ML12201B505

Operator Examination Report 5000348/12-301 and 05000362/12-301, Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

ML12201B505
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	07/17/2012
From:	Mark Franke Division of Reactor Safety III
To:	Lynch T Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
50-348/12-301, 50-364/12-301
Download: ML12201B505 (12)

See also: IR 05000362/2012301

Text

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

245 PEACHTREE CENTER AVENUE NE, SUITE 1200

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1257

July 17, 2012

Mr. T. A. Lynch

Vice President

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

P.O. Drawer 470, BIN B500

Ashford, AL 36312

SUBJECT: JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE

EXAMINATION REPORT (05000348/2012301 AND 05000364/2012301)

Dear Mr. Lynch:

During the period June 18 - 22, 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) administered

operating tests to employees of your company who had applied for licenses to operate the

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners discussed

preliminary findings related to the operating tests and the written examination submittal with

those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was

administered by your staff on June 28, 2012.

Three Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both

the operating test and written examination. One RO applicant failed the written examination.

There were no post-examination comments. A Simulator Fidelity Report is included in this

report as Enclosure 2.

The initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a proposed

examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and your staff were

made according to NUREG-1021, Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power

Reactors, Revision 9, Supplement 1.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and its

enclosures will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document

Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRCs document

T. Lynch 2

system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-

rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).If you have any questions concerning this

letter, please contact me at (404) 997- 4436

Sincerely,

/RA/

Mark E. Franke, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos: 50-348 and 50-364

License Nos: NPF-2 and NPF-8

Enclosures

1. Report Details

2. Simulator Fidelity Report

___________________ xG SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE xG FORM 665 ATTACHED

OFFICE RII:DRS RII:DRS HQ:DIRS RII:DRP RII:DRS

SIGNATURE RA RA RA RA RA

NAME CABALLERO BACON CURRIE EHRHARDT FRANKE

DATE 7/16/2012 7/12/2012 7/13/2012 7/17/2012 7/17/2012

E-MAIL COPY? YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

T. Lynch 3

cc w/encls: Mark Williams

C. Russ Dedrickson Commissioner

Fleet Support Supervisor Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Electronic Mail Distribution

Electronic Mail Distribution

B. D. McKinney, Jr.

Cheryl A. Gayheart Regulatory Response Manager

Plant Manager Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant Electronic Mail Distribution

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution D. W. Daughhetee

Licensing Engineer

S. Kuczynski Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Chairman, President and CEO Electronic Mail Distribution

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution T. D. Honeycutt

Regulatory Response Supervisor

J. L. Pemberton Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

SVP & General Counsel-Ops & SNC Electronic Mail Distribution

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution L. Mike Stinson

Vice President

D. G. Bost Fleet Operations Support

Chief Nuclear Officer Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Electronic Mail Distribution

Electronic Mail Distribution

N. J. Stringfellow

Dennis R. Madison Licensing Manager

Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Electronic Mail Distribution

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution L. P. Hill

Licensing Supervisor

Paula Marino Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Vice President Electronic Mail Distribution

Engineering

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. L. L. Crumpton

Electronic Mail Distribution Administrative Assistant, Sr.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

T. E. Tynan Electronic Mail Distribution

Site Vice President

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant William D. Oldfield

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Principal Licensing Engineer

Electronic Mail Distribution Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

Electronic Mail Distribution

M. J. Ajluni

Nuclear Licensing Director

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Electronic Mail Distribution (cc w/encls contd - See page 4)

T. Lynch 4

(cc w/encls contd) Chuck Mueller

Todd L. Youngblood Manager

Vice President Policy and Radiation Program

Fleet Oversight Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Electronic Mail Distribution

Electronic Mail Distribution

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

John G. Horn ATTN: Ms. Donna Christiansen

Site Support Manager Training Manager

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant Farley Nuclear Plant

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. P. O. Box 470

Electronic Mail Distribution Ashford, AL 36312

Senior Resident Inspector

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

P. O. Box 620

Ashford, AL 36312

Cynthia A. Sanders

Radioactive Materials Program Manager

Environmental Protection Division

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Electronic Mail Distribution

James C. Hardeman

Environmental Radiation Program Manager

Environmental Protection Division

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Electronic Mail Distribution

Mr. Mark Culver

Chairman

Houston County Commission

P. O. Box 6406

Dothan, AL 36302

James L. McNees, CHP

Director

Office of Radiation Control

Alabama Dept. of Public Health

P. O. Box 303017

Montgomery, AL 36130-3017

Donald E. Williamson

State Health Officer

Alabama Dept. of Public Health

RSA Tower - Administration

Suite 1552

P.O. Box 30317

Montgomery, AL 36130-3017

T. Lynch 5

Letter to T. A. Lynch from Mark E. Franke dated July 17, 2012.

