IR 05000387/2014301
| ML14297A441 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 10/23/2014 |
| From: | Diane Jackson Operations Branch I |
| To: | Rausch T Susquehanna |
| Jackson D | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML14079A115 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-387/YR-01, 50-388/YR-01, U01896 50-387/OL-14, 50-388/OL-14 | |
| Download: ML14297A441 (9) | |
Text
SUBJECT:
SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 -
NRC INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000387/2014301; 05000388/2014301
Dear Mr. Rausch:
On August 21, 2014, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on September 25, 2014, with Mr. Robert Franzen, General Manager Operations, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of ten applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and one applicant for an upgrade senior reactor operator license. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that eight of the eleven applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued.
No findings were identified during this examination.
Three applicants for an instant senior reactor operator failed the written examination. One of these applicants also failed the operating examination. These applicants were denied licenses.
Two applicants for an instant SRO license passed the exam but their licenses are being held based on their written exam grades. Licenses for applicants with written exam passing grades of 82 percent or below are normally held for review until those applicants who failed the examination have had an opportunity to appeal their license denials.
October 23, 2014 In accordance with Title 10 of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 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 Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS).
ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA/
Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos.
50-387; 50-388 License Nos. NPF-14; NPF-22
Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000387/2014301; 05000388/2014301 w/Attachment: Supplementary Information
REGION I==
Dockets:
50-387, 50-388 Licenses:
05000387/2014301; 05000388/2014301 Licensee:
PPL Susquehanna, LLC Facility:
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 Location:
Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Dates:
8/11-15/2014 (Operating Test Administration)
8/21/2014 (Written Examination Administration)
9/9/2014 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)
9/25/2014 (NRC Examination Grading)
9/25/2014 (Licenses Issued)
Examiners:
J.M. DAntonio, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer S. Hansell, Senior Resident Inspector, Peach Bottom M. Patel, Operations Engineer T. Dunn, Operations Engineer
Approved By:
Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000387/2014301; 05000388/2014301; August 11-21, 2014; Susquehanna Steam Electric
Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.
Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of ten applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and one applicant for an upgrade senior reactor operator license at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Name, Units 1 and 2. The facility 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 facility on August 21, 2014. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on August 11-15, 2014.
The NRC examiners determined that eight of the eleven 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
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The examiners reviewed all eleven 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 chief examiner also audited all 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.
a. Findings
No findings were identified.
.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Examination Scope
On August 21, 2014, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all eleven applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on September 9, 2014.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to eleven applicants on August 11 - 15, 2014. The ten applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in either two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The one applicant for an upgrade senior reactor operator licenses participated in two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
b. Findings
Eight of the eleven applicants passed all parts of the examinations. Three senior reactor operator applicants failed the written examination. One of these applicants also failed the operating test. For the written examinations, the applicants average score was 82 percent and ranged from 74 to 91 percent.
The text of the examination questions, the licensees examination analysis, and the licensees post-examination comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in Attachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.
The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on September 25, 2014, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination will be delayed for two years. The text of the examination questions, the licensees examination analysis, and the licensees post-examination comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.
Chapter ES-403 and Form ES-403-1 of NUREG 1021 require the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants. The licensee conducted this performance analysis for all questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.
The licensee submitted three post-examination questions comments on September 9, 2014. The NRC reviewed the facilitys post-exam comment submittal package and accepted facility recommendations on the three questions. In all three cases, the NRC resolution was to accept two correct answers to the questions. The text of the examination questions, the licensees examination analysis, and the licensees post-examination comments with the NRC resolutions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy the release of this written examination will be delayed for two years.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9, Supplement 1. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The facility licensee submitted both the written and operating examination outlines on May 28, 2014.
The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on August 18, 2014. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee on the examination. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of July 14, 2014. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to administration of the examinations.
b. Findings
The NRC approved the initial examination outline and advised the licensee to proceed with the operating examination development.
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations initially 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 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 DRS Operations Branch Chief presented the examination results to Mr. Robert Franzen, General Manager Operations, and other members of the licensee's management staff on September 25, 2014. The licensee acknowledged the findings 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
Corey Goff, Training Manager
Tallion Frenchy, Operations Training Manager
Derek Jones, Accreditation Manager
Bob Spadoni, ILT Supervisor
NRC Personnel
Jonathan Grieves, Senior Resident Inspector
ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED
Opened
NONE
Opened and Closed
NONE
Closed
NONE
Discussed
NONE