ML20237D851
| 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: |
| References | |
| 50-331-98-301OL, NUDOCS 9808270264 | |
| Download: ML20237D851 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000331/1998301
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August 21, 1998
Mr. John F. Franz, Jr.
Vice President, Nuclear
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< 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
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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
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Operator applicant failed the examination and were denied operator licenses. The other three
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,'
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ES-501, Section E.1, the Region will hold from issuing a license to one SRO applicant whose
written examination results may be affected by any written examination appeals. The licensing
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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
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understanding of the improved Technical Specifications (ITS) needed improvements. The
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. developed examination required some additional NRC attention to correct deficiencies and
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. 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
9808270264 980825
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J. Franz
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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
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examination.
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It is our expectation that the DAEC training department instructors will use the applicant
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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
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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
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Enclosures:
1. Operator Licensing Examination Report 50-331/98301(OL)
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2. Facility Post Written Examination Comments and NRC Resolution
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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
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\DUA98301.0L SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
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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
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NAME
HPeterson:jp
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RLanksbury
JGrobe M
DATE
08/ /98
08/ /98
08/ /98
08/4/98
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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J. Franz
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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
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prepared for the examination.
It is our expectation that the DAEC training department instructors will use the applicant
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weaknesses outlined in the accompanying report as feedback to improve the operator license
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
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examination material in the future.
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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
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Energy Delivery Alliant;
President, IES Utilities, Inc.
,
G. Van Middlesworth, Plant Manager
K. Peveler, Manager, Regulatory Performance
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Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board
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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
OFFICE
Rlli
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Rlli
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NAME
HPeterson:Jp/4)
MLeacM-RLanksburyN
JGrobe
DATE
08/F/98 W
08/ NEf N //a408 0 /98
08/ /98
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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. J. Frat,z
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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
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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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