LIC-15-0140, NRC Licensed Operator Written Exam Reviews

NRC Licensed Operator Written Exam Reviews

ML15355A423
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Calhoun
Issue date:	12/21/2015
From:	Dean E Omaha Public Power District
To:	Clyde Osterholtz Document Control Desk, NRC Region 4
References
LIC-15-0140
Download: ML15355A423 (2)

Text

10 CFR 55 December 21, 2015 LIC-15-0140 Mr. Clyde Osterholtz Chief Examiner, Operations Branch, Region IV U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, TX 76011-4511 Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-40 NRC Docket No. 50-285

Reference:

NUREG 1021, Revision 10, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors

SUBJECT:

NRC Licensed Operator Written Exam Reviews In accordance with NUREG 1021 (reference), the Fort Calhoun Station Training Department has completed a review of the NRC licensed operator written exam that was conducted on December 14, 2015, at the Fort Calhoun Station.

During the exam review, the applicants identified issues with one of the exam questions. It was determined that question #83 has two correct answers. Therefore, Fort Calhoun Station is submitting recommended changes to the original written exam key based on the applicant feedback.

1. 83: This question addresses the appropriate and approved storage locations for a damaged fuel assembly when moving fuel in the spent fuel pool. The question contains 2 correct answers in accordance with 01-FH-1. Both Band C choices are equally correct, as they are both listed in the procedure's precautions. This procedure lists 3 possible locations to place the damaged fuel assembly, but one of the locations (any location in Region 1) is included in the second option (any empty storage location in the spent fuel pool). Choice B is an empty location in Region 2, which is located in the Spent Fuel Pool, which makes it a subset of "any empty cell in the Spent Fuel Pool"; this is supported by Precaution 21 of 01-FH-1. Choice C is still a correct answer, since the horizontal position of the Upender is also listed as an acceptable storage location; this is supported by Precaution 21 of 01-FH-1. Neither choice conflicts with the other and both are supported by the procedure. 01-FH-1 is applicable to the conditions in the stem and does not conflict with any other station procedural guidance. It is recommended that both choices are accepted as equally correct and the exams regraded accordingly. Additionally, the stem of the question does not state where the fuel assembly is located when the bubbles are seen; this omission from the stem prevents either of the correct choices from being "more appropriate" than the other answer. The question is otherwise clearly stated, supported by lesson material and procedures, is objective based, and operationally valid. The question will be modified before addition to the exam bank. Additionally, the procedures could be made more clear by eliminating "Any empty cell in Region 1" from the list of storage locations, since it is included in the second option. The procedure does not state that the listed acceptable locations are in order of preference. A procedure enhancement is recommended, and has been entered into the corrective action program.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission LIC-15-0140 Page 2 Three (3) questions on the reactor operator (RO) section of the exam were missed by 50% or more of the candidates. Five (5) questions on the senior reactor operator (SRO) exam were missed by 50% or more of the SRO candidates. These questions were reviewed for quality issues. All of the questions that were missed by 50% or more of the exam candidates were discussed with the candidates on December 15, 2015. For each question that was missed by 50% or more of the candidates, the training material and training provided were reviewed.

The following enclosures are included with this transmittal:

1. Grading quality checklist (ES-403-1 ).

2. The applicant questions and proctor answers provided during the written exam administered on December 14, 2015.

3. The original ES-401-7 and ES-401-8 cover sheets and each applicant's answer (bubble) sheets.

4. Copies of the original applicants answer sheets graded to the original answer key.

5. Copy of the SRO and RO answer keys.

6. Requested changes to Fort Calhoun Station exam answer key.

7. The exam analysis spreadsheet.

8. Exam seating chart.

9. ES-201 -3 Examination Security Agreement.

If you require additional information, please contact Brad Blome, Manager, Site Regulatory Assurance, at (402) 533-7270. No commitments are made in this letter.

