IR 05000528/2022301

NRC Examination Report 05000528/2022301, 05000529/2022301, and 05000530/2022301

ML22164A040
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	06/21/2022
From:	Heather Gepford NRC/RGN-IV/DORS/OB
To:	Heflin A Arizona Public Service Co
References
50-528/22-301, 50-529/22-301, 50-530/22-301 50-528/OL-22, 50-529/OL-22, 50-530/OL-22
Download: ML22164A040 (10)

Text

June 21, 2022

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000528/2022301, 05000529/2022301, AND 05000530/2022301

Dear Mr. Heflin:

On June 1, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The enclosed report documents the examination results and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination results were discussed on May 5, 2022, with Mrs. Maria Lacal, Executive Vice President / Chief Nuclear Officer, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on June 1, 2022, with Mr. J. Stewart, Operations Training Manager, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of ten applicants for reactor operator licenses, one applicant for an instant senior reactor operator license, and five applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There was one post-examination comment submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report and Enclosure 2 summarizes the post-examination comment resolution.

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, Signed by Gepford, Heather on 06/21/22 Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Docket Nos. 05000528, 05000529, and 05000530 License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 Enclosures:

1. Examination Report 05000528/2022301, 05000529/2022301, and 05000530/2022301 w/attachment: Supplemental Information 2. NRC Post-Examination Comment Resolution Electronic distribution via LISTSERV

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Inspection Report

Docket Numbers: 05000528, 05000529, 05000530 License Numbers: NPF-41, NPF-51, NPF-74 Report Numbers: 05000528/2022301, 05000529/2022301, and 05000530/2022301 Enterprise Identifier: L-2022-OLL-0021 Licensee: Arizona Public Service Company Facility: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Location: Tonopah, Arizona Inspection Dates: May 2, 2022, to June 1, 2022 Inspectors: J. Kirkland, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer K. Clayton, Senior Operations Engineer C. Osterholtz, Senior Operations Engineer M. Doyle, Operations Engineer N. Hernandez, Operations Engineer D. You, Operations Engineer Approved By: Heather J. Gepford, Chief Operations Branch Division of Operating Reactor Safety Enclosure 1

SUMMARY

Examination Report 05000528/2022301, 05000529/2022301, and 05000530/2022301 Palo

Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report The NRC examiners evaluated the competency of ten applicants for reactor operator licenses, one applicant for an instant senior reactor operator license, and five applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3.

The licensee developed the examinations using NUREG-1021, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 12. The written examination was administered by the licensee on May 12, 2022. The NRC examiners administered the operating tests on May 2-5, 2022,

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

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

None.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

OTHER ACTIVITIES

- INITIAL LICENSE EXAM

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The NRC examiners 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 Examination Development

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed integrated examination outlines and draft examinations submitted by the licensee against the requirements of NUREG-1021. The NRC examiners conducted an onsite validation of the operating tests.

b. Findings

The NRC examiners provided outline, draft examination comments, and post-validation comments to the licensee. The licensee satisfactorily completed comment resolution prior to examination administration.

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

.3 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Scope

On May 12, 2022, 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 and post-examination comments to the NRC on May 19, 2022.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all applicants from May 2-5, 2022.

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

All applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test. The final examinations and post-examination analysis and comments may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment.

The examination team noted one generic weakness associated with applicant performance on the administrative job performance measures section of the operating test. Four of six senior reactor operator applicants could not accurately determine the time a unit was required to be at 50% power following a slipped control element assembly. The examination team also noted one generic weakness associated with applicant performance on the dynamic scenario section of the operating tests. Three of four senior reactor operator applicants could not completely describe technical specification implications following the loss of a safety related electrical bus.

Post-examination analysis revealed two generic weaknesses associated with applicant performance on the written examination. Nine of sixteen applicants could not describe all indications used to identify a leaking pressurizer safety valve, and three of six senior operator applicants could not identify how many licensed operators are required to be in the control room in Mode 5.

These weaknesses were captured in the licensees corrective action program as condition reports 22-05792 and 22-05793. Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility training manager for evaluation and determination of appropriate remedial training.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

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

b. Findings

No findings were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security for examination development during both the onsite preparation week and examination administration week for compliance with 10 CFR 55.49 and NUREG-1021. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed and discussed with licensee personnel.

Findings No findings were identified.

EXIT MEETINGS AND DEBRIEFS

Exit Meeting Summary

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Mrs. Maria Lacal, Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, and other members of the staff on May 5, 2022. A telephonic exit was conducted on June 1, 2022, between Mr. J. Kirkland, Chief Examiner, and Mr. J. Stewart, Operations Training Manager.

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

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

J, Stewart, Operations Training Manager

J. Shaver, Simulator/Exam Grp Section Leader

H. Eutsler, Initial License Training Section Leader

J. Rodgers, Lead Exam Writer

NRC Personnel

L. Merker, Senior Resident Inspector