SUBJECT: JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE

EXAMINATION REPORT (05000348/2012301 AND 05000364/2012301)

Distribution w/encls:

RIDSNRRDIRS

PUBLIC

RidsNrrPMFarley Resource

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.: 05000348, 05000364

License Nos.: NPF-2, NPF-9

Report No.: 05000348/2012301 AND 05000364/2012301

Licensee: Southern Nuclear Company (SNC), LLC

Facility: Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

Location: Ashford, AL

Dates: Operating Test - June 18 - 22, 2012

Written Examination - June 28, 2012

Examiners: Bruno Caballero, Chief Examiner, Senior Operations Engineer

Dan Bacon, Operations Engineer

Sean Currie, Reactor Engineer

Approved by: Mark E. Franke, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000348/2012301 and 05000364/2012301; June 18 - 22, 2012, & June 28, 2012,

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant; Units 1 and 2 Operator License Examinations.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) examiners conducted an initial examination in

accordance with the guidelines in Revision 9, Supplement 1, of NUREG-1021, "Operator

Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." This examination implemented the

operator licensing requirements identified in 10 CFR §55.41, §55.43, and §55.45, as applicable.

Members of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests and

the written examination.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period June 18 - 22, 2012. Members of

the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on June

28, 2012. Three Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants

passed both the operating test and written examination. Eight applicants were issued licenses

commensurate with the level of examination administered.

There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

Enclosure 1

REPORT DETAILS

4. OTHER ACTIVITIES

a. Inspection Scope

Members of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant staff developed both the operating tests

and the written examination. All examination material was developed in accordance

with the guidelines contained in Revision 9, Supplement 1, of NUREG-1021, "Operator

Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors." The NRC examination team

reviewed the proposed examination. Examination changes agreed upon between the

NRC and the licensee were made per NUREG-1021 and incorporated into the final

version of the examination materials.

The NRC reviewed the licensees examination security measures while preparing and

administering the examinations in order to ensure compliance with 10 CFR §55.49,

Integrity of examinations and tests.

The NRC examiners evaluated four Reactor Operator (RO) and six Senior Reactor

Operator (SRO) applicants using the guidelines contained in NUREG-1021. The

examiners administered the operating tests during the period June 18 - 22, 2012.

Members of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written

examination on June 28, 2012. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated

documentation were performed to determine if the applicants, who applied for licenses

to operate the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, met the requirements specified in 10

CFR Part 55, Operators Licenses.

b. Findings

No findings were identified. The NRC determined, using NUREG-1021, that the

licensees initial examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for

a proposed examination.

Three RO applicants and six SRO applicants passed both the operating test and written

examination. One RO applicant passed the operating test but did not pass the written

examination. Three RO applicants and five SRO applicants were issued licenses.

One SRO applicant passed the operating test, but passed the written examination with

overall score between 80% and 82%. This applicant was issued a letter stating that

he/she passed the examination and issuance of their license has been delayed pending

any written examination appeals that may impact the licensing decision for their

application.

Copies of all individual examination reports were sent to the facility Training Manager for

evaluation of weaknesses and determination of appropriate remedial training.

The licensee did not submit any post-examination comments. A copy of the final written

examination and answer key, with all changes incorporated, may be accessed not

Enclosure 1

4

earlier than June 26, 2014, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession Number(s)

ML12191A180 and ML12191A177).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

On June 22, 2012, the NRC Chief Examiner discussed the operating test with Mr. Tom

Lynch, Site Vice President, and members of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant staff.

The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination material was proprietary.

No proprietary information was identified.

Enclosure 1

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee personnel

Tom Lynch, Site Vice President

Cheryl Gayheart, Plant Manager

Bill Oldfield, Lead Engineer Licensing

Lisa Hogg, Nuclear Technical Specialist

Donna Christensen, Training Manager

David Reed, Operations Support Superintendent

Richard Gayheart, Fleet Training

Barbara Taylor, Performance Improvement Supervisor

Thomas Campbell, Nuclear Oversight Assessor

Brian Reed, Nuclear Operations Plant Lead Instructor

Gary Ohmstede, Operations Training Supervisor

NRC personnel

Jeff Sowa, Resident Inspector

Ed Crowe, Senior Resident Inspector

Enclosure 1

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant

Facility Docket Nos.: 05000348, 05000364

Operating Test Administered: June 18 - 22, 2012

This form is to be used only to report observations. These observations do not constitute audit

or inspection findings and, without further verification and review in accordance with Inspection

Procedure 71111.11 are not indicative of noncompliance with 10 CFR 55.46. No licensee

action is required in response to these observations.

No simulator fidelity or configuration issues were identified.

Enclosure 2