301; 1/29-30/2007; Cooper Nuclear Station; Initial Operator Licensing

Examination Report.

NRC examiners re-evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license at Cooper Nuclear Station. The facility licensee developed the examination using NUREG-1021,

"Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9. The retake examination consisted of two dynamic simulator scenarios and was administered on January 29-30, 2007. The license examiners determined that the applicant satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate license has been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiner reviewed one license application submitted by the licensee to ensure the application reflected that the 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 examiner also audited the license application in detail to confirm that it 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 of significance were identified.

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

The NRC examination team administered the operating retake examination consisting of two dynamic simulator scenarios on January 29-30, 2007, to one reactor operator applicant.

b. Findings

The applicant passed the dynamic simulator examination.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The licensee developed the examination in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were on a security agreement. The facility licensee submitted the operating examination outlines and draft scenarios on January 22, 2007. The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021, Revision 9, and provided comments to the licensee. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021, Revision 9, and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on January 24, 2007. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the simulator scenarios on January 29, 2007.

b. Findings

The examiners determined that the simulator scenario examination initially submitted by the licensee was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

No findings of significance 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 of significance were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during the onsite preparation and examination administration for compliance with the requirements contained in NUREG-1021, Revision 9. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the examination results to Messrs. Joe Waid, Nuclear Training Manager and David Tune, Operator Training Superintendent on January 30, 2007.

The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

-4- Enclosure

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

J. Waid, Nuclear Training Manager

D. Tune, Operations Training Superintendent

R. Carlson, Nuclear Training Instructor

NRC Personnel

S. Garchow, Chief Examiner

Attachment