IR 05000528/2009301

Er 05000528-09-301, 05000529-09-301, 05000530-09-301, on November 6, 2009, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML093490925
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	12/15/2009
From:	Garchow S Operations Branch IV
To:	Edington R Arizona Public Service Co
References
ER-09-301
Download: ML093490925 (13)

Text

December 15, 2009

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 -

NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000528/2009301; 05000529/2009301; 05000530/2009301

Dear Mr. Edington:

On November 13, 2009, 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 findings and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination findings were discussed on November 12, 2009, with Mr. Bob Bement, Vice-President Nuclear Operations, and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on December 2, 2009, with Mr. Warren Potter, Simulator Department Leader, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of fifteen applicants for reactor operator licenses, five applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and three applicants for upgrade senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all but one of the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued.

The one individual failed the written examination and has been issued a license denial letter.

There were two post examination comments submitted by your staff. Enclosure 1 contains details of this report and Enclosure 2 summarizes post examination comment resolution.

No findings of significance were identified during this examination.

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION R E GI ON I V 612 EAST LAMAR BLVD, SUITE 400 ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4125

Arizona Public Service Company

- 2 -

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 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,

/RA/

Stephen M. Garchow, Acting Chief Operations Branch

Division of Reactor Safety

Dockets: 50-528; 50-529; 50-530 Licenses: NPF-41; NPF-51; NPF-74

Enclosure:

1. NRC Examination Report 05000528/2009301; 05000529/2009301; 05000530/2009301 2. NRC Post Examination Comment Resolution

REGION IV==

Dockets:

50-528, 50-529, 50-530 Licenses:

NPF-41, NPF-51, NPF-74 Report:

05000528/2009301; 05000529/2009301; 05000530/2009301 Licensee:

Arizona Public Service Company Facility:

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Location:

5951 S. Wintersburg Road Tonopah, Arizona Dates:

November 6, 2009 Inspectors:

Stephen Garchow, Chief Examiner Kelly Clayton, Senior Operations Engineer Jim Drake, Senior Reactor Inspector Chuck Zoia, Operations Engineer Peter Presby, Operations Engineer Gabriel Apger, Senior Operations Engineer Approved By:

Stephen Garchow, Acting Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

- 2 -

Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER05000528/2009301; 05000529/2009301; 05000530/2009301; November 6, 2009;

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of fifteen applicants for reactor operator licenses, five applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses and three 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 9, Supplement 1. The written examination was administered by the licensee on November 6, 2009. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on November 9 - 13, 2009.

The examiners determined that all but one of the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. One individual failed the written portion of the examination and a license denial letter has been issued.

NRC-Identified and Self-Revealing Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

Licensee-Identified Violations

None.

REPORT DETAILS

4OA5 Other Activities (Initial Operator License Examination)

.1 License Applications

a. Scope

NRC examiners reviewed all license applications submitted to ensure each applicant satisfied relevant license eligibility requirements. The examiners also audited five 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 of significance were identified.

.2 Examination Development

a. Scope

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

b. Findings

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

NRC examiners determined that 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 November 6, 2009, the licensee proctored the administration of the written examinations to all 23 applicants. The licensee staff graded the written examinations, analyzed the results, and presented their analysis and post examination comments to the NRC on November 17, 2009.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all 23 applicants on November 9 - 13, 2009.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

All but one of the applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test. The final written 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 the following generic weaknesses:

• Knowledge of administrative dose limits and radiological postings

• Knowledge of licensed operator proficiency requirements

• Knowledge of the indications associated with determining if a running Emergency Diesel Generator was ready to load following an automatic start

• Ability to diagnose system status following an abnormal event such as a loss of an electrical bus

• Ability to determine charging flow when in an usual alignment such as charging via the High Pressure Safety Injection header

• The applicants, as a group, failed more of the individual administrative job-performance-measures (JPMs) than what is typically seen on an examination.

.4 Simulation Facility Performance

a. Scope

The NRC examiners observed simulator performance with regard to plant fidelity during examination validation and administration.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

.5 Examination Security

a. Scope

The NRC examiners reviewed examination security 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.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

The chief examiner presented the preliminary examination results to Messrs. Bob Bement, Lou Cortopassi, Joe Waid, and other members of the licensee staff on November 12, 2009. A telephonic exit was conducted on December 2, 2009, between Messrs. Stephen Garchow, Chief Examiner, and Warren Potter, Simulator Department Leader.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

Warren Potter, Simulator Department Leader

Larry Burton, Exam Developer

Alan Malley, Exam Developer

Louis Cortopassi, Plant Manager

Joe Waid, Training Director

Ron Barnes, Regulatory Affairs Director

NRC Personnel

Joseph Bayshore, Resident Inspector