IR 05000382/2020301

NRC Examination Report 05000382/2020301

ML20293A178
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	10/19/2020
From:	Greg Werner Operations Branch IV
To:	Ferrick J Entergy Operations
References
50-382/20-301
Download: ML20293A178 (9)

Text

October 19, 2020

SUBJECT:

WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000382/2020301

Dear Mr. Ferrick:

On September 30, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at your Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on August 20, 2020, with Mr. V. Ford, Operations Training Superintendent, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on September 30, 2020, with Mr. J. Jarrell, Operations Manager, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of 5 applicants for reactor operator licenses, 5 applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and 3 applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all 13 applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55 and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There were no post-examination comments submitted by your staff. The enclosure contains details of this report.

No findings were identified during this examination. 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, Gregory E. Werner Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 05000382 License No. NPF-38

Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000382/2020301, w/attachment: Supplemental Information

Inspection Report

Docket Number: 05000382 License Number: NPF-38 Report Number: 05000382/2020301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2020-OLL-0020 Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.

Facility: Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Location: Killona, Louisiana Inspection Dates: August 17, 2020, to September 30, 2020 Inspectors: C. Osterholtz, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer N. Hernandez, Chief Examiner Under Instruction, Operations Engineer M. Kennard, Senior Operations Engineer B. Bergeon, Operations Engineer M. Doyle, Operations Engineer Approved By: Gregory E. Werner, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY

Examination Report 05000382/2020301; August 17, 2020-September 30, 2020; Waterford

Steam Electric Station, Unit 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of five applicants for reactor operator licenses, five applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3.

The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the licensee on August 26, 2020. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on August 17-21, 2020.

The NRC examiners determined that all the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55 and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

OTHER ACTIVITIES

- INITIAL LICENSE EXAM

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The NRC examiners also audited six of the license applications in detail 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 Examination Development

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examiners conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.

b. Findings

The NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination, and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.

The NRC examiners determined the written examinations and operating tests initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Scope

On August 26, 2020, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 13 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on August 27, 2020.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants on August 17-21, 2020.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating tests. The final written examinations and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted three generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the dynamic scenario and in-plant job performance measures sections of the operating tests. These are listed below:

1) Three of ten applicants failed to check instrument air compressor oil level at both available indications during in-plant job performance measures.

2) Two of four crews had at least one crew member that failed to read and adhere to turnover sheets.

3) Two of four crews demonstrated inconsistencies in action taken for inoperable instrument channels.

These deficiencies were captured in the licensees corrective action program as corrective action number 70 of Condition Report 2019-0315.

Post-examination analysis revealed four generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination.

1) Question 40 - 77 percent missed it due to applicant knowledge weakness and the topic was alarms associated with containment spray.

2) Question 66 - 54 percent missed it due to applicant knowledge weakness and the topic was the ability to interpret and execute procedural steps.

3) Question 92 - 63 percent missed it due to applicant knowledge weakness and the topic was abnormal operating procedures and spent fuel pool cooling.

4) Question 97 - 75 percent missed it due to applicant knowledge weakness and the topic was the process used to track inoperable alarms.

These deficiencies were captured in the licensees corrective action program as corrective action number 69 of Condition Report 2019-0315.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility training manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

The NRC examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security for examination development during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with 10 CFR 55.49 and NUREG-1021. Plans for examination security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mr. V. Ford, Operations Training Superintendent, and other members of the staff on August 20, 2020. A telephonic exit was conducted on September 30, 2020, between Mr. C. Osterholtz, Chief Examiner, and Mr. J. Jarrell, Operations Manager. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

J. Jarrell, Operations Manager

V. Ford, Operations Training Superintendent

J. Mendoza, Lead Exam Developer

W. Wesley, Supervisor, Operations Training

R. Peter, Exam Writer

NRC Personnel

F. Ramirez, Senior Resident Inspector