ML26055A007
| ML26055A007 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  (DPR-067, NPF-016) |
| Issue date: | 02/24/2026 |
| From: | Matthew Endress NRC/RGN-II/DORS/OB |
| To: | Coffey B Florida Power & Light Co |
| Shared Package | |
| 2025301 | List: |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-OLL-0048 2025301 | |
| Download: ML26055A007 (0) | |
Text
Bob Coffey, Executive Vice President, Nuclear Division and Chief Nuclear Officer Florida Power & Light Company 700 Universe Blvd Mail Stop: EX/JB Juno Beach, FL 33408
SUBJECT:
ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT UNITS 1 & 2 - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT (05000335/2025301 and 05000389/2025301)
Dear Bob Coffey:
During the period December 5 - 19, 2025, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2. At the conclusion of the operating tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests and the written examination submittal with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by your staff on December 10, 2025.
Six Reactor Operator (RO) and four Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant passed the operating test but failed the written examination. There were no post-administration comments concerning the written examination. 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.
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).
February 24, 2026
B. Coffey 2
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.: 05000335, 05000389 License Nos.: DPR-67 and NPF-16
Enclosures:
- 1. Report Details
- 2. Simulator Fidelity Report cc: Distribution via Listserv Signed by Endress, Matthew on 02/24/26
SUNSI Review X
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive X
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DORS RII/DORS NAME V. Furr M. Endress DATE 02/24/26 02/24/26 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II Examination Report Docket No.:
05000335, 05000389 License No.:
05000335/2025301 and 05000389/2025301 Enterprise Identifier:
L-2025-OLL-0048 Licensee:
Florida Power & Light Company Facility:
St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 & 2 Location:
Jensen Beach, FL Dates:
Operating Test - December 5 - 19, 2025 Written Examination - December 10, 2025 Examiners J. Bundy, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer V. Furr, Senior Operations Engineer (Region II)
D. Lanyi, Senior Operations Engineer (Region II)
M. Bradfield, Senior Reactor Technology Instructor (TTC)
Approved by:
Matthew F. Endress, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety
2
SUMMARY
ER 05000335/2025301 and 05000389/2025301; December 5 - 19, 2025 & December 10, 2025; St. Lucie Nuclear Plant Unit 1 & 2; 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 St. Lucie Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination. The NRC developed the written examination outlines. 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 tests during the period December 5 - 19, 2025. Members of the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 10, 2025. Six Reactor Operator (RO) and four Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant passed the operating test but failed the written examination. Ten applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.
There no post-examination comments concerning the written examinations.
No findings were identified.
3 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. Any questions that were deleted during the grading process, or for which the answer key had to be changed, were also included in the count of unacceptable questions. 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 tests during the period December 5 - 19, 2025.
The NRC examiners evaluated seven Reactor Operator (RO) and four Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 10, 2025. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.
The NRC evaluated the performance and fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating tests. The simulator performance is documented in Enclosure 2.
b.
Findings No findings were identified.
The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the St.
Lucie Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2, training staff developed both the operating tests 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
4 NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final version of the examination materials.
The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021, that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.
NRC regional management considered the impacts of the post-examination comment resolution on the evaluation that the written examinations met the expected quality standards.
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 submitted no post-examination comments concerning the written examination. A copy of the final written examination and answer key may be accessed not earlier than December 19, 2027--two years after administration of the exam--in the ADAMS system, Accession Numbers ML26042A296 and ML26042A297.
4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On December 19, 2025, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Erik Feightner, St. Lucie Training Manager.
The chief examiner asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified. On January 28, 2026, the NRC examination team conducted a final exit meeting with Jesse Seymour, Corporate Training Manager - Operations, and Timothy Gabosch, Fleet Exam and Simulator Supervisor to discuss the examination results and provide the licensing details.
5 KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee personnel C. Santos, Site Vise President E. Feightner, Plant Training Manager K. Mack, Director, Regulatory Affairs J. Seymour, Corporate Training Manager S. Wylie, Fleet Exam Supervisor T. Gabosch, Fleet Exam and Simulator Supervisor M. Cycotte, ILT Supervisor G. Asbeck, Exam Author C. Jozwiak, Exam Author SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: St. Lucie, Unit 1 and 2 (CE)
Facility Docket No.: 05000335, 05000389 Operating Test Administered: December 5 - 19, 2025 This form is to be used only to report observations. On 12/01/2025, initial operator licensing examination operating test (ILT) scenarios were conducted with no identified issues. Later while conducting licensed operator requalification annual operating examination (AOE) on 12/1/2025 the simulator facility experienced reliability issues. Specifically, during administration the facility AOE an I/O hardware in the A RPS cabinet failed. This failure prevented running the NRC exam scenarios or simulator JPMs as validated on subsequent days. The remainder of the operating test administration was suspended until the week of 12/15/25, with the written exam being given in the interim to allow time for simulator trouble shooting and repair. After the simulator hardware fault was repaired, an additional round of Scenario-based Testing (in addition to that previously completed in conjunction with scenario validation) was conducted to provide assurance that simulator performance and fidelity to the reference unit remain adequate to support the administration of valid, reliable, and equitable simulator dynamic simulator scenario evaluations. 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.
No simulator fidelity issues were identified.