IR 05000390/2022301
| ML22273A137 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 09/30/2022 |
| From: | Tom Stephen NRC/RGN-II/DRS/OLB |
| To: | Jim Barstow Tennessee Valley Authority |
| References | |
| 50-390/OL-22-301, 50-391/OL-22-301 | |
| Download: ML22273A137 (10) | |
Text
September 30, 2022
SUBJECT:
WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000390/2022301 and 05000391/2022301
Dear Mr. Barstow:
During the period August 8 - 12, 2022 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed 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 August 17, 2022.
Three Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant failed the written examination.
There was one post-administration comment concerning the operating test. This comment, and the NRC resolution of this comment, are summarized in Enclosure 2. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 3.
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,
/RA/
Thomas A. Stephen, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos: 50-390, 50-391 License Nos: DRP-90, DRP-96
Enclosures:
1. Report Details 2. Post Exam Comments 3. Simulator Fidelity Report
REGION II==
Examination Report
Docket No.:
05000390, 05000391
License No.:
Report No.:
05000390/2022301 and 05000391/2022301
Enterprise Identifier: L-2022-OLL-0026
Licensee:
Tennessee Valley Authority
Facility:
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2
Location:
Spring City, TN
Dates:
Operating Test - August 8-12, 2022
Written Examination - August 17, 2022
Examiners:
D. Lanyi, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer
M. Donithan, Operations Engineer
A. Goldau, Operations Engineer J. Viera, Senior Operations Engineer
Approved by:
Thomas Stephen, Chief
Operations Branch 1
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000390/2022301 and 05000391/2022301; operating test August 8-12, 2022 & written exam August 17, 2022; Watts Bar Nuclear 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 Watts Bar Nuclear 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 August 8-12, 2022. Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on August 17, 2022. Three Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Eleven applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
There was one post-examination comment.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
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 and after the preparatory site visit to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications in accordance with NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period August 8-12, 2022. The NRC examiners evaluated four Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on August 17, 2022. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Watts Bar Nuclear 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 Watts Bar Nuclear 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 examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Three RO applicants and all eight SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant passed the operating test but did not pass the written examination. Three RO applicants and all eight SRO applicants were issued licenses.
One significant generic concern was identified during the operating examination. Two crews failed to isolate auxiliary feedwater to a faulted Steam Generator in a timely manner. They continued to feed that Steam Generator for a significant time after entering their emergency procedures. 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 submitted one post-examination comment concerning the operating test.
A copy of the final written examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, and the licensees post-examination comment may be accessed not earlier than August 19, 2024, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML22259A193, ML 2259A195, and ML22259A197).
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
Exit Meeting Summary
On August 12, 2022, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Beth Jenkins, Plant Manager, and members of the Watts Bar Nuclear 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
Beth Jenkins, WBN Plant Manager Matt McMullin, WBN Training Director Russell Joplin, TVA Corporate Exam Program Manager Mike Bruchey, WBN Operations Superintendent Leon Neat, WBN Operations Training Manager Pat OBrien, WBN Initial License Training Supervisor Jeremy Thompson, WBN Operations Training Shift Manager Brian McIlnay, WBN Shift Manager / WBN Facility Representative Ryan Schaumburg, WBN Class Lead Instructor Tim Gabosch, WBN Exam Project Manager / Facility Author
FACILITY POST-EXAMINATION COMMENTS AND NRC RESOLUTIONS
A complete text of the licensees post-examination comments can be found in ADAMS under
Accession Number ML22259A197.
Item
Scenario 3
Comment
The licensee recommended that a correction be made to the Scenario 3 Scenario Outline and
Required Operator Action forms.
Scenario 3, Form 3.3-1, Scenario Outline, and Form 3.3-2, Required Operator Actions, Event 4,
Technical Specification evaluation grading criteria did not include LCO 3.4.17, Steam Generator
(SG) Tube Integrity, Condition A, as being required to be entered. The provided conditions in
the scenario required LCO 3.4.17, Steam Generator (SG) Tube Integrity, Condition A, to
entered.
The Technical Specification evaluation for Event 4 required entry into the following LCOs:
LCO 3.4.13, RCS Operational Leakage, Condition B
LCO 3.4.17, Steam Generator (SG) Tube Integrity, Condition A
NRC Resolution
The licensees recommendation was accepted.
The omission to the scenario was inadvertent. For a SG tube leak, the tube integrity Technical
Specification was required to be entered.
SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
Facility Docket No.: 050000390 and 050000391
Operating Test Administered: August 8-12, 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.
No simulator fidelity or configuration issues were identified.