IR 05000424/2017301
| ML17289A233 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 10/13/2017 |
| From: | Eugene Guthrie Division of Reactor Safety II |
| To: | Myers D Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| 50-424/17-301, 50-425/17-301 | |
| Preceding documents: |
|
| Download: ML17289A233 (9) | |
Text
October 13, 2017
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 1 AND 2 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT NOS. 05000424/2017301, 05000425/2017301
Dear Mr. Myers:
During the period May 8-17, 2017, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the written and operating tests with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on May 25, 2017 and September 7, 2017.
All (six Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination.
There were no post-examination comments.
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 10.
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. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4662.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief
Operations Branch 2
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos: 50-424, 50-425 License Nos: NPF-68, NPF-81
Enclosures:
1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report
REGION II==
Docket No.:
50-424, 50-425
License No.:
Report No.:
05000424/2017301 and 05000425/2017301
Licensee:
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Facility:
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2
Location:
Waynesboro, GA 30830
Dates:
Operating Test - May 8-17, 2017
Written Examination - May 25, 2017
September 7, 2017
Examiners:
M. Kennard, Chief Examiner, Operations Engineer
M. Donithan, Operations Engineer
S. Shah, Operations Engineer J. Viera, Operations Engineer
Approved by:
Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief
Operations Branch 2
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000424/2017301, 05000425/2017301, Operating Test May 8-12, 2017 and May 15-17, 2017 & Written Exam May 25, 2017 and September 7, 2017; Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2; Operator License Examinations.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 10, 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.
Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 staff developed both the operating test and the written examinations.
The initial operating test, written RO examination, and written SRO examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period May 8-12, 2017 and May 15-17, 2017 to six Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants.
Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff administered the written examination on May 25, 2017 and September 7, 2017. During the written examination administration on May 25, 2017 one SRO applicant experienced a medical emergency and was unable to complete the written examination at that time. The applicant was subsequently administered a new supplemental written examination on September 7, 2017.
All (six RO, eight SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination.
Fourteen applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
There were no post-examination comments.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations
a. Inspection Scope
The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and JPMs in order 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 were considered separately) in order 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 in Revision 10 of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Standards for Power Reactors.
The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations in order to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The NRC administered the operating tests during the period May 8-17, 2017. The NRC examiners evaluated six Reactor Operator (RO) and eight Senior Reactor Operators (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff administered the written examination on May 25, 2017 and September 7, 2017. During the written examination administration on May 25, 2017 one SRO applicant experienced a medical emergency and was unable to complete the written examination at that time. The applicant was subsequently administered a new supplemental written examination on September 7, 2017. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2, 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 outline. Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff developed both the operating test and the written examinations. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 10, 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, using NUREG-1021 that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Administration of the written examination and the operating test diverged by more than 30 days. The reason for the divergence was because one Senior Reactor Operator applicant experienced a medical emergency and was unable to complete the written examination. A supplemental written examination sample plan was developed by NRC staff. A supplemental written examination was developed by the members of Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff. The supplemental written examination was approved by NRC staff and administered on September 7, 2017 by members of Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff. The NRR operator licensing program office concurred with the NRC regional office decision to administer the operating test and written examination more than 30 days apart, as documented in Report on Interaction (ROI) 17-15.
No issues related to examination security were identified during preparation or administration of the examination.
All (six RO, eight SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination.
14 applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
A generic weakness was identified concerning the rules of usage of technical specifications, specifically concerning identification of specific action statements. This weakness was captured under Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 condition report 10381043.
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 did not submit any post-examination comments.
A copy of the final written examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than September 9, 2019, in the ADAMS system at ADAMS Accession Numbers ML17276B832, ML17276B833, ML17276B835 and ML17276B837.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
Exit Meeting Summary
On September 14, 2017, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Matt Henson, Operations Training Director, and members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 staff.
The examiners verified no proprietary information was retained or documented in this report.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee personnel
- K. Tabor, Site Vice President
- D. Myers, Plant Manager
- S. Briggs, Operations Director
- D. Stiles, Training Director
- M. Henson, Operations Training Director
- K. Jenkins, Examination Development Lead
- G. Gunn, Regulator Affairs Manager
- K. Morrow, Senior Engineer, Regulator Affairs
NRC personnel
- M. Endress, Senior Resident Inspector
- A. Alen, Resident Inspector
SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT
Facility Licensee: Vogtle Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Nos. 1 & 2
Facility Docket No.: 50-424, 50-425
Operating Test Administered: May 8-12, 2017 and May15-17, 2017
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, Simulation
facilities. No licensee action is required in response to these observations.
While conducting the simulator portion of the operating test, examiners observed the following:
Item
Description
DR 0015781
All four ARVs set points are set incorrectly causing PV-3000,
Loop1 ARV to open early
DR 0015780
Mini Purge fan is set to run in the scenario and when the
simulator is placed in run it is not running (green light on)