IR 05000272/2020301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000272/2020301 and 05000311/2020301

ML20260H087
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	09/16/2020
From:	Diane Jackson Operations Branch I
To:	Carr E Public Service Enterprise Group
Jackson D
References
ER 2020301
Download: ML20260H087 (9)

Text

September 16, 2020

SUBJECT:

SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000272/2020301 AND 05000311/2020301

Dear Mr. Carr:

On July 28, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on August 19, 2020, with Messrs. Rick DeSanctis, Dan McHugh, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of eight applicants for reactor operator licenses, and six applicants for instant 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 fourteen 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 August 19, 2020. 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 Nos. 50-272 and 50-311 License Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75 Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000272/2020301; 05000311/2020301 w/Attachment:

Supplementary Information cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUMMARY

ER 05000272/2020301; 05000311/2020301; July 13 - 28, 2020; Salem Nuclear Generating

Station, Units 1 and 2; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report;

Seven NRC examiners evaluated the competency of eight applicants for reactor operator licenses and six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses at Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 11. The written examination was administered by the facility on July 28, 2020. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on July 13 - 20, 2020. The NRC examiners determined that all fourteen 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 fourteen 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 fourteen 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 July 28, 2020, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all fourteen applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on July 31, 2020.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination to all fourteen applicants on July 13 - 20, 2020. The eight 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 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.

b. Findings

All fourteen of the applicants passed all parts of the operating test. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 93.5 percent and ranged from 89.3 to 96.0 percent, the senior operator applicants average score was 90.3 percent and ranged from 84.0 to 97.0 percent. The overall written examination average was 92.1 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. In accordance with current NRC policy, the release of this written examination in ADAMS to the public will be delayed for two years.

The NRC examiners completed the final grading of the written examination on August 3, 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, 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 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 NRC submitted the draft examination package on April 26, 2020. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of June 15, 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. Rick DeSanctis, Operations Director, and other members of the licensee's management staff on August 19, 2020. 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

D. McHugh, Operations Training Manager

R. Chan, Nuclear Training Instructor

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Opened and Closed

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE