IR 05000413/2013301

NRC Operator License Examination Report 05000413/2013301 and 05000414/2013301

ML13282A616
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	10/08/2013
From:	Widmann M Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Henderson K Duke Energy Carolinas
References
IR-13-301
Download: ML13282A616 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES ber 8, 2013

SUBJECT:

CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000413/2013301 AND 05000414/2013301

Dear Mr. Henderson:

During the period September 16 - 19, 2013, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

administered operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the Catawba Nuclear Plant. 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 September 25, 2013.

One Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant and one SRO applicant failed the written examination. There were no post-examination comments. 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 9, Supplement 1.

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) 997-4550.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos: 50-413, 50-414 License Nos: NPF-35, NPF-52

Enclosures:

1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

REGION II==

Docket No.: 50-413, 50-414 License No.: NPF-35, NPF-52 Report No.: 05000413/2013301, 05000414/2013301 Licensee: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Facility: Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 Location: York, SC 29745 Dates: Operating Test - September 16 - 19, 2013 Written Examination - September 25, 2013 Examiners: Mark Bates, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer J. Amanda Toth, Chief Examiner (Under Instruction), Operations Engineer Gary Callaway, Senior Reactor Technology Instructor Approved by: Malcolm T. Widmann, Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER 05000413/2013301, 05000414/2013301, Operating Test September 16 - 19, 2013 &

Written Exam September 25, 2013; Catawba Nuclear Station; 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 Catawba Nuclear Station staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period September 16 - 19, 2013.

Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on September 25, 2013. One Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)

applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant and five SRO applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.

One SRO applicant passed the operating test, but passed the written examination with a score on the SRO-only portion of the exam between 70% and 74%. The one SRO applicant was issued a letter stating that he passed the examination and issuance of his license has been delayed pending any written examination appeals that may impact the licensing decision for his application. One RO applicant and one SRO applicant passed the operating test, but failed the written examination.

There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

REPORT DETAILS 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations a. Inspection Scope Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station 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 Reactor Operator (RO) and seven Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. The examiners administered the operating tests during the period September 16 - 19, 2013.

Members of the Catawba Nuclear Station training staff administered the written examination on September 25, 2013. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Catawba Nuclear Station, met the requirements specified in 10 CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.

b. Findings No findings were identified. The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021, that the licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

One RO applicant and six SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant and one SRO applicant passed the operating test but did not pass the written examination. One RO applicant and five SRO applicants were issued licenses.

One SRO applicant passed the operating test, but passed the SRO-only portion of the written examination with a score between 70% and 74%. This applicant was issued a letter stating that he passed the examination and issuance of his license has been delayed pending any written examination appeal that may impact the licensing decision for his application.

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 did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final written examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not

earlier than September 25, 2015 in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Numbers ML13275A068 and ML13275A076).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit Exit Meeting Summary On September 20, 2013 the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with K. Henderson, Site Vice President and members of the Catawba Nuclear Station 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 R. Hart; Manager, Regulatory Affairs K. Henderson, Site Vice President D. Hensley, Lead Exam Writer H. Jarman, Assistant Operations Manager, Shift R. Llewellyn, Operations Training Manager E. Madsen, Operations Training Supervisor C. Miller, SRO Exam Team Representative A. Orton, Training Manager S. Putnam; Operations Manager T. Simril, Plant Manager S. Tripi, Initial Licensing Training Supervisor

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Catawba Nuclear Station Facility Docket No.: 50-413, 50-414 Operating Test Administered: September 16 - 19, 2013 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 Simulator Accumulator During an exam JPM, Nitrogen pressure increased very quickly Nitrogen pressure (as compared to the pressurization rate seen in the plant) while increased very quickly increasing Nitrogen pressure in an Accumulator. Work Request during a JPM. SIS-0323 was written to address this issue.

Enclosure 2