ML24354A179
| ML24354A179 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 12/23/2024 |
| From: | Matthew Endress NRC/RGN-II/DORS/OB |
| To: | Hilbert L Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO) |
| References | |
| ER 2024301 | |
| Download: ML24354A179 (1) | |
Text
Lisa Hilbert Senior Vice President North Anna Power Station 1022 Haley Drive Mineral, Virginia 23117
SUBJECT:
NORTH ANNA POWER STATION - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000338/2024301, 05000339/2024301
Dear Lisa Hilbert:
During the period October 21 - 25, 2024 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the North Anna Power Station. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on October 30, 2024.
Five Reactor Operator (RO) and five Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One SRO applicant failed the administrative topics and overall walkthrough portions of the operating test. There were no post-examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 2.
The initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and your staff were made according to NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12.
December 23, 2024
L. Hilbert 2
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its enclosures will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRCs document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4718.
Sincerely, Matthew F. Endress, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket Nos: 50-338, 50-339 License Nos: NPF-4, NPF-7
Enclosures:
Report Details Simulator Fidelity Report cc: Distribution via Listserv Signed by Endress, Matthew on 12/23/24
SUNSI Review X
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive X
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DORS/OB RII/DORS/OB RII/DORS/OB NAME K. Wallace M. Donithan M. Endress DATE 12/19/24 12/19/24 12/23/24 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II Examination Report Docket No.:
50-338, 50-339 License No.:
05000338/2024301, 05000339/2024301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2024-OLL-0032 Licensee:
Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO)
Facility:
North Anna Power Station Location:
Mineral, VA Dates:
Operating Test - October 21 - 25, 2024 Written Examination - October 30, 2024 Examiners:
M. Donithan, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer A. Goldau, Operations Engineer V. Furr, Operations Engineer Approved by:
Matthew F. Endress, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
2
SUMMARY
ER 05000338/2024301, 05000339/2024301; operating test October 21 - 25, 2024 & written exam October 30, 2024; North Anna Power Station; Operator License Examinations.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in accordance with the guidelines in Revision 12, of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." This examination implemented the operator licensing requirements identified in 10 CFR §55.41, §55.43, and §55.45, as applicable.
Members of the North Anna Power Station staff developed both the operating test and the written examination. The initial operating test, written RO examination, and written SRO examination submittals met the quality guidelines contained in NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating test during the period October 21 - 25, 2024. Members of the North Anna Power Station training staff administered the written examination on October 30, 2024. Five Reactor Operator (RO) and five Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Ten applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. One SRO applicant did not pass the operating exam and so was not issued a license.
There were no post-examination comments.
No findings were identified.
REPORT DETAILS 4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations a.
Inspection Scope The NRC evaluated the submitted operating test by combining the scenario events and JPMs in order to determine the percentage of submitted test items that required replacement or significant modification. The NRC also evaluated the submitted written examination questions (RO and SRO questions considered separately) in order to determine the percentage of submitted questions that required replacement or significant modification, or that clearly did not conform with the intent of the approved knowledge and ability (K/A) statement. The percentage of submitted test items that were unacceptable was compared to the acceptance criteria of NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Standards for Power Reactors.
The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and administering the examinations in order to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49, Integrity of examinations and tests.
The NRC performed an audit of license applications during the preparatory site visit in order to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications in accordance with NUREG-1021.
The NRC administered the operating test during the period October 21 - 25, 2024. The NRC examiners evaluated five Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the North Anna Power Station training staff administered the written examination on October 30, 2024. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the North Anna Power Station, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.
The NRC evaluated the performance or fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating tests.
b.
Findings No findings were identified.
The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the North Anna Power Station training staff developed both the operating test and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 12 of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team reviewed the proposed examination. Examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.
2 The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021, that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
Five RO applicants and five SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One SRO applicant passed the written examination but did not pass the operating test. Five RO applicants and five SRO applicants were issued licenses.
Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for evaluation of weaknesses and determination of appropriate remedial training.
The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final RO and SRO written examinations and answer keys may be accessed not earlier than October 30, 2026, in the ADAMS system as accession numbers ML24348A171 and ML24348A173.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On October 24, 2024 the NRC Chief Examiner discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with L. Hilbert, Site Vice President, and members of the North Anna Power Station staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary, and none was identified.
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee personnel L. Hilbert, Site Vice President J. Jenkins, Plant Manager S. McHugh, Assistant Operations Manager J. Balter, Supervisor Nuclear Shift Operations S. Hughes, Initial License Training Supervisor A. Brust, Lead Exam Author S. Purvis, Exam Author J. OFarrill, Licensing NRC personnel M. Donithan, Chief Examiner SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: North Anna Power Station Facility Docket No.: 50-338, 50-339 Operating Test Administered: October 21 - 25, 2024 This form is to be used only to report observations. These observations do not constitute audit or inspection findings and, without further verification and review in accordance with Inspection Procedure 71111.11 are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46. No licensee action is required in response to these observations.
While conducting the simulator portion of the operating test, examiners observed sufficient simulator fidelity. No performance deficiencies were observed during administration of the operating test.