IR 05000445/1980002
| ML19344D596 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 03/18/1980 |
| From: | Crossman W, Gilbert L, Randy Hall NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19344D594 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-445-80-02, 50-445-80-2, 50-446-80-02, 50-446-80-2, NUDOCS 8004250083 | |
| Download: ML19344D596 (7) | |
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U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
REGION IV
Report No. 50-445/80-02; 50-446/80-02 Docket No. 50-445; 50-446 Category A2 Licensee:
Texas Utilities Generating Company 2001 Bryan Tower Dallas, Texas 75201 Facility Name:
Comanche Peak, Units 1 & 2
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Investigation at:
Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Glen Rose, Texas Investigation conducted: January 21 - February 5, 1980 Investigator:
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'['ExecutiveOfficeforOperationSupport
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L. Williamson, Investigator D6te
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Inspector:
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L. D. Gilbert, Reactor Inspector
' Date Engineering Support Section Approved: k /,f d b,f(
3//5 E'O W. A. Crossman, Chief, Projects Section Date Af W
s46 R. E. Hall, Chief
' Ddte Engineering Support Section Investigation Summary:
Investigation January 21 through February 5, 1980 (Report No. 50-445/80-02; 50-446/80-02)
Areas Investigated:
Investigation of allegations in regard to lax Quality Control procedures, welding problems and weld defects contained in an article in the December 6, 1979, Dallas Times Herald and attributed to three Authorized Nuclear Inspectors (ANI).
Results: The allegations were determined to have no merit.
No items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
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INTRODUCTION Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES), Units 1 and 2, are under construction in Somervell County, Texas, near the town of Glen Rose, Texas.
Texas Utilities Generating Company is the Construction Permit holder with Brown and Root, Inc., as the constructor and Gibbs & Hill, Inc., as the Architect / Engineer.
REASON FOR INVESTIGATION
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The purpose of this investigation is to ascertain the veracity of allegations made by three former Comanche Peak Authorized Nuclear Inspectors (ANI) as reported by a local Dallas newspaper, and the impact of these allegations in
regard to the nuclear safety of the plant.
SUMMARY OF FACTS On December 6, 1979, an article (copy attached) captioned "Three Comanche Peak Inspectors Quit in Protest" appeared in the Dallas Times Herald in two separate places.
The article was written by a Dallas Times Herald staff writer, and indicated that three ANIS had left their jobs at the Comanche Peak nuclear plant in the last fifteen months after complaining I
about " lax Quality Control procedures." In addition to complaints about existing QC procedures, the article inferred that welding problems existed in the main cooling water loop pipes as well as other welding defects in other areas of the plant and indicated that inspectors took records and photographs with them that would verify these alleged claims.
The investigation was initiated at the NRC Region IV office in Dallas, Texas, by attempting to learn the location of the three former inspectors in question. Region IV officials were unsuccessful in obtaining names and present location of the three inspectors from the Dallas Times Herald staff writer. Additional investigative inquiries disclosed that one of the
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inspectors was still employed by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, the other two inspectors were located in Chicago, Illiaoxs, and Los Angeles, California.
CONCLUSION Personal and telephonic interviews with the former Comanche Peak ANIS disclosed that none of them could identify specific areas of concern to the NRC. All the interviewed inspectors complained of lax Quality Control procedures on the part of Brown and Root, the principal contractor, l
hut none could cite areas that would be considered safety hazards or potential
l safety hazards.
The inspectors left the Comanche Peak site over a period of a year (September 1978 to September 1979) and according to them, one was i
l transferred, and two resigned. The allegations have been determined to l
have no merit.
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DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted Individuals A, B & C.
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Investigation a.
