ML20064C757

Bf 2019301 Exam Report 2019301

ML20064C757
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	03/02/2020
From:	Gerald Mccoy Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Jim Barstow Tennessee Valley Authority
References
Download: ML20064C757 (8)

Text

March 2, 2020 Mr. James Barstow Vice President, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs and Support Services Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street, LP 4A-C Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT NOS. 05000259/2019301, 05000260/2019301, 05000296/2019301

Dear Mr. Shea:

During the period November 4-8, 2019 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests and the written examination submittal with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on November 13, 2019.

All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 2.

The initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and your staff were made according to NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 11.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its enclosures will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRCs document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

J. Barstow 2 If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4551.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Gerald J. McCoy, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 License Nos: DPR-33, DPR-52, and DPR-68

Enclosures:

1. Report Details

2. Simulator Fidelity Report cc: Distribution via Listserv

ML 20064C757 SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE FORM 665 ATTACHED OFFICE RII:DRS/OB RII: DRS/OB RII: DRS/OB RII:DRS/OB RII:DRS/OB TTC RII:DRS/OB NAME PCAPEHART DLANYI JVIERA AGOLDAU DDUMBACHER MEMRICH GMCCOY DATE 2/24/2020 2/26/2020 3/2/2020 3/ 2 /2020 2/24/2020 2/24/2020 3/3/2020 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II Examination Report Docket No.: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 License No.: DPR-33, DPR-52, DPR-68 Report No.: 05000259/2019301, 05000260/2019301, 05000296/2019301 Licensee: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), LLC Enterprise identifier: L-2019-OLL-0024 Facility: Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 Location: Athens, AL 35611 Dates: Operating Test - November 4 - 8, 2019 Written Examination - November 13, 2019 Examiners: Phillip Capehart, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer Dave Dumbacher, Chief Examiner Under Instruction, Senior Operations Engineer Matthew Emrich, Senior Reactor Technology Instructor David Lanyi, Operations Engineer Joseph Viera, Operations Engineer Andreas Goldau, Operations Engineer Approved by: Gerald J. McCoy, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY

ER 05000259/2019301, 05000260/2019301, 05000296/2019301; operating test November 4 -

8, 2019 & written exam November 13, 2019; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant; Operator License Examinations.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 11 of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements identified in 10 CFR §55.41, §55.43, and §55.45, as applicable.

Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. The initial operating test, written RO examination, and written SRO examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period November 4 - 8, 2019. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on November 13, 2019. All nine Reactor Operator (RO) and twelve Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.

There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

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REPORT DETAILS

4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations

a. Inspection Scope The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and JPMs in order to determine the percentage of submitted test items that required replacement or significant modification. The NRC also evaluated the submitted written examination questions (RO and SRO questions considered separately) in order to determine the percentage of submitted questions that required replacement or significant modification, or that clearly did not conform with the intent of the approved knowledge and ability (K/A) statement. Any questions that were deleted during the grading process, or for which the answer key had to be changed, were also included in the count of unacceptable questions. The percentage of submitted test items that were unacceptable was compared to the acceptance criteria of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Standards for Power Reactors.

The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations in order to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period November 4 - 8, 2019. The NRC examiners evaluated nine Reactor Operator (RO) and twelve Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on November 13, 2019. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.

The NRC evaluated the performance or fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating tests.

b. Findings No findings were identified.

The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 11 of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team reviewed the proposed examination. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.

Using NUREG-1021, the NRC determined that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

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All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination and were issued licenses.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation of weaknesses and determination of appropriate remedial training.

The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final RO and SRO written examinations and answer keys, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than November 15, 2021, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number ML19324H571 and ML19324H601).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On November 8, 2019 the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. Steve Bono, Site Vice President, and members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee personnel Steve Bono, Site Vice President Glenn M. Pierce, Director Nuclear Training James A. Kent, Director, Plant Support Chris Vaugh, Director, Operations Thomas Jackle, Facility Representative Donald C. Binkley, Jr., Simulator Services Manager/Exam Team Supervisor Christopher R. Baxter, ILT Supervisor R. D. Busick, Operations Training Manager Jamie Paul, Site Licensing Manager Russell Joplin, Corporate Exam Program Manager Michael Schulte, Examination Author Michael Tharpe, Examination Author 4

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Facility Docket No.: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 Operating Test Administered: November 4 - 8, 2019 This form is to be used only to report observations. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings and, without further verification and review in accordance with Inspection Procedure 71111.11 are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46. No licensee action is required in response to these observations.

No simulator fidelity or configuration issues were identified.

Enclosure 2