IR 05000416/2023301

NRC Examination Report 05000416-2023301

ML24052A326
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	02/26/2024
From:	Heather Gepford NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/OB
To:	Kapellas B Entergy Operations
References
IR 2024301
Download: ML24052A326 (1)

Text

February 26, 2024

SUBJECT:

GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000416/2024301

Dear Mr. Kapellas:

On February 15, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on January 25, 2024, with Mr. Grant Flynn, General Manager, Plant Operations, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on February 15, 2024, with Mr. Anthony Watson, Ops Training Supervisor, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, three applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that five of the six 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. The enclosure 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, Ph.D., Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000416 License No. NPF-29 Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000416/2024301 Electronic distribution via LISTSERV Signed by Gepford, Heather J.

on 02/26/24

ML24052A326 SUNSI Review: ADAMS: Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:

By: JCK Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive NRR-079 OFFICE SOE: OB OE: OB OE: OB C: OB NAME JKirkland KMurphy DYou HGepford SIGNATURE /RA/ /RA/ /RA/ /RA/

DATE 02/26/24 02/21/24 02/22/24 02/26/24

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Examination Report

Docket Number: 05000416

License Number: NPF-29

Report Number: 05000416/2024301

Enterprise Identifier: L-2024-OLL-0023

Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility: Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1

Location: Port Gibson, Mississippi

Examination Dates: January 22, 2024, to February 15, 2024

Inspectors: J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer, Chief Examiner K. Murphy, Operations Engineer D. You, Operations Engineer

Approved By: Heather J. Gepford, Ph.D., Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety

Enclosure SUMMARY

Examination Report 05000416/2024301; January 22 - February 15, 2024; 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, three 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 12. The written examination was administered by the licensee on January 29, 2024. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on January 22 - 25, 2024.

The NRC examiners determined that five of the six applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. On January 24, 2024, the examiners were notified by the licensee that one applicant for an instant senior reactor operator license had voluntarily withdrawn from the class. The licensee subsequently forwarded an email to the examiners, from the applicant, requesting to officially withdraw his license application.

A. NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None.

B. Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

2 REPORT DETAILS

OTHER ACTIVITIES - INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION

.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 two 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 January 29, 2024, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to five applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on February 8, 2024.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to the applicants on January 22 - 25, 2024.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

3 Five applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating tests. (The sixth applicant had withdrawn his application during the operating test.) The final written examinations and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted one generic weakness associated with applicant performance on the dynamic scenario section of the operating tests. The senior reactor operator applicants displayed a weakness with technical specification compliance. Post-examination analysis revealed five generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination:

• Concerns with low generator frequency

• Valve positions following a loss of feedwater

• Licensed operator proficiency requirements

• Delegation authority during emergencies

• Surveillance Requirement 3.0.3 allowances

These deficiencies were remediated with all applicants. 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 examination security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

4 EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. Grant Flynn, General Manager, Plant Operations, and other members of the staff on January 25, 2024. A telephonic exit was conducted on February 15, 2024, between Mr. John Kirkland, Chief Examiner, and Mr. Anthony Watson, Ops Training Supervisor. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Accession No. ML24043A071 - FINAL WRITTEN EXAMS (Withheld until 7/29/2026)

Accession No. ML24043A070 - FINAL OPERATING TEST (Withheld until 7/29/2026)

Accession No. ML24043A073 - POST-EXAMINATION ANALYSIS

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