IR 05000313/2020301

NRC Examination Report 05000313/2020301

ML20212L395
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	07/30/2020
From:	Greg Werner Operations Branch IV
To:	Dinelli J Entergy Operations
References
IR 2020301
Download: ML20212L395 (9)

Text

July 30, 2020

SUBJECT:

ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE, UNIT 1 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000313/2020301

Dear Mr. Dinelli:

On June 4, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at your Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on June 4, 2020, with you and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on June 30, 2020, with Mr. R. Martin, Operations Training Superintendent, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of 8 applicants for reactor operator licenses, 4 applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and 2 applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all 14 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. 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, Gregory E. Werner Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000313 License No. DPR-51

Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000301/2020301 w/attachment: Supplemental Information

Inspection Report

Docket Number: 05000313 License Number: DPR-51 Report Number: 05000313/2020301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2020-OLL-0016 Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility: Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Inspection Dates: March 2 through June 30, 2020 Inspectors: K. Clayton, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer C. Osterholtz, Senior Operations Engineer J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer N. Hernandez, Operations Engineer M. Doyle, Operations Engineer Approved By: Gregory E. Werner Chief, Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY

ER 05000313/2020301; 03/02/2020-06/30/2020; Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1; Initial Operator

Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of eight applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1.

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 April 8, 2020. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on June 1-June 4, 2020. This delay was due to the delay in administering the operating test on March 30, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

OTHER ACTIVITIES

- INITIAL LICENSE EXAM

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The NRC 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

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

b. Findings

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

The 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 April 8, 2020, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 14 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on June 15, 2020. This delay was due to the delay in administering the operating test on March 30, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deviation of greater than 30 days between administration of the written examination and the operating tests was approved by NRR due to this extenuating circumstance.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants on June 1-June 4, 2020.

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 Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted no generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the operating tests. Post-examination analysis revealed three generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination. All three written question issues were attributed to knowledge weakness on each topic and include the following:

1. Waste gas tank relief pressure - Question 63 2. Technical specification basis for main steam valve isolation operability -

Question 88 3. Who grants permission to move fuel during refueling - Question 95 Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility training manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training. These deficiencies were captured in the licensees corrective action program as Condition Report CR-ANO-2020-2061.

.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.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. J. Dinelli, Site Vice President, and other members of his staff on June 4, 2020. A telephonic exit was conducted on June 30, 2020, between Mr. K. Clayton, Chief Examiner, and Mr. R. Martin, Operations Training Superintendent. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

J. Dinelli, Site Vice President

J. Sullivan, General Manager of Plant Operations

M. Hall, Licensing

R. Martin, Operations Training Superintendent

R. Possage, Examination Writer

K. Smith, Examination Writer

NRC Personnel

C. Henderson, Senior Resident Inspector

T. Sullivan, Resident Inspector