ML093140443

Er 05000220-09-303; 08/31/2009 - 09/08/2009; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 1; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report (Corrected Report)

ML093140443
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	10/24/2009
From:	Hansell S Operations Branch I
To:	Belcher S Nine Mile Point
References
50-220/09-303
Download: ML093140443 (9)

See also: IR 05000220/2009303

Text

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

475 ALLENDALE ROAD

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406-1415

October 24, 2009

Mr. Sam Belcher

Vice President

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC

P.O. Box 63

Lycoming, NY 13093-0063

SUBJECT: NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - NRC EXAMINATION

REPORT NO. 05000220/2009303

Dear Mr. Belcher:

On September 8,2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an

examination at Nine Mile Point Unit 1. The enclosed report documents the examination

findings, which were discussed on September 17, 2009, with Mr. Robert Brown.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, and

seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses. The written and operating examinations

were developed using NUREG-1021 , "Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power

Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that six of eight

applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were

issued on September 17, 2009. In addition, two applicants for instant senior operator licenses

passed their exams but their licenses are being held as explained in paragraph D.3.c of

Examination Standard (ES) 501 in NUREG-1021 until the facility has certified in writing that the

applicants have completed all of their experience requirements.

No findings of Significance were identified during this examination. 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 NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is

accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.htm!(the Public

Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

IRA!

Samuel L. Hansell, Jr., Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure: NRC Examination Report No. 05000220/2009303

cc: w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

Mr. Sam Belcher

Vice President

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, llC

P.O. Box 63

lycoming, NY 13093~0063

SUBJECT: NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - NRC EXAMINATION

REPORT NO. 05000220/2009303

Dear Mr. Belcher:

On September 8, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an

examination at Nine Mile Point Unit 1. The enclosed report documents the examination

findings, which were discussed on September 17, 2009, with Mr. Robert Brown.

The examination included the evaluation of one applicant for a reactor operator license, and

seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses. The written and operating examinations

were developed using NUREG~1021, "Operator licensing Examination Standards for Power

Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. The license examiners determined that six of eight

applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were

issued on September 17, 2009. In addition, two applicants for instant senior operator licenses

passed their exams but their licenses are being held as explained in paragraph D.3.c of

Examination Standard (ES) 501 in NUREG-1021 until the facility has certified in writing that the

applicants have completed all of their experience requirements.

No findings of significance were identified during this examination. 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 NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is

accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html(the Public

Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

IRAJ

Samuell. Hansell, Jr., Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure: NRC Examination Report No. 05000220/2009303

cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

SUNSI Review Complete: JC (Reviewer's Initials)

ADAMS PKG: ML083020408 ADAMS ACC# ML093140443

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRS\Operations Branch\CARUSO\Exam 09-NMP1 Aug 09 (U01782)\NMP EXAM REPORT.doc

To receive a co of this document, Indlcato In tho box: 'C' = Co without attachmentlenclo$ure "E"===CO~Wl=*th=at!=aC=i'hm=e=ntliFen=Clo=.u=re=*=N*==N=O=CO===r==r============:;=="'i1

RIIDRS RlIDRS

CBixlerl JC for CB

10/23/09

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

S. Belcher 2

Distribution w/encl: via email

S. Collins, RA (R10RAMAIL RESOURCE)

M. Dapas, ORA (R10RAMAIL RESOURCE)

D. Lew, DRP (R1DRPMAIL RESOURCE)

J. Clifford, DRP (R1DRPMAIL RESOURCE)

L. Trocine, RI OEDO

RidsNrrPMNineMilePointResource

RidsNrrDorLLpL 1-1 Resource

G. Dentel, DRP

N. Perry, DRP

J. Hawkins, DRP

S. Sloan, DRP

E. Knutson, SRI

D. Dempsey, RI

K. Kolek, DRP, OA

D. Bearde, DRP

ROPReportsResource@nrc.gov

D. Roberts, DRS (R1DRSMAIL RESOURCE)

P. Wilson, DRS (R1DRSMAIL RESOLIRCE)

S. Hansell, DRS

J. Caruso, Chief Examiner, DRS

Distribution:

DRS Master Exam File (C. Bixler) (w/concurrences)

DRS File

EXAMINATION REPORT

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION I

Docket: 50-220

Licenses: DPR-63

Report : 05000220/2009303

Licensee: Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC (NMPNS)

