IR 05000271/2012301

Er 05000271/2012301; September 24-27 and October 5, 2012; Vermont Yankee; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML12321A187
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	11/15/2012
From:	Jackson D E Division of Reactor Safety I
To:	Wamser C J Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee
Shared Package
ML120230228	List: IR 05000271/2012301 ML12116A031 ML12261A249 ML12311A095 ML12311A098 ML12311A103 ML12311A140 ML12311A173 ML12311A182 ML12311A198 ML12311A213 ML12319A156 ML13106A110
References
50-271/12-301
Download: ML12321A187 (10)

Text

UNITED STATES NUGLEAR REGULATORY COiIMISSION REGION I 21OO RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1OO KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 1940&2713 November 1.5. 2012 Mr. Chris Wamser Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC PO Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354

SUBJECT: VERMONT YANKEE - NRC lNlTlAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000271 /2012301

Dear Mr. Wamser:

On October 5,2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Vermont Yankee. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on October 25,2012, with Mr. J. Paradis of your Operations Training staff.The examination included the evaluation of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, one applicant for an instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses.

The NRC developed the written and operating examinations using NUREG-1021,"Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1.One applicant for a reactor operator license failed the written portion of the exam and was denied a license. Three applicants (one reactor operator applicant, one instant senior operator applicant, and one upgrade applicant)

passed the exam but their licenses are being held based on their written exam grades. Licenses for applicants with written exam passing grades of 82 percent or below are normally held for review untilthose applicants who failed the examination have had an opportunity to appealtheir license denials.fn accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390 of the NRC's"Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.qov/readinq-rm/adams/web-based.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Mr. Chris Wamser Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC PO Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, W 05354

SUBJECT: VERMONT YANKEE - NRC INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 0500027 1 120 1 230 1

Dear Mr. Wamser:

On October 5,2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Vermont Yankee. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on October 25,2012, with Mr. J. Paradis of your Operations Training statf.The examination included the evaluation of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, one applicant for an instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses.

The NRC developed the writien and operating examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1.One applicant for a reactor operator license failed the written portion of the exam and was denied a license. Three applicants (one reactor operator applicant, one instant senior operator applicant, and one upgrade applicant)

passed the exam but their licenses are being held based on their written exam grades.Lic-enses for applicants with written exam passing grades of 82 percent or below are normally held for review untilthose applicants who failed the examination have had an opportunity to appealtheir license denials.ln accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible fiom the ltnC WeO site at http://www.nrc.oov/readinc-rm/adams/web-based.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,/RN Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor SafetY Distribution:

See Next Page DOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRS\Operations Branch\FISH\Exam 12-W Sept 24 (U01851) (NRC Dev)\EXAM REPORT'docx ADAMS PKG: M1120230228 ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML12321 4187 g SUNSI Review V Non-Sensitive tr Sensitive V tr Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RI/DRS/OB RI/DRS/OB NAME TFish DJackson DATE 11t14t12 11t15t12 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Docket No. 50-271 License No. DPR-28

Enclosure:

NRC Initial Operator Licensing Exami nation Report 0500027 1 l 201 2301

w/Attachment:

Supplemental lnformation cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ Distribution w/encl: (via E-mail)W. Dean, RA D. Lew. DRA (RIORAMAIL RESOURCE)(RIoRAMATL RESOURCE)D. Roberts, DRP (RIDRPMAIL RESOURCE)P. Wilson, DRP (RIDRPMAIL RESOURCE)C. Miller, DRS (RIDRSMAlL RESOURCE)J, Clifford, DRS (RIDRSMAlL RESOURCE)C. Santos, Rl OEDO R. Bellamy, DRP T. Setzer, DRP E. Keighley, DRP J. DeBoer, DRP S. Rutenkroger, DRP, SRI S. Rich, DRP, Rl A. Rancourt, DRP, Admin RidsN rrPMVermontYan kee Resource RidsNrrDorlLl 1 -1 Resource ROPreports Resource Facility: Examiners:

