ML20135D470

Transmits Findings of Initial Operator License Examinations Conducted on 961021-24 & Request Response Re Review & Meaning of High Applicant Failure within 60 Days of Receipt of Ltr

ML20135D470
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	12/03/1996
From:	Meyer G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Byram R PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.
Shared Package
ML18026A284	List: ML20135D470
References
NUDOCS 9612090391
Download: ML20135D470 (3)

Text

.__ . _ . . _ _ _ _

1 O -as

% .a

+ *g UNITED STATES

[ g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION D j REGloN 1 o j 475 ALLENDALE ROAD

,e KING oF PRusstA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406-1415 Decernber 3,1996 Mr. Robert G. Byram Senior Vice President - Nuclear l Pennsylvania Power & Light Company 2 North Ninth Street Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101 i l

SUBJECT:

INITIAL OPERATOR EXAMINATION REPORTS 50-387/96-12 (OL),

50-388/96-12 (OL)

Dear Mr. Byram:

This report transmits the findings of the initial operator license examinations conducted by NRC exarniners in the period of October 21 - 24,1996, at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. At the conclusion of the examinations, Ms. T. Walker discussed the examination ,

observations with Mr. T. Markowski and other members of your staff. l l

Two reactor operator applicants passed all portions of the examination and were

~

i subsequently issued licenses. Three senior reactor operator (SRO) applicants did not pass j tha written examination, including one SRO applicant who also did not pass the simulator portion of the operating examination.

Your development and review of the written examinations was weak. A significant number of technical errors were identified during your review following administration of the examinations. We are concerned about the quality of your examination development process and would appreciate your analysis of the root causes of why so many Fat-examinatiore changes were required and what actions will be taken to improve the quality of future license examinations. In addition, both recent operator license examinations have resulted in applicant failures. Although only twelve applicants were examined, five failures occurre" This represents a relatively high failure rate. We would appreciate your concluuons on what the examination results indicate regarding the applicants' abilities and -

the license applicant training program. Please inform me of how you would like to communicate your conclusions, either in a written submittal or at a meeting.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter l and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

I \

/

I f A s

y c[6/20fppC /p cj5t

l l

4. . 4 Mr. Robert G. Byram 3 Distribution w/ encl; w/o Attachments 1-5:

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)

J. Wiggins, DRS L. Cunningham, NRR (Security / Safeguard irs)

D. Barss, NRR (Emergency Plan irs)

T. Walker, Chief Examiner, DRS NRC Resident inspector PUBLIC DRS OL Facility File DRS File (2)

Distribution w/enci and Attachments 1-5:

• DRS Master Exam File PUBLIC Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC) i Distribution w/encI: w/o Attachments 1-5: (Via E-Mail)

W. Dean, OEDO C. Poslusny, Project Manager, NRR J. Stolz, PDI-2, NRR inspection Program BrLnch, NRR (IPAS)

R. Correia, NRR R. Frahm, Jr., NRR S. Richards, OLB/NRR  !

l i

DOCUMENT NAME: A: SU961212. INS To receive a copy of this docusment, indicate is the box: 'C' y with@ attachment / enclosure 'E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure 'N' = No copy 0FFICE Rl/DRS a l RI/DRP ,j (s' lN Rl/DRS _

Rl/ l RI/ l l NAME TWalker 16" WPascicR' ) GMeyer ( ),, s DATE 11/27/96 ~ 11/)Ui /96' lir/ A /9 7 [F 11/ /96 11/ /96

\

OFFICIAL RECORD CGPV

~

l >

Mr. Robert G. Byram 2 A response is requested concerning your review of the written examinations and 4

conclusions on the meaning of the recent high applicant failure rate within 60 days of  ;

receipt of this letter. Should you have any questions regarding this examination, please contact me at (610) 337-5211.

! Sincerely, t ,

[ \ /, -

i A, .( / .

~

Glenn W. Meyer, Chief j Operator Licensing and Human Performance Branch Division of Reactor Safety

? Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

[

Enclosure:

NRC Region i Combined Examination inspection Report 50-387/96-12 (OL) l l 50-388/96-12 (OL) w/ Attachments 1-5 h cc w/ encl; w/o Attachments 1-5:

j G. T. Jones, Vice President - Nuclear Engineering 1 G. Kuczynski, Plant Manager J. M. Kenny, Supervisor, Nuclear Licensing l G. D. Miller, Manager - Nuclear Engineering 1 R. R. Wehry, Nuclear Licensing

M. M. Urioste, Nuclear Services Manager, General Electric l

] C. D. Lopes, Manager - Nuclear Security l W. Burchill, Manager, Nuclear Safety Assessment

l. H. D. Woodeshick, Special Office of the President i J. C. Tilton, Ill, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania i cc w/ encl and Attachments 1-5:

A. Fitch, Nuclear Operations Training Supervisor i B. Stitt, Nuclear Operations Training Supervisor

! W. Lowthert, Manager, Nuclear Training ,

j M. Parrish, Nuclear Oparations Training Specialist l

-