IR 05000352/2025301
| ML25030A112 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 01/30/2025 |
| From: | Diane Jackson NRC/RGN-I/DORS/OB |
| To: | Rhoades D Constellation Energy Generation, Constellation Nuclear |
| References | |
| IR 2025301 | |
| Download: ML25030A112 (1) | |
Text
January 30, 2025
SUBJECT:
LIMERICK GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000352/2025301 AND 05000353/2025301
Dear David Rhoades:
On November 18, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on January 8, 2025, with Michael Gillin, Site Vice President, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of five applicants for reactor operator licenses and nine applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12. The license examiners determined that 12 of the 14 applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on January 8, 2025. Two applicants for reactor operator licenses failed the written examination and were issued preliminary denial letters.
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, Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 05000352 and 05000353 License Nos. NPF-39 and NPF-85
Enclosure:
As stated
REGION I==
Docket Numbers:
05000352 and 05000353
License Numbers:
NPF-39 and NPF-85 Report Numbers:
05000352/2025301 and 05000353/2025301
Licensee:
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC
Enterprise Identifier:
L-2025-OLL-0000 Facility:
Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2
Location:
Pottstown, PA Dates:
November 12-18, 2024 (Operating Test Administration)
November 21, 2024 (Written Examination Administration)
December 6, 2024 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)
December 16-20, 2024 (NRC Examination Grading)
January 8, 2025 (Licenses Issued)
Examiners:
T. Setzer, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch B. Dyke, Operations Engineer T. Fish, Senior Operations Engineer J. Kepley, Operations Engineer C. Lally, Senior Operations Engineer M. Patel, Senior Operations Engineer L. Sinclair, Operations Engineer (in training)
Approved By:
Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000352/2025301 and 05000353/2025301; 11/12/2024 - 11/21/2024; Limerick Generating
Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.
Six NRC examiners evaluated the competency of five applicants for reactor operator licenses and nine applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12.
The written examination was administered by the facility on November 21, 2024. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on November 12 through 18, 2024. The license examiners determined that 12 of the 14 applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on January 8, 2025. Two applicants for reactor operator licenses failed the written examination and were issued preliminary denial letters.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities Initial Operator License Examination
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The examiners reviewed all license applications submitted by the licensee to ensure the applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The applications were submitted on NRC Form 398, Personal Qualification Statement, and NRC Form 396, Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee. The examiners also audited 10 percent 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 Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Examination Scope
On November 21, 2024, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on December 6, 2024.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all applicants on November 12 through 18, 2024. The applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 10 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
b. Findings
Twelve applicants passed all parts of the operating test and the written examination, and the appropriate licenses were issued on January 8, 2025. Two applicants for reactor operator licenses failed the written examination and were issued preliminary denial letters. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 81.8 percent and the senior reactor operator applicants average score was 89.8 percent. The text of the examination questions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.
Chapter ES-4.4 of NUREG 1021 requires the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants.
Licensee training staff performed this analysis and forwarded it to the Chief Examiner.
The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The licensee submitted the operating examination outline on June 15, 2024. The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee. The licensee submitted the draft examination package on August 29, 2024.
The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on October 2, 2024. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of September 12, 2024. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on November 5, 2024.
b. Findings
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
No findings were identified.
.4 Simulation Facility Performance
a. Examination Scope
The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.
b. Findings
No findings were identified.
.5 Examination Security
a. Examination Scope
The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12 requirements. 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 examination results to Michael Gillin, Site Vice President, and other members of the licensee's staff on January 8, 2025. The licensee acknowledged the observations presented.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
Mike Gillin - Site Vice President
Jeremy Searer - Operations Director
Jeff Weaver - Shift Operations Superintendent
Seth Mitten - Acting Senior Manager of Site Training
Dan Semeter - Manager of Operations Training
Joshua Chau - ILT Instructor
Tom Castle - Exam Author
Tom Dean - Corporate Director of Training Oversight
Paul Isham - Fleet Regulatory Exam Expert
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
None