IR 05000528/2021301
| ML21160A083 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 06/21/2021 |
| From: | Heather Gepford Operations Branch IV |
| To: | Lacal M Arizona Public Service Co |
| References | |
| IR 2021301 | |
| Preceding documents: |
|
| Download: ML21160A083 (7) | |
Text
June 21, 2021
SUBJECT:
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 - NRC INITIAL EXAMINATION REPORT 05000528/2021301, 05000529/2021301, AND 05000530/2021301
Dear Mrs. Lacal:
On June 3, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on April 29, 2021, with Mr. Thomas Weber, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Director, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on June 3, 2021, with Ms. Dusty Lowdermilk, Nuclear Operations Support Coordinator, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of thirteen applicants for instant reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and six applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (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, Heather J. Gepford, Acting Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 05000528, 05000529, and 05000530 License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74
Enclosures:
1.
Examination Report 05000528/2021301, 05000529/2021301, and 5000530/2021301 w/attachment: Supplemental Information
Inspection Report
Docket Numbers:
05000528, 05000529, and 05000530
License Numbers:
Report Numbers:
05000528/2021301, 05000529/2021301, and 05000530/2021301
Enterprise Identifier:
Licensee:
Arizona Public Service Company
Facility: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
Location:
Tonopah, Arizona
Inspection Dates:
April 26, 2021, to June 3, 2021
Inspectors:
C. Osterholtz, Senior Operations Engineer, Chief Examiner
T. Farina, Senior Operations Engineer
J. Kirkland, Senior Operations Engineer
B. Bergeon, Operations Engineer
M. Doyle, Operations Engineer
M. Hayes, Operations Engineer
S. Hedger, Emergency Preparedness Inspector
Approved By: Heather J. Gepford, Acting Chief
Operations Branch
Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
ER 05000528/2021301; 05000529/2021301; 05000530/2021301; 6/3/2021; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station,
Units 1, 2, and 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report
The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of thirteen applicants for reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and six applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3.
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 May 6, 2021. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests during the week of April 26, 2021.
The NRC examiners determined that all 21 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 EXAMINATION
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.
Operator Knowledge and Performance
a. Scope
On May 6, 2021, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 21 applicants.
The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on May 14, 2021.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants on April 26-29, 2021.
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 no generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination.
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.
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 were identified.
EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS
Exit Meeting Summary
The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. Thomas Weber, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Director, and other members of the staff on April 29, 2021. A telephonic exit was conducted on June 3, 2021, between Mr. Clyde Osterholtz, chief examiner, and Ms. Dusty Lowdermilk, Nuclear Operations Support Coordinator.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
attachement
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Licensee Personnel
Nawaporn Aaronscooke, Senior Engineer, Licensing
Brian Cable, Site General Plant Manager
Chuck Clark, Operations Manager, Training
Matthew Cox, Section Leader, Licensing
Michael Dilorenzo, Department Leader, Regulatory Affairs
Sean Dornseif, Senior Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Delbert Elkington, Section Leader, Compliance
Jeff Fearn, Director, Nuclear Training Brian Garrettson, Senior Instructor, Operations Training
Zach Goldwasser, Department Leader, Operations Training
Matt Harkins, Senior Instructor, Operations Training
Todd Horton, Senior Vice President, Site Operations
Sarah Kane, Senior Engineer, Licensing
Matt Kura, Department Leader, Regulator Affairs
Dallon Lott, Director, Operations
Dusty Lowdermilk, Nuclear Operations Support Coordinator
Diane Mohammed, Senior Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Bruce Rash, Vice President, Engineering/Regulatory
John Rodgers, Senior Instructor, Operations Training
Jarred Shaver, Section Leader, Operations Training
Beth Spisak, Executive Assistant
Carl Stephenson, Regulatory Affairs Advisor
Justin Stewart, Section Leader, Operations Training
Kimberlie Sylvester, Executive Assistant
Lorraine Weaver, Senior Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Thomas Weber, Director, Regulatory Affairs
NRC Personnel
- C. Peabody, Senior Resident Inspector