ML020920775
| ML020920775 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 01/07/2002 |
| From: | Gody A NRC Region 4 |
| To: | Maynard O Wolf Creek |
| References | |
| 50-482/01301 | |
| Download: ML020920775 (11) | |
Text
January 7, 2002 Otto L. Maynard, President and Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839
SUBJECT:
WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 50-482/01-301
Dear Mr. Maynard:
On December 14, 2001, the NRC completed initial operator licensing examinations at your Wolf Creek Generating Station. The enclosed report documents the examination findings which were discussed on December 14, 2001, with Mr. Britt McKinney and other members of your staff.
The examinations included an evaluation of three applicants for reactor operator licenses and four applicants for senior operator licenses. We determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
No findings of significance were identified.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRCs "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/
Anthony T. Gody, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket: 50-482 License: NPF-42
Enclosure:
NRC Examination Report 50-482/01-301
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation cc w/enclosure:
Vice President Operations Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 Anthony Palmer, Superintendent Operations Training Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 Jay Silberg, Esq.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Supervisor Licensing Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 Chief Engineer Utilities Division Kansas Corporation Commission 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd.
Topeka, Kansas 66604-4027 Office of the Governor State of Kansas Topeka, Kansas 66612 Attorney General Judicial Center 301 S.W. 10th 2nd Floor Topeka, Kansas 66612-1597 County Clerk Coffey County Courthouse 110 South 6th Street Burlington, Kansas 66839-1798
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Vick L. Cooper, Chief Radiation Control Program, RCP Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation Forbes Field Building 283 Topeka, Kansas 66620 Frank Moussa Division of Emergency Preparedness 2800 SW Topeka Blvd Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Electronic distribution from ADAMS by RIV:
Regional Administrator (EWM)
DRP Director (KEB)
DRS Director (ATH)
Senior Resident Inspector (FLB2)
SRI, Callaway (VGG)
Branch Chief, DRP/B (WDJ)
Senior Project Engineer, DRP/B (RAK1)
Staff Chief, DRP/TSS (PHH)
RITS Coordinator (NBH)
Scott Morris (SAM1)
WC Site Secretary (SLA2)
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12/19/01 12/19/01 12/19/01 12/19/01 12/20/01 01/04 /01 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax
ENCLOSURE NRC EXAMINATION REPORT U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV Docket:
50-482 License:
NPF-42 Report No.:
50-482/01-301 Licensee:
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Facility:
Wolf Creek Generating Station Location:
1550 Oxen Lane, NE Burlington, Kansas Dates:
December 10-14, 2001 Chief Examiner:
Howard F. Bundy, Senior Operations Engineer Examiners:
Paul C. Gage, Senior Operations Engineer Gary W. Johnston, Senior Operations Engineer Accompanying Personnel:
N. Valos, Examiner-in-Training Approved By:
Anthony T. Gody, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS Wolf Creek Generating Station NRC Examination Report 50-482/01-301 ER 05000482/01-301 on 12/10-13/01, Wolf Creek Generating Station, operator licensing examinations.
NRC examiners evaluated the competency of three applicants for reactor operator licenses and four applicants for senior operator licenses at the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 8, Supplement 1.
Licensee proctors administered the written examinations to all applicants on December 7, 2001, in accordance with instructions provided by the chief examiner. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on December 10-14, 2001.
Cornerstone: Other No findings of significance were identified.
Report Details
- 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA4 Initial License Examinations
.1 Operator Knowledge and Performance a.
Examination Scope The NRC examination team administered the operating examinations to the seven applicants on December 10-14, 2001. Most of the applicants participated in two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of one task or two questions in five areas. The applicant for upgrading his reactor operator license to a senior operator license participated in only one scenario and took a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of only five system tasks. His administrative test consisted of performing tasks in five areas.
On December 7, 2001, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all seven applicants and forwarded the proposed grades together with the performance analysis to the NRC for approval.
b.
Findings All applicants passed all parts of the examinations. For the written examinations, the average score for reactor operator applicants was 88.0 percent, and the average score for senior operator applicants was 85.3 percent. The reactor operator applicant scores ranged from 84 to 91 percent, and the senior operator applicant scores ranged from 82 to 87 percent.
The licensee conducted a performance analysis for the written examinations with emphasis on 13 questions missed by half or more of the applicants. After reviewing the licensees analysis, the examiners concluded that all questions were valid and that there were was one apparent training deficiency which the licensee is addressing in its corrective action program. There were no post-examination comments on examination questions. The text of the examination questions and the performance analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system as noted in the attachment.
.2 Initial Licensing Examination Development The licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 8, Supplement 1. Licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination development were on a security agreement.
.2.1 Operating Examination Outline and Examination Package a.
Examination Scope The facility licensee submitted the operating examination outlines on June 1, 2001.
Examiners reviewed the submittal against the requirements of NUREG-1021, Revision 8, Supplement 1, and forwarded minor comments to the licensee on June 11, 2001. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on October 19, 2001. Examiners reviewed the draft submittals against the requirements of NUREG-1021, Revision 8, Supplement 1 and provided comments to the licensee on November 8, 2001. The chief examiner conducted an onsite validation of the examinations and provided further comments during the week of November 12, 2001.
The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution November 28, 2001.
b.
Findings Examiners approved the initial examination outline with minor comments and advised the licensee to proceed with the operating examination development.
The chief examiner determined that the operating examinations initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination and were satisfactory.
No findings of significance were identified.
.2.2 Simulation Facility Performance a.
Scope The examination team observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.
b.
Findings One potential simulator deficiency noted during validation had been previously identified by the licensee and the applicants had been previously advised. It involved an unexpected reactor coolant system pressure drop when the pressurizer level reached about 97 percent level when responding to a main steam line break. The validation crew was aware of this potential anomaly and it had no significant effect on examination administration. Wolf Creek Simulator Modification Request was issued on October 11, 2001, to resolve this potential deficiency.
No findings of significance were identified.
.2.3 Examination Security a.
Scope The examiners reviewed examination security both during the onsite preparation and examination administration weeks with respect to NUREG-1021 requirements. Written plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
b.
Findings No findings of significance were identified.
4OA5 Management Meetings Exit Meeting Summary The examination team presented the examination results to Mr. Britt McKinney, Vice President, Operations, and other members of the licensees management staff at the conclusion of the examinations on December 14, 2001. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.
The licensee did not identify as proprietary any information or materials examined during the examination.
ATTACHMENT PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee K. Hughes, Regulatory Specialist, Regulatory Affairs M. Guyer, Superintendent, Operations Support R. Murray, License Supervising Instructor, Initial Exams A. Palmer, Superintendent, Operations Training K. Hall, Supervisor, Licensing E. Taylor, License Supervising Instructor, Initial Programs B. McKinney, Vice President, Operations S. Hedges, Acting Plant Manager T. Harris, Manager, Regulatory Affairs R. Acree, Examination Author, Training M. Hicks, Manager, Operations NRC F. Brush, Senior Resident Inspector ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED Accession No.: ML013520554 - Written examination for reactor and senior reactor operators Accession No.: ML013600061 - Written examination performance analysis and applicant questions