IR 05000483/2009301
| ML092200006 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Callaway  (NPF-030) |
| Issue date: | 08/07/2009 |
| From: | Ryan Lantz Operations Branch IV |
| To: | Heflin A AmerenUE |
| References | |
| 50-483/09-301 | |
| Download: ML092200006 (14) | |
Text
August 7, 2009
SUBJECT:
CALLAWAY PLANT - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000483/2009301
Dear Mr. Heflin:
On June 25, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Callaway Plant. The enclosed report documents the examination findings and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination findings were discussed on June 25, 2009, with Mr. David Neterer, Plant Director, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on July 7, 2009, with Mr. Ricky Tiefenauer, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.
The examination included the evaluation of five applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that ten of the eleven 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 of significance were identified during this examination.
In accordance with 10 CFR 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 NRCs 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).
Sincerely,
/RA/
Ryan E. Lantz, Chief Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION R E GI ON I V 612 EAST LAMAR BLVD, SUITE 400 ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4125
AmerenUE
- 2 -
Docket: 50-483 License: NPF-30
Enclosure:
1. NRC Examination Report 05000483/2009301 2. NRC Post Examination Comment Resolution
REGION IV==
Docket:
50-483 License:
NPF-30 Report:
05000483/2009301 Licensee:
AmerenUE Facility:
Callaway Plant Location:
Junction Highway CC and Highway O Fulton, Missouri Dates:
June 19 - July 7, 2009 Inspectors:
G. Apger, Chief Examiner B. Larson, Senior Operations Engineer T. McKernon, Senior Operations Engineer S. Garchow, Senior Operations Engineer Approved By: Ryan Lantz, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosure 1
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER05000483/2009301; June 19 - July 7, 2009; Callaway Plant; Initial Operator Licensing
Examination Report.
NRC examiners evaluated the competency of five applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Callaway Plant.
The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The written examination was administered by the licensee on June 19, 2009. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on June 22-25, 2009.
The examiners determined that ten of the eleven applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings
No findings of significance were identified. However, the senior reactor operator written examination was outside the acceptability range expected by the NRC. This is documented in the Examination Development section of this report.
Licensee-Identified Violations
None.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The 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 of significance were identified.
.2 Examination Development
a. Scope
NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.
b. Findings
NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.
After reviewing the draft written examination, nine of the twenty-five senior reactor operator (SRO) questions were determined to not meet the acceptance criteria for SRO-only questions. This exceeds the twenty percent threshold identified in NUREG 1021 for an unsatisfactory written examination submittal. The questions were re-written and determined to be satisfactory prior to exam administration. Additionally, one question was deleted from the examination following exam administration. Therefore, there were ten unsatisfactory questions for the senior reactor operator written examination. Future examination submittals should incorporate any lessons learned.
.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Scope
On June 19, 2009, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all eleven applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post examination comments to the NRC on June 24, 2009.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all eleven applicants on June 22-25, 2009.
b. Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
All of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. Ten applicants passed the written examination. One instant senior reactor operator failed the written examination.
The final written 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 the following generic weaknesses:
- The instant senior reactor operators did not demonstrate a thorough understanding of manual valve operations. Operations of air-and solenoid-operated valves and of gate and globe valves were observed.
- All crews showed hesitation to manually trip the reactor when the reactor protection system had unsuccessfully initiated a trip signal due to an instrument malfunction. One crew waited fifty-five seconds.
- Most of the applicants did not demonstrate proper control of auxiliary feedwater.
Specifically, the crews either overcooled the plant or overfilled the steam generators. One crew overfilled and lifted the safety valve on a ruptured steam generator.
.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 of significance were identified.
.5 Examination Security
a. Scope
The NRC examiners reviewed examination security 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 of significance were identified.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit
The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Messrs. David Neterer, Plant Director, Robert Barton, Training Manager, David Lantz, Operations Training Superintendent, and other members of the staff on June 25, 2009. A telephonic exit was conducted on July 7, 2009, between Ms. Laura Hurley and Ricky Tiefenauer.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENT:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
Larry Wilhelm, ILT Exam Developer
Ricky Tiefenauer, ILT Class Lead
Scott Maglio, Regulatory Affairs
NRC Personnel
David Dumbacher, Senior Resident Inspector