IR 05000382/2008301
| ML081221023 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 05/01/2008 |
| From: | Ryan Lantz Operations Branch IV |
| To: | Walsh K Entergy Operations |
| References | |
| ER-08-301 | |
| Download: ML081221023 (10) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUC LE AR RE G UL AT O RY C O M M I S S I O N May 1, 2008
SUBJECT:
WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000382/2008301
Dear Mr. Walsh:
On April 3, 2008, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. The enclosed report documents the examination findings. The operating test findings were discussed on March 28, 2008, with yourself, Messrs. Ralph Dodds III, James Briggs, and other members of your staff.
The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior operator licenses and two 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. The license examiners determined that seven of the eight 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 NRCs 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
Entergy Operations, Inc. -2-Docket: 50-382 License: NPF-38
Enclosure:
NRC Examination Report 05000382/2008301
REGION IV==
Dockets: 50-382 Licenses: NPF-38 Report : 05000382/2008301 Licensee: Entergy Operations, Inc.
Facility: Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Location: 17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Dates: March 24 through April 16, 2008 Inspectors: B. T. Larson, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch T. O. McKernon, Senior Operations Engineer M. E. Murphy, Senior Operations Engineer Approved By: Ryan E. Lantz, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety-1- Enclosure
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
ER 05000382/2008301; March 24-April 16, 2008; Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3;
Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.
NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, two applicants for instant senior operator licenses and two applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9. The written examination was administered by the licensee on April 3, 2008. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on March 24-28, 2008. The examiners determined that seven of the eight applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.
NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings
No findings of significance were identified.
Licensee-Identified Violations
None.
REPORT DETAILS
OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)
4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)
.1 License Applications
a. Scope
The NRC examiners reviewed all 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 one of the license applications in detail to confirm that it 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 April 3, 2008, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all eight applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on April 9, 2008.
The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating test to all eight applicants on March 24-28, 2008. The four applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in two 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 two applicants seeking an instant senior operator license participated in two 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 two 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 eight of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. One upgrade senior operator applicant failed the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 84.3 percent and ranged from 80 to 88 percent; the senior operator applicants average score was 83 percent and ranged from 64 to 92 percent. The overall written examination average was 85 percent. The text of the examination questions, the licensees examination analysis, and the licensees post-examination comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers 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 12 questions that met this criterion and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. This analysis concluded that no examination changes were recommended and 11 of the 12 questions required evaluation to address weaknesses for future training.
.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development
a. Examination Scope
The licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9.
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 January 3, 2008. The NRC reviewed the outlines against the requirements and provided comments to the licensee. The licensee submitted the draft examination package on February 7, 2008 (operating tests) and February 15, 2008 (written examinations). The NRC reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on February 22, 2008. The NRC examination team conducted an onsite validation of the operating test and provided further comments during the week of February 25, 2008. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on March 21, 2008 (operating tests) and April 2, 2008 (written examinations).
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 operating tests initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination. However, the examiners determined that the written examinations initially submitted by the licensee were not within the range of acceptability for a proposed examination.
For the reactor operator written examination, approximately 20 percent of the questions submitted were evaluated as unsatisfactory. Approximately 70 percent of the questions required enhancements and only 10 percent of the questions were initially evaluated as satisfactory.
For the senior operator written examination, approximately 36 percent of the questions submitted were evaluated as unsatisfactory. Approximately 56 percent of the questions required enhancements and only 8 percent of the questions were initially evaluated as satisfactory.
.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 operating test results to Messrs. Keith Walsh, Vice President, Operations, Ralph Dodds III, Operations Manager, and other members of the licensee's management staff on March 28, 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
James Briggs, Training Manager
Thomas Rohe, Superintendent Operations Initial Training
Horace Lewis, Superintendent Operations Requalification Training
Keith Vines, NRC Examination Lead
NRC Personnel
Ray Azua, Senior Resident Inspector