Background On December 6, 1979, an article captioned "Three Comanche Peak Inspectors Quit in Protest" appeared in the Dallas Times Herald newspaper. The article authored by a staff writer, stated that three former Authorized Nuclear Inspectors had quit their jobs over the last fifteen months in protest of " lax Quality Control procedures." The article inferred that welding problems existed in the main cooling water pipe as well as other welding defects in other areas of the plant. The article also mentioned that the former inspectors took records and photographs with them to document their claims; a copy of this article is attached The investigation was initiated on January 21, 1980, at the request of the Region IV. Director, with efforts to identify and locate the inspectors in question.
Numerous telephonic inquiries re-vealed that one of the inspectors was still employed by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company.
The other two former inspectors are now working and residing in the Chicago, Ilinois, and Los Angeles, California, areas.
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Investigative Details (1) Allegation No. 1 Three inspectors at the Comanche Peak nuclear plant have left their jobs in the last fifteen months after complaining repeatedly about lax Quality Control procedures.
Investigative Finding The ANIS stated that it was their opinion that Brown & Root (B&R) had lax Quality Control procedures because the procedures were constantly being changed to resolve administrative problems existing in the procedures. Although the ANIS considered the
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procedures to be lax, they knew of no technical requirements in the ASME B&PV Code that had been violated by the changes to the procedures.
It was their opinion that once a pro-
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cedure is written, that it should not be changed regardless of the administrative costs involved.
This allegation is considered to have no merit, in that procedures may be changed to resolve administrative problems that may exist in procedures, provided technical requirements are not compromised.
(2) Allegation No. 2 The ANIS took records and photographs with them to protect themselves in case problems cropped up later.
Investigative Finding r
The ANIS stated that they took copies of some records and that the original documents are available at the nuclear power plant site.
The records were copied for personal use to support work accomplished during employment as an ANI.
The ANIS did not have any specific cases where problems had not been resolved to the satisfaction of B&R QC or the ANI's agency. The ANIS stated that the records and photographs did not contain any Code violations that were left uncorrected.
This allegation has no merit in that deficiencies of concern had been corrected.
(3) Allegation No. 3 An ANI made statements that reportedly indicated that anybody that has any confidence in the main cooling water loop pipes would be out of their mind because of the welding problems.
Investigative Findings
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Individual B stated that it was his opinion, and only an opinion, that the main cooling water loop pipes had been repaired too many times when B&R first started welding the pipes using the shielded metal-are welding process.
The ANI said that the repairs were made in accordance with and met Code requirements.
Changes in welding processes have apparently corrected the problems leading to the concerns expressed.
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This allegation has no merit, in that the inferred damage has no technical basis.
(4) Allegation No. 4 The ANIS repeatedly found what they thought were mistakes with welds in piping and with documentation required by the Quality Assurance code, but when taey tried to force compliance they met resistance.
Investigative Finding The ANIS stated that the mistakes with welds and with documentation were resolved to the satisfaction of the ANI's agency and that they were not aware of any existing safety hazards.
This allegation has no merit, in that finding and resolving mistakes are inherent conditions of an ANI's job.
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i Dallas'limesHerald
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TilURSDAY. DECEMBER 6.1979-15 Cents
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! Three Comanche Peak 4: Inspectors quit ~in protest
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rwwwwartly the ymlity e4 the final rw.wly $2 Idlike propet bring huite 4' Staff Writer pakert fee trang thititics ca near Uten i - Thr d inspetart s't tlw Cornantlee - One fasmrv le=Tevtee, wks a=hed a
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( Insteprembet etwnpany hired to make =mehl te cast et theer mhwf havauw id others haveaigsential, an 1 setti enhcri y eine tie enretrurtinn meets code stan+ sie wrkfmg pr 44rena. I wnedon't sign were imp met 4c to eishre ver6fy cr e dards. trek trenrds aml g4:ntigtrophe sny nane to one ed tNver Inuit rep. dhprove.
