IR 05000387/2008301

Er 05000387-08-301 and 05000388-08-301; on December 7-18, 2007; Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination

ML080390114
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	02/08/2008
From:	Hansell S Operations Branch I
To:	Mckinney B Susquehanna
Shared Package
ML072140644	List: IR 05000387/2008301 ML072150083 ML073370824 ML080360457 ML081770385
References
50-387/08-301, 50-388/08-301, ER-08-301
Download: ML080390114 (9)

Text

ary 8, 2008

SUBJECT:

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION - REACTOR OPERATOR AND SENIOR REACTOR OPERATOR INITIAL EXAMINATION REPORT 05000387/2008301 AND 05000388/2008301

Dear Mr. McKinney:

This report transmits the results of the Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator initial licensing examination conducted by the NRC during the period of December 7-18, 2007. This examination addressed areas important to public health and safety and was developed and administered using the guidelines of the Examination Standards for Power Reactors (NUREG-1021, Revision 9).

Based on the results of the examination, all three of the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)

applicants and nine of the twelve Reactor Operator (RO) applicants passed all portions of the examination. Three Reactor Operator applicants passed all sections of the operating portion but failed the written portion of the initial licensing examination. The applicants included twelve ROs, one instant SRO and two upgrade SROs. Mr. J. Caruso discussed initial performance insights observed during the examination with Messrs. R. Fry and C. Michaels of your staff on December 18, 2007. On January 16, 2008, final examination results, including individual license numbers, were provided to PPL during a telephone call between Mr. Caruso and Mr. R. M. Peal of your staff.

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). These records include the final examination and are available in ADAMS (Master File - Accession Number ML072140644; RO and SRO Written - Accession Number ML080020211; RO and SRO Operating Section A - Accession Number ML080020212; RO and SRO Operating Section B - Accession Number ML080020214; and RO and SRO Operating Section C - Accession Number ML080020217). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Mr. Britt Should you have any questions regarding this examination, please contact me at (610) 337-5046 or by E-mail at slh1@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Samuel L. Hansell, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-387; 50-388 License Nos. NPF-14, NPF-22

Enclosures:

Initial Examination Report 05000387/2008301 and 05000388/2008301

REGION I==

Docket No. 50-387, 50-388 License No. NPF-14, NPF-22 Report No. 05000387/2008301 and 05000388/2008301 Licensee: PPL Susquehanna, LLC Facility: Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 Location: Berwick, Pennsylvania Dates: December 10-18, 2007 (Operating Test Administration)

December 7, 2007 (Written Examination Administration)

January 4, 2008 (Facility Grading Complete - Post Exam Package Received)

December 18, 2007 - January 4, 2008 (NRC Examination Grading)

Examiners: John Caruso, Senior Operations Engineer (Chief Examiner)

Todd Fish, Senior Operations Engineer Joseph DAntonio, Senior Operations Engineer Gil Johnson, Operations Engineer Approved by: Samuel L. Hansell, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety i

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000387/2008301 and 05000388/2008301; December 7-18, 2007; Susquehanna Steam

Electric Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination. Twelve of fifteen applicants (nine ROs, one SRO instant and two SRO upgrades) passed all portions of the examination.

The written examinations were administered by PPL and the operating tests were administered by three NRC region-based examiners. There were no inspection findings of significance associated with the examinations.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None

Licensee-Identified Violations

None ii

REPORT DETAILS

REACTOR SAFETY

Mitigating Systems - Reactor Operator (RO) and Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) Initial License Examination

a. Scope

of Review PPL developed the written and the operating examinations. The NRC coordinated the administration of the exam to ensure and verify the following:

• The examination was prepared and developed in accordance with the guidelines of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9. A review was conducted in the Region I Office, at the plant, and at the training facility. The final resolution of comments and the incorporation of test revisions were completed prior to the administration of the exams.

• Simulation facility operation was proper.

• A test item analysis was completed on the written examination for feedback into PPLs training program.

• All examination security requirements were met.

The NRC examiners administered the operating portion of the examination to all applicants from December 10-18, 2007. The written examination was administered by the site training staff on December 7, 2007.

b. Findings

Grading and Results Twelve of fifteen applicants (nine ROs, one SRO instant and two SRO upgrades)passed all portions of the examination. Three RO applicants failed the written portion of the examination.

The facility did not submit post-examination comments.

Examination Administration and Performance During the exam administration there were no potential simulator fidelity issues or training deficiencies identified.

4OA6 Exit Meeting Summary

On January 16, 2008, the NRC provided conclusions and examination results to PPL via telephone. License numbers for ten of the twelve applicants who passed all portions of the initial licensing examination were also provided. Two of the RO applicants passed the written examination with a passing grade of 82 percent or below. These applicants will have their licenses held for review until the three applicants who failed the written portion of the examination have had an opportunity to appeal their license denials (i.e.,

as explained in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, paragraph D.3.c of Examination Standard (ES) 501). In addition, three of the RO applicants passed all sections of the operating portion but failed the written portion of the initial licensing examination and are therefore denied a license at this time.

The NRC noted the cooperation and assistance of PPLs training staff during the preparation and administration of the examination.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

ATTACHMENT

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

R. M. Peal, Training Manager

R. Fry, Operations Management Oversight

C. Michaels, Exam Lead

F. Olsen, Exam Contact

NRC Personnel

J. Caruso, Senior Operations Engineer

T. Fish, Senior Operations Engineer

J. DAntonio, Senior Operations Engineer

G. Johnson, Operations Engineer

LIST OF ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened/Closed/Discussed

None

Attachment