IR 05000397/2003301

Er 50-397/03-301; Energy Northwest; 3/27-4/7/2003; Columbia Generating Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination

ML030990374
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	04/09/2003
From:	Gody A Operations Branch IV
To:	Parrish J Energy Northwest
References
ER-03-301
Download: ML030990374 (9)

Text

ril 9, 2003

SUBJECT:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT - 50-397/03-301

Dear Mr. Parrish:

On April 3, 2003, the NRC completed an initial examination at your Columbia Generating Station. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on April 7, 2003, with Mr. Ronald Hayden of your staff.

The examination included an evaluation of one applicant for reactor operator. We determined that the applicant satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and his reactor operator license has been issued.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRCs "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). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Anthony T. Gody Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket: 50-397 License: NPF-21

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 50-397/03-301

Energy Northwest -2-

REGION IV==

Docket: 50-397 License: NPF-21 Report No.: 50-397/03-301 Licensee: Energy Northwest Facility: Columbia Generating Station Location: Richland, Washington Dates: March 27 to April 4, 2003 Examiner: H. F. Bundy, Senior Operations Engineer, Operations Branch Approved By: Anthony T. Gody, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

-2-SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER 50-397/03-301; Energy Northwest; 3/27-4/7/2003; Columbia Generating Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of an applicant for a reactor operator license. The operating test was waived and the licensee developed the written examination using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 8, Supplement 1. Licensee proctors administered the written examination to the applicant on March 27, 2003.

Cornerstone: Human Performance No findings of significance were identified (Section 40A4.1).

Report Details 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)

4OA4 Initial Operator License Examination

.1 Operator Knowledge and Performance a. Scope On March 27, 2003, the licensee proctored the administration of a written examination to an applicant for a reactor operator license. The licensee staff graded the examination, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on April 2, 2003. The NRC examiner conducted all activities by telephone and mail from the regional office.

b. Findings The applicant passed the written examination. Because he had passed the operating test in October 2002, this portion of the examination had been waived and his reactor operator license was issued.

The licensee conducted a performance analysis for the written examination to determine if there were any knowledge commonalities or training issues associated with the questions missed by the applicant and submitted this analysis to the chief examiner for review. During this analysis, the licensee determined that the answer key listed the wrong choice for Question 98. It listed Choice B as the correct answer, when in fact Choice A was the correct answer. There was no effect on the applicants score because he had chosen C as the answer for Question 98. After reviewing the licensees analysis, the chief examiner concluded that there were no knowledge commonalities in the questions missed by the applicant and that Choice A was indeed the correct answer for Question 98. The key was corrected. The text of the examination questions and the performance analysis and comment may be accessed in the ADAMS system as noted in the attachment to this report.

No findings of significance were identified.

.2 Initial Licensing Examination Development a. Scope The licensee developed the written examination in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 8, Supplement 1, using facility training and operations staff on the security agreement to prepare and validate the examination.

The facility licensee submitted the examination outline and draft examination on February 27, 2003. The chief examiner reviewed the submittal against the requirements of NUREG-1021, Revision 8, Supplement 1, and provided comments on the draft examination to the licensee. There were no changes to the draft outline.

-2-b. Findings The examiners determined that the written examination initially submitted by the licensee was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

The chief examiner forwarded comments on the written examination to the licensee on March 24, 2003, and all comments were appropriately resolved by the licensee prior to examination administration.

No findings of significance were identified.

.4OA5 Management Meeting Exit Meeting Summary The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. Ronald Hayden, Training Specialist IV, on April 7, 2003. He acknowledged the findings presented.

He did not identify as proprietary any information or materials examined during the examination.

ATTACHMENT KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee R. Hayden, Training Specialist IV S. Hutchison, Senior Training Specialist ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED Accession No. ML030940604: Final Writtem Examination and Answer Key Accession No. ML030940622: Post Exam Analysis & Justification for Key Change