ML20203B557
| ML20203B557 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fermi, 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 03/08/1985 |
| From: | Tambling T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | James Keppler NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20203B524 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-86-362, RTR-NUREG-1021 NUDOCS 8607180248 | |
| Download: ML20203B557 (12) | |
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.m-March 8, 1985 MEMDEANDJF F0F:
Jar.es G. heppier, Regional Acrinistrator FROV:
T. N. T6ctling, Director, Enforcement and Investigation Coordinatior Staff SUEJECT:
0? ERAT 0E TEST SCORES AT FERMI 2 (ALLEGATION) g Sun.a ry Gr, February 1E,1955 three allegatior.s involsing Fermi 2 were received by the HD Duty Officer.
One allecation concerned test scores of reactor operators at the Fermi site and possible NRC involvement in " shaving points" on exams to pass individuals previously failing such tests.
Mr. A. Bert Davis requested the E1C staff to conduct a review of the " point shaving" allegation to deterrine what action Rl)) should take.
On February 19, 1985 this matter was discussed with E. T. Pawlik and it was determined that an investigation by OIR3 would not be irstituted as an allegation involving the NRC staff was outside 01's ir.vestigative purview.
Our conclusion is that we could not substantiate the allegation; however, a review should be initiated by the Division of Reactor Safety to determine the validity of several test scores involving walkthrough e>arir.etions.
In addition, the use of white-out on official records should be eliminated and any changes or additions should be initialed by the individual making them.
We do not feel that the conclusions contained herein necessitate a referral to the Office of Inspector and Auditor at this time based upon the fact that a further review of the stated allegation showed that the statement as made did not include NRC staff involvement.
Allecation The allecation as stated on the enclosed RIII Event hotification Form indicated the NRC Eas " going to shave some points" on operator exams.
A review of the original tape by my staff showed that the allegation was not accurately relayed to the EIC staff.
The original tape, maintained by the HQ Duty Officer stated, that on Technical Specification portions of operator exams, three individuals scored below 80 percent and one individual scored below 70 percent.
It was rumored that they (assumed to be the individuals taking the. exam or the licensee) were going to ask the NRC to shave some points.
The individual only identified himself as a Monroe County resident.
No time frame was'given.
B607180248 860709 PDR FOIA PUNTENN86-362 PDR 2
c James G. Keppler March E, 1985 Scope The results of the review were obtained through discussions held between Mr. J. McMiller. (Chief, Operator Licensing Section) and the Enforcement and Insestigatior Coordinaticr: 6taff or february 2E,1965.
The ciscussions centered or how tests are approved, adnir.istered, graded, and reviewed.
The process of appeal was also ciscussed.
Additional inferr.atior. kas obtained through a review of all cperator test scores at the Fermi site and relatec occumentatior.
Ar. intersiew with T. Lang, Operator Licersing Section was held on March 1, 19EE.
Technical Stecificatiers T
The allegaticr. aodresses test scores cealing with the Technical Specificatior.
sectior, of the test.
ARC actinistered examinations co not have specific sections of tests covering Technicel Specifications.
The licensee adk,inisters examinations prior to NRC testing and does cover Technical Specifications under a specific section.
The test scores for the most recent tests administered by the licensee were reviewed and no correlation could be determined that would relate to the allegation.
Ouestionable Adninistration of Oral Exam One possible reason for the allegation was a memorandum given to Messrs. Weil and Stapletor, by Mr. McMillen.
A February 21, 1985 Battelle meno from W. Apley to 1. Levy reprimanded Mr. Levy for walkthrough examinations he conducted with two applicants.
Mr. Levy was unable to enter the Fermi plant for about one hour due to security computer problems.
Instead of conducting an actual in-plant walkthrough he chose to conduct a sit down session relying on his familiarity with the plant.
Battelle has determined that the event was not in direct violation of the examiner standard (NUREG 1021), but violated the intent.
The appearance of exams being administered differently by NRC/ contractor personnel could give the impression to individuals at the plant that the grading of the exams might be altered.
NRR Audit Documentation relating to quality assurance reviews and conduct of regrades was addressed as a problem area during a December 1983 to January 1984 NRR audit of Reactor Operator Licensing activities.
The report specifically addressed the Palisades documentation; however, the findings were generic in scope.
Since January 1984 it appears that the QA check-off sheets have been properly documenting review and approval.
The NRR audit report also stated that regrades were not always conducted by uninvolved examiners.
The regional response was that this, "wcs the exception rather than the rule." 'The region agreed to correct the situation by requesting Headquarter's assistance.
1 Although we found no instances of this at Fermi, our interviews with examiners showed that this still occurs as a result of manpower constraints.
J e
James G. Keppler March 8, 386 Inadequacies in Fermi Documentation Concerning documentatior prior to 29E4, two exceptions were noted by the EIC staff ir. the docuaeriting of. QA cheCl-off sheets.
