Information Notice 1997-47, Inadequate Puncture Tests for Type B Packages Under 10 CFR 71.73(c)(3)

Inadequate Puncture Tests for Type B Packages Under 10 CFR 71.73(c)(3)

ML031050458
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, Three Mile Island, 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, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	06/27/1997
From:	Kane W NRC/NMSS/SFPO
To:
References
IN-97-047, NUDOCS 9706270194
Download: ML031050458 (5)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D:C. 20555 June 27, 1997 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 97-47: INADEQUATE PUNCTURE TESTS FOR TYPE B

PACKAGES UNDER 10 CFR 71.73(c)(3)

Addressees

i:

All Ousers and fabricators' of type B transportation packages (as defined in 10 CFR

171.16(10)(B).

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is issuing this information notice to alert addressees

to issues related to the performance of puncture tests as required in 10 CFR 71.73(c)(3). It is

expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their packages and

consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in

this information notice are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written

response is required by this notice.

Description of Circumstances

Recently, the NRC became aware of two *users and fabricators' holding Certificates of

Compliance for packages under 10 CFR Part 71 that performed the hypothetical accident

condition puncture tests utilizing a bar that was not amounted" as required in 10 CFR

71.73(c)(3). The improper conduct of these tests resulted In issuance of NRC Confirmatory

Action Letters which suspend fabrication of packagings until retesting is performed and that

compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 71 is verified.

Discussion:

The testing requirements for type B packagings under 10 CFR-71.73 require that hypothetical

accident condition tests be performed in the order specified in 10 CFR 71.73(c). The puncture

test is to be performed following the free drop (10 CFR 71.73(c)(1)) and when required, following the crush test (10 CFR 71.73(c)(2)). The puncture test consists of a free drop of the

specimen through a distance of 1 meter (40 inches) In a position for which maximum damage is

expected, onto the upper end of a solid, vertical, cylindrical, mild steel bar mounted on an

essentially unyielding horizontal surface. The bar must be fastened or attached such that it will

not move during the test to ensure that maximum damage to the packaging would occur during

the test. Failure to secure the pin during testing invalidates the tests and results.

Pplq T4 14Or° i1-o07 q?7627 c~~i) 9//i2T7

IN 97-47, June 27, 1997 Packaging "users and fabricators- should review their test program and procedures to assure

that the puncture tests utilize a mountedn bar and are consistent with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 71.

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.

William F. Kane, Director

Spent Fuel Project Office

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contact(s): David Tiktinsky, NMSS

(301) 415-8523 E-Mail: dht@nrc.gov

Ross Chappell, NMSS

(301) 415-8510

E-Mail: crcl@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

IN 97-47, June 27, 1997 Packaging users and fabricators" should review their test program and procedures to assure

that the puncture tests utilize a "mounted" bar and are consistent with the requirements of 10

CFR Part 71.

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.

Original IsI by

William F. Kane, Direetot

Spent Fuel Project OffiCe

Office of Nuclear Material safety

and Safeguards

Contact(s): David Tiktinsky, NMSS

(301) 415-8523 E-Mail: dht@nrc.gov

Ross Chappell, NMSS

(301) 415-8510

E-Mail: crcl@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2 List of,, , Issued NRC Information Notices

Distribution: PUBLIC NMSS r/f SFPO r/f

Regions (4) CHaughney

• See previous concurrence.

lOFC lSFPO lC l SFPO lC lSFPO lC lSFPOlCll

NAME *DTiktinsky RChappell *SShankman WKane _

DATE 06/26/97 06126/97 06126197 06126/97 C = COVER E = COVER8 ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY *see previous concurrence

Document Name: g:Xtiktinsk~infonotdht

Last update: June 27, 1997

IN 97-#,

Month ##, Year This information notice requires no specific action or writtep response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please condct one of the technical contacts

listed below.

William Kane, Director

Spent uel Project Office

Office f Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contact(s): David Tiktinsky, NMSS

(301) 415-8523 E-Mail: dht@nrc.gov

Ross Chappell, NMSS

(301) 415-8510

E-Mail: crcl@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Informaion Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Informati n Notices

Distribution: PUBLIC NM S r/f SFPO r/f

Regions (4) CHaughney

OFC lSFPO I C_l SFPO I j SFPO lC lSqFV / l C I

NAME *DTiktinsky *RChappell *SShankman

DATE tAb97 0j0 67 A7 ____

t ~~~~~

~ = COVE

NLSR UCPY 'see previous concurrence

Document Name: c:Awpdocs'Jnfonotdht

Last update: June 26, 1997

/i v

IN ~Y~'up~v 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 contact(s)

listed below.

William F. Kgne Director

Spent Fuel roject Office

Office of i~clear Material Safety

a Safeguards

Contact(s): David Tiktinsky, NMSS

(301) 415-8523 Ross Chappell, NMSS

(301) 415-8510

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Informatio Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Distribution: PUBLIC N SS r/f SFPO r/f

Regions (4) CHaughney

L lFC

NAME

DATE

SFPO -,t

Di^nK

=

C SFPO

RChappel

06&E7 S

1 C SFPO

WShankman

06*97 e

C SFPO

WKne

06/ /97 COVERf - E = COVER & ENCLOSURE *" N)= NO COPY "see Drevous concurenoe

C

Document Name: c:%wpdocsUnfonotdht

Last update: June 26, 1997 V-