IR 05000413/2021301
| ML21312A534 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 11/08/2021 |
| From: | Gerald Mccoy Division of Reactor Safety II |
| To: | Simril T Duke Energy Carolinas |
| References | |
| 50-413/21-301, 50-414/21-301 50-413/OL-21, 50-414/OL-21 | |
| Download: ML21312A534 (9) | |
Text
November 8, 2021
SUBJECT:
CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION - OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000413/2021301 AND 05000414/2021301
Dear Mr. Simril:
During the period September 20 - 23, 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Catawba Nuclear Station. 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 September 30, 2021.
Two Reactor Operator (RO) and seven Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-administration comments concerning the written exam or the operating test. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 2
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 11.
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) 997-4551.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Gerald J. McCoy, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos: 50-413, 50-414 License Nos: NPF-35, NPF-52
Enclosures:
1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report
ML21312A534:
SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE FORM 665 ATTACHED OFFICE RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS NAME KKIRCHBAUM G. McCoy
DATE 11/0 8/2021 11/ 8 /2021
Enclosure 1 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION II
Examination Report
Docket No.:
50-413, 50-414
License No.:
Report No.:
05000413/2021301, 05000414/2021301
EPID No.:
Licensee:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Facility:
Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2
Location:
York, SC 29745
Dates:
Operating Test - September 20-23, 2021
Written Examination - September 30, 2021
Examiners:
K. Kirchbaum, Chief Examiner, Operations Engineer
M. Bates, Senior Operations Engineer
A. Goldau, Operations Engineer
Approved by:
Gerald J. McCoy, Chief
Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000413/2020301, 05000414/2020301; operating test September 20-23, 2021 & written exam September 30, 2021; Catawba Nuclear Station; Operator License Examinations.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 11, 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.
The NRC developed the written examination outline. Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. The initial operating test, written Reactor Operator (RO) examination, and written Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)
examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period September 20-23, 2021. Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on September 30, 2021. Two Reactor Operator (RO) and seven Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)
applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Nine applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
There were no post-examination comments.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations
a.
Inspection Scope
The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and Job Performance Measures (JPMs) to determine the percentage of submitted test items that required replacement or significant modification. The NRC also evaluated the submitted written examination questions (Reactor Operator (RO) and Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) questions considered separately) 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 to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period of September 20-23, 2021.
The NRC examiners evaluated two RO and seven SRO applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on September 30, 2021. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Catawba Nuclear Station, 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 Catawba Nuclear Station training staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 11, 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 that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Two Reactor Operator (RO) and seven Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Nine applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
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 no post-examination comments concerning the operating test and or the written examination. A copy of the final written examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than November 1, 2023, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML21286A363 and ML21286A525).
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
Exit Meeting Summary
On September 24, 2021, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. Tom Simril, Site Vice President, and members of the Catawba Nuclear Station staff via video conference. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.
On November 1, 2021, the NRC examination team discussed the results of the examination with B. Webster, Operations Training Supervisor, via telephone.
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee personnel
Tom Simril, Site Vice President Jon Huecker, Plant Manager Steven Andrews, Operations Manager Scott Milton, Assistant Operations Manager Shift Brian Haynes, Assistant Operations Manager Support Donald Griffith, Site Training Manager Brandon Webster, Operations Training Superintendent Mandy Hare, Nuclear Support Services Manager Sherry Andrews, Senior Nuclear Engineer Ari Tuckman, Lead Nuclear Engineer Bruce Boyette, Nuclear Station Instructor Rusty Miller, Nuclear Station Instructor
NRC personnel
Joe Austin, Senior Resident Inspector
Enclosure 2
SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Catawba Nuclear Station
Facility Docket No.: 05000413, 05000414
Operating Test Administered: September 20 - 23, 2021
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.
One simulator fidelity issue was identified. The simulator allowed resetting of the Turbine Driven Feed Pumps (CFPT) with a loss of vacuum. This was contrary to expected simulator response and plant operations. A simulator Work Request (W/R), FTC-019, has been written to investigate the issue.