Signature blocks were not fillec o;i for the hovember E,1953 e>an t.s the Chief E>aminer.
It also appears t at the reviewer on TABLE ES-109-1 (required documentation) initialed off as hasing reviewec all borc'erline cases (ll/29/E3).
However, there were nc borcerline cases during that period.
Subsequent to the reviewer's initialing, the letters 'hA" were placec ne>t to the initials by another individual.
This could raise the question of how acequate was the review?
Oral E>ans 3
Docurentation of oral e>arinations is not reviened in the same detail as written e>atinations.
Several examples of the use of white-cut were observed.
Of these, four e>amples involving two oral exams are attached.
Ursatisfactory or marginal answers were whited-out and replaced with a higher score or no score.
No reference as to why the grading changed was documented.
These observations did appear to be isolated occurrences.
Conclusion We were not able to substantiate the allegation as stated to the HQ Duty Officer.
We could not substantiate any correlation of test scores mentioned in the allegation as compared to actual test scores reviewed.
All documented test s, cores at the Fermi site were reviewed.
Interviews with NRC Operator Licensing personnel did not reveal attempts by licensee personnel to influence NRC/NRC contractor personnel to alter test scores.
The QA check list which is required by NUREG 1021 appears to define a system of checks and balances that would prevent tampering of exams by NRC or NRC contract personnel for written exams.
Oral exams are very subjective and are difficult to review.
We do feel that
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the walkthrough examinations conducted on February 14, 1985 should be reviewed by NRC Licensing personnel to determine the validity of the examinations.
Examinations of this type should be administered in a uniform manner to preclude any speculation that exams are altered in any way.
The use of white-out is not recommended in any form for examinations and its use should be eliminated.
Any changes or additions to the original document should be lined out and/or initialed by the person making the change or addition.
James G. Kepplcr March 6, 1985 These findings wEr6 discussed with Messrs. J. F. Streeter, W. 5. Little, and R. C. Knop on March 4,1985 to expedite any actions which need to be taken before Fermi licensing,
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i Yo N 15;wd k Thor.as h. Tambling Director, Enforcement anc Ir.vestigation Coordinatior. Staff A*tbChm6nts:
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Battelle Neme dtc 2/:1/85 2.
Exar.s involving use of white-out 3.
QA check-off sheets 4.
Event hotification cc w/ attachments:
A. B. Davis B. A. Berson C. E. Norelius R. L. Spessard 1
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C+r., e.)F no. ar d::e t v3 cia;3or, cf tJe exar.irer sir,dar d 0;.v.3 :0?)), at k ust v 2 c ]at ed tres 2.r.t e nt.
Fo))ceing ihe sim;)ato: og :atire; cxanir.ation ed contio) I occ walk th; o>gh (cor,$arted pe: the Cr,3ef D andre 2 's dir ert ion at the sirn))at or), you should
_ have t a'..er, both ca id)dat es in-p] ant te ver if y thei_t f a riiliarity with egaiptent lo:ation and Jona) ope:ata3G prore$m es (esp. FCA ent ry, f uel handling, r enote shaidx f e at u: es, et c. ).
Inste ed, yo.: vere u.able to enter de plant le:ause of a p: ot.)e: Sta ti th= r] ant 's sc-ra s ty co pat er.
Tnis p:otler went on for over ar. hor, and ther e ap;r a:ed to tw n: defir.ite t irre wt,en it kOJ)d be co: 2 e-t ed.
S o.: then chose t c re]y on yom f aca ]iarity w7 0, the plant to con $ art a sit-6x s's s)on with e ach cre$a date to deterrine ha s in-plant f arr.) ) i ar i ty.
In the futu.re you ard a)) Mr. exarirers wi)) inclu$e an actual in-plant a
waIk thr oagh, r egar d)ess of the type of oral. While the extent of that wa1kihrough wi)1 dif f er deperding on the type of exarr., rever again vi11 a
. cit-dx session be substituted for an a tual walkthroagh.
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~ tirre you fird your self in a siinilar situation where you feel that an interpretation of PTJREn-2021 reeds to te trade, I will expect you to obtain that interpretat ion f r cr? De O)ief Dcarriner (if fran F K ), oI contact the opp 3) cable Eegional Hea$gaarters if an PK representative is r>at Chief Examiner.
While 1 de feel, based on rrrf lirr.ited review of tTJE-1021, that the exarr.
r esults should stard, I thint yoar ju$genent was wro79 in not wait ing to ao 11.-piant, and 3 f eel yom perforran:e on this assig t ent r efle-:ted poorly on U,e cuer nr., examine: s wtt:- to try 1.no.ie3pe have in a)) cases fo))o.rM the let ter of the stedar d in the con $ art of Ue 11.-piant w ))thr o;gh da irs the f oar ye ar s that we have teen givirq c>.a-ir.at 2ons as a contlartor for the l'.S.
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