}. with t! wen to protect thevrairtvet in wehts if a non hebt a gun top to sny In the meantime. Tes=< Iftihth* af-
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IS-A-Thuriday, Destmin 6. Im, DALIAS TIMFS !!ERALD
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Resignations at % plant blamed ~ on lax quality control j
NUCLEAR - Frene Page'One ener Imtw<*ws -t feel bke the mt twt in kn,,peting the evwle, whar%
le=t sping that b Nattnnal Drwrd of anH firirwn & IW4 was taking ade-swune v4 the authrwimt snuicer In' j
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Imrere was the ememiting fart w as far all swrt6rs agree h earnewhat ernHgu. Finilev anri l'remure Vevet Inagws,wn, gate stere en ergyrede its welrhng ofwanr= thought Elrnwn & Rant
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g gg as the eps hty engurante gwryteen was can wth muf6rge sinbrwimi riurWr h paredures The cirwtrurtkin mcpan, 4 mwl a 54 et ettenth en arnan C N for tiie pterit han slipp<t m
""'"'"d 1.ee asel et h e rnrot ar=1ensts how The C
- Ivan awgnment spa *w, meeved en mannyn=== mn-aaH the dein were alrearfy unrire 1-t.=mnary dr<anc in wewing the-c Th' ' *"
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was the fir =t nurienr ye for an three Plaint at=wst matrurtka at the ette was befare the twerde vio6t.
innents e>=shirgi frwn the ewigenal cettmetes.
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Wenre, whHe bom mefmnies hew and Inw.ug ent The mnplaint ap-nst me reywet, M en an nudu in Did me % W an anryn.
Fwther delays are likety It swee safe-strnrat daily shrnd whethn Ni'*'
staff enemhrys with etenutw nurlear parmtfy wee Ardfisted by orirne eif the late Mey, still swited a few pechirins. tann, marle t'y a warhet nn the site en gy n,,,,rnrstinns are ordered after
. vertoem zwernment gecugn tinhl, W
emstrtartenn ergwvienet, ik effkials le"I'dvs emmeW h **H **L in an t"*f"M W W Frvt Wwm h Triegrani, mat When. agreement eculd not he saki, The inwpertion faunel pathing of Instanrve, wwhers hart gernvembwt the euttwetmi inyrvtars hat hemne tear the enursdnn was refnrad to
"I win say they predinNy left he-.wrmit *tth the authartmlin=perervs, with mutturthwi without wasting for en apart In Augisit that they played
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The trumpows - tire of whnge pdt enw they dimagewet w6th grunchruly" lad thd firmt =wne prehlene with their the third party In=pretreg, er Drown
-,. sad waarhed televkonn eral llartised InwlaMy, they anH, who was sleemr f en bruww piore than sWl'Fv6** armt with Drnwn & Rnnt, & finnt's een eraality renered inape-rathre then de thr4r yde.
erut t,he therd of ehnese was trans,-the Ilartfwd off6rteln in 'lemenn er gy,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,g,,ggg, they dM,* anH Teen Carnnri, Brown & ameding to S F. Itarrt=wi, cumse6w bet en enamene the werk.
their engwvinn in Cennei ist wwM g,wd spiellty ageurente svennager. "We 'dtreetry of the hnard limrviwm saW the ivrelems nrte so-ca.Dewt authnrtw=t nurteer hep *ws
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""'I can't inrreege nuts )mt brrouge arene.
"They were a wry ecrepetent how twen ontved to the hnords entis-wtw, werked inr flertford Steern Ibat T *gnt to b point = tem if th""
ene geefers ene way of dning it to ge*p of Inapettnes,* Ilarrhre sakt in f=15,wi and that the plant le tw1,q O
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er Ismgethe sewt leimwanre Co. of It enathee, We bring in a highre authnr. a telephnne interview frorn Celurn-t=sitt in a nefe menner.
liertfrvd, Osme., ewerereing work te.
1,ig done liy Drown & Rnet the buiH-was a priedidtity of a diarvepenry It ity?
tam. Ohiow where the bnned le head.
