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 STATESNUGLEAR REGULATORY COiIMISSIONREGION I21OO RENAISSANCE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1OOKING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 1940&2713November 1.5. 2012Mr. Chris WamserSite Vice PresidentEntergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLCPO Box 250Governor Hunt RoadVernon, VT 05354

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

Dear Mr. Wamser:

On October 5,2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed anexamination at Vermont Yankee. The enclosed report documents the examination findings,which were discussed on October 25,2012, with Mr. J. Paradis of your Operations Trainingstaff.The examination included the evaluation of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, oneapplicant for an instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operatorlicenses. 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 wasdenied a license. Three applicants (one reactor operator applicant, one instant senior operatorapplicant, and one upgrade applicant) passed the exam but their licenses are being held basedon their written exam grades. Licenses for applicants with written exam passing grades of82 percent or below are normally held for review untilthose applicants who failed theexamination 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 forpublic inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records(PARS) component of NRC's document system Agencywide Documents Access andManagement System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site athttp://www.nrc.qov/readinq-rm/adams/web-based.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Mr. Chris WamserSite Vice PresidentEntergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLCPO Box 250Governor Hunt RoadVernon, W 05354

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

Dear Mr. Wamser:

On October 5,2012, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination atVermont Yankee. The enclosed report documents the examination findings, which were discussed onOctober 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 foran instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses. The NRCdeveloped the writien and operating examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing ExaminationStandards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1.One applicant for a reactor operator license failed the written portion of the exam and was denied alicense. Three applicants (one reactor operator applicant, one instant senior operator applicant, and oneupgrade 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 forreview untilthose applicants who failed the examination have had an opportunity to appealtheir licensedenials.ln accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.390 of the NRC's "Rulesof Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection inthe NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC'sdocument system Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS isaccessible fiom the ltnC WeO site at http://www.nrc.oov/readinc-rm/adams/web-based.html (the PublicElectronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,/RNDonald E. Jackson, ChiefOperations BranchDivision of Reactor SafetYDistribution: See Next PageDOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRS\Operations Branch\FISH\Exam 12-W Sept 24 (U01851) (NRC Dev)\EXAM REPORT'docxADAMS PKG: M1120230228ADAMS ACCESSION NUMBER: ML12321 4187g SUNSI ReviewV Non-Sensitivetr SensitiveVtrPublicly AvailableNon-Publicly AvailableOFFICERI/DRS/OBRI/DRS/OBNAMETFishDJacksonDATE11t14t1211t15t12OFFICIAL RECORD COPY C. WamserDocket No. 50-271License No. DPR-28

Enclosure:

NRC Initial Operator LicensingExami nation Report 0500027 1 l 201 2301

w/Attachment:

Supplemental lnformationcc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ Distribution w/encl: (via E-mail)W. Dean, RAD. 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 OEDOR. Bellamy, DRPT. Setzer, DRPE. Keighley, DRPJ. DeBoer, DRPS. Rutenkroger, DRP, SRIS. Rich, DRP, RlA. Rancourt, DRP, AdminRidsN rrPMVermontYan kee ResourceRidsNrrDorlLl 1 -1 ResourceROPreports Resource Facility:Examiners:Approved By:EXAMINATION REPORTU.S, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONREGION I50-271DPR-280500027112012301Entergy Nuclear, LLCVermont YankeeGovernor Hunt RoadVernon, VT 05354September 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 BranchB. Fuller, Operations EngineerT. Hedigan, Operations EngineerC. Newport, Operations Engineer (examiner under instruction)T. Dunn, Operations Engineer (examiner under instruction)Donald E. Jackson, ChiefOperations BranchDivision of Reactor SafetyEnclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 0500027112012301; September 24-27 and October 5,2012; Vermont Yankee; lnitialOperator Licensing Examination Report.NRC examiners evaluated the competency of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, oneapplicant for an instant senior operator license, and four applicants for upgrade senior operatorlicenses 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. NRCexaminers administered the operating tests September 24-27,2012. The license examinersdetermined that 10 of the 1 1 applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and theappropriate licenses have been issued.A. NRC-ldentifiedandSelf-RevealinoFindinqsNone,B. Licensee-ldentified ViolationsNone.Enclosure

REPORT DETAILS

4.

4OA5 Other Activities (lnitial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applicationsa. Scope.2b.a.The examiners reviewed all 11 license applications submitted by the licensee to ensurethe applications reflected that each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibilityrequirements. The applications Were submitted on NRC Form 398, "PersonalQualification Statement," and NRC Form 396, "Certification of Medical Examination byFacility Licensee." The chief examiner also audited four of the license applications indetail to confirm that they accurately reflected the subject applicant's qualifications. Thisaudit focused on the applicant's experience and on-the-job training, including controlma nipulations that provided sig nificant reactivity changes.FindinqsNo findings were identified.Operator Knowledge and PerformanceExamination ScopeOn October 5,2Q12, the facility training staff proctored the administration of the writtenexaminations 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 operatingexamination to all applicants on September 24-27,2012. The applicants for reactoroperator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, in a controlroom and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrativetest consisting of four administrative tasks. The applicant seeking an instant senioroperator license participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control roomand facilities walkthrough test consisting of 10 system tasks, and an administrative testconsisting of five administrative tasks. The applicants for upgrade senior operatorlicenses participated in at least one dynamic simulator scenario, a control room andfacilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative testconsisting of five administrative tasks.Enclosure b.2FindinqsAll applicants passed all parts of the operating test. One reactor operator applicantfailed the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operatorapplicants'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 82.00to 91.00 percent. The overall written examination average was 86,42 percent. Theexamination questions may be accessed in the Agencywide Documents Access andManagement System (ADAMS) system under the accession numbers noted inAttachment 1. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of the writtenexamination 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 analyzethe validity of any written examination questions that were missed by half or more of theapplicants. The licensee conducted this performance analysis for seven questions thatmet this criterion and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.The licensee also submitted two post-examination comments, recommending the NRCaccept an additional correct answer for two questions. The NRC reviewed the facility'scomments, but did not accept either facility recommendation. The facility's post-examcomments and NRC resolution of the comments may be accessed in the ADAMSsystem under the accession number noted in Attachment 1.Initial Licensinq Examination DevelopmentExamination ScopeThe NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9,Supplement 1. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examinationpreparation and validation were listed on a security agreement.FindinqsNo findings were identified.Simulation Facilitv PerformanceExamination ScopeThe examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during theexamination validation and administration.FindinqsNo findings were identified..3.4a.b.a.b.Enclosure

.53 Examination SecuritvExamination ScopeThe examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and duringboth the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliancewith NUREG-1021requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant controlwere reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.FindinqsNo findings were identified.Meetinss. Includinq ExitThe chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. J. Paradis, OperationsTraining Supervisor, on October 25,2012. Mr. Paradis acknowledged the findingspresented.The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examinationas proprietary.b,40A6Attachment:Supplemental I nformationEnclosure

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 InstructorNone.Accession No.Accession No.Accession No.

ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

ML1231 1A173 -

FINAL-Written Exam (Note: In accordance with current NRCpolicy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS tothe public will be delayed for 2 years.)ML12311 41 98 -

FINAL-Operating ExamML12319A156 - W Post-Exam Comments and NRC Resolution of PostExamCommentsAttachment