IR 05000305/2002301
| ML022840574 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kewaunee  |
| Issue date: | 10/11/2002 |
| From: | David Pelton Division of Reactor Safety III |
| To: | Coutu T Nuclear Management Co |
| References | |
| 50-305/02301 50-305/02301, IR-02-301 | |
| Download: ML022840574 (11) | |
Text
October 11, 2002
SUBJECT:
KEWAUNEE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT USNRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 50-305/02-301(DRS)
Dear Mr. Coutu:
On September 6, 2002, the NRC completed initial operator licensing examinations at your Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of the examination.
The NRC administered the operating test the weeks of August 26 and September 2, 2002, and your training department personnel administered the written examination on September 6, 2002. Six reactor operator and seven senior reactor operator applicants were administered license examinations. The results of the examinations were finalized on October 2, 2002. All thirteen applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations resulting in the issuance of six reactor operator licenses and four senior reactor operator licenses.
During the NRCs review of initial license applications, three senior reactor operator applicants were given credit for having performed reactivity manipulations using your plant-reference simulator. During a recent inspection of your licensed operator requalification training program, the NRC identified issues related to the fidelity of your plant-reference simulator and the appropriateness of having used the simulator for the performance of required reactivity manipulations. As a result, senior reactor operator licenses were not issued to these three individuals pending the NRCs review and resolution of the simulator fidelity issues. Once the NRC has resolved these issues, we will contact Kewaunee plant management to discuss actions required to complete the processing of these licenses. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 2.790 of the NRCs "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosures will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRCs 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/
David L. Pelton, Acting Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-305 License No. DPR-43
Enclosures:
1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 50-305/02-301(DRS)
2. Simulation Facility Report 3. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO & SRO)
REGION III==
Docket No:
50-305 License No:
DPR-43 Report No:
50-305/02-301(DRS)
Licensee:
Nuclear Management Company, LLC Facility:
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant Location:
N490 Highway 42 Kewaunee, WI 54216 Dates:
August 26 through September 6, 2002 Examiners:
Michael E. Bielby, Chief Examiner Bruce B. Palagi, Examiner Phillip T. Young, Examiner Approved by:
David L. Pelton, Acting Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER 05000305-02-301(DRS); Nuclear Management Company, LLC; on 08/26-09/06/2002; Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant.
The announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted by regional examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 8, Supplement 1.
Examination Summary Thirteen applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations resulting in the issuance of six reactor operator licenses and four senior reactor operator licenses (Section 4OA5.1).
During the NRCs review of initial license applications, three senior reactor operator applicants were given credit for having performed reactivity manipulations using the plant-reference simulator. During a recent inspection of the licensed operator requalification training program, the NRC identified issues related to the fidelity of the plant-reference simulator and the appropriateness of having used the simulator for the performance of required reactivity manipulations. As a result, senior reactor operator licenses were not issued to these three individuals pending the NRCs review and resolution of the simulator fidelity issues. Once the NRC has resolved the issues, we will contact Kewaunee plant management to discuss actions required to complete the processing of these licenses (Section 4OA5.1).
REPORT DETAILS 4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Other Activities
.1 Initial Licensing Examinations a.
Examination Scope The NRC examiners conducted announced operator licensing initial examinations during the weeks of August 26 and September 2, 2002. The facilitys training staff used the guidance established in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 8, Supplement 1, to prepare the examination outline and to develop the written and operating examinations. The facility's training staff administered the written examination on September 6, 2002. The NRC examiners administered the operating examination the weeks of August 26 and September 2, 2002. Six reactor operator applicants and seven senior reactor operator applicants were examined.
b.
Findings Written Examination The NRC examiners determined that the written examination, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Examination changes, agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee, were made according to NUREG-1021. There were no post-examination comments identified by either the NRC or the licensee.
Operating Test The NRC examiners determined that the operating test, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Examination changes, agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made according to NUREG-1021.
Examination Results Six reactor operator applicants and seven senior reactor operator applicants were administered written examinations and operating tests for initial operator licensing. All thirteen applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations resulting in the issuance of six reactor operator licenses and four senior reactor operator licenses.
During the NRCs review of initial license applications, three senior reactor operator applicants were given credit for having performed reactivity manipulations using your plant-reference simulator. During a recent inspection of your licensed operator requalification training program, the NRC identified issues related to the fidelity of your
plant-reference simulator and the appropriateness of having used the simulator for the performance of required reactivity manipulations. As a result, senior reactor operator licenses were not issued to these three individuals pending the NRCs review and resolution of the simulator fidelity issues. Once the NRC has resolved the issues, we will contact Kewaunee plant management to discuss actions required to complete the processing of these licenses.
.2 Examination Security a.
Scope The examiners reviewed and observed the licensee's implementation of examination security requirements during the examination preparation and administration.
b.
Findings The NRC examiners determined that the licensee's examination security practices associated with the development and administration of the operator license examinations were satisfactory.
4OA6 Meeting(s)
Exit Meeting The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings to Mr. Tom Coutu and other members of the licensee management on September 6, 2002. The licensee acknowledged the observations and findings presented and did not identify any proprietary information.
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee A. Bolyen, Licensing Engineering T. Coutu, Plant Manager/Site Vice-President, Kewaunee Site R. Ginham, Training Instructor W. Godes, Training Supervisor J. McCarthy, Operations Manager J. Owens, Training Supervisor P. Short, Training Instructor C. Sizemore, Training Supervisor K. Davison, Operations Training Manager Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael E. Bielby, Chief Examiner LIST OF ACRONYMS USED ADAMS Agency-Wide Document Access and Management System DRS Division of Reactor Safety NMC Nuclear Management Company NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission PARS Publicly Available Records RO Reactor Operator SRO Senior Reactor Operator
Enclosure 2 Simulation Facility Report Facility Licensee:
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant Facility Docket No.:
50-305 Operating Tests Administered:
August 26 - September 5, 2002 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 10 CFR 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
Enclosure 3 Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO/SRO)
Reactor Operator/Senior Reactor Operator Examination ADAMS Accession No. ML022820684.