118 ORIGINAL SSINS No.: 6835 UNITED STATES Eb D.Wither
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION vce Prsdent. Nucer
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT JUN 161986 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 RouS TO
June 10, 1986 -
IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-45: POTENTIAL FALSIFICATION OF TEST REPORTS ON
FLANGES MANUFACTURED BY GOLDEN GATE FORGE
AND FLANGE, INC.
Addressees
All nuclear reactor facilities (including test and research facilities) holding
an operating license (OL) or a construction permit (CP).
Purpose
This notice is provided to alert recipients to potential falsification of
certifications for piping flanges. It is expected that recipients will review
- the information for applicability to their facilities. However, suggestions
contained in this notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no
specific action or written response is required. Further efforts are underway
and more definitive information and specific requirements for licensee action
may be issued in the future.
Description of Circumstances
On March 7, 1986 the NRC received notification from Consolidated Pipe and Valve
Supply Company (CP&VS) of a potentially reportable condition under 10 CFR Part 21 regarding forged flanges fabricated by Golden Gate Forge and Flange (GGF&F) Inc.
located at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California. Subsequently, some GGF&F
management personnel and the president of a testing laboratory (Westex) pleaded
guilty and were sentenced in Federal Court on criminal charges in connection
with falsification of test certifications for material supplied to the U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD).
The convictions were based on falsifications of records and fraud related to
copper nickel forged flanges for marine applications. These activities involved
(1)altering independent laboratory test reports to make unacceptable material
appear acceptable, (2)delivering and representing unacceptable or untested
material from several heats as originating from a single heat for which accept- able test results were available, and (3) altering original material manufacturer
mill test reports to make unacceptable material appear acceptable. The NRC
cannot conclude by the currently available information whether any defective
material has been supplied for use at nuclear power plants. However, GGF&F
certifications furnished by Consolidated Pipe and Valve Supply Company to NRC
for material supplied to D.C. Cook and Midland appear to indicate that GGF&F
Copies to: Withers, Yundt, Lentsch, Orser, Steele, E. Burton, E. Jordan, A. Holm, LIS, C. A. Olmstead, S. Hoag, S. Sautter, TNP:GOV REL F:NRC CHRONO,
TNP:GOV REL F:NRC IE Information Notice 86-45 PGE OAR Action - M.:E. Malmros (Due 8/22/86)
NSRD Action - M. H. Malmros
>t
- IN 86-45 June 10, 1986 failed to perform required heat treatment, testing of mechanical properties
after forging, and nondestructive examination (NDE). These licensees have been
separately informed.
Golden Gate Forge and Flange receives alloy materials in ingot or bar form to
forge and machine the flanges. The steel mills that produce the alloy materials
provide certificates of chemical and mechanical properties of those materials
before forging. In some cases, samples are required to be submitted to inde- pendent testing laboratories to allow certification of chemical and mechanical
properties after forging. In the case of material supplied to DOD, both of these
types of reports were altered to make unacceptable or unevaluated material appear
acceptable.
Golden Gate Forge and Flange is incorporated in the State of Nevada; its only
place of business is at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California. GGF&F produces
a full range of flange sizes from 1/2 inch to 24 inches with pressure ratings
from 125 to 2500 psi. Materials available include carbon steel, stainless steel, high nickle and copper alloys. The flanges are supplied to specifications
including ASTM, ASME Section III Class I, and DOD.
Current information indicates that the falsifications took place from or before
May 1983 and continued at least until June 1984.
No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have
any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator- of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.
--Edwar4L. Jordan, Director
Division of Emergency Preparedness
and Engineering Response
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Technical Contact:
0. P. Gormley, IE
301-492-9763 Attachment:
List of Recently Issue IE Information Notices
Attachment 1 IN 86-45 June 10, 1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
IE INFORMATION NOTICES
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to
86-44 Failure To Follow Procedures 6/10/86 All power reactor
When Working In High facilities holding
Radiation Areas an OL or CP and
research and test
reactors
86-43 Problems With Silver Zeolite 6/10/86 All power reactor
Sampling Of Airborne Radio- facilities holding
iodine an OL or CP
86-42 Improper Maintenance Of 6/9/86 All power rector
Radiation Monitoring Systems facilities holding
an OL or CP
86-41 Evaluation Of Questionable 6/9/86 All byproduct
Exposure Readings Of Licensee material licensees
Personnel Dosimeters
86-32 Request For Collection Of 6/6/86 All power reactor
Sup. 1 Licensee Radioactivity facilities holding
Measurements Attributed To an OL or CP
The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant
Accident
86-40 Degraded Ability To Isolate 6/5/86 All power reactor
The Reactor Coolant System facilities holding
From Low-Pressure Coolant an 0L or CP
Systems in BWRS
86-39 Failures Of RHR Pump Motors 5/20/86 All power reactor
And Pump Internals facilities holding
an OL or CP
86-38 Deficient Operator Actions 5/20/86 All power reactor
Following Dual Function Valve facilities holding
Failures an OL or CP
86-37 Degradation Of Station 5/16/86 All power reactor
Batteries facilities holding
an OL or CP
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
