IR 05000397/2021301

NRC Exam Report 05000397/2021301

ML21111A058
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	04/21/2021
From:	Greg Werner Division of Reactor Safety IV
To:	Sawatzke B Energy Northwest
References
50-397/21-301 50-397/OL-21
Download: ML21111A058 (10)

Text

April 21, 2021

SUBJECT:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000397/2021301

Dear Mr. Sawatzke:

On April 6, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Columbia Generating Station. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on February 26, 2021, with you and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on April 6, 2021, with Mr. C. Prost, Manager, Operations Training, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and one applicant for upgrade senior reactor operator license. The license examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There was one post-examination comment submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report and Enclosure 2 summarizes post-examination comment resolution.

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, Gregory E. Werner Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000397 License No. NPF-21

Enclosures:

1. Examination Report 05000397/2021301 w/attachment: Supplemental Information 2. NRC Post-Examination Comment Resolution

Inspection Report

Docket Number: 05000397 License Number: NPF-21 Report Number: 05000397/2021301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2021-OLL-0011 Licensee: Energy Northwest Facility: Columbia Generating Station Location: Richland, Washington Inspection Dates: February 22, 2021, to April 6, 2021 Inspectors: J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer, Chief Examiner B. Bergeon, Operations Engineer M. Hayes, Operations Engineer N. Hernandez, Operations Engineer Approved By: Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY

Examination Report 05000397/2021301; February 22 - April 6, 2021; Columbia Generating

Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and one applicant for upgrade senior reactor operator license at Columbia Generating Station.

The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the licensee on March 4, 2021. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on February 22 - 26, 2021.

The NRC examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

OTHER ACTIVITIES

- INITIAL LICENSE EXAM

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The NRC examiners also audited three 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 Examination Development

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examiners conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.

b. Findings

The NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.

The NRC examiners determined the written examinations and operating tests initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Scope

On March 4, 2021, 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 and post-examination comments to the NRC on March 18, 2021.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants from February 22 - 26, 2021.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test. The final examinations and post-examination analysis and comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.

The examination team noted three generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the operating tests.

• Three of 4 crews did not correctly apply technical specifications after putting SPC into service.

• Three of 4 crews did not correctly identify a tripped contact.

• Eight of 11 individuals could not swap reactor building fans without getting a positive pressure in the building.

Post-examination analysis revealed four generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination. These weaknesses were all associated with learning deficiencies.

• Question 19 - fire pump FP-P-1 automatically starts on a loss of control power when bus SH-5 is deenergized

• Question 41 - narrow range reactor pressure vessel level not density compensated

• Question 89 - actions associated with elevated battery room temperatures

• Question 92 - actions when wetwell level exceeds wetwell-to-drywell level limit These weaknesses were captured in the licensees corrective action program as Action Request 00417260. Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

The NRC examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security for examination development during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with 10 CFR 55.49 and NUREG-1021. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to you and other members of the staff on February 26, 2021. A telephonic exit was conducted on April 6, 2021, between Mr. J. Kirkland, Chief Examiner, and Mr. C. Prost, Manager, Operations Training The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

C. Prost, Manager, Operations Training

M. McAdory, Simulator and Exam Group Supervisor

K. Robertson, Exam Writer

J. Lux, Exam Writer

NRC Personnel

L. Merker, Senior Resident Inspector