IR 05000277/2019301

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report 05000277/2019301 and 05000278/2019301

ML19129A402
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	05/06/2019
From:	Diane Jackson Operations Branch I
To:	Bryan Hanson Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
Jackson D
References
50-277/19-301, 50-278/19-301
Download: ML19129A402 (9)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION May 6, 2019

SUBJECT:

PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3 - INITIAL OPERATOR LICENSING EXAMINATION REPORT 05000277/2019301 AND 05000278/2019301

Dear Mr. Hanson:

On March 7, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an examination at the Peach Bottom facility. The enclosed examination report documents the examination results, which were discussed on April 18, 2019, with Mr. C. Millard, Operations Training Manager, and other members of your staff.

The examination included the evaluation of six 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 thirteen of the fourteen applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were issued on April 18, 2019.

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,

/RA/

Donald E. Jackson, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 50-277 and 50-278 License Nos. DPR-44 and DPR-56 Enclosure:

Examination Report 05000277/2019301 and 05000278/2019301 w/Attachment: Supplementary Information cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUMMARY

ER 05000277/2019301 and 05000278/2019301; 2/25/2019 - 3/7/2019; Peach Bottom Atomic

Power Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

Five NRC examiners evaluated the competency of six applicants for reactor operator licenses, six 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 11.

The written examination was administered by the facility on March 7, 2019. NRC examiners administered the operating tests February 25 - March 1, 2019. The NRC examiners determined that thirteen of the fourteen applicants satisfied the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (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 examiners also audited the license applications 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 March 7, 2019, 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 March 26, 2019.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating examination February 25 - March 1, 2019. 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 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 applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses participated in at least 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

No findings were identified.

All fourteen applicants passed the operating test. Thirteen applicants passed the written examination. For the written examinations, the reactor operator applicants average score was 83.3 percent and ranged from 77.7 to 86.1 percent. The senior operator applicants average score was 89.6 percent and ranged from 80.4 to 93.8 percent. The text of the examination questions, the licensees post-examination comments, and the NRCs response to the 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 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 analysis and submitted it to the chief examiner.

.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 facility licensee submitted the operating examination outline on September 24, 2018. 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 10, 2018. The chief examiner reviewed the draft examination package against the requirements of NUREG-1021, and provided comments to the licensee on the examination on January 14, 2019. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of the operating examinations and provided further comments during the week of January 28, 2019. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution on February 15, 2019.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

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.

.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. C. Millard, Operations Training Manager, and other members of the licensee's management staff on April 18, 2019.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

C. Ferrara, Exam Author

R. Artus, Exam Author

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

NONE