ML20199E177
| ML20199E177 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 11/19/1997 |
| From: | Howell A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Maynard O WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9711210114 | |
| Download: ML20199E177 (19) | |
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Otto L Maynard, President and i
Chief Executive Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 l
SUBJECT:
MANAGEMENT MEETING ON OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION RESULTS
Dear Mr. Maynard:
This refers tc the meeting cont'ucted at the site on November 13,1997. This meeting related to your identification of root cause(s) and planned corrective actions for the 50 percent failure rate on the August 1997 operator license examinations and the written examination quality issues developed af ter the examination.
in accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room.
Should you have any questions concerning this matter, we will be pleased to discuss them with you.
Sincerely, h Arthur T. HowellIll, Director h Division of Reactor Safety Docket No.: 50-482 License No.: NPF 42
Enclosures:
- 1. Attendance List
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- 2. Licensee Presentation
' cc w/ enclosures:
Chief Operating Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
P.O. Box 411 f3urlington, Kansas' 66839 f
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2-Wolf Creek Nuclear-Operating Corporation Jay Silberg, Esq.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
. l 2300 N Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20037_
l Supervisor Licensing Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
P.O. Box 411 l
Burlington, Kansas ' 66839 Chief Engineer Utilities Division Kansas Corporation Commission
' 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd.
Topeka, Kansas '66604 4027
- Office of the Governor State of Xansas Topeka, Kansas 66612 l
Attorney General
- Judicial Center 301 S.W.10th 2nd Floor' 4
Topeka, Kansas 66612 1597 County C!erk Coffey County Courthouse Burlington, Kansas 66839 1798 Vick L. Cooper, Chief Radiation Control Program -
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Air and Radiation Forbes Field Building 283 Topeka,';ansas 66620 Mr. Frank Moussa Division of Emergency Preparedness-
.2800 SW Topeka Blvd
- Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287-t L
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Wolf Creek Nuclear 3-Operating Corporation DISTRIBUTION w/ enclosures:
DCD (IE01 IE42)
Regional Administrator Resident inspector DRS Director DRS Deputy Director DRP Director SRI (Callaway, RIV)
Branch Chief (DRP/8)
DRS PSB Project Engineer (DRP/B)
MIS System Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
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Regional Administrator Resident inspector DRS Director DRS Deputy Director DRP Director SRI (Callaway, RIV)
Branch Chief (DRP/B)
DRS PSB Project Erigineer (DRP/B)
MIS System Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
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ENCLOSURE 1 USNRC PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET NOVEMBER 13,1997 NAME TITLE AND ORGANIZATION EXTENSION u3.lcoa Sns-f Cac. e ;A L)cA)oc yyto.r i F% cs Kh da
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NAME TITLE AND ORGANIZATION EXTENSION
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j ENCLOSURE 2 l
l Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation i
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Licensed Operator Examination i
Meeting l
i November 13,1997 l
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Overview
- Introduction Clay Warren
- Background Randy Guyer
- Training Program Assessment Randy Guyer
- Operator Performance Observations Kevin Davison
- Root Cause Randy Guyer
- Examination Analysis Randy Guyer
- Corrective Actions Randy Guyer
- Response to Specific Observations Kevin Davison
- Summary Kevin Davison i
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Background===
- License examinations given to class Of twelve operators in April and August,1997
- All cancic ates passed the operational portions of the exams
- Four candidates scored less than 80% on the written examination in August
- Wolf Creek requested this meeting with the NRC to discuss exam performance 1
l
- Wolf Creek performed a detailed assessment of the i
Operator Training Program
4 Training Prograrn Assessment
- Self Assessment Team Composition:
- Outside Consultant
- Technical Assistant to the Plant Manager
- Wolf Creek Operations Staff (3)
- Wolf Creek Training Staff (5)
- Self Assessment Scope:
- Licensed Operator Training Program
- Instructor Training Program
- Licensed Operator written test development
Training Program Assessment (continued)
- Self Assessment Results:
- Program fully meets accreditation standards
- Program testing assures comprehensive operator knowledge level
- Written test development and validation process did not provide consistent quality of exam components
- Other Assessments:
- Industry peer assessments 4
- Internal and external assessments of both the Operator Initial and Requalification Training Programs
- Ongoing observation of Operator performance
l Training Program Assessment (continued)
Conclusion:
Wolf Creek Training Prograrns develop operators with a sound knowledge level and practical skills to operate the plant safely l
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Operator Performance Observations
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- Review of performance during initial training confirms compreaensive knowledge level
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- Exam scores throughout program averaged in high 80's to low 90's
- Operator performance on shift demonstrates good awareness of p ant conditions and integratec plant knowledge r
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Root Cause
- Written exam pre aaration process did not have
. sufficient criteria for question development and.
validation
- As a result, we failed to discern the difference between a plausible and a partially correct distracter
Examination Analysis
^ 25 Questions from the August,1997 examination:
- 25 questions missed by > 50 % of candidates:
1 invalid question error 9 question construction errors
- 41 other questions missed by candidates:
2 invalid question errors 3 question construction errors 59 questions not missed by any candidates:
1 invalid question error 3 question construction errors
Examination Analysis
- If all c uestions with errors were removed:
- Test scores \\vould have changed slightly, but outcome would have been the same
- The examination would retain the correct topical percentages required by the sample plan
- Question stems are statistically sound and discriminate at the correct level
- Four question stems (3.2Wj did not meet our new standards
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Corrective Actions l
~
- Development of a specific procedure for Licensed' Oaerator exam preparation that will.
- Provide question construction criteria
- Provide rigorous question validation criteria l
- Provide criteria for incorporating lessons learned in preparing JPM exams, simulator exams, and the administrative section
- Provide criteria for a formal examination results analysis
- All staffinvolved in exam preparation will be trained to these requirements
- Apply for waivers and reexamine the four candidates who scored less than 80%
Response to Specific Observations L
- Examination performance indicates potential knowledge weaknesses with respect to nuclear instrumentation and administrative requirements:
- Training program content in these areas was appropriate
- Good Operator performance was seen in these areas during, initial training tests
- Good Operator performance was seen in these areas during simulator and On the Job Evaluations
- Examination Technical Accuracy Problems:
- Wolf Creek agrees that the technical accuracy of some test:
questions was inadequate
~
- The corrective actions discussed earlier address this-observation
Summary
- The Wolf Creek Operator Training Program is Sound
' Written examination development and validation was not sufficiently rigorous
- Planned corrective actions will assure technical accuracy of future exams
- Licensed Operators have sound knowledge levels and practical skills to operate the plant safely i
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DOCUMENT DEVED>R1 INSERTED BY DOCUMENT RECEIPT & PROCESSING N L S FORM 123 l
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CATEGORY 2
REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRI!UTION SYSTEM: (RIDS)
ACCESSION NBR:9711210118 DOC.DATE: 97/11/14 NOTARIZED: NO
. DOCKET #
FACIL:50-285 Fort Calhoun Station, Unit 1, Omaha Public Power Dist 05000285 AUTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION GWYNN,T.P.
Region 4 (Post 820201)
RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION GAMBHIR,S.K.
Omi-ha Public Power District
SUBJECT:
Discusses semiannual plant performance review on 971009 for mentioned plant. Advises of planned insp effort resulting C
from plante semiannual plant performance review.
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