IR 05000482/2025301
| ML25275A658 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 10/08/2025 |
| From: | John Kirkland NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/OB |
| To: | Reasoner C Wolf Creek |
| References | |
| 50-482/25-301 50-482/OL-25 | |
| Download: ML25275A658 (1) | |
Text
October 08, 2025
SUBJECT:
WOLF CREEK - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000482/2025301
Dear Mr. Reasoner:
On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Wolf Creek. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on August 13, 2025, with Ms. M. Meyer, Operations Training Manager, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on September 18, 2025, with Ms. M. Meyer, Operations Training Manager, who was provided with the NRC licensing decisions.
The examination included the evaluation of seven applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and four applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that thirteen of the fifteen 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. Enclosure 1 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, John Kirkland, Chief (Acting)
Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-482 License No. NPF-42 Electronic Distribution via LISTSERV Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000482/2025301 Signed by Kirkland, John on 10/08/25
ML25275A658 SUNSI Review:
ADAMS:
Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:
By: NAH Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive NRR-079 OFFICE SOE:DORS:OB SOE:DORS:OB SOE:DORS:OB OE:DORS:OB NAME NHernandez DYou KMurphy RWilliams SIGNATURE
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DATE 10/07/25 10/03/25 10/03/25 10/06/25 OFFICE OE:DORS:OB SOE:DORS:OB C:DORS:OB NAME PBreidenbach KClayton JKirkland SIGNATURE
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DATE 10/06/25 10/07/25 10/08/25
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Examination Report Docket Number:
05000482 License Number:
NPF-42 Report Number:
05000482/2025301 Enterprise Identifier:
L-2025-OLL-0047 Licensee:
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Facility:
Wolf Creek Generating Station Location:
Burlington, Kansas Inspection Dates:
August 13, 2025, to September 18, 2025 Inspectors:
N. Hernandez, Senior Operations Engineer (Chief Examiner)
D. You, Senior Operations Engineer P. Breidenbach, Operations Engineer K. Murphy, Operations Engineer R. Williams, Operations Engineer Approved By:
John Kirkland, Chief (Acting)
Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
SUMMARY Examination Report 05000482/2025301; August 13 to September 18, 2025; Wolf Creek Generating Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of seven applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and four applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Wolf Creek Generating Station.
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 August 13, 2025. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on August 18-22, 2025.
The NRC examiners determined that thirteen of the fifteen applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
A.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings None.
B.
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 August 13, 2025, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all fifteen applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post-examination comments to the NRC on August 31, 2025.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants from August 18-22, 2025.
b.
Findings No findings were identified.
Fourteen applicants passed the written examination, and fourteen applicants passed the operating test; thirteen applicants passed both the written and 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 two generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the administrative job performance measures (JPM) and the dynamic scenario sections of the operating tests:
Determination of active vs inactive operator licenses.
- Misdiagnosis of steam line break following an ATWS.
Post-examination analysis revealed five generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination:
Main Feedwater System - Failure of the feedwater regulating valves
The Reactivity Management Program
Emergency Plan implementation procedures
Emergency Manager duties and responsibilities
Continuous Rod Withdrawal Accident procedures These weaknesses were captured in the licensees corrective action program as Condition Reports 10028344, 10043903, 10043905, 10043907, 10043908, 10043909.
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 simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
Findings No findings were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS Exit Meeting Summary The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Ms. M. Meyer, Operations Training Manager, and other members of the staff on August 22, 2025. A telephonic exit was conducted on September 18, 2025, between Ms. M. Meyer, Operations Training Manager and Mr. N. Hernandez, Chief Examiner. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED Accession No. ML25275A433 - FINAL WRITTEN EXAMS Accession No. ML25275A432 - FINAL OPERATING TEST Accession No. ML25275A434 - POST-EXAMINATION ANALYSIS-COMMENTS