IR 05000220/2020301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000220/2020301

ML21021A180
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	01/25/2021
From:	Diane Jackson Operations Branch I
To:	Rhoades D Exelon Generation Co
Shared Package
ML19309G108	List: IR 05000220/2020301 ML20120A558 ML21008A332 ML21008A354 ML21027A259 ML21032A281 ML21032A323 ML21033A538 ML21033A796 ML21034A474 ML21034A476
References
50-220/20-301 50-220/OL-20
Download: ML21021A180 (9)

Text

January 25, 2021

SUBJECT:

NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION UNIT 1 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000220/2020301

Dear Mr. Rhoades:

On December 9, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 1. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on January 8, 2021, with James Tsardakas, Gretchen Carter, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of seven applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The written and operating examinations were developed using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11.

The license examiners determined that all fifteen of the applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on January 8, 2021.

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 Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely, X /RA/

Signed by: Donald E. Jackson Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-220 License No. DPR-63 Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000220/2020301 w/Attachment: Supplementary Information cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUMMARY

ER 05000220/2020301; November 30 - December 9, 2020; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station,

Unit 1; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report;

Five NRC examiners evaluated the competency of seven applicants for reactor operator licenses, six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and two applicants for upgrade senior operator licenses at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 1. The facility developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the facility on December 9, 2020. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on November 30 -

December 7, 2020. The NRC examiners determined that all fifteen of the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiners reviewed all fifteen 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 all fifteen of the license applications in detail to confirm that they 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 were identified.

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On December 9, 2020, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all fifteen applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on December 14, 2020.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all fifteen applicants on November 30 - December 7, 2020. The seven applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, in a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of eleven system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four administrative tasks. The six applicants seeking an instant senior reactor operator license participated in two or three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The two applicants seeking an upgrade senior reactor operator license participated in two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.

b. Findings

All fifteen of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 91.4 percent and ranged from 86.6 to 97.3 percent, the senior operator applicants average score was 90.5 percent and ranged from 86.0 to 95.0 percent. The overall written examination average was 90.9 percent.

The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on December 14, 2020, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination will be delayed for two years. The text of the examination questions 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 three questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 11.

All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The facility submitted the draft examination package on September 11, 2020. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of October 26, 2020.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Examination Scope

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

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development and during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 11 requirements. 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 examination results to Mr. James Tsardakas, Senior Manager Site Training, and other members of the licensee's management staff on January 8, 2021. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

G. Carter, Operations Training Manager

P. Isham, Exam Author

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Opened and Closed

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE