Information Notice 1989-75, Falsification of Welder Qualifications for Contractor Employees

Falsification of Welder Qualifications for Contractor Employees

ML031190115
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Crane
Issue date:	11/20/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-075, NUDOCS 8911140073
Download: ML031190115 (6)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555

November 20, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-75:

FALSIFICATION OF WELDER QUALIFICATIONS FOR

CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is intended to alert addressees to potential problems

related to the need to assure that welding personnel hired to perform activi- ties affecting safety are properly qualified in accordance with ASME Code

requirements. It is expected that recipients will review the information

for applicability to their facilities and activities, and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained

in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

In 1984, Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) hired Southwestern Engi- neering Company (SECO) to modify and install moisture separator reheater (MSR)

internals at the licensee's North Anna and Surry Nuclear Power Stations in

late 1984 and early 1985. SECO, in turn, formed a joint venture with Power- plant Specialists, Inc. (PSI) for craft labor (boilermakers, welders, etc.)

to perform the work. Welder qualification for the MSR projects was to be

completed in accordance with the specifications set forth in Section IX of

the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

Investigation activities by NRC,

prompted by an allegation, revealed that 16 of the 45 boilermaker/welder

personnel utilized for the VEPCO projects were properly tested and certified

by an authorized, independent testing facility. Although Welder Qualification

Test (WQT) records were completed by PSI for the remaining 29 welder personnel, indicating that the test welds were prepared, welded, and tested in accordance

with the requirements of Section IX of the ASME Code, the investigation revealed

that company officials intentionally falsified the welders' records by certi- fying them without requiring the proficiency tests.

Discussion:

It is important to note that it is the responsibility of each licensee to

assure that welders assigned to nuclear power plant tasks, whether or not

140073Z4

V

IN 89-75 November 20, 1989 the tasks are categorized as safety-related, are qualified to the appropriate

standard. In the specific circumstances cited above, the welder qualification

records were falsified by PSI to the licensee through SECO, and recipients of

this notice should be aware of the potential for this situation at their

facilities.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project

manager.

tor

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Gregory C. Cwalina, NRR

(301) 492-3221

Walter P. Haass, NRR

(301) 492-3219 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

a

s.I

Attachment

IN 89-75

November 20, 1989

Page I of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information

Date of

Notice No.

Subject

Issuance

Issued to

89-74

89-73

89-72

89-71

89-70

89-69

89-68

89-67

89-66 Clarification of Trans- portation Requirements

Applicable to Return of

Spent Radiopharmacy Dosages

from Users to Suppliers

Potential Overpressurization

of Low Pressure Systems

Failure of Licensed Senior

Operators to Classify

Emergency Events Properly

Diversion of the Residual

Heat Removal Pump Seal

Cooling Water Flow During

Recirculation Operation

Following a Loss-of-

Coolant Accident

Possible Indications of

Misrepresented Vendor

Products

Loss of Thermal Margin

Caused by Channel Box

Bow

Evaluation of Instrument

Setpoints During

Modifications

Loss of Residual Heat

Removal Caused by

Accumulator Nitrogen

Injection

Qualification Life of

Solenoid Valves

11/7/89 .

11/1/89

10/24/89

10/19/89

10/11/89

9/29/89

9/25/89

9/13/89

9/11/89

All manufacturers

and distributors of

radiopharmaceuticals

for medical use, '

nuclear pharmacies, and medical licensees.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for BWRS.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for PWRs.

All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

OL - Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

-

j;

.

.1

. I

IN 89-75 November 20, 1989 the tasks are categorized as safety-related, are qualified to the appropriate

standard. In the specific circumstances cited above, the welder qualification

records were falsified by PSI to the licensee through SECO, and recipients of

this notice should be aware of the potential for this situation at their

facilities.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project

manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Gregory C. Cwalina, NRR

(301) 492-3221

Walter P. Haass, NRR

(301) 492-3219 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• Previously concurred.

VIP:DRIS*

WPHaass

10/03/89 VIB:DRIS*

GCCwalina

10/04/89 VIB:DRIS*

ETBaker

10/25/89 C:VIB:DRIS*

EWBrach

10/25/89 D:DRIS:NRR*

BKGrimes

10/25/89

• • with noted changes DOEA:OGCB**

CBerlinger

10/26/89 OI*

BHayes

11/6/89

IN 89-XX

October XX

Page 2 of)

Discussion:

It is Important that licensees be aware of the potential for unq alifled

welders to be assigned to nuclear power plant tasks, whether or/not the tasks

are categorized as safety-related. In the specific circumstanoes cited above, the welder qualification records were falsified by PSI to the icensee through

SECo, and recipients of this notice should be aware of the p ential for this

situation at their facilities.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, p lease g t in touch with the

technical contact identified below or the Regional Admin strator of the appro- priate regional office.

Charles E. Rossi, Direc or

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Gregory C. Cwalina

(301) 492-3221

Walter P. Haass

(301) 492-3219 Attachment:

1. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notli

Document Name:

IN NOTICE -HAASS

• Previously concurred.

VIP:DRIS*

WPHaass

10/03/89 VIB:DRIS*

GCCwalina

10/04/89 VIB:DRIS

ETBaker

1 00l/89 W01

,WegjtsCA-e_

id/u/9 C:

DOEA

CERossi

10/ /89 Uk °fX 7tj

(P7. MY=

IN 89-XX

October XX, 198 Discu ion:

Since th MSR internals are not categorized as safety-related com nents, adherence

the provisions of Appendix B and 50.55a of 10 CFR P t 50, is

not require!

Rather, the provisions of Appendix A (GDC 1) and 0.54(h) of

10 CFR Part 5 are more appropriate since the components are

tegorized as

important to sa ety.

In any event, it is important that licesees be aware of

the potential fo unqualified welders to be assigned to nuc ar power plant

tasks, whether the

be categorized as safety related or no

In the specific

circumstances cited bove, the welder qualification recor s were falsified by

PSI to the licensee trough SECo, and recipients of this notice should be

particularly aware of

e potential for this situation t their facilities when

contracting with these t es of organizations. Prope auditing of a contactors

activities should provide

e necessary assurance of conformance to contractual

and regulatory requirements.

No specific action or written r sponse is requi

by this information notice.

If you have any questions regard g this matter please get in touch with the

technical contact identified below r the Regi

al Administrator of the appro- priate regional office.

Charles E.1R

i, Director

Division of Ope tional Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear eactor Regulation

Technical Contact:

Edward T. Baker"/

(301) 492-095 7 Attachment:

1. List of Recently Issued N

Information Notices

DISTRIBUTION:

GCwalina

EWBrach

CBerlinger

Tech Editor

JZwolinski

CERossi

Document Name:

N NOTICE HAASS

t

S

VIB:DRIS

C:VIB:DRIS

D:DRIS:NRR

DOEA

na

ETBaker

EWBrach

BKGrimes

CERossi

5/89

1 / /89

10/

/89

10/

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10/

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10/

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