IR 05000275/2008301

Er 05000275-08-301, 05000323-08-301, on June 13 - 23, 2008, Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML082041001
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	07/22/2008
From:	Ryan Lantz Operations Branch IV
To:	Conway J Pacific Gas & Electric Co
References
ER-08-301
Download: ML082041001 (10)

Text

July 22, 2008

John Senior Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer Pacific Gas and Electric Company P.O. Box 3 Mail Code 104/6/601 Avila Beach, CA 93424 SUBJECT: DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000275/2008301; 05000323/2008301

Dear Mr. Conway:

On June 23, 2008, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed on June 23, 2008, with Messrs. James Becker, James Welsch, David Burns, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of 9 applicants for reactor operator licenses, 3 applicants for instant senior operator licenses, and 2 applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses. The written examinations and operating tests were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that all 14 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

No findings of significance were identified during this examination.

In accordance with 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 (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Ryan E. Lantz, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONREGION IV612 EAST LAMAR BLVD, SUITE 400ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4125 Pacific Gas and Electric Company - 2 -Dockets: 50-275; 50-323 Licenses: DPR-80; DPR-82

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 05000275/2008301; 05000323/2008301

REGION IV Dockets: 50-275, 50-323 Licenses: DPR-80; DPR-82 Report : 05000275/2008301; 05000323/2008301 Licensee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Facility: Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 Location: 7 1/2 miles NW of Avila Beach Avila Beach, California Dates: June 13-23, 2008 Inspectors: S. M. Garchow, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch Tom McKernon, Senior Operations Engineer Greg Werner, Senior Projects Engineer Richard Baldwin, Senior Operations Engineer, NRC Region II Approved By: Ryan E. Lantz, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

2 Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000275/2008301; 05000323/2008301; June 13 - 23, 2008; Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of 9 applicants for reactor operator licenses, applicants for instant senior operator licenses and 2 applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 1 and 2. The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The written examination was administered by the licensee on June 13, 2008. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on June 16 - 23, 2008. The examiners determined that all 14 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

A. NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

B. Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed all 14 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 examiners also audited 5 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 of significance were identified.

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On June 13, 2008, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 14 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on June 16, 2008.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating test to all 14 applicants on June 16 - 23, 2008. The 9 applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of 4 administrative tasks. The 3 applicants seeking an instant senior operator license participated in two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 10 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of 5 administrative tasks. The 2 applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses participated in two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 5 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of 5 administrative tasks.

b. Findings

All 14 of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants' average score was 92 percent and ranged from 87 to 97 percent; the senior operator applicants' average score was 93 percent and ranged from 91 to 98 percent. The overall written examination average 4 Enclosure was 93 percent. The text of the examination questions may be accessed in ADAMS under the accession number noted in the attachment.

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 five questions that met this criterion and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. Based on this analysis, all five questions were valid and remedial training will be provided on each question. There were no examination changes recommended by the analysis.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The licensee 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 on a security agreement. The licensee submitted the outlines for the written examinations and operating tests on March 27, 2008. The NRC reviewed the outlines against the requirements and provided comments to the licensee. The licensee submitted the draft examination package on April 23, 2008. The NRC reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on May 13, 2008. The NRC examination team conducted an onsite validation of the operating test and provided further comments during the week of May 19, 2008. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on May 23, 2008.

b. Findings

The NRC approved the initial examination outlines and advised the licensee to proceed with development of the written examinations and operating tests.

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

No findings of significance were identified.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Examination Scope

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

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination 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 simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. Jim Becker, Diablo Canyon Power Plant Site Vice President, and other members of the licensee's management staff on June 23, 2008. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

S. Hackleman, Learning Services Supervisor

O. Olner, Learning Services Operations Liaison

D. Burns, Exam Supervisor

NRC Personnel

M. Peck, Senior Resident Inspector