IR 05000298/2018301

NRC Examination Report 05000298/2018301

ML18289A729
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	10/16/2018
From:	Vincent Gaddy Operations Branch IV
To:	Dent J Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
References
50-298/18-301
Download: ML18289A729 (9)

Text

ber 16, 2018

SUBJECT:

COOPER NUCLEAR STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000298/2018301

Dear Mr. Dent:

On September 27, 2018, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Cooper Nuclear Station. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on September 27, 2018, with yourself, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on October 11, 2018 with Mr. J. Florence, Simulator and Training Support Superintendent, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of three applicants for reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There were no post examination comments submitted by your staff. The Enclosure contains details of this report.

No findings were identified during this examination.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice and Procedure," 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 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/

Vincent G. Gaddy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket: 50-298 License: DPR-46

Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000298/2018301 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information

REGION IV==

Docket: 50-298 License: DPR-46 Report: 05000298/2018301 Licensee: Nebraska Public Power District Facility: Cooper Nuclear Station Location: Brownville, NE Dates: September 24 through October 11, 2018 K. Clayton, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer Inspectors: M. Hayes, Chief Examiner, UI, Operations Engineer S. Hedger, Emergency Preparedness Inspector Vincent G. Gaddy, Chief Approved By: Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY

ER 05000298/2018301; September 24 - October 11, 2018; Cooper Nuclear Station; Initial

Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of three applicants for reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Cooper Nuclear Station.

The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the licensee on October 2, 2018. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on September 24-27, 2018.

The examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. Examiners also audited three 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 Examination Development

a. Scope

NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.

b. Findings

NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.

NRC examiners determined the written examinations and operating tests initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Scope

On October 2, 2018, 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 October 8, 2018.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants on September 24-27, 2018.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating tests. The final written examinations and post examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted five generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the dynamic scenario, simulator JPM, and in-plant JPM sections of the operating tests. The applicants displayed a weakness in the following areas:

• During the dynamic simulator portion of the operating test applicants failed to prioritize completion of annunciator response actions to remove emergency station transformer from service following an undervoltage event and subsequent completion of abnormal procedural requirements.

(CR-CNS-2018-06033)

• During the dynamic simulator portion of the operating test applicants displayed a lack of knowledge on the opening logic for residual heat removal minimum flow valves after trip of a residual heat removal pump.

(CR-CNS-2018-06036)

• During the simulator JPM portion of the operating test applicants failed to recognize high pressure coolant injection high radiation alarms were not normal while warming the system following a maintenance outage.

(CR-CNS-2018-06034)

• During the simulator JPM portion of the operating test applicants displayed a lack of knowledge on the expected length of time to fully withdraw intermediate range detectors.

(CR-CNS-2018-06035)

• During the in-plant JPM portion of the operating test applicants displayed a lack of knowledge on reactor protection system motor generator control panel indicating lights.

(CR-CNS-2018-06038)

The licensee identified one generic weakness associated with applicant performance on the written examination. The applicants displayed a weakness with the withdrawal of intermediate range detectors and the impact on control rod block circuitry. The licensee captured this generic weakness in CR-CNS-2018-06035.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

The NRC examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security for examination development during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with 10 CFR 55.49 and NUREG-1021. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. J. Dent, Jr, Vice President-Nuclear and CNO, and other members of the staff on September 27, 2018. A telephonic exit was conducted on October 11, 2018 between Messrs. K. Clayton, Chief Examiner, M. Hayes, Chief Examiner, U/I, and Mr. J. Florence.

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

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

M. Bacon, Training Manager

J. Florence, Simulator and Training Support Superintendent

T. Mascareno, Nuclear Instructor

NRC Personnel

P. Vossmar, Senior Resident Inspector