IR 05000413/2007301
| ML080290081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 01/28/2008 |
| From: | Widmann M NRC/RGN-II/DRS/OLB |
| To: | Morris J Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Power Co |
| References | |
| 50-413/07-301, 50-414/07-301 | |
| Download: ML080290081 (7) | |
Text
January 28, 2008
SUBJECT:
CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000413/2007301 AND 05000414/2007301
Dear Mr. Morris:
During the period of December 3 - 6, 2007, 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 with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on December 13, 2007.
Three reactor operator (RO) and four senior reactor operator (SRO) applicants passed both the written examinations and operating tests. One RO applicant failed the written examination.
There were no post examination comments as indicated in a letter received from the licensee dated December 19, 2007.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "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 NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html(the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 562-4550.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos: 50-413, 50-414 License Nos.: NPF-35, NPF-52
Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000413/2007301 and 05000414/2007301
w/Attachment: Supplemental Information
REGION II==
Docket Nos.:
05000413, 05000414
License Nos.:
Report No.:
05000413/2007301, 05000414/2007301
Licensee:
Duke Energy Corporation (DEC)
Facility:
Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2
Location:
4800 Concord Road
York, SC 29745
Dates:
Operating Tests - December 3 - 6, 2007
Written Examination - December 13, 2007
Examiners:
E. Lea, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer G. Laska, Senior Operations Engineer
P. Capehart, Operations Engineer M. Riches, In-Training, Operations Engineer
Approved by:
Malcolm Widmann, Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosure SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000413/2005301, 05000414/2005301; 12/3 - 12/6/2007 and 12/13/2007; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Licensed Operator Examination.
The NRC examiners conducted operator licensing initial examinations in accordance with the guidance in NUREG-1021, Revision 9, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors. This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements of 10 CFR
§55.41, §55.43, and §55.45.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period of December 3 - 6, 2007. Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on December 13, 2007. The written examination outlines, the written examination questions, operating test outlines, and the operating test details were developed by the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff.
Three reactor operator (RO) and four senior reactor operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All of the applicants were issued operator licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. One RO applicant failed the written examination. There were no post examination comments as indicated in a letter received from the licensee dated December 19, 2007.
The initial written examination submittal was determined to be outside of the acceptable quality range as outlined in NUREG-1021. Substantially greater than twenty percent of the questions on both the SRO and RO exam required significant modification or were replaced as a result of the NRCs review of the examination submitted by the licensee. Question flaws included non-plausible distractors, low level of difficulty, questions not testing knowledge required by the knowledge and ability random sample outline, and SRO exam questions not written to test knowledge that is only required of the SRO. Future examination submittals need to incorporate lessons learned.
Enclosure
Report Details
4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4OA5 Operator Licensing Initial Examinations
a.
Inspection Scope
The licensee developed the written examination outlines, the written examination questions, operating test outlines, and the operating test details in accordance with NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made according to NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.
The examiners reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations to ensure examination security and integrity complied with 10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The examiners evaluated four reactor operator (RO) and four senior reactor operator (SRO) applicants who were being assessed under the guidelines specified in NUREG-1021. The examiners administered the operating tests during the period of December 3 - 6, 2007. Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on December 13, 2007. The evaluations of the applicants and review of documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Catawba Nuclear Station, met requirements specified in 10 CFR 55, Operators Licenses.
b.
Findings
The initial written examination submittal was determined to be outside of the acceptable quality range as outlined in NUREG-1021. Substantially greater than twenty percent of the questions on both the SRO and RO exam required significant modification or were replaced as a result of the NRCs review of the examination submitted by the licensee.
Question flaws included non-plausible distractors, low level of difficulty, questions not testing knowledge required by the knowledge and ability random sample outline, and SRO exam questions not written to test knowledge that is only required of the SRO.
Future examination submittals need to incorporate lessons learned.
Three RO and four SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All of the applicants were issued operator licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. One RO applicant failed the written examination.
There were no post examination comments as indicated in a letter received from the licensee dated December 19, 2007.
Enclosure
The combined RO and SRO written examinations, with knowledge and abilities (K/As)
question references/answers and examination references and the letter stating no post-
exam comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers
ML080230274 - Combined RO/SRO Written Exam with answers, KAs, & References,
and ML080230227 - Ltr dtd 12-19-07, stating no post-exam comments).
4OA6 Meetings
Exit Meeting Summary
On December 6, 2007, the examination team discussed generic issues with Mr. Gary Hamilton, Site Training Manager, and members of his staff. The inspectors asked the licensee whether any materials examined during the inspection should be considered proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.
PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED
Licensee Personnel
S. Coy, Operations Training Manager H. Dameron, Initial Training Supervisor T. Garrison, Operations Training Liaison R. Hart, Manager of Regulatory Compliance J. Mc Connell, Shift Operations Manager J. Suptela, Operations Training Senior Engineer
NRC Personnel
A. Sabisch, Senior Resident Inspector