IR 05000390/2011301

Er 05000390-11-301, on June 6 - 16, 2011, and June 22, 2011, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1, Licensed Operator Examinations

ML112220239
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	08/10/2011
From:	Mark Franke Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Krich R Tennessee Valley Authority
References
50-390/11-301
Download: ML112220239 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES ugust 10, 2011

SUBJECT:

WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION REPORT 05000390/2011301

Dear Mr. Krich:

During the period June 6 - 16, 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered operating tests to employees of your company who applied for licenses to operate the Watts Bar 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 June 22, 2011.

Twelve Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed the operating test and fourteen SRO applicants passed the written examination. Two of the SRO applicants were administered only a written re-take 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 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

TVA 2 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).

If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4436

Sincerely,

/RA: Malcolm T. Widmann for/

Mark E. Franke, Chief Operations Branch 2 Division of Reactor Safety Docket No: 50-390 License No: NPF-90

Enclosures:

1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

REGION II==

Docket No.: 05000390 License No.: NPF-90 Report No.: 05000390/2011301 Licensee: Tennessee Valley Authority Facility: Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 Location: Spring City, Tennessee Dates: Operating Tests - June 6 - 16, 2011 Written Examination - June 22, 2011 Examiners: R. Baldwin, Chief, Senior Operations Engineer M. Meeks, Operations Engineer D. Strickland, Operations Engineer Approved by: Mark E. Franke, Chief Operations Branch 2 Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER 05000390/2011301; June 6 - 16, 2011, and June 22, 2011; Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1; Licensed Operator 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 Watts Bar staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period of June 6 - 16, 2011. Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on June 22, 2011. Twelve Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed operating tests and fourteen SRO applicants passed the written examination. Two of the SRO applicants were administered only a written re-take examination. Fourteen applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.

There were no post examination comments.

No findings were identified.

Enclosure 1

REPORT DETAILS 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA5 Operator Licensing Initial Examinations a. Inspection Scope Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant 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 fourteen Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. The examiners administered the operating tests during the period of June 6 - 16, 2011. Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on June 22, 2011.

Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses to operate the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, 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 examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

Twelve SRO applicants passed the operating test and fourteen SRO applicants passed the written examination. Two of the SRO applicants were administered only a written re-take examination. Fourteen applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered.

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

Enclosure 1

The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the SRO final written examinations and answer keys with all changes incorporated may be accessed not earlier than June 24, 2013, two years after administration of the written exam in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number ML111881005).

4OA6 Meetings Exit Meeting Summary On June 17, 2011, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. D. Grissette, Vice President, and members of his staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary. No proprietary information was identified.

PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee personnel D. Grissette, Watts Bar Nuclear Vice President G. Boerschig, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant General Manager B. Thompson, Training Director S. Smith, Operations Facility Representative R. Mende, Director, U1/U2 Integration M. Schmader, Supervisor Examination Projects J. Dalton, ILT Supervisor A. Scales, Operations Manager J. Deal, Site QA Manager J. Bushnell, Licensing B. Kaye, ILT Supervisor NRC personnel R. Monk, Senior Resident Inspector M. Lintz, Operations Engineer (Trainee)

D. Bacon, Operations Engineer (Trainee)

Enclosure 1

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Facility Docket No.: 05000390/2011301 Operating Test Administered: June 6 - 16, 2011 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 no simulator fidelity or configuration issues.

Enclosure 2