ML25321A734
| ML25321A734 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 11/18/2025 |
| From: | Sarah Elkhiamy NRC/RGN-I/DORS/OB |
| To: | Carr E Dominion Energy |
| References | |
| 50-423/25-301 50-423/OL-25 | |
| Download: ML25321A734 (1) | |
Text
November 18, 2025 Eric S. Carr Chief Nuclear Officer and President - Nuclear Operations and Contracted Energy Dominion Energy, Inc.
Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, VA 23060-6711
SUBJECT:
MILLSTONE POWER STATION, UNIT 3 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000423/2025301
Dear Eric Carr:
On September 24, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Millstone Power Station, Unit 3. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on October 23, 2025, with Cristalle Walsh, Training Manager, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12.
The license examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on October 23, 2025.
No findings were identified during this examination.
E. Carr 2
This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Sincerely, Sarah Elkhiamy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000423 License No. NPF-49
Enclosure:
Examination Report 05000423/2025301 w/Attachment 1: Supplementary Information cc w/ enclosure: Distribution via ListServ SARAH ELKHIAMY Digitally signed by SARAH ELKHIAMY Date: 2025.11.18 06:11:29 -05'00'
ML25321A734 SUNSI Review
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive
Public
Non-Public OFFICE RI/DORS/OB RI/DORS/OB NAME MPatel/MP SElkhiamy/SE DATE 11/17/2025 11/17/2025
Enclosure EXAMINATION REPORT U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I Docket No.
05000423 License No.
NPF-49 Enterprise Identifier:
Report No.
L-2025-OLL-0023 05000423/2025301 Licensee:
Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.
Facility:
Millstone Power Station, Unit 3 Location:
Waterford, CT Dates:
September 15-19, 2025 (Operating Test Administration)
September 24, 2025 (Written Examination Administration)
October 5, 2025 (Facility Submitted Post-Exam Package)
September 22-October 17, 2025 (NRC Examination Grading)
October 23, 2025 (Licenses Issued)
Examiners:
M. Patel, Chief Examiner M. Scheetz, Senior Operations Engineer C. Henckel, Operations Engineer (CUI)
J. Kepley, Operations Engineer Approved By:
Sarah Elkhiamy, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
2
SUMMARY
ER 05000423/2025301; September 15-24, 2025; Millstone Power Station, Unit 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.
Four NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for a reactor operator license, four applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision
- 12. The written examination was administered by the facility on September 24, 2025. NRC examiners administered the operating tests during the period September 15-19, 2025. The NRC examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
A.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings No findings were identified.
B.
Licensee-Identified Violations None.
3 REPORT DETAILS
- 4.
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA) 4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
- a. Scope The examiners reviewed all license applications submitted by the licensee to ensure the applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The applications were submitted on NRC Form 398, Personal Qualification Statement, and NRC Form 396, Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee. The examiners also audited 100 percent of the license applications to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicants qualifications. This audit focused on the applicants experience and on-the-job training, including control manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.
- b. Findings No findings were identified.
.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance
- a. Examination Scope On September 24, 2025, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on October 5, 2025.
The NRC examination team administered various portions of the operating examination during the period September 15-19, 2025. The four applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of eleven system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The four applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses participated in at least one dynamic simulator scenario, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.
- b. Findings No findings were identified.
4 All applicants passed the operating test and the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 91.4 percent and ranged from 86.7 to 94.7 percent. The senior operator applicants average score was 91.6 percent and ranged from 88.0 to 97.0 percent.
ES-4.4 of NUREG-1021 instructs the licensee to evaluate the overall group performance of each written examination question to identify any indications of a problem with the question or a deficiency in the facility licensee training program. The licensee conducted this analysis and submitted the results to the Chief Examiner. The performance analysis revealed that three questions were missed by more than 50 percent of the applicants.
Specifically, Senior Reactor Operator Questions 84, 92, and 96 were missed by 57 percent of the applicants. The licensee determined that the three questions were not flawed and attributed applicant performance on each of these to knowledge gaps. The licensee addressed the associated knowledge deficiencies by remediating the applicants during the examination review session conducted on September 25, 2025.
ES-4.4 of NUREG-1021 also instructs the licensee to submit all post-examination comments made by the facility licensee and the applicants. No post-examination comments were submitted by the licensee.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
- a. Examination Scope The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The NRC developed the written exam outline and provided it to the licensee on December 11, 2024. The facility licensee submitted the operating examination outline on April 7, 2025.The Chief Examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on June 30, 2025. The Chief Examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee on the examination. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of August 11, 2025. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on August 21, 2025.
- b. Findings No findings were identified.
The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
.4 Simulation Facility Performance
- a. Examination Scope The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.
5
- b. Findings No findings were identified.
.5 Examination Security
- a. Examination Scope The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12, requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.
- b. Findings No findings were identified.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit The Chief Examiner presented the examination results to Cristalle Walsh, Training Manager, and other members of the licensee's staff on October 23, 2025.
The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.
ATTACHMENT 1: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
A-1 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee Personnel Cristalle Walsh, Training Manager Dan Brown, Superintendent Nuclear Training Operations Tim Bunkelman, Lead Exam Writer William M. Forrestt, Exam Writer Paul Scott, Initial License Training Supervisor ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED NONE ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED Accession No. ML25311A149 - FINAL-Written Exam (Note: In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.)
Accession No. ML25311A148 - FINAL-Operating Exam (Note: In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.)