IR 05000298/2021301
| ML21210A308 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cooper  |
| Issue date: | 07/29/2021 |
| From: | Heather Gepford NRC Region 4 |
| To: | Dent J Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) |
| References | |
| 50-298/OL-21 2021301, 50-298/21-01 | |
| Download: ML21210A308 (9) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
COOPER NUCLEAR STATION - NRC RETAKE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000298/2021301
Dear Mr. Dent:
On June 29, 2021, 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. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on July 7, 2021, with Mr. James Florence, Simulator and Training Support Superintendent, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.
The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license. The license examiner determined that the applicant satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate license was issued. There were no post-examination comments submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report.
No findings were identified during this examination.
July 29, 2021 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, Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000298 License No. DPR-46
Enclosures:
Examination Report 05000298/2021301 w/attachment: Supplemental Information
Inspection Report
Docket Number:
05000298
License Number:
Report Number:
Enterprise Identifier:
Licensee:
Nebraska Public Power District
Facility:
Cooper Nuclear Station
Location:
Brownville, Nebraska
Inspection Dates:
June 25, 2021, to July 7, 2021
Inspectors:
K. Clayton, Senior Operations Engineer (Chief Examiner)
Approved By:
Heather J. Gepford
Chief, Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
Examination Report 05000298/2021301; June 25 - July 7, 2021; Cooper Nuclear Station; Initial
Operator Licensing Retake Examination Report The NRC examiner evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license at Cooper Nuclear Station.
The licensee developed the retake written examination and the retake job performance measure portion of the operating test using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the licensee on June 25, 2021. The operating test was not administered at the request of Cooper Nuclear Station staff.
The NRC examiner determined that the applicant satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate license was issued.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings
None.
Licensee-Identified Violations
None.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
- INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION
License Applications
a. Scope
The NRC examiner reviewed the license application submitted to ensure the applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The NRC examiner also audited the license application in detail to confirm that it accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications. This audit focused on the remediation plan since the last NRC exam, participation in requalification, remediation training completion, and 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
The NRC examiner reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The retake operating test portion of the examination was developed as a job performance only retake operating test. The written examination consisted of 75 reactor operator questions. The NRC examiner did not conduct an onsite validation of the operating test.
The licensees staff requested and received approval from the NRC to cancel the operating test portion of this retake examination. This was done prior to the NRC scheduled validation week due to a change in applicant participation for this retake examination.
b. Findings
The NRC examiner provided outline and draft examination comments to the licensee.
The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.
The NRC examiners determined the written examination 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 June 25, 2021, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examination to one applicant. The licensee staff graded the written examination, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on June 29, 2021.
The NRC examination team did not administer the job performance measure portion of the operating tests as scheduled because the licensees staff requested to cancel the operating test portion of this retake examination.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
The applicant passed the retake written examination. The final written examination 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.
Post-examination analysis revealed no generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination. Because there was only one applicant a generic weakness analysis was not documented in the report. However, the weaknesses for four questions that were missed by the applicant were corrected during the gap training session and are documented in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.
Simulation Facility Performance
a. Scope
The NRC examiner did not observe simulator performance with respect to plant fidelity because the operating test was not validated (by the NRC) or administered.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
Examination Security
a. Scope
The NRC examiner reviewed examination security for examination development for compliance with 10 CFR 55.49 and NUREG-1021. Plans for examination security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS
Exit Meeting Summary
The chief examiner conducted a telephonic exit on July 7, 2021, with Mr. J. Florence, Simulator and Training Support Superintendent. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
- M. Joe, Training Manager
- J. Florence, Simulator and Training Support Superintendent
NRC Personnel
- A. Siwy, Senior Resident Inspector