ML20237D851

Forwards Operator Licensing Exam Rept 50-331/98-301(OL) on 980706-10.Exams Administered to Two Reactor Operator License Applications & Four Senior Reactor Operators Applicants.Both Reactor Operators & One Senior Reactor Operator Failed

ML20237D851
Person / Time
Site:	Duane Arnold
Issue date:	08/21/1998
From:	Globe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Franz J IES UTILITIES INC., (FORMERLY IOWA ELECTRIC LIGHT
Shared Package
ML20237D843	List: IR 05000331/1998301 ML20237D842 ML20237D851
References
50-331-98-301OL, NUDOCS 9808270264
Download: ML20237D851 (4)

See also: IR 05000331/1998301

Text

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August 21, 1998

Mr. John F. Franz, Jr.

Vice President, Nuclear

!. < Alliant Tower.

200 First Street SE -

P. O. Bo . 351

Cedar Rapids, lA 52406-0351

SUBJECT: OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 50-331/98301(OL)

• Dear Mr. Franz:

On July 10,1998, the NRC completed initial operator license examinations at your Duane

Amold Energy Center (DAEC) Nuclear Station. The operating examination was administered

l from July 7 through July 10,1998, and the written examination was administered on July 6,

1998. The examination also included at least a 2 hour2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> inspection of your facility Control Room

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operations. At the conclusion of the examination process, preliminary findings were discussed

with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The license applicant's

performance evaluations were finalized and members of your staff were informed of the

examination results on August 3,1998.

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Examinations were administered to two Reactor Operator license applicants and four Senior

' Reactor Operator applicants. Both Reactor Operator applicants and one Senior Reactor

L Operator applicant failed the examination and were denied operator licenses. The other three

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Senior Reactor Operator applicants passed all portions of their examinations; however, only two

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applicants were issued Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) licenses. In accordance with NUREG

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1021, " Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Interim Revision. 8,'

ES-501, Section E.1, the Region will hold from issuing a license to one SRO applicant whose

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written examination results may be affected by any written examination appeals. The licensing

l decision will be made for this individual following reviews of any appeals.

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This was the DAEC Training Department Staff's first opportunity to develop an operator license

examination under the guidelines contained in NUREG 1021, Interim Revision 8. The

examiners identified that the training department staff's attention to detail, knowledge of

- examination development guidelines, and ability to develop technically accurate examination

material according to the guidelines were, in general, satisfactory. However, the use a'nd

p understanding of the improved Technical Specifications (ITS) needed improvements. The

l . developed examination required some additional NRC attention to correct deficiencies and

b . increase the examination's ability to discriminate between a competent and less than

, competent operator, so as to conform with NRC examinations being currently administered.

Several of the license applicants demonstrated some generlc weaknesses during administration

. of the operating tests. The four Senior Reactor Operator applicants were unable to provide

consistent implementation of the station's emergency plan. This included classifying and

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J. Franz 2

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making the appropriate notifications of emergency events. Several applicants demonstrated

weaknesses in diagnosing events, recognizing off-normal trends, and using procedures and the

Technical Specification. All of the three examinatio:, failures were directly attributable to

deficiencies noted during the written test. The high failure rate and the below average grades  ;

suggests that the training program did not adequately prepare the applicants for the  !

examination. ,

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It is our expectation that the DAEC training department instructors will use the applicant

weaknesses outlined in the accompanying report as feedback to improve the operator license ]

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training program in accordance with your Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) program. We ,

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request that you review these weaknesses, and within 30 days from the date of this letter,

provide a written response outlining any changes you have made or intend to make to the Initial

License Training program to increase program effectiveness.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter and the j

enclosures to this letter will be placed in the NRC Pubiic Document Room.

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Sincerely,

Original Signed by Steven A. Reynolds (for)

John A. Globe, Director

Division of Reactor Safety ,

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Docket No.: 50-331

License No.: DPR-49 j

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Enclosures: 1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 50-331/98301(OL) 1

2. Facility Post Written Examination Comments and NRC Resolution  !

3. Simulation Facility Report

4. Examinations and Answer Keys (SRO/RO)

cc w/encls 1,2 & 3: E. Protsch, Executive Vice President

Energy Delivery Alliant;

President, IES Utilities, Inc.

G. Van Middlesworth, Plant Manager

K. Peveler, Manager, Regulatory Performance

Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board

cc w/encls 1,2,3 & 4: K. Young, Manager, Nuclear Training l

DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\DUA98301.0L SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE '

To receive a copy of thle document, Indicate in the box: "C" a Copy without atte . c.: .. /-ure T a Copy with attachmenvendosure *N's No copy

OFFICE Rlli l Rlli Rlli l Rlli N

NAME HPeterson:jp MLeach RLanksbury JGrobe M  ;

DATE 08/ /98 08/ /98 08/ /98 08/4/98

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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J. Franz 2

making the appropriate notifications of emergency events. Several applicants demonstrated

weaknesses in event diagnosis, recognizing off-normal trends, and procedure / technical

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specification use. All of the three examination failures were directly attributable to deficiencies

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noted during the written test. The high failure rate suggests that the applicants were not well  !

prepared for the examination.

1

It is our expectation that the DAEC training department instructors will use the applicant

weaknesses outlined in the accompanying report as feedback to improve the operator license l

training program in accordance with your Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) program. We

request that you review these weaknesses, and within 30 days from the date of this letter,

provide a written response outlining any changes you have made or intend to make to the initial

License Training program to increase program effectiveness. It is also our belief that added

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attention to the technical and quality assurance reviews of the examination will assure improved j

examination material in the future.  !

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter and the

enclosures to this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

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Sincerely,

John A. Grobe, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No.: 50-331

License No.: DPR-49

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Enclosures: 1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 50-331/98301(OL)

2. Facility Post Written Examination Comments and NRC Resolution

3. Simulation Facility Report )

4. Examinations and Answer Keys (SRO/RO)

cc w/encls 1, 2 & 3: E. Protsch, Executive Vice President l

Energy Delivery Alliant;

,

President, IES Utilities, Inc.

G. Van Middlesworth, Plant Manager

K. Peveler, Manager, Regulatory Performance

l Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board I

cc w/encls 1,2,3 & 4: K. Young, Manager, Nuclear Training

DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\DUA98301.0L

ro ,.c.i.. . cocy oe thi. docum.nt, inoic.i. In the box: "C's Copy wthout attachment / enclosure "E* r Copy eth attachmani/enciosure 'N's No copy

6 Rlli ,,, l M Rill

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OFFICE Rlli _

l0 Rlli l

NAME HPeterson:Jp/4) MLeacM-RLanksburyN JGrobe

DATE 08/F/98 W 08/ NEf N //a408 0 /98 08/ /98 l

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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. J. Frat,z 3

Distribution:

Project Mgr., NRR w/encls 1,2 & 3

J. Caldwell, Ril! w/encls 1,2 & 3

C. Pederson, Rlli w/encls 1,2 & 3

B. Clayton, Rlli w/encls 1,2 & 3

SRI Duane Arnold w/encls 1,2 & 3

DRP w/encls 1,2 & 3

TSS w/encls 1,2 & 3

DRS (2) w/encls 1,2 & 3

Rill PRR w/encls 1,2 & 3

PUBLIC IE-42 w/encls 1,2,3 & 4 ,

Docket File w/encls 1,2 & 3

GREENS

LEO (E-Mail)

DOCDESK (E-Mail)

M. Bies, Rlll w/encls 1,2 & 3

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