IR 05000397/2009302

Er 05000397-09-302, on October 5, 2009; Columbia Generating Station; Initial Operator Licensing Examination Report

ML093080566
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	11/04/2009
From:	Garchow S Operations Branch IV
To:	Parrish J Energy Northwest
References
ER-09-302
Download: ML093080566 (9)

Text

November 4, 2009

SUBJECT:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - NRC EXAMINATION REPORT 05000397/2009302

Dear Mr. Parrish:

On October 8, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed an initial operator license examination at Columbia Generating Station. The enclosed report documents the examination findings and licensing decisions. The preliminary examination findings were discussed on October 8, 2009, with yourself and other members of your staff. A telephonic exit meeting was conducted on October 20, 2009, with Mr. Paul Taylor, who was provided the NRC licensing decisions.

The examination included the evaluation of two applicants for reactor operator licenses and six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses. The license examiners determined that all of the applicants satisfied the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55, and the appropriate licenses have been issued. There were no post-examination comments submitted by your staff. The enclosure to this letter contains the details of this report.

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

Energy Northwest

- 2 -

Docket: 50-397 License: NPF-21

Enclosure:

NRC Examination Report 05000397/2009302

REGION IV==

Docket:

50-397 License:

NPF-21 Report:

05000397/2009302 Licensee:

Energy Northwest Facility:

Columbia Generating Station Location:

Richland, Washington Dates:

October 5, 2009 Inspectors:

S. Garchow, Senior Operations Engineer R. DeVercelly, Senior Training Instructor S. Hedger, Operations Engineer Approved By:

Stephen M. Garchow, Acting Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER05000397/2009302; October 5, 2009; Columbia Generating Station; Initial Operator

Licensing Examination Report.

NRC examiners evaluated the competency of two applicants for reactor operator licenses and six applicants for instant senior reactor operator licenses at Columbia Generating Station.

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 October 2, 2009. NRC examiners administered the operating tests on October 5-9, 2009.

The 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

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 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 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 October 2, 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 October 14, 2009.

The NRC examination team administered the various portions of the operating tests to all eight applicants on October 5-9, 2009.

b. Findings

No findings of significance were identified.

All of the applicants passed the written examination and all parts of the operating test.

The final written examinations and post-examination analysis may be accessed in the ADAMS system under the accession numbers noted in the attachment. There were no post-examination comments as indicated in the licensee submittal.

The examination team noted generic weaknesses in the areas of tagging plant components and use of computers by the Control Room Supervisors.

.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 yourself and other members of the staff on October 8, 2009. A telephonic exit was conducted on October 20, 2009, between Messrs. Stephen Garchow, Chief Examiner, and Paul Taylor.

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

ATTACHMENT:

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee Personnel

R. Hayden, Exam Developer

NRC Personnel

R. Cohen, Senior Resident Inspector