Event Notification Report for January 04, 2006

AGREEMENT STATE - TEXAS LICENSEE EMPLOYEE OCCUPATIONAL OVEREXPOSURE

The State provided the following information via email:

"The [Texas] Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Radiation Control received written notification from [Name Deleted], Texas Regional RSO for IRISNDT, Inc. that one of its previous employee's received exposure in excess of 5 Rem annual dose. The RSO reports that while doing an update of radiation dose reports for all licensees' Texas employees, the Texas Regional RSO noted that a past employer exposure history was not recorded for a former employee (the radiographer) of the licensee. The RSO reviewed the personnel files for the individual and could not find a past exposure history from the record from the radiographer's previous employer. The Texas RSO contacted the Corporate RSO to see if he had a record for the individual. The Corporate RSO found an exposure history record and faxed it to the Texas RSO. The previous employer's record, H&G Inspection, [address deleted] reflected a dose of 3.918 Rem in the first 6.5 months of employment. The doses were compiled with IRISNDT's records and it was immediately noted that the radiographer had an accumulated dose in excess of 5 Rem. The Texas RSO called the former employee to notify him of the overexposure that same day of record discovery. The former employee stated that he thought the dose he had been assigned was not correct and that's why he did not inform the Texas RSO. It was determined through discussions with the radiographer that the radiographer has not worked since November 2005 and was informed that he cannot work in the industry until he talks to the DSHS. IRISNDT, Inc. stated they failed to check previous records and the radiographer failed to report [previous dose] to [IRISNDT]. In the future IRISNDT, Inc. will provide a form for potential employees to complete pre-hire for dose records to be reviewed and the safety program administrator has been assigned the responsibility to call 2 times per week to follow-up on previous employer dose histories for new hires."

Texas Incident No: I-8287

* * * UPDATE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS (E-MAIL) TO HUFFMAN AT 1200 ON 2/6/06 * * *

The final Texas Department of State Health Services Radiation Branch report on this incident noted that the total annual expose received by the individual involved was 5.713 Rem. The exposure breakdown was 3.918 Rem for individual's previous employer and 1.795 Rem while the individual worked at IRISNDT. The R4DO (Nease) and NMSS (Morell) were notified.

PARTIAL LOSS OF EMERGENCY SIRENS

"On 01/04/06, while performing the Emergency Siren Monthly Test it was determined that 14 out of 143 (9.7%) of the Emergency sirens had failed. A Notification is required because of the major loss of offsite response capability, i.e., the public prompt notification system.

"Calculating the percentage of failures with a total count of 143 sirens results in an approximately 10% failure rate or a 'significant number of failures.'

"This information was immediately discussed with Licensing and determined that a conservative decision is to make an 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii) reportability notification. The State of Iowa, FEMA, and Benton and Linn Counties have also been notified.

"Electricians were immediately dispatched to begin to troubleshoot and repair the 14 declared INOP sirens.

"Compensatory actions have been taken."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

UNANALYZED CONDITION RELATED TO EMERGENCY DIESEL FUEL OIL TANK VORTEX FORMATION

"At 1345, 1/4/06, Callaway Nuclear Plant completed a preliminary evaluation of the potential for vortex formation at the suction of the Emergency Diesel Generator fuel oil transfer pumps. This evaluation was performed in response to industry operating experience concerning an NRC finding identified during a utility inspection. The preliminary conclusion was that the existing Technical Specification level requirements for the Emergency Diesel Generator underground fuel oil storage tanks may be non-conservative and should be increased by an additional 489 gallons. This will result in a six day fuel oil volume requirement of 69,746 gallons and a seven day fuel oil volume requirement of 80,816 gallons.

"A review of indicated fuel oil storage tank levels for the last three years was conducted and it was determined that there was sufficient fuel oil contained within the underground storage tanks to satisfy the new, higher volume requirements. In those instances where the volume would have been below the new requirements, this condition was already being tracked in the Callaway Plant Equipment Out of Service Log (EOSL) to satisfy associated Technical Specification requirements.

"It was conservatively decided to institute administrative controls utilizing plant procedural controls and establish new, elevated fuel oil tank level limits which will ensure vortex formation can not occur. Once the evaluation results are finalized, a review of all actions taken to date will be performed to ensure all required actions have been identified and appropriate measures taken to ensure compliance."

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

* * * RETRACTION PROVIDED BY SHIFT MANAGER (BRADLEY) TO ROTTON AT 1539 ON 02/16/06 * * *

"The evaluation discussed in the original notification has been completed. Administrative minimum limits for fuel oil level established to maintain compliance with the original Technical Specification Emergency Diesel Generator underground fuel oil volume requirements were in fact sufficient to ensure the prevention of vortex formation at the suction of the fuel oil transfer pumps. The fuel oil transfer subsystem remained capable of performing its safety function; therefore, there are no applicable reporting criteria under 50.72 or 50.73 and Event Notification 42242 is retracted.

"The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector."

Notified R4DO (Graves).