IR 05000456/2009301

Er 05000456-09-301(DRS), 05000457-09-301(DRS); 10/05/09 - 10/29/09; Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Braidwood Station, Unit 1 and 2; Initial License Examination Report

ML093310230
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	11/25/2009
From:	Hironori Peterson Operations Branch III
To:	Pardee C Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
References
50-456/09-301, 50-457/09-301 50-456/09-301, 50-457/09-301
Download: ML093310230 (10)

Text

ber 25, 2009

SUBJECT:

BRAIDWOOD STATION NRC INITIAL LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000456/2009301(DRS);

05000457/2009301(DRS)

Dear Mr. Pardee:

On October 29, 2009, the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the initial operator licensing examination process at your Braidwood Station. The enclosed report presents the results of the examination which were discussed with Mr. L. Coyle and other members of your staff on October 16, 2009, and Mr. P. DiGiovanna on November 10, 2009.

The NRC examiners administered initial license examination operating tests from October 5 through October 16, 2009. Members of the Braidwood Training Department administered the initial license written examination on October 19, 2009. One reactor operator and 12 senior reactor operator license examinations were administered. One of the applicants was a previously licensed reactor operator at Braidwood Station. The results of the examinations were finalized on November 10, 2009. All 13 applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of 1 reactor operator and 12 senior reactor operator licenses.

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 System (PARS) component of NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), 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. 50-456; 50-457 License Nos. NPF-72; NPF-77

Enclosures:

1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000456/2009301(DRS); 05000457/2009301(DRS)

2. Simulation Facility Report 3. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO and SRO)

REGION III==

Docket Nos: 50-456; 50-457 License Nos: NPF-72; NPF-77 Report No: 05000456/2009301(DRS); 05000457/2009301(DRS)

Licensee: Exelon Generation Company, LLC Facility: Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 Location: Braceville, Illinois Dates: October 5 through October 29, 2009 Examiners: B. Palagi, Chief Examiner D. McNeil, Examiner C. Zoia, Examiner Approved by: Hironori Peterson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000456/2009301(DRS); 05000457/2009301(DRS); 10/05/09 - 10/29/09; Exelon

Generation Company, LLC; Braidwood Station, Unit 1 and 2; Initial License Examination Report.

The announced operator licensing initial examination was conducted by regional examiners in accordance with the guidance of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1.

Examination Summary:

$ Thirteen examinations were administered (1 reactor operator and 12-senior reactor operator);

$ All 13 applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of reactor operator and 12 senior reactor operator licenses.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other

.1 Initial Licensing Examinations

a. Examination Scope

The NRC examiners conducted an announced operator licensing initial examination during the weeks of October 5 and October 12, 2009. The facility licensees training staff used the guidance prescribed in NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1, to prepare the outline and develop the written examination and operating test. The examiners administered the operating test, consisting of job performance measures and dynamic simulator scenarios, during the period of October 5 through October 16, 2009. The facility licensee administered the written examination on October 19, 2009. One reactor operator and 12 senior reactor operator applicants were examined. During the on-site validation week of September 14, 2009, the examiners audited four license applications for accuracy.

b. Findings

Written Examination The NRC examiners determined that the written examination, as originally submitted by the licensee, was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

All changes made to the submitted examination were made in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 1, Supplement 1. The licensee graded the written examination on October 19, 2009, and conducted a review of each question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions. On October 29, 2009, the NRC received the licensees letter concerning the post examination material. The licensee did not submit any post examination comments for consideration by the NRC examiners when grading the written examination or enhancements based on a post examination review with the applicants.

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 examination.

All changes made to the submitted examination were made in accordance with NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors,"

Revision 1, Supplement 1. The NRC examiners completed operating test grading on October 30, 2009.

Examination Results All 13 applicants passed all sections of their examinations resulting in the issuance of 1 reactor operator and 12 senior reactor operator licenses.

.2 Examination Security

a. Inspection Scope

The NRC examiners briefed the facility contact on the NRCs requirements and guidelines related to examination physical security (e.g., access restrictions and simulator considerations) and integrity in accordance with 10 CFR 55.49, Integrity of Examinations and Tests, and NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standard for Power Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1. The examiners reviewed and observed the licensees implementation and controls of examination security and integrity measures (e.g., security agreements) throughout the examination process.

b. Findings

No Findings

4OA6 Meetings

Debrief The chief examiner presented the examination team's preliminary observations and findings on October 16, 2009, to Mr. L. Coyle, Plant Manager, and other members of the Braidwood Operations and Training Department staff.

Exit Meeting The chief examiner conducted an exit meeting by telephone on November 10, 2009, with Mr. P. DiGiovanna, Operations Training Manager. The NRC=s preliminary examination results were provided to Mr. DiGiovanna during the telephone discussion. The examiners asked the licensee whether any of the material used to develop or administer the examination should be considered proprietary. No proprietary or sensitive information was identified during the examination or debrief/exit meetings.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Enclosure 1

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee

Larry Coyle, Plant Manager

Tom McCool, Operations Director

Tricia Matteson, Regulatory Engineer

Paul DiGiovanna, Operations Training Manager

Darren Stiles, Initial License Training Group Lead

Brian Kempen, Lead Regulatory Exam Author

Ken Norris, Senior Operations Training Instructor

Dan Burton, Simulator Supervisor

NRC

B Palagi, Chief Examiner

D. McNeil, Examiner

C. Zoia, Examiner

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened, Closed, and Discussed

None

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ADAMS Agency-Wide Document Access and Management System

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

DRS Division of Reactor Safety

NRC U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

PARS Publicly Available Records System

Attachment

SIMULATION FACILITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Braidwood Station, Unit 1 and 2

Facility Licensee Docket No. 50-456; 50-457

Operating Tests Administered: October 5 through October 16, 2009

The following documents observations made by the NRC examination team during the initial

operator license examination. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings

and are not, without further verification and review, indicative of non-compliance with

CFR 55.45(b). These observations do not affect NRC certification or approval of the

simulation facility other than to provide information which may be used in future evaluations.

No licensee action is required in response to these observations.

During the conduct of the simulator portion of the operating tests, the following items were

observed:

ITEM DESCRIPTION

None

Enclosure 2

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS AND ANSWER KEYS (RO/SRO)

RO/SRO Initial Examination ADAMS Accession #ML093230542

Enclosure 3

C. Pardee -2-

We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this examination.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Hironori Peterson, Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos. 50-456; 50-457

License Nos. NPF-72; NPF-77

Enclosures: 1. Operator Licensing Examination

Report 05000456/2009301(DRS); 05000457/2009301(DRS)

2. Simulation Facility Report

3. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (RO and SRO)

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