IR 05000424/2015301

NRC Operator License Examination Report 05000424/2015301 and 05000425/2015301

ML15331A267
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	11/24/2015
From:	Guthrie E F Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Taber B K Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
50-424/15-301, 50-425/15-301
Download: ML15331A267 (8)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II 245 PEACHTREE CENTER AVENUE NE, SUITE 1200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1257 November 24, 2015

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant ATTN: Mr. Brian Vice President 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 SUBJECT: VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 1 AND 2-NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000424/2015301 AND

05000425/2015301

Dear Mr. Taber:

During the period August 31 - September 4 and September 14 - 18, 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed preliminary findings related to the operating test 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 September 25, 2015.

All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-administration comments concerning the written examination or operating test. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in 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 10.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "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 NRC's 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) 997-4662.

Sincerely,

/RA/ Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief

Operations Branch 2 Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos: 50-424, 50-425

License Nos: NPF-68, NPF-81

Enclosures: 1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

cc: Distribution via Listserv

_________________________ SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE FORM 665 ATTACHED OFFICE RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS SIGNATURE RSB2 AXG1 NTL2 EXL2 EFG NAME RBALDWIN AGOLDAU NLACY ELEA EGUTHRIE DATE 11/24/2015 11/24/2015 11/24/2015 11/24/2015 11/24/2015 E-MAIL COPY? YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO Enclosure 1 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.: 50-424, 50-425

License No.: NPF-68, NPF-81

Report No.: 05000424/2015301 and 05000425/2015301

Licensee: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Facility: Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2

Location: Waynesboro, GA 30830

Dates: Operating Test - August 31 - September - 4, 2015 and September 14 - 18, 2015 2015 Written Examination - September 25, 2015

Examiners: R. Baldwin, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer E. Lea, Regional Governmental Liaison Officer A. Goldau, Operations Engineer N. Lacy, Operations Engineer

Approved by: Eugene F. Guthrie, Chief Operations Branch 2 Division of Reactor Safety SUMMARY ER 05000424/2015301, 05000425/2015301, Operating Test August 31 - September - 4, 2015 and September 14 - 18, 2015 & Written Exam September 25, 2015; Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2; Operator License Examinations. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in ac cordance with the guidelines in Revision 10, of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examinati on 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 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 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 of August 31 - September - 4, 2015 and September 14 - 18, 2015. Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff administered the written examination on September 25, 2015. All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All applicants were issued licenses commensurate wi th the level of examination administered. There were no post-examination comments. No findings were identified.

REPORT DETAILS 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations a. Inspection Scope

The NRC administered the operating test during the period August 31 - September - 4, 2015 and September 14 - 18, 2015. The NRC examiners evaluated nine Reactor Operator (RO) and seven Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff administered the written examination on September 25, 2015 to nine RO and seven SRO applicants. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, "Operators' Licenses."

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 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 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 licensee's 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 evaluated the performance and fidelity of the simulation facility during the preparation and conduct of the operating test.

b. Findings No findings were identified.

The NRC developed the written examination sample plan outline. Members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 training staff developed both the operating test and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines contained in Revision 10, 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.

4 Using NUREG-1021, the NRC determined that the licensee's initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

Nine RO applicants and seven SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. All applicants were issued licenses.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Director for evaluation of weaknesses and determination of appropriate remedial training. A copy of the final RO and SRO written examinations and answer keys may be accessed not earlier than September 25, 2017 in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML15300A490, ML15300A485).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On September 18, 2015, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. Keith Tabor, Site - Vice President, and members of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT Licensee personnel

K. Tabor, Site - Vice President

D. Myers, Plant Manager

S. Briggs, Operations Director D. Stiles, Training Director M. Henson, Operations Training Director K. Jenkins, Examination Development Lead A. Lowe, Initial Licensed Training Lead K. Lewis, Licensed Operator Requalification Training Lead

G. Gunn, Regulator Affairs Manager K. Morrow, Senior Engineer, Regulator Affairs

Enclosure 2 SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Vogtle Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Nos. 1 & 2 Facility Docket No.: 50-424, 50-425 Operating Test Administered: August 31 - September - 4, 2015 and September 14 - 18 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 the following:

There were NO simulator fidelity issues identified.