IR 05000416/2021301

NRC Examination Report 05000416/2021301

ML21343A441
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	12/14/2021
From:	Heather Gepford Operations Branch IV
To:	Franssen R Entergy Operations
References
50-416/21-301 50-416/OL-21
Download: ML21343A441 (9)

Text

December 14, 2021

SUBJECT:

REISSUE - GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000416/2021301

Dear Mr. Franssen:

The NRC identified that the examination report sent to you dated December 14, 2021, provided an incorrect exit date in the Exit Summary due to a typographical error. As a result, the NRC is reissuing the report in its entirety to correct the error. This change does not affect the technical content of the report.

On October 21, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on October 21, 2021, with Mr. Brad Wertz, General Manager Plant Operations, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on November 15, 2021, with Mr. Tracy Tharp, Supervisor, Operations Training, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, five applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all eight applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There were no post-examination comments submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report.

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, Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-416 License No. NPF-29

Enclosures:

Examination Report 05000416/2021301 w/attachment:

Supplemental Information

Inspection Report

Docket Number: 05000416 License Number: NPF-29 Report Number: 05000416/2021301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2021-OLL-0016 Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility: Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Location: Port Gibson, Mississippi Inspection Dates: October 18, 2021, to October 21, 2021 Inspectors: K. Clayton, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer C. Osterholtz, Senior Operations Engineer B. Bergeon, Operations Engineer Approved By: Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY

Examination Report 05000416/2021301; October 18 - November 15, 2021; Grand Gulf Nuclear

Station, Unit 1; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license, five applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1.

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 October 25, 2021. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on October 18-21, 2021.

The NRC examiners determined that all eight 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 October 25, 2021, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all eight applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post-examination comments to the NRC on November 5, 2021.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants from October 18-21, 2021.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed all parts of the operating test. All applicants passed the written examination. 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 no generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the operating test. Post exam analysis revealed eight generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination:

• feedwater heater malfunctions

• control rod blocks

• condensate flow requirements

• procedure revision process

• suppression pool level technical specification bases

• nuclear instrument failures and technical specification bases

• abnormal procedure associated with chemistry limits

• infrequently performed tests or evolutions These weaknesses were captured in the licensees corrective action program as Condition Report CR-GGN-2021-07986. 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 Mr. B. Wertz, General Manager Plant Operations, and other members of the staff on October 21, 2021. A telephonic exit was conducted on November 15, 2021, between Mr. K. Clayton, chief examiner, and Mr. T.

Tharp.

The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

Brad Wertz, General Manager Plant Operations

Ryan Meyer, Superintendent, Operations Training

Gerry Ellis, Shift Manager, Operations Training

Byron Huff, Manager, Operations

Robert Melton, Director, Regulatory and Performance Improvement

Robert Gibson, Manager, Training

Tracy Tharp, Supervisor, Operations Training

Steve Reeves,Lead Exam Developer

Kim Embry, Lead Instructor

NRC Personnel

Timothy Steadham, Senior Resident Inspector

Matt Thomas, Resident Inspector