Facility: Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 1

Location Oswego, New York

Dates: August 31 - September 3,2009 (Operating Test Administration)

September 8,2009 (Written Examination Administration)

September 15, 2009 (Licensee Submitted Post Exam Package)

September 4 - 16,2009 (NRC Examination Grading)

September 17, 2009 (Licenses Issued)

Inspectors: John Caruso, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Branch

Joseph D'Antonio, Senior Operations Engineer

Brian Fuller, Operations Engineer

Tom Hedigan, Operations Engineer (Certification Exam)

Bernard Litkett, Operations Engineer (Examiner In-Training)

David Molteni, Operations Engineer (Examiner In-Training)

Approved By: Samuell. Hansell, Jr., Chief

Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000220/2009303; August 31 - September 8, 2009; Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 1;

Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of one applicant for a reactor operator license, and

seven applicants for instant senior operator licenses at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 1.

The NRC developed the examinations using NUREG-1 021, "Operator Licensing Examination

Standards for Power Reactors," Revision 9, Supplement 1. NRC examiners administered the

operating tests on August 31- September 3,2009. The written examination was administered

by the facility on September 8, 2009. The license examiners determined that six of the eight

applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses were

issued on September 17, 2009. In addition, two of the seven applicants for instant senior

operator licenses passed their exams but their licenses are being held as explained in

paragraph D.3.c of Examination Standard (ES) 501 in NUREG-1021 until the facility has

certified in writing that the applicants have completed all of their waived items.

A. NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings of significance were identified

B. Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

ii

Enclosure

REPORT DETAILS

4. OTHER ACTIVITIES (OA)

40AS Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

The examiners reviewed all eight of 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 three of the license applications in detail

to confirm that they accurately reflected the applicant's qualifications. This audit

focused on the applicant's experience and on-the-job training, including control

manipulations that provided significant reactivity changes.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified .

.2 Operator Knowledge and Performance

a. Examination Scope

On September 8, 2009, the licensee proctored the administration of the written

examinations to all eight applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations,

analyzed the results, and presented their analysis to the NRC on September 1S, 2009.

Note: The applicant for a reactor operator (RO) license was administered a written

retake examination only and was granted a waiver for the various portions of the

operating examination which he had passed previously.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating

examination to all seven instant senior operator (SROI) license applicants on August 31

September 3, 2009. The seven applicants seeking an instant senior 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 seven of the SROI applicants passed all parts of the operating test. One RO

applicant and all seven SROI applicants passed the written examination. For the written

examinations, the RO applicant's average score was 8S.33 percent. The senior

operator applicants' average score was 90.28 percent and ranged from 8S.00 to 9S.00

percent. The overall written examination average was 89.66 percent. The operating

Enclosure

2

test and the text of the written examination questions 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 graded the examination on September 8,2009, and

subsequently conducted this performance analysis for two questions that met these

criteria and submitted the analysis to the chief examiner. This analysis concluded that

all the questions were technically valid as administered .

.3 Initial Licensing Examination Development

a. Examination Scope

The NRC developed the examinations in accordance with NUREG-1021, Revision 9,

Supplement 1. All licensee facility training and operations staff involved in examination

validation were on a security agreement. The NRC conducted an onsite validation of

the operating examinations the week of July 27,2009. The NRC satisfactorily

completed comment resolution on August 21, 2009.

b. Findings

No findings of significance 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 of significance were identified .

.5 Examination Security

a. Examination Scope

The examiners reviewed examination security for examination development, the onsite

preparation week, and examination administration week for compliance with NUREG

1021 requirements. Plans for simulator security and applicant control were reviewed

and discussed with licensee personnel.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

Enclosure

3

40A6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the examination results to Mr. Robert Brown, Operations

Training Manager on September 17, 2009. The licensee acknowledged the findings

presented.

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

as proprietary.

ATTACHMENT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Enclosure

A-1

ATTACHMENT

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

R. Dean, Manager, Nuclear Training

R. Brown, Operations Training Manager

T. Hooper, Nuclear Training Instructor

NRC Personnel

E. Knutson, Senior Resident Inspector

D. Dempsey, Resident Inspector

ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED, AND DISCUSSED

Opened

NONE

Closed

NONE

Discussed

NONE

ADAMS DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Accession No. ML092600834 - FINAL-Written

Accession No. ML092600844 - FINAL-Operating Exam

Attachment