IR 05000498/2011301

NRC Examination Report 05000498-11-301; 05000499-11-301

ML113290164
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	11/22/2011
From:	Mark Haire Operations Branch IV
To:	Halpin E South Texas
References
50-498/11-301, 50-499/11-301
Download: ML113290164 (8)

Text

November 22, 2011

SUBJECT:

SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT ELECTRIC GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000498/2011301; 05000499/2011301

Dear Mr. Halpin:

On October 3, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at South Texas Project. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on October 3, 2011, with members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on October 13, 2011, with Mr. Ken Struble, Senior Operating Training Instructor, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of ten applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator license and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined all nineteen applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55 and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

No findings 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/

Mark S. Haire, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONREGION IV612 EAST LAMAR BLVD, SUITE 400ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4125 Mr. Dockets: 50-498; 50-499 Licenses: NPF-76; NPF-80 Enclosure: NRC Examination Report 05000498/2011301; 05000499/2011301 w/Attachment: Supplemental Information cc w/enclosure: via Electronic Distribution

M

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER05000498/2011301; 05000499/2011301; South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of ten applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, 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 September 22, 2011. NRC examiners administered the operating tests during the weeks of September 26 and October 3, 2011.

The examiners determined that all the 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 were identified.

B. Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The examiners also audited six 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 manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.2 Examination Development

a. Scope

NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examination team conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.

NRC examiners determined that the initial submittal for both the written exam and operating test was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Scope

On September 22, 2011, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examination, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post examination comments to the NRC on September 27, 2011.

NRC examiners administered the operating tests during the weeks of September 26 and October 3, 2011.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All of the applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test.

The final written examinations (on delayed release schedule) and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted a generic weakness with the senior reactor operators in selecting the correct procedure when responding to a pressurizer leaking power operated relief valve.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

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

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security 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 were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to members of the staff on October 3, 2011. A telephonic exit was conducted on October 13, 2011, between Messrs. Stephen Garchow, Chief Examiner, and Ken Struble, Senior Operations Training Instructor.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

Ken Stuble, Senior Training Instructor

NRC Personnel

John Dixon, Senior Resident Inspector