IR 05000498/2025301
| ML25309A147 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 11/06/2025 |
| From: | Patricia Vossmar NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/OB |
| To: | Kharrl C South Texas |
| References | |
| 50-498/25-301, 50-499/25-301 50-498/OL-25, 50-499/OL-25 | |
| Download: ML25309A147 (1) | |
Text
November 06, 2025
SUBJECT:
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000498/2025301; 05000499/2025301
Dear Mr. Kharrl:
On November 4, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on October 2, 2025, with Mr. Chancey Pence, Plant Manager, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on November 4, 2025, with Mr. Shannon Shea, Operations Training Manager, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.
The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and one applicant for upgrade senior reactor operator license. The license examiners determined that all of the 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. The enclosure 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, Patricia J. Vossmar, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-498; 50-499 License Nos. NPF-76; NPF-80 Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000498/2025301 and 05000499/2025301 Electronic Distribution via LISTSERV Signed by Vossmar, Patricia on 11/06/25
ML25309A147 SUNSI Review:
ADAMS:
Non-Publicly Available Non-Sensitive Keyword:
By: CMH Yes No Publicly Available Sensitive NRR-079 OFFICE SOE:DORS:OB SOE:DORS:OB SRI:DORS:PBD C:DORS:OB NAME TFarina CHarrington BTindell PVossmar SIGNATURE
/RA/
/RA/
/RA/
/RA/
DATE 11/05/25 11/05/25 11/06/25 11/06/25
Enclosure U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Examination Report Docket Numbers:
05000498, 05000499 License Numbers:
NPF-76, NPF-80 Report Numbers:
05000498/2025301; 05000499/2025301 Enterprise Identifier:
L-2025-OLL-0038 Licensee:
STP Nuclear Operating Company Facility:
South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Location:
Wadsworth, Texas Inspection Dates:
September 29, 2025, to November 4, 2025 Inspectors:
T. Farina, Senior Operations Engineer (Chief Examiner)
C. Harrington, Senior Operations Engineer J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer B. Tindell, Senior Resident Inspector Approved By:
Patricia J. Vossmar, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
SUMMARY Examination Report 05000498/2025301 and 05000499/2025301; September 29 - November 4, 2025; South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and one applicant for upgrade senior reactor operator license at South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2.
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 October 15, 2025. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on September 29 - October 2, 2025.
The NRC examiners determined that all 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 EXAMINATION
.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 two 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 October 15, 2025, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all nine applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on October 27, 2025.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants on September 29 - October 2, 2025.
b.
Findings No findings were identified.
All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating tests. The final written examinations and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.
The examination team noted no generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the operating tests. Post-examination analysis revealed five generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination.
Specifically, question 30, 49, 55, 90, and 93 had a miss rate greater than 50 percent.
These deficiencies were captured in the licensees corrective action program as Condition Report 25-9607. 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 examination security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
b.
Findings No findings or violations of more than minor significance were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS Exit Meeting Summary The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. Chancey Pence, Plant Manager, and other members of the staff on October 2, 2025. A telephonic exit was conducted on November 4, 2025, between Mr. Thomas Farina, chief examiner, and Mr. Shannon Shea, Operations Training Manager. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED Accession No. ML25308A250 - FINAL WRITTEN EXAMS Accession No. ML25308A251 - FINAL OPERATING TEST Accession No. ML25308A249 - POST-EXAMINATION ANALYSIS