ML091480270

NRC Operator License Examination Report 05000321-09-301 and 05000366-09-301

ML091480270
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	05/28/2009
From:	Widmann M Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Madison D Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
50-321/09-301, 50-366/09-301
Download: ML091480270 (9)

See also: IR 05000321/2009301

Text

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

SAM NUNN ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER

61 FORSYTH STREET, SW, SUITE 23T85

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8931

May 28, 2009

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

ATTN: Mr. Dennis R. Madison

Vice President - Hatch

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant

11028 Hatch Parkway North

Baxley, GA 31513

SUBJECT: EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE

EXAMINATION REPORT 05000321/2009301 AND 05000366/2009301

Dear Mr. Madison:

During the period April 20 - 22, 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered

operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2. At the conclusion of the 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 April 30, 2009.

All applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. There were no post-

examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this report as Enclosure 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) 562-4550.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos: 50-321, 50-366

License Nos: DPR-57, NPF-5

Enclosures: 1. Report Details

2. Simulator Fidelity Report

(cc: w/encl - See Page 2)

SNC

2

cc w/encl:

Angela Thornhill

Managing Attorney and Compliance Officer

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

Jeffrey T. Gasser

Executive Vice President

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

Raymond D. Baker

Licensing Manager

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

L. Mike Stinson

Vice President

Fleet Operations Support

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

David H. Jones

Vice President

Engineering

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

Moanica Caston

Vice President and General Counsel

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution

Steven B. Tipps

Hatch Principal Engineer - Licensing

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant

Electronic Mail Distribution

Mr. Ken Rosanski

Resident Manager

Edwin I. Hatch

Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Electronic Mail Distribution

Lee Foley

Manager of Contracts Generation

Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Electronic Mail Distribution

Bob Masse

Resident Manager

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant

Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Electronic Mail Distribution

Senior Resident Inspector

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant

U.S. NRC

11030 Hatch Parkway N

Baxley, GA 30334

Arthur H. Domby, Esq.

Troutman Sanders

Electronic Mail Distribution

Dr. Carol Couch

Director

Environmental Protection

Department of Natural Resources

Electronic Mail Distribution

Cynthia Sanders

Program Manager

Radioactive Materials Program

Department of Natural Resources

Electronic Mail Distribution

Jim Sommerville

(Acting) Chief

Environmental Protection Division

Department of Natural Resources

Electronic Mail Distribution

(cc: w/encl - Contd See Page 3)

SNC

3

cc w/encl:

Mr. Steven M. Jackson

Senior Engineer - Power Supply

Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia

Electronic Mail Distribution

Mr. Reece McAlister

Executive Secretary

Georgia Public Service Commission

Electronic Mail Distribution

Chairman

Appling County Commissioners

County Courthouse

69 Tippins Street, Suite 201

Baxley, GA 31513

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

ATTN: Mr. John Hammonds

Training Manager

Hatch Nuclear Plant

11028 Hatch Parkway North

Baxley, GA 31513

Enclosure 1

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.:

50-321, 50-366

License No.:

DPR-57, NPF-5

Report No.:

05000321/2009301 and 05000366/2009301

Licensee:

Southern Nuclear Power Company (SNPCO)

Facility:

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2

Location:

11030 Hatch Parkway N.

Baxley, GA 31513

Dates:

Operating Test - April 20 - 22, 2009

Written Examination - April 30, 2009

Examiners:

Bruno Caballero, Chief Examiner, Operations Engineer

Phil Capehart, Operations Engineer

Approved by:

Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000321/2009301 and 05000366/2009301; April 20 - 22, 2009 & April 30, 2009; Edwin I.

Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2; Operator License Examinations.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in

accordance with the guidelines in Revision 9, Supplement 1, 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 Edwin I. Hatch staff developed both the operating tests and the written

examination.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period April 20 - 22, 2009. Members of

the Edwin I. Hatch training staff administered the written examination on April 30, 2009. All

Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written

examination. One Reactor Operator (RO), who had previously passed the operating exam, but

had failed a written examination, passed the written examination and was waived from the

operating test. All applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination

administered. There were no post-examination comments.

No findings of significance were identified.

Enclosure 1

REPORT DETAILS

4.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations

a.

Inspection Scope

Members of the Edwin I. Hatch staff developed both the operating tests and the written

examination. All examination material was developed in accordance with the guidelines

contained in Revision 9, Supplement 1, of NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing

Examination Standards for Power Reactors." 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.

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 examiners evaluated two Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the

guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. The examiners administered the operating tests

during the period April 20 - 22, 2009. Members of the Edwin I. Hatch training staff

administered the written examination on April 30, 2009, to two SRO applicants and one

RO applicant. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were

performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Edwin

I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators

Licenses.

b.

Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021 that the licensees examination submittal

(operating and written) was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed

examination.

Both Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and

written examination. One Reactor Operator (RO), who had previously passed the

operating exam, but failed the written, passed the written retake examination and was

waived from the operating test. One RO applicant and two 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.

4

Enclosure 1

The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final RO

written examination and answer key and final SRO written examination and answer key

(SRO exam in 2 parts) with all changes incorporated, may be accessed in the ADAMS

system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML091320207, ML091320198, and

ML091320204, respectively).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

On April 23, 2009 the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with

the operating test with Mr. Sonny L. Bargeron, Plant Manager, and members of the

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant 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

Sonny L. Bargeron, Plant Manager

Gary R. Brinson, Operations Manager

Steve Grantham, Operations Training Supervisor

Charlie Edmund, Plant Instructor - Lead

NRC personnel

Phil Niebaum, Resident Inspector

Enclosure 2

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Edwin I. Hatch

Facility Docket No.: 50-321, 50-366

Operating Test Administered: April 20 - 22, 2009

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:

Item

Description

1.

SCR 20090402: During a loss of Control Rod Drive at low power

(2%, pressure @ 400 psig), mfC12_27_22_23, Accumulator

Trouble light for rod 22-23 was activated. This rod was fully

inserted. At this time, both CRD pumps were off. When a CRD

pump was started, the rod with the accumulator malfunction

received a rod drift. This rod drift was not expected and the

reason for receiving it was not obvious. Only the rod with the

accumulator malfunction (12_27_22-23) received the rod drift.

Subsequently, the simulator was reset and the accumulator

malfunction was activated on a different control rod

(C12_12_30_23). When a CRD pump was started, only the rod

with the accumulator malfunction received the rod drift. The

indications on the CRD system at the time were that CRD

discharge pressure reached 1500 psig, the flow control valves

were closed, and cooling water flow went to approximately 10

gpm.

ML091480270 xG SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE x PUBLICLY AVAILABLE

x NON-SENSITIVE