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| list | - Information Notice 1986-01, Failure of Main Feedwater Check Valves Causes Loss of Feedwater System Integrity and Water-Hammer Damage (6 January 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-02, Failure of Valve Operator Motor During Environmental Qualification Testing (6 January 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-03, Potential Deficiencies in Enviromental Qualification of Limitorque Motor Valve Operator Wiring (14 January 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-04, Transient Due to Loss of Power to Intergrated Control System at a Pressurized Water Reactor Designed by Babcock & Wilcox (31 January 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-05, Main Steam Safety Valve Test Failures and Ring Setting Adjustments (31 January 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-06, Failure of Lifting Rig Attachment, While Lifting Upper Guide Structure at St. Lucie Unit 1 (3 February 1986, Topic: Control of Heavy Loads)
- Information Notice 1986-06, Failure of Lifting Rig Attachment, while Lifting Upper Guide Structure at St. Lucie Unit 1 (3 February 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-07, Lack of Detailed Instruction & Inadequate Observance of Precautions During Maintenance & Testing of Diesel Generator Woodward Governors (3 February 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-08, Licensee Event Report (LER) Format Modification (3 February 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-09, Failure of Check & Stop Check Valves Subjected to Low Flow Conditions (3 February 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-10, Degradation of Reactor Coolant System Pressure Boundary Resulting From Boric Acid Corrosion. (5 January 1995, Topic: Boric Acid)
- Information Notice 1986-10, Feedwater Line Break (10 November 1988, Topic: Coatings, Anchor Darling)
- Information Notice 1986-10, Degradation of Reactor Coolant System Pressure Boundary Resulting from Boric Acid Corrosion. (5 January 1995, Topic: Boric Acid)
- Information Notice 1986-11, Anomalous Behavior of Recirculation Loop Flow in Jet Pump BWR Plants (31 December 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-13, Standby Liquid Control System Squib Valves Failure to Fire (21 February 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-13, Standby Liquid Control Squib Valves Failure to Fire (5 August 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-14, Overspeed Trips of AFW, HPCI & RCIC Turbines (26 August 1991, Topic: Fire Barrier)
- Information Notice 1986-14, Overspeed Trips of Afw, HPCI & RCIC Turbines (26 August 1991)
- Information Notice 1986-15, Loss of Offsite Power Caused by Problems in Fiber Optics Systems (10 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-16, Failures to Identify Containment Leakage Due to Inadequate Local Testing of BWR Vacuum Relief System Valves (11 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-17, Update of Failure of Automatic Sprinkler System Valves to Operate (24 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-18, NRC On-Scene Response During a Major Emergency (26 March 1986, Topic: Squib, Backfit)
- Information Notice 1986-19, Reactor Coolant Pump Shaft Failure at Crystal River (21 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-20, Low-Level Radioactive Waste Scaling Factors, 10 CFR Part 61 (28 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-21, Recognition of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Accreditation Program for N Stamp Holders (31 March 1986, Topic: Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-22, Underresponse of Radiation Survey Instrument to High Radiation Fields (31 March 1986, Topic: High Radiation Area, Squib)
- Information Notice 1986-23, Excessive Skin Exposures Due to Contamination with Hot Particles (9 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-23, Excessive Skin Exposures due to Contamination with Hot Particles (9 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-24, Respirator Users Notice: Increased Inspection Frequency for Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders (11 April 1986, Topic: Hydrostatic)
- Information Notice 1986-25, Traceability and Material Control of Material and Equipment, Particularly Fasteners (11 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-26, Potential Problems in Generators Manufactured by Electrical Products Incorporated (17 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-27, Access Control at Nuclear Facilities (21 April 1986, Topic: Contraband)
- Information Notice 1986-28, Telephone Numbers to the NRC Operations Center and Regional Offices (24 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-29, Effects of Changing Valve Moter-Operator Switch Settings (25 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-30, Design Limitations of Gaseous Effluent Monitoring Systems (29 April 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-31, Unauthorized Transfer and Loss of Control of Industrial Nuclear Gauges (14 July 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-32, Request for Collection of Licensee Radioactivity Measurements Attributed to Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Accident (2 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-33, Information for Licensee Regarding the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Accident (6 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-34, Improper Assembly, Material Selection, & Test of Valves & Their Actuators (13 May 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-34, Improper Assembly, Material Selection, & Test of Valves & their Actuators (13 May 1986)
- Information Notice 1986-35, Fire in Compressible Material at Dresden Unit 3 (15 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-36, Change in NRC Practice Regarding Issuance of Confirming Letters to Principal Contractors (16 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-37, Degradation of Station Batteries (16 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-38, Deficient Operator Actions Following Dual Function Valve Failures (20 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-39, Failures of RHR Pump Motors and Pump Internals (20 May 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-40, Degraded Ability to Isolate the Reactor Coolant System from Low-Pressure Coolant Systems in Bwrs (5 June 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-40, Degraded Ability to Isolate the Reactor Coolant System from Low-Pressure Coolant Systems in BWRs (5 June 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-41, Evaluation of Questionable Exposure Readings of Licensee Personnel Dosimeters (9 June 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-42, Improper Maintenance of Radiation Monitoring Systems (9 June 1986, Topic: Temporary Modification, Chernobyl)
- Information Notice 1986-43, Problems with Silver Zeolite Sampling of Airborne Radioiodine (10 June 1986, Topic: Chernobyl)
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