IR 05000334/2021301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000334/2021301

ML21091A059
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	04/01/2021
From:	Diane Jackson Operations Branch I
To:	Grabnar J Energy Harbor Nuclear Corp
Jackson D
References
ER 2021301
Download: ML21091A059 (9)

Text

April 1, 2021

SUBJECT:

BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, UNIT 1 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000334/2021301

Dear Mr. Grabnar:

On March 5, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on March 29, 2021, with Mr. M. Benkowski, Unit 1 Assistant Operations Manager, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of five 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 the applicants satisfied the examination requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on March 29, 2021.

No findings were identified during this examination. This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, X /RA/

Signed by: Donald E. Jackson Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket No. 50-334 License No. DPR-66

Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000334/2021301

REGION I==

Docket No: 50-334 License No: DPR-66 Report No: 05000334/2021301 Enterprise L-2021-OLL-0006 Identifier:

Licensee: Energy Harbor Nuclear Corp.

Facility: Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1 Location: Shippingport, PA Dates: March 1 - 5, 2021 (Operating Test Administration)

March 9, 2021 (Written Examination Administration)

March 17, 2021 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)

March 22, 2021 (NRC Examination Grading)

March 29, 2021 (Licenses Issued)

Examiners: D. Silk, Chief Examiner, Operations Branch M. Patel, Senior Reactor Engineer T. Setzer, Senior Operations Engineer T. Wingfield, Operations Engineer P. Ott, Operations Engineer Approved By: Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Enclosure

SUMMARY

ER 05000334/2021301; 3/1/2021 - 3/5/2021; Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1; Initial

Operator Licensing Examination Report.

Five NRC examiners evaluated the competency of five reactor operator applicants, six instant senior reactor operator applicants, and two senior reactor operator upgrade applicants at the Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 11.

The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on March 1-5, 2021. The written examination was administered by the facility on March 9, 2021. The NRC examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the examination requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55 and the appropriate licenses were issued on March 29, 2021.

No findings were identified.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiners reviewed the license applications submitted by the facility licensee to ensure that each applicant satisfied the 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 reviewed two applicants qualification cards as well and verified that all of the applicants had the minimum required reactivity manipulations.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On March 9, 2021, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 13 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on March 17, 2021.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to the applicants on March 1-5, 2021. The applicants seeking reactor operator licenses participated in three dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of 11 system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of four tasks. The applicants seeking instant senior reactor operator licenses 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 tasks. The applicants seeking senior reactor operator upgrade licenses 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 tasks.

b. Findings

All the applicants passed all parts of the examination. For the written examinations, the overall examination average score was 88.3 percent and ranged from 82.7 to 94.7 percent. The average scores for the reactor operator and senior reactor operator exams were 88.4 and 88.5 percent, respectively. The text of the examination questions and the operating test may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the Attachment. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of the examination material in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for approximately two years from the date of the administration of the written examination.

The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on March 19, 2021, and conducted a review of each missed question to determine the accuracy and validity of the examination questions. 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 five questions that met these criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. Investigations by the licensee into any potential generic weaknesses are being tracked in their corrective action program (CR-2021-01855). The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The facility licensee 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 NRC provided the facility licensee with the written exam outline on January 15, 2020. The facility licensee submitted operating examination outlines on October 1, 2020. The chief examiner reviewed the outlines against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee. The facility licensee submitted the draft examination package on December 11, 2020. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021 and provided comments to the licensee. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of February 1, 2021. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution for the operating and the written examinations by February 19, 2021.

b. Findings

The NRC approved the initial examination outline and advised the licensee to proceed with the operating examination development.

The examiners determined that the written and operating examinations initially submitted by the licensee were within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed examination.

No findings were identified.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Examination Scope

The examiners observed simulator performance regarding plant fidelity during the examination validation and administration weeks.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed the examination security protocols for this examination effort 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. Observations No observations were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. M. Benkowski, Unit 1 Assistant Operations Manager, and other members of the licensee on March 29, 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

T. Gaydosik, Fleet Exam Development Lead

M. Klingensmith, Exam Developer

P. Eisenmann, Exam Developer

S. Snook, Unit 1 Shift Manager

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE