IR 05000275/2012302

IR 05000275-12-302; Pacific Gas & Electric Company; 05000323-12-302;11/21- 12/3/ 2012; Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML13004A433
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	01/03/2013
From:	Vincent Gaddy Operations Branch IV
To:	Halpin E Pacific Gas & Electric Co
References
50-275/12-302, 50-323/12-302
Download: ML13004A433 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES NU C LE AR RE G UL AT O RY C O M M I S S I O N ary 3, 2013

SUBJECT:

DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000275/2012302; 05000323/2012302

Dear Mr. Halpin:

On December 3, 2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on December 3, 2012, with Messrs. Barry Allen, Site Vice-President, James Welsh, Station Director, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on December 12, 2012, with Mr. Ron Fortier, Senior Training Instructor, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of 8 applicants for reactor operator licenses, 3 applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and 2 applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator license. The license examiners determined that all 13 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 to this letter contains the 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," 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 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/

Vince Gaddy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Dockets: 50-275; 50-323 Licenses: DPR-80; DPR-82

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 05000275/2012302; 05000323/2012302

REGION IV==

Dockets: 50-275, 50-323 Licenses: DPR-80, DPR-82 Report: 05000275/2012302; 05000323/2012302 Licensee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Facility: Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Location: 7 1/2 miles NW of Avila Beach Avila Beach, California Dates: November 21 - December 3, 2012 Inspectors: S. Garchow, Chief Examiner T. Farina, Operations Engineer C. Steely, Operations Engineer R. DeVercelly, Senior Training Instructor (Technical Training Center)

Approved By: Vince Gaddy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety-1- Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER05000275/2012302; 05000323/2012302; November 21 - December 3, 2012; Diablo Canyon

Power Plant, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of 8 applicants for reactor operator licenses, 3 applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and 2 applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator license at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2.

The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The written examination was administered by the licensee on November 21, 2012. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on November 26 - December 3, 2012.

The examiners determined that all 13 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55 and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings were identified.

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. The examiners also audited five 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 prepared the written examination and the NRC examiners reviewed the integrated operating test outlines and draft operating test submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. Additionally, the licensee requested that the written examinations be withheld from public release for two years and the NRC agreed.

This file will be available in ADAMS for public review after December 3, 2014.

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 that the 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 November 21, 2012, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all thirteen applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post examination comments to the NRC on December 3, 2012.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all thirteen applicants from November 26 through December 3, 2012.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

The final written examinations, operating test, and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.

The examination team noted the following generic weaknesses:

• Applicants showed difficulty in interpreting Response Not Obtained (RNO)

Step 6.b of Procedure EOP FR-P.1, Response to Imminent Pressurized Thermal Shock Condition.

• Two of four senior reactor operators did not recognize they could not go up in modes after entering a technical specification limiting condition of operation.

.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 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

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Messrs. Barry Allen, Site Vice President, James Welsch, Station Director, and other members of the staff on December 3, 2012. A telephonic exit was conducted on December 12, 2012, between Messrs. Steve Garchow, Chief Examiner, and Ron Fortier, Senior Training Instructor.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

R. Fortier, Senior Training Instructor

D. Burns, Manager Operations Training

NRC Personnel

L. Micewski, Senior Resident Inspector (Acting)