IR 05000321/2021302

NRC Operator License Examination Report 05000321/2021302 and 05000366/2021302

ML22024A072
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	01/21/2022
From:	Eugene Guthrie Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Dean E Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
50-321/21-302, 50-366/21-302 50-321/OL-21, 50-366/OL-21
Download: ML22024A072 (9)

Text

January 21, 2022

SUBJECT:

EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000321/2021302 AND 05000366/2021302

Dear Mr. Dean:

During the period December 6 - 14, 2021 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests and the written examination submittal with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on December 21, 2021.

All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 2.

The initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and your staff were made according to NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 11.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 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 the NRCs document system (ADAMS).

ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

E. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4662.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos.: 50-321, 50-366 License Nos.: DPR-57, NPF-5

Enclosures:

1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

cc: Distribution via Listserv

ML22024A072 SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE FORM 665 ATTACHED OFFICE RII/DRS/OB RII/DRS/OB RII/DRS/OB

NAME D. Egelstad D. Lanyi G. Guthre

DATE 1/21/2022 1/21 /2022 1/ 21 /2022

Enclosure 1 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Examination Report

Docket No.:

50-321, 50-366

License No.:

DPR-57, NPF-5

Report No.:

05000321/2021302 and 05000366/2021302

Enterprise Identifier: L-2021-OLL-0042

Licensee:

Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC)

Facility:

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2

Location:

Baxley, GA

Dates:

Operating Test - December 6 - 14, 2021

Written Examination - December 21, 2021

Examiners:

D. Lanyi, Chief Examiner, Operations Engineer

M. Kennard, Senior Operations Engineer J. Viera, Senior Operations Engineer

M. Donithan, Operations Engineer K. Kirchbaum, Operations Engineer

Approved by:

Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

SUMMARY

ER 05000321/2021302, 05000366/2021302; December 6 - 14, 2021 & December 21, 2021; Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant; Operator License Examinations.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 11, of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements identified in 10 CFR §55.41, §55.43, and §55.45, as applicable.

Members of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. The initial operating test, written RO examination, and written SRO examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period December 6 - 14, 2021. Members of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 21, 2021. Four Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)

applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.

There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

4.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations

a.

Inspection Scope

The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and JPMs in order to determine the percentage of submitted test items that required replacement or significant modification. The NRC also evaluated the submitted written examination questions (RO and SRO questions considered separately) in order to determine the percentage of submitted questions that required replacement or significant modification, or that clearly did not conform with the intent of the approved knowledge and ability (K/A) statement. Any questions that were deleted during the grading process, or for which the answer key had to be changed, were also included in the count of unacceptable questions. The percentage of submitted test items that were unacceptable was compared to the acceptance criteria of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Standards for Power Reactors.

The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations in order to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.

The NRC performed an audit of license applications during the preparatory site visit in order to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications in accordance with NUREG-1021.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period December 6 - 14, 2021.

The NRC examiners evaluated four Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 21, 2021. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.

The NRC evaluated the performance or fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating tests.

b.

Findings

No findings were identified.

The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant training staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 11 of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team reviewed the proposed examination. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.

The NRC determined using NUREG-1021 that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination and were issued licenses.

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

The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final written examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than January 22, 2023, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML22010A278 and ML22010A277).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

On December 14, 2021 the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. John Weissinger, Plant Manager, and members of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

John Weissinger, Plant Manager Tony Lewis, Training Director Matt Busch, Operations Director Charlie Edmund, Operations Senior Instructor Anthony Ball, Operations Instructor NRC personnel

Rich Smith, Senior Resident Inspector

Enclosure 2 SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant

Facility Docket No.: 05000321, 05000366

Operating Test Administered: December 6 - 14, 2021

This form is used only to report observations. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings and, without further verification and review in accordance with Inspection Procedure 71111.11, Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance, are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46, Simulation Facilities.

No licensee action is required in response to these observations.

No simulator fidelity or configuration issues were identified.