Approved By: EXAMINATION REPORT U.S, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I 50-271 DPR-28 0500027112012301 Entergy Nuclear, LLC Vermont Yankee Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 September 24-27, 2012 (Operating Test Administration)

October 5, 2012 (Written Examination Administration)

October 15,2012 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)September 28-October 24,2012 (NRC Examination Grading)October 25,2012 (Licenses lssued)T. Fish, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch B. Fuller, Operations Engineer T. Hedigan, Operations Engineer C. Newport, Operations Engineer (examiner under instruction)

T. Dunn, Operations Engineer (examiner under instruction)

Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 0500027112012301;

September 24-27 and October 5,2012; Vermont Yankee; lnitial Operator Licensing Examination Report.NRC examiners evaluated the competency of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, one applicant for an instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses at Vermont Yankee. The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1021,"Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1.The facility training staff administered the written examination on October 5,2012. NRC examiners administered the operating tests September 24-27,2012.

The license examiners determined that 10 of the 1 1 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.A. NRC-ldentifiedandSelf-RevealinoFindinqs None, B. Licensee-ldentified Violations None.Enclosure

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (lnitial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

.2 b.a.The examiners reviewed all 11 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 chief examiner also audited four of the license applications in detail to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicant's qualifications.

This audit focused on the applicant's experience and on-the-job training, including control ma nipulations that provided sig nificant reactivity changes.Findinqs No findings were identified.

Operator Knowledge and Performance Examination Scope On October 5,2Q12, the facility training staff 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 15,2012.The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all applicants on September 24-27,2012.

The applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The applicant seeking an instant senior operator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 10 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The applicants for upgrade senior 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.Enclosure b.2 Findinqs All applicants passed all parts of the operating test. One reactor operator applicant failed the written examination.

For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants'average score was 85.77 percent and ranged from 78.66 to 90.66 percent, the senior operator applicants' average score was 87.20 percent and ranged from 82.00 to 91.00 percent. The overall written examination average was 86,42 percent. The examination questions may be accessed in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) system under the accession numbers noted in Attachment

1. In accordance

with current NRC policy, the release of the written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for 2 years'Chapter ES-403 and Form ES-403-1 of NUREG 1021 require the licensee to analyze the validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of the applicants.

The licensee conducted this performance analysis for seven questions that met this criterion and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.The licensee also submitted two post-examination comments, recommending the NRC accept an additional correct answer for two questions.

The NRC reviewed the facility's comments, but did not accept either facility recommendation.

The facility's post-exam comments and NRC resolution of the comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession number noted in Attachment 1.Initial Licensinq Examination Development Examination Scope The NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9, Supplement

1. All licensee facility training and operations

staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement.

Findinqs No findings were identified.

Simulation Facilitv Performance Examination Scope The examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration.

Findinqs No findings were identified.

.5 3 Examination

Securitv 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-1021requirements.

Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

Findinqs No findings were identified.

Meetinss.

Includinq Exit The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. J. Paradis, Operations Training Supervisor, on October 25,2012. Mr. Paradis acknowledged the findings presented.

The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

b, 40A6 Attachment:

Supplemental I nformation A-1

=SUPPLEMENTAL

INFORMATION=

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

K. Stupak, Training Manager

J. Paradis, Operations

Training Supervisor

J. Taylor, LOR Supervisor

B. Stewart, Exam Team Liaison

W. Schulze, Nuclear Training Instructor

None.Accession

No.Accession

No.Accession

No.ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED ADAMS DOCUMENTS

REFERENCED

ML1231 1A173 - FINAL-Written

Exam (Note: In accordance

with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination

in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for 2 years.)ML12311 41 98 - FINAL-Operating

Exam ML12319A156 - W Post-Exam

Comments and NRC Resolution

of PostExam Comments Attachment