ML112640385

Er 05000259-11-302, 05000260-11-302, and 05000296-11-302, Operating Test August 8 - 12, 2011 & Written Exam August 19, 2011; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Operator License Examinations

ML112640385
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	09/19/2011
From:	Mark Franke Division of Reactor Safety II
To:	Krich R Tennessee Valley Authority
References
50-259/11-302, 50-260/11-302, 50-296/11-302
Download: ML112640385 (11)

See also: IR 05000296/2011302

Text

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

245 PEACHTREE CENTER AVENUE NE, SUITE 1200

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1257

September 19, 2011

Tennessee Valley Authority

ATTN: Mr. R. M. Krich

Vice President, Nuclear Licensing

1101 Market Street, LP 3R-C

Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT: BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE

EXAMINATION REPORT 05000259/2011302, 05000260/2011302, AND

05000296/2011302

Dear Mr. Krich:

During the period August 8 - 12, 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

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

operate the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. At the conclusion of the tests, the examiners

discussed preliminary findings related to the operating tests with those members of the plant

staff identified in the enclosed report. The written examination was administered by the plant

training department staff on August 19, 2011.

Four Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants passed both

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

operating exam. Four RO applicants and one SRO 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 operating examination submittal was within the range of acceptability expected for a

proposed examination. All examination changes agreed upon between the NRC and the plant

training 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

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

rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

TVA 2

If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact me at (404) 997- 4436

Sincerely,

/RA: Malcolm Widmann for/

Mark E. Franke, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos: 50-259, 50-260, 50-296

License Nos: DPR-33, DPR-52, DPR-68

Enclosures: 1 Report Details

2. Simulator Fidelity Report

cc w/encls: (See page 3)

_ML112640385____________ G SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE G FORM 665 ATTACHED

OFFICE RII:DRS RII:DRS RII:DRS RIV:DRS RII:DRP RII:DRS

SIGNATURE RA RA RA RA RA RA

NAME BCABALLERO ELEA MRICHES GAPGER EGUTHRIE MFRANKE

DATE 9/8/2011 9/ 8 /2011 9/14 /2011 9/16/2011 9/ 14/2011 9/19 /2011 9/ /2011

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

TVA 3

cc w/encl: Senior Resident Inspector

K. J. Polson U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Tennessee Valley Authority 10833 Shaw Road

Electronic Mail Distribution Athens, AL 35611-6970

C.J. Gannon Mr. Jeff Morris

General Manager Training Manager

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority

Electronic Mail Distribution P. O. Box 2000

Decatur, AL 35609-2000

J. E. Emens

Manager, Licensing

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

Tennessee Valley Authority

Electronic Mail Distribution

T. C. Matthews

Manager, Corporate Nuclear Licensing -

BFN

Tennessee Valley Authority

Electronic Mail Distribution

E. J. Vigluicci

Assistant General Counsel

Tennessee Valley Authority

Electronic Mail Distribution

Chairman

Limestone County Commission

310 West Washington Street

Athens, AL 35611

Donald E. Williamson

State Health Officer

Alabama Dept. of Public Health

RSA Tower - Administration

Suite 1552

P.O. Box 30317

Montgomery, AL 36130-3017

James L. McNees, CHP

Director

Office of Radiation Control

Alabama Dept. of Public Health

P. O. Box 303017

Montgomery, AL 36130-3017

TVA 4

Letter to R. M. Krich from Mark E. Franke dated September 19, 2011.

SUBJECT: BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC OPERATOR LICENSE

EXAMINATION REPORT 05000259/2011302, 05000260/2011302, AND

05000296/2011302

Distribution w/encl:

RIDSNRRDIRS

PUBLIC

RidsNrrPMBrownsFerry Resource

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION II

Docket No.: 50-259, 50-260, AND 50-296

License No.: DPR-33, DPR-52, and DPR-68

Report No.: 05000259/2011302, 05000260/2011302, and 05000296/2011302

Licensee: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), LLC

Facility: Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3

Location: Athens, AL 35611

Dates: Operating Test - August 8 - 12, 2011

Written Examination - August 19, 2011

Examiners: Bruno Caballero, Chief, Senior Operations Engineer, RII/DRS/OLB2

Edwin Lea, Senior Operations Engineer, RII/DRS/OLB2

Mark Riches, Operations Engineer, RII/DRS/OLB1

Gabe Apger, Senior Operations Engineer, RIV/DRS/OLB

Approved by: Mark E. Franke, Chief

Operations Branch 2

Division of Reactor Safety

Enclosure 1

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ER 05000259/2011302, 05000260/2011302, and 05000296/2011302; operating test August 8 -

12, 2011 & written exam August 19, 2011; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 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.

