IR 05000324/2022301

NRC Operator License Examination Report 05000325/2022301 and 05000324/2022301

ML23034A194
Person / Time
Site:	Brunswick
Issue date:	02/03/2023
From:	Tom Stephen NRC/RGN-II
To:	Krakuszeski J Duke Energy Progress
References
IR 2022301
Download: ML23034A194 (1)

Text

SUBJECT:

BRUNSWICK STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000325/2022301 AND 05000324/2022301

Dear Mr. Krakuszeski:

During the period December 5 - 15, 2022, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners 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 19, 2022.

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 12.

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).

If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4703.

Sincerely, Thomas Stephen, Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos: 50-325, 50-324 License Nos: DPR-71, DPR-62

Enclosures:

1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

REGION II==

Examination Report

Docket No.:

50-325, 50-324

License No.:

DPR-71, DPR-62

Report No.:

05000325/2022301, 05000324/2022301

Enterprise Identifier: L-2022-OLL-0029

Licensee:

Duke Energy Progress, Inc.

Facility:

Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units 1 and 2

Location:

Southport, NC

Dates:

Operating Test - December 5 - 15, 2022

Written Examination - December 19, 2022

Examiners:

Bruno Caballero, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer

Jason Bundy, Senior Operations Engineer

Kevin Kirchbaum, Senior Operations Engineer Mike Kennard, Senior Operations Engineer Joe Viera, Senior Operations Engineer

Approved by:

Tom Stephen, Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

SUMMARY

ER 05000325/2022301, 05000324/2022301; operating test December 5 - 15, 2022 & written exam December 19, 2022; Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units 1 and 2; Operator License Examinations.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 12, 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 Brunswick Steam Electric 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 5 - 15, 2022. Members of the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 19, 2022. Ten Reactor Operator (RO) and sixteen 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 5 - 15, 2022.

The NRC examiners evaluated ten Reactor Operator (RO) and sixteen Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 19, 2022. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Brunswick Steam Electric 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 Brunswick Steam Electric 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 12, 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 written examination and operating test submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed written examination and operating test.

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 3, 2025, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number(s)

ML23006A011 and ML23006A018.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

On December 15, 2022, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with John Krakuszeski, Site Vice President, and members of the Brunswick Steam Electric 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 Krakuszeski, Site Vice President Jay Ratliff, Plant General Manager Jerry Pierce, Training Manager Mike Fiorino, Operations Manager Sabrina Salazar, Operations Assistant Operations Manager Andrew Freed, Superintendent Operator Training Matthew Waldecker, Superintendent Operator Training Nate Kenderdine, Operations Instructor Dwayne Wolf, Operations SRO Representative Brian Stetson, Operations Instructor Tom Sherrill, Regulator Affairs Senior Engineering Technologist

NRC personnel

Gale Smith, Senior Resident Inspector

Enclosure 2 SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Brunswick Steam Electric Plant

Facility Docket No.: 05000325, 05000324

Operating Test Administered: December 5 - 15, 2022

This form is to be 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 are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46. No licensee action is required in response to these observations.

While conducting the simulator portion of the operating test, examiners observed the following:

Item (NCR 02454775)

Description

TT-1662 The plant process computer point for core flow (CPWTCF) on the power-to-flow map was lost, which required the simulator to be placed in freeze.

TT-1663 The RHR Pump 2D control switch was not working, i.e., when the switch was held in the start position, the pump didnt start during both the onsite prep week and during the administration of the operating test.