IR 05000458/2019301

NRC Examination Report 05000458/2019301

ML20021A270
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	01/15/2020
From:	Greg Werner Operations Branch IV
To:	Vercelli S Entergy Operations
Werner G
References
50-458/19-301 50-458/OL-19
Download: ML20021A270 (12)

Text

ary 15, 2020

SUBJECT:

RIVER BEND STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000458/2019301

Dear Mr. Vercelli:

On December 16, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at River Bend Station. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on November 22, 2019, with Mr. Jeff Reynolds, Director, Regulatory and Performance Improvement, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on December 16, 2019, with Mr. Kevin Stupak, Training Manager, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and one applicant for an upgrade senior reactor operator license. The license examiners determined that all the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

There were two post-examination comments submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report and Enclosure 2 summarizes post-examination comment resolution.

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,

/RA/

Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket: 05000458 License: NPF-47

Enclosures:

1. Examination Report 05000458/2019301 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information 2. NRC Post-Examination Comment Resolution

Inspection Report

Docket Number: 05000458 License Number: NPF-47 Report Number: 05000458/2019301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2019-OLL-0037 Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility: River Bend Station Location: Saint Francisville, Louisiana Inspection Dates: November 18, 2019, to December 16, 2019 Inspectors: J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer, Chief Examiner C. Osterholtz, Senior Operations Engineer M. Hayes, Operations Engineer N. Hernandez, Operations Engineer M. Kennard, Operations Engineer Approved By: Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY

ER 05000458/2019301; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and one applicant for an upgrade senior reactor operator license at River Bend Station.

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 November 26, 2019. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on November 18 - 22, 2019.

The NRC examiners determined that all 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 November 26, 2019, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post-examination comments to the NRC on November 29, 2019.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants from November 18 - 22, 2019.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test. 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 one generic weakness associated with applicant performance on the dynamic scenario section of the operating tests. The applicants displayed a weakness implementing technical specifications following a trip of feeder breaker ENS-A and a failure of the associated diesel generator to auto start.

Post exam comments revealed four generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination. The applicants displayed weaknesses with:

reactor core isolation cooling suction valve interlocks (Question 10); parameters directly monitored from the remote shutdown panel (Question 44); oil pump starting pressures on the emergency bearing oil pump (Question 83); and who has the authority on-shift to clear the control room of unnecessary personnel (Question 94).

The licensee generated Condition Report CR-RBS-2019-07699 to address both scenario and written examination generic weaknesses.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training.

After administration of one simulator job performance measure (JPM) to one applicant, it was discovered that the applicant was not provided the same displayed information as the other applicants. Since the lack of this displayed information was the primary reason the applicant failed the JPM, it was decided to generate a new JPM of the same safety function for this one individual. The applicant was not graded on the initial JPM.

.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

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

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. J. Reynolds, Director, Regulatory and Performance Improvement, and other members of your staff on November 22, 2019. A telephonic exit was conducted on December 16, 2019, between Mr. J. Kirkland, chief examiner, and Mr. K. Stupak, Training Manager.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

B. Johns, Senior Licensing Specialist

G. Kimich, Operations Instructor

J. Reynolds, Regulatory and Performance Improvement Director

K. Stupak, Training Manager

T. Venable, Operations Senior Manager

NRC Personnel

R. Kumana, Senior Resident Inspector