IR 05000390/2011302

Er 05000390/11-302, on December 19-22, 2011, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant - NRC Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML120240115
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	01/19/2012
From:	Bruno Caballero Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	James Shea Tennessee Valley Authority
References
50-390/11-302
Download: ML120240115 (11)

Text

UNITED STATES ary 19, 2012

SUBJECT:

WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT- NRC OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000390/2011302

Dear Mr. Shea:

During the period December 19-22, 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

administered operating tests to employees of your company who had 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 December 29, 2011.

All applicants passed both the operating test and 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 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).

TVA 2 If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997-4608.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Bruno L. Caballero, Acting Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket No: 50-390 License No: NPF-90

Enclosures:

1. Report Details 2. Simulator Fidelity Report

REGION II==

Docket No.: 50-390 License No.: NPF-90 Report No.: 05000390/2011302 Licensee: Tennessee Valley Authority Facility: Watts Bar Location: Spring City, Tennessee Dates: Operating Test - December 19-22, 2011 Written Examination - December 29, 2011 Examiners: R. Aiello, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer G. Callaway, TTC Instructor D. Bacon, Operations Engineer Approved by: Bruno L. Caballero, Acting Chief Operations Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ER 05000390/2011302; operating test, December 19-22, 2011, & written exam, December 29, 2011; Watts Bar; 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 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and the written examination.

Two Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Four applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. One RO applicant received a pass letter pending certification of additional on-site time necessary to meet requirements of responsible power plant experience in accordance with NUREG-1021, ES-501, Section D.3.c, Supplement 1, Rev. 9. There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

Enclosure1

Report Details 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES 4OA2 Problem Identification and Resolution Annual Sample Review a. Inspection Scope The inspectors selected PER 480000 (procedure change request) for a detailed review.

PER 480000 was initiated after an NRC Examiner identified that SOI-2 & 3.01, Condensate and Feedwater System, Rev 0112, did not provide guidance for manual control of the Standby Main Feed Pump recirculation valve. The recirculation valve failed to auto close, contrary to expectation, after starting the Standby Main Feed Pump on the simulator. The inspectors checked that this issue had been completely and accurately identified in the licensees Corrective Action Program (CAP) and properly classified and prioritized for resolution. Corrective actions have not been verified complete.

b. Findings No findings were identified.

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 two Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. Two RO and three SRO applicants took both the operating test and written examination. The examiners administered the operating tests during the period of December 19-22, 2011.

Members of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on December 29, 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.

Enclosure1

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.

Two Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both the operating test and written examination. Four applicants were issued licenses commensurate with the level of examination administered. One RO applicant received a pass letter pending certification of additional on-site time necessary to meet requirements of responsible power plant experience in accordance with NUREG-1021, ES-501, Section D.3.c, Supplement 1, Rev. 9.

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, references, and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not earlier than January 2, 2014, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number ML113640154 and ML113640158.

4OA6 Meetings Exit Meeting Summary On December 22, 2011, the NRC examination team discussed generic issues associated with the operating test with Mr. Grissette, Site 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.

Enclosure1

PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee personnel G. Boerschin, Plant Manager T. Carter, Director, Safety and Licensing J. Dalton, Operations Training Manager J. Deal, Quality Assurance Manager D. Grissette, Site Vice President D. Gronek, Plant Manager D. Guinn, Site Licensing Manager D. Holt, Operations Manager in Training B. Kaye, Operations Training Supervisor R. Morgan, Operations Training Examination Team T. Peterson, Training Director W. Prevatt, Operations Manager J. Roden, Examination Team Member A. Scales, Work Control Manager M. Schmader, Operations Training Supervisor S. Smith, Operations Shift Supervisor S. Sweet, Site Licensing Manager W. Thompson, Site Training Director NRC personnel K. Miller, Resident Inspector B. Monk, Senior Resident Inspector Enclosure 1

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT Facility Licensee: Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Facility Docket No.: 05000390/2011302 Operating Test Administered: December 19-22, 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 the following:

Item Description The Standby Main During scenario 4, the Standby Main Feedwater Pump failed to Feedwater Pump failed start on two attempts when all permissives were met and the to start on two attempts. operator rotated HS-3-208 to the start position. The Standby Main Feedwater Pump started and ran on the third attempt. Simulator Discrepancy Report # 3354 was submitted to address this issue.

Enclosure 2