RI7~

Edwin D. Dean Plant Manager EDD/epm Enclosures c: M. L. Dapas, NRC Regional Administrator, Region IV (w/o enclosures)

C. F. Lyon, NRC Senior Project Manager (w/o enclosures)

S. M. Schneider, NRC Senior Resident Inspector (w/o enclosures)

Document Control Desk (w/o enclosures)

10 CFR 55 December 21, 2015 LIC-15-0140 Mr. Clyde Osterholtz Chief Examiner, Operations Branch, Region IV U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, TX 76011-4511 Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-40 NRC Docket No. 50-285

Reference:

NUREG 1021, Revision 10, "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors

SUBJECT:

NRC Licensed Operator Written Exam Reviews In accordance with NUREG 1021 (reference), the Fort Calhoun Station Training Department has completed a review of the NRC licensed operator written exam that was conducted on December 14, 2015, at the Fort Calhoun Station.

During the exam review, the applicants identified issues with one of the exam questions. It was determined that question #83 has two correct answers. Therefore, Fort Calhoun Station is submitting recommended changes to the original written exam key based on the applicant feedback.

1. 83: This question addresses the appropriate and approved storage locations for a damaged fuel assembly when moving fuel in the spent fuel pool. The question contains 2 correct answers in accordance with 01-FH-1. Both Band C choices are equally correct, as they are both listed in the procedure's precautions. This procedure lists 3 possible locations to place the damaged fuel assembly, but one of the locations (any location in Region 1) is included in the second option (any empty storage location in the spent fuel pool). Choice B is an empty location in Region 2, which is located in the Spent Fuel Pool, which makes it a subset of "any empty cell in the Spent Fuel Pool"; this is supported by Precaution 21 of 01-FH-1. Choice C is still a correct answer, since the horizontal position of the Upender is also listed as an acceptable storage location; this is supported by Precaution 21 of 01-FH-1. Neither choice conflicts with the other and both are supported by the procedure. 01-FH-1 is applicable to the conditions in the stem and does not conflict with any other station procedural guidance. It is recommended that both choices are accepted as equally correct and the exams regraded accordingly. Additionally, the stem of the question does not state where the fuel assembly is located when the bubbles are seen; this omission from the stem prevents either of the correct choices from being "more appropriate" than the other answer. The question is otherwise clearly stated, supported by lesson material and procedures, is objective based, and operationally valid. The question will be modified before addition to the exam bank. Additionally, the procedures could be made more clear by eliminating "Any empty cell in Region 1" from the list of storage locations, since it is included in the second option. The procedure does not state that the listed acceptable locations are in order of preference. A procedure enhancement is recommended, and has been entered into the corrective action program.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission LIC-15-0140 Page 2 Three (3) questions on the reactor operator (RO) section of the exam were missed by 50% or more of the candidates. Five (5) questions on the senior reactor operator (SRO) exam were missed by 50% or more of the SRO candidates. These questions were reviewed for quality issues. All of the questions that were missed by 50% or more of the exam candidates were discussed with the candidates on December 15, 2015. For each question that was missed by 50% or more of the candidates, the training material and training provided were reviewed.

The following enclosures are included with this transmittal:

1. Grading quality checklist (ES-403-1 ).

2. The applicant questions and proctor answers provided during the written exam administered on December 14, 2015.

3. The original ES-401-7 and ES-401-8 cover sheets and each applicant's answer (bubble) sheets.

4. Copies of the original applicants answer sheets graded to the original answer key.

5. Copy of the SRO and RO answer keys.

6. Requested changes to Fort Calhoun Station exam answer key.

7. The exam analysis spreadsheet.

8. Exam seating chart.

9. ES-201 -3 Examination Security Agreement.

If you require additional information, please contact Brad Blome, Manager, Site Regulatory Assurance, at (402) 533-7270. No commitments are made in this letter.

RI7~

Edwin D. Dean Plant Manager EDD/epm Enclosures c: M. L. Dapas, NRC Regional Administrator, Region IV (w/o enclosures)

C. F. Lyon, NRC Senior Project Manager (w/o enclosures)

S. M. Schneider, NRC Senior Resident Inspector (w/o enclosures)

Document Control Desk (w/o enclosures)