IR 05000334/2023301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000334/2023301

ML23331A448
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	11/27/2023
From:	Diane Jackson NRC/RGN-I/DORS/OB
To:	Blair B Energy Harbor Nuclear Corp
References
50-334/2023-01 2023301, 50-334/OL-2023
Download: ML23331A448 (1)

Text

November 27, 2023

SUBJECT:

BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, UNIT 1 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000334/2023301

Dear Barry Blair:

On October 11, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at the Unit 1 facility. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on November 16, 2023, with Michael Brasile, Manager, Site Training, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The facility licensee developed the written and operating examinations using NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12. The license examiners determined all applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on November 16, 2023.

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 at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.

Sincerely, Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety

Docket No. 05000334 License Nos. DPR-66

Enclosure:

Examination Report 050003 34/2023301 w/ Attachment: Supplementary Information

cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUMMARY

ER 050003 34/2023301; October 2-11, 2023 ; Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1 ; Initial Operator

Licensing Examination Report.

Five NRC examiners evaluated the competency of four applicants for reactor operator licenses, seven applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses, and two applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The facility licensee developed the examinations using NUREG -1021,

Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors, Revision 12. The written examination was administered by the facility on October 11, 2023. NRC examiner s administered the operating tests October 2 -6, 2023. The NRC examiners determined that all 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 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 examiner also audited three 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 October 11, 2023, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on October 26, 2023.

The NRC examination team administered various portions of the operating examination October 2-6, 2023. The applicants for reactor operator licenses participated in at least two 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 applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses participated in at least two dynamic simulator scenarios, a control room and facilities walkt hrough test consisting of ten system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks. The applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses participated in at least one dynamic simulator scenario, a control room and facilities walkthrough test consisting of five system tasks, and an administrative test consisting of five administrative tasks.

b. Findings

All applicants passed the operating test and the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 87.9 percent and ranged from 84.0 to 90.6 percent. The senior operator applicants average score was 89.7 percent and ranged from 84.0 to 93.0 percent. The text of the examination questions 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 written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.

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 and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner.

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The facility licensee developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 12. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination preparation and validation were listed on a security agreement. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations during the week of August 28, 2023.

b. Findings

No findings were identified. 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.

.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 during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG-1021, Revision 1 2, 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 Michael Brasile, Manager, Site Training, and other members of the licensee's staff on November 16, 2023. The licensee did not identify any information or materials used during the examination as proprietary.

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

S. DeVault, Exam Support

P. Eisenmann, Exam Support

M. Klingensmith, Exam Support

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

NONE