A senke= nan few Texas Utilithe new ent to tsa,It kt wmt utmeght lie amid a handful cf taire wee re. eraertemt "They pet needest a little On, fw mhree the nuriret p>wer ers Feverral enri state regutmelpra re-la Ilm*8an." an64 the preved armpe-ferred to the hesaparters of the me.
help frern their home offire.Their au-ptent h hrtng tweitt, nald the enmpany aquere the tedblres of a nurlear power enr. "'They enkt to we swee dreng tr*
<hantral engineering newiety, and an. preview won a 9ttle returtant to put views the twing reewt An en
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3 ant en Nre therd party hugninre as 'msrh trepstkwo-but one wne dreldrwl In Drown & l the 8veauure on?
, atton of Browse & finnt's d
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masure that safe 4y.rcimeed gdpe sys-Offkials of Drown Ar Itorit mmt Itant'o ravrw.
lie ssed the tard derided snnre th/,
The Nisrlear Regidatrvy Csenmis-sense are in=taurd Ira swapaante witts ' ffartford sie nr4 d6wgree that there
=ym, g.,,,nt hadt a rnen op brhes' l spedrws wete needed et the slee.
einn han kinkert Inte a similar aners '
i-mies written t*y the Amettress Sr:1 were frnpent diagnates t4 ten drticled he s wrong," sakt Jun We=tmnreland, The trinr(s initial repor bened nn j tinri levolving the Ireperirws and on,
- ety of Mnhansrat Fnglewwg.
In famr of th madrurtinn enmpany's liartfords awletant reginnel snanager inePethwie enede on Agwn 5and 8,i cluded that no pid4 rest culsta. In the Amer 9ng to two of the Inrmer in- *i'wyrent Ahnut sin ennnths to a year g;n liaimiten, when msp.rwhed die Ca,' asM there were riurnereus defbiermies NRC Inwetigatinn, the Tsybw, the
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spectors and other ernstres, the hs=p,,
alp, the deangmmmte hetwmi enn-onenrhe l'cek trepectnrs and eften in Brown & Rant's welding gecre-f ffRC Inspretre napigned full thne to news repeatedly Inurut what they stmtion foremm and the third party overrulevi thent Ile sam the Ingwe. dures and darsenentattest. Itarrisoit Creuenrhe IVek, Irwerv6ewel en Iri-
'themaght wwe snistakee wills welds Iri tr*t18 I" tame es fmpsent that g,ws, two of whnen he trevned "show sakt the crenurtica company was *e speenr still et the site. lie dhi nne the r ping armt witti dressmentatens, tk counpinies' limatosi of fkes set uP everage - tiresme Wded heesume. tot returtant* to suryly the tuipeters anterview any of thne, who have left e
.rerpared by the epabrf egnuran,, snonthly snectings he Glm Rrme em r'*
they were tarwd to take eh
- tth dnriamentetkwa they sergunted.
Acrerding to Tayinr e retwwt, niede g
cwle, but when they tring to ime 8'd" the -
..ta, they makt.
Wntmnreland praterd Drawn Ar firewn 3r Ermt digsgreed with slie public Wednendey ter Tesee IJtintice
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they enet renistanrv.
The annpany offkieln any the in-Root's iguenty cenernt twegreen and findtnes and there was a marond in. Co, time in prow snid there had t= en
"They (ftrewn As Ront) besloted eos agwetars had hem mnking desnantis, denervi ertiang ide innpedres to ayutt ees'agetkun he May.
differmres of trenine tetwwse his Mnene thinge that snade epatty teke a that wmt teyved what the regula ensking waves.
In the bnerfs follow-up report, it group and Prown & Itant but that bark seet en evnt * anart one of the fer-tkms rwruisert and wwe simply Inrer-Feelinge et the site twemme as, tere retrarted the enrnt arennus chargve and thry wne t=4ng rewitvnt. Ile snM
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