IR 05000354/2010301

Er 05000354/10-301 for Hope Creek Generating Station, Unit 1, Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML102770322
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	10/04/2010
From:	Hansell S Operations Branch I
To:	Joyce T Public Service Enterprise Group
Shared Package
ML102770322	List: IR 05000354/2010301
References
U01788 50-354/10-301
Download: ML102770322 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

475 ALLENDALE ,ROAD

SUBJECT:

HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1- NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000354/2010301

Dear Mr. Joyce:

On September 1,2010, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Hope Creek. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on September 17,2010, with Mr. R. Boesch of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and four applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that 11 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on September 17, 2010.

No findings 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 NRC's 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).

Samuel L. Hansell, Jr., Chief Operations Branch ber 4, 2010

SUBJECT:

HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1- NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000354/2010301

Dear Mr. Joyce:

On September 1, 2010, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Hope Creek. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on September 17,2010, with Mr. R. Boesch of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses,and four applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that 11 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on September 17, 2010.

No findings 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 NRC's 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, IRA!

Samuel L. Hansell, Jr., Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-354 License No. NPF-57

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 05000354/2010301

REGION I==

Docket: 50-354 License: NPF-57 Report: 05000354/2010301 Licensee: PSEG Nuclear LLC Facility: Hope Creek Generating Station - Unit 1 Location: Hancocks Bridge, NJ Dates: August 23-27, 2010 (Operating Test Administration)

September 1, 2010 (Written Examination Administration)

September 10,2010 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)

August 30 - September 16, 2010 (NRC Examination Grading)

September 17, 2010 (Licenses Issued)

Examiners: T. Fish, Chief Examiner J. Tomlinson, Examiner S. Hansell, Examiner R. McKinley, Examiner T. Hedigan, Examiner Approved By: Samuel L. Hansell, Jr., Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000354/2010301; August 23 - September 1, 2010; Hope Creek Generating Station -

Unit 1; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license, seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and four applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at the Hope Creek facility. The facility 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 facility on September 1, 2010. Five NRC examiners administered the operating tests from August 23-27,2010. The license examiners determined that 11 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 (OA)

40A5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiners reviewed all 12 license applications submitted by the licensee to ensure the applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant eligibility requirements.

The applications were submitted on NRC Form 398, "Personal Qualification Statement,"

and NRC Form 396, "Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee." The examiner also audited two license applications in detail to confirm that they accurately reflected the applicants' qualifications. This audit focused on the applicants' experience, on-the-job training, and eligibility to sit for the instant senior reactor operator license exams.

b. Findings

No findings were identified .

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On September 1, 2010, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on September 10, 2010.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all applicants from August 23-27,2010. The applicant for a reactor operator license participated in two dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license 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 five administrative tasks. The applicants for an upgrade license partiCipated in two or three dynamic scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.

b. Findings

All applicants passed all parts of the operating test; 11 applicants passed the written examination. For the written examinations, the senior reactor operator applicants' overall average score was 89.8 percent and ranged from 82.0 to 97.0 percent. The examination questions may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession number noted in Attachment 1.

Chapter ES-403 and Form ES-403-1 of NUREG 1021 require the facility licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants. Five questions met this criterion. The facility licensee conducted the performance analysis and submitted it to the chief examiner.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with the Examination Standards. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were on a security agreement. The facility licensee submitted the written and operating examination outlines on June 9, 2010. The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of the Standards, and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on July 2, 2010. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of the Standards, and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on July 21, 2010. The examinations were within the range of acceptability for a proposed examination. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided associated comments during the week of July 26, 2010. The facility licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on August 17, 2010.

b. Findings

No findings were identified .

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Examination Scope

The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with the Examination Standards. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

40A6 Meetings, Including Exit The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. R. Boesch of the facility licensee's staff on September 17, 2010.

The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

ATTACHMENT 1:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

A. Faulkner, Facility Exam Developer

T. Catalano, Facility Exam Developer

R. Boesch, Operations Training Manager

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

None