ML18067A587
| ML18067A587 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 06/20/1997 |
| From: | Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Thomas J. Palmisano CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18067A588 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-255-97-302, NUDOCS 9706300284 | |
| Download: ML18067A587 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000255/1997302
Text
Mr. T. Palmisano
Site Vice President and General Manager .
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
Consumers Energy Company
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, Ml 49043-9530
June 20, 1997
SUBJECT:
OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 50-255/97302(DRS)
Dear Mr. Palmisano:
On April 16, 1997, the NRC completed initial operator licensing examinations at your
Palisades Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, and the license applicant's performance
evaluations were finalized on May 20, 1997. The enclosed report presents the results of .
that examination.
Operating and written examinations were administered to twelve license applicants, six at
the Reactor Operator (RO) level and six at the Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) level. Eleven
license applicants passed all sections of their respective examinations and were issued RO
examination; however, the applicant failed the operational section of the examination and
was not issued a license. In general, applicants were proficient in responding to major
transients, but performance during routine evolutions was less proficient. Two out of four
crews displayed a lack of understanding of system interaction and integrated plant
response. The importance of this observation is reinforced by the actual occurrence of
three past related events, as noted in NRC Inspection Reports 50-255/95014 and 50-
255/96017.
The NRC identified some concerns with exam preparation and administration. The
preexamination technical verification review performed by your staff was not fully
effective. During the administration of the exam, several deficiencies were identified in the
written, the job performance measure walkthrough, and the dynamic simulator portions of
the examination. Also, the NRC identified three situations concerning the adequacy of
examination security during exam administration.
970o3oo00
2ac~ i~g~55
A
y
..
\\ \\\\\\m \\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\J\\\\\\\\l\\\\\\\\l ~\\\\Jm \\\\~
T. Palmisano
2
June 20, 1997
In accordance with 1 O CFR 2. 790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter,
the enclosures, and your response to this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document
Room.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this examination.
Docket No. 50-255
- License No. DPR-20
Sincerely,
/s/ John Jacobson (for)
John A. Grobe, Acting Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosures:
1. Inspection Report 50-255/97302(DRS)
2. Post-Written Examination Facility Comments
3. NRC Resolution of Facility Comments
4. Simulation Facility Report
5. Written Examinations and Answer Keys (SRO/RO)
cc w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4:
Robert A. Fenech, Senior Vice President,
Nuclear, Fossil, and Hydro Operations
Thomas C. Berdine, Licensing Manager
James R. Padgett, Michigan Public
Service Commission
Michigan Department of Public Health
Department of Attorney General (Ml)
cc w/encls 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: K. M. Haas, Plant Training Manager
Distribution:
Docket File w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
PUBLIC IE-42 w/encls 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
SRls, Palisades,
BRP w/encls.1, 2, 3 & 4
LPM, NRR w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
DRP w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
DRS w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
Rill PRR w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
J. L. Caldwell, Riii w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
Riii Enf. Coordinator w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
OC/LFDCB w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
A. B. Beach, Riii w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
CAA 1 w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
TSS w/encls 1, 2, 3 & 4
DOCUMENT NAME: G\\DRS\\PAL97302.DRS
To receive a copy of thla document, Indicate In the box *c* = Copy w/o att/encl "E" = Copy w/att/encl "N" .. No
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
U. S. NUCLEAR .REGULATORY COMMISSION
Docket No:
License No:
Report No:
Licensee:
Facility:
Location:
Dates:
Examiners:
Approved by:
REGION Ill
50-255
50-255/97302(DRS)
Consumers Power Company
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, Ml 49043-9530
April 7 through 18, 1997
Hironori Peterson, NRC, Chief Examiner
Ronald M. Bailey, NRC, Examiner
James R. Nickolaus, Pacific Northwest Labs, Examiner
Melvyn Leach, Chief
Operator Licensing Branch