The operating tests were developed by members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant staff and

the written examination was developed by the NRC.

The NRC administered the operating tests during the period August 8 - 12, 2011. Members of

the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written examination on August

19, 2011. Four Reactor Operator (RO) and three Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) applicants

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

commensurate with the level of examination administered. Two applicants were issued a letter

stating that they 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.

There were no post-examination comments.

No findings were identified.

Enclosure 1

REPORT DETAILS

4. OTHER ACTIVITIES

4OA5 Operator Licensing Examinations

a. Inspection Scope

The operating tests were developed by members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant

staff and the written examination was developed by the NRC. 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 potential for an exam security compromise

occurred on May 23, 2011 (SR# 374670) when the Unit 3 simulator computers were

prematurely reconnected to the network; however, no actual exam compromise

occurred.

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

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

examiners administered the operating tests during the period August 8 - 12, 2011.

Members of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant training staff administered the written

examination on August 19, 2011. Evaluations of applicants and reviews of associated

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

to operate the Browns Ferry 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 operating examination submittal was within the range of acceptability

expected for a proposed examination.

Four RO applicants and three SRO applicants passed both the operating test and

written examination. Three RO applicants and one SRO applicant passed the operating

test but did not pass the written examination. One RO applicant failed both the written

and operating exam. Additionally, one RO retake applicant, who was waived from

taking the operating exam, did not pass the written examination. Two RO applicants

and three SRO applicants were issued licenses.

Two RO applicants passed the operating test, but passed the written examination with

overall scores between 80% and 82%. Each of these applicants was issued a letter

stating that they 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.

Enclosure 1

4

During administration of the operating exam, the examiners noted the following generic

weaknesses.

• During exam scenarios, after the control rod drive (CRD) flow controller had failed to

operate in the automatic mode, the applicants did not promptly restore system flow

by operating the controller in manual mode, which resulted in several CRD

temperatures exceeding 350 °F, which was an operability concern.

• During job performance measures (JPMs), several applicants did not locate 1-FCV-

23-57, Standby Coolant Valve from RHRSW.

• During JPMs, most of the applicants did not readily locate the main steam line drain

valves position indicator, ZI-1-174, at Panel 9-3.

• During an alternate path JPM associated with emergency venting the drywell via the

suppression chamber hardened vent valves, several applicants still attempted to

open the inboard hardened vent valve even though the outboard hardened vent

valve (in series) had already failed to open. Consequently, in two instances, the

primary containment pressure exceeded 55 psig before the applicants abandoned

the hardened vent valves and continued in the procedure to vent the drywell directly

to the reactor building.

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 RO

and SRO written examinations and answer keys, with all changes incorporated, may be

accessed not earlier than August 19, 2013, in the ADAMS system (ADAMS Accession

Numbers ML112370110 and ML112370111, respectively).

4OA6 Meetings, Including Exit

Exit Meeting Summary

On August 12, 2011, the NRC Chief Examiner discussed generic issues associated with

the operating test with Daniel L. Hughes, Operations Manager, and members of the

Browns Ferry staff. The examiners asked the licensee if any of the examination

material was proprietary. The information that the licensee identified as proprietary was

handled in a manner consistent with NRC and licensee guidelines for this type of

information.

ATTACHMENT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Enclosure 1

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

KEY POINTS OF CONTACT

Licensee personnel

D. L. Hughes, Operations Manager

Matthew M. Rasmussen, Operations Superintendent

Micah Nash, Operations Shift Manager

Joe Bennett, Operations Unit Supervisor

David Malinowski, Operations Training Manager

Barry D. Tidwell, Training Supervisor

Dan Zielinski, Exam Team Developer

David C. Matherly, Senior Manager, BFN Focus

Gerald J. Doyle, Assistant Site Vice President Technical Assistant

James Emens, Site Licensing Manager

James W. Davenport, Site Licensing

Cris Boschetti, BFN Quality Assurance Manager

Steve Bono, BFN Maintenance Manager

Bill Nurenberger, Work Control Manager

Robert Norris, Radiation Protection Manager

Michael Durr, Engineering Director

Steve Brown, Projects Supervisor

NRC personnel

Thierry Ross, Senior Resident Inspector

Attachment

SIMULATOR FIDELITY REPORT

Facility Licensee: Browns Ferry

Facility Docket No.: 50-259, 50-260, and 50-296

Operating Test Administered: August 8 - 12, 2011

This form is used only to report observations. The 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