IR 05000454/2006301

Er 05000454-06-301(DRS), 05000455-06-301(DRS); 06/21/2006 - 06/30/2006; Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Byron Station. Initial License Examination Report

ML062330206
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	08/18/2006
From:	Hironori Peterson NRC/RGN-III/DRS/OLB
To:	Crane C Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
References
50-454/06-301, 50-455/06-301 50-454/06-301, 50-455/06-301
Download: ML062330206 (13)

Text

ust 18, 2006

SUBJECT:

BYRON STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000454/2006301(DRS);

05000455/2006301(DRS)

Dear Mr. Crane:

On June 30, 2006, the NRC completed initial operator licensing examinations at your Byron Station. The enclosed report documents the results of the examination, which were discussed on June 30 and July 24, 2006, with Mr. D. Hoots and Mr. S. Stimac respectively, and with other members of your staff.

NRC examiners administered the operating test during the weeks of June 19 and 26, 2006.

Members of the Byron Station Training Department staff administered the written examination on June 30, 2006. One Reactor Operator (RO) and five Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)

applicants were administered license examinations. The results of the examinations were finalized on July 24, 2006. All six applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of one operator and three senior operator licenses.

During the NRCs review of initial license applications, two senior operator applicants were granted eligibility deferments so that the applicants could take the examination. These two applicants will need to complete a minimum of 6 months onsite responsible power plant experience before they will receive a license. The applicants will be granted a license only after you certify in writing to the NRC that the applicants have completed the eligibility requirement that was previously deferred.

In accordance with 10 CFR Part 2.390 of the NRC's Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its enclosure 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 (the Public Electronic Reading Room). We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this examination.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455 License Nos. NPF-37; NPF-66

Enclosures:

1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000454/2006301(DRS);

05000455/2006301(DRS)

w/Attachment: Supplemental Information 2. Simulation Facility Report 3. Post Examination Comments and Resolutions 4. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO & SRO)

REGION III==

Docket Nos: 50-454; 50-455 License Nos: NPF-37; NPF-66 Report No: 05000454/2006301(DRS); 05000455/02006301(DRS)

Licensee: Exelon Generation Company, LLC Facility: Byron Station, Units 1 and 2 Location: Byron, Illinois Dates: June 21 through June 30, 2006 Examiners: M. Bielby, Senior Operations Engineer D. McNeil, Senior Operations Engineer B. Palagi, Senior Operations Engineer Approved by: Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000454/2006301(DRS), 05000455/2006301(DRS); 06/21/2006 - 06/30/2006;

Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Byron Station. Initial License Examination Report.

The announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted by regional Nuclear Regulatory Commission examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021,

Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9.

Examination Summary:

• All six applicants passed their examinations, four of these applicants were issued respective operator or senior operator licenses. Two senior operator applicants were granted eligibility determents so that the applicants could take the examination. These two applicants will need to complete a minimum of 6 months onsite responsible power plant experience before they will receive a license. (Section 4OA5.1)

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other

.1 Initial Licensing Examinations

a. Examination Scope

Byron Station's training staff prepared the examination outline and developed the written examination and operating test. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners validated the proposed examination during the week of May 22, 2006, and conducted the operator licensing initial examination during the weeks of June 19 and 26, 2006.

Byron Station training department staff members administered the written examination on June 30, 2006. In all cases, the training staff and the NRC examiners used the guidance established in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, to prepare, validate, revise, administer, and grade the examination. Five Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) and one Reactor Operator (RO)applicants were examined. Two of the five SRO applicants were granted eligibility deferments so they could take the examination.

b. Findings

Written Examination The licensee developed the written examination. During their internal review, the NRC examiners determined that the examination, as submitted, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. Written examination comments developed during review by the NRC staff, and as a result of examination validation were incorporated into the written examination in accordance with the guidance contained in NUREG-1021.

One post-examination comment was submitted by the applicants and station training department personnel on July 10, 2006. The results of the NRCs review of the comment is documented in Enclosure 3, Post Examination Comments and Resolutions.

Operating Test The NRC examiners determined that the operating test, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed operating test.

Operating test changes made during the validation of the operating test were agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee.

Examination Results All six applicants passed their examinations, four of these applicants were issued respective operator or senior operator licenses. During the NRCs review of initial license applications, two senior operator applicants were granted eligibility deferments so that the applicants could take the examination. These two applicants will need to complete a minimum of 6 months onsite responsible power plant experience before they will receive a license. The applicants will be granted a license only after the NRC receives written certification from the station that the applicants have completed the eligibility requirement that was previously deferred.

.2 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed and observed the licensee's implementation of examination security requirements during the examination preparation and administration. The examiners used the guidelines provided in NUREG 1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, to determine acceptability of the licensees examination security activities.

b. Findings

No findings were noted in this area. The licensee staff was observed to be enforcing correct examination security procedures.

4OA6 Meetings

.1 Exit Meeting

The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on June 30, 2005, to Mr. D. Hoots and other members of the Operations and Training Department staff. A subsequent exit via teleconference was held on July 24, 2006 with Mr. S. Stimac following review of the site post examination comments. The licensee acknowledged the observations and findings presented. No proprietary information was identified by the stations staff during the exit meeting.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

D. Hoots, Site Vice President

S. Stimac, Training Director

L. Wehner, Operations Representative

M. Jorgensen, Examination Author

S. Deprest, Operation Training Program Specialist

NRC

B. Bartlett, Senior Resident Inspector

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None