ML19210D723

Forwards IE Info Notice 79-12A, Attempted Damage to New Fuel Assemblies. No Action Required

ML19210D723
Person / Time
Site:	University of California - Irvine
Issue date:	11/09/1979
From:	Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To:	Mcgaugh J CALIFORNIA, UNIV. OF, IRVINE, CA
References
NUDOCS 7911270502
Download: ML19210D723 (1)

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t SUITE 202, WALNUT CREEK PLAZA e....s WALNUT CREE K, CAltFORNIA 94596 flovember 9,1979 Docket flo. 50-326 University of California Department of Chemistry Irvine, California 92717 Attention:

J. L. McGaugh Vice Chancellor Gentlemen:

This Information flotice is provided to inform licensees of a possible significant matter.

It is expected that recipients will consider dis-semination of the information to all persons working at their licensed facilities.

fio specific action or response is requested at this time.

If further f1RC evaluations so indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Sincerely,

{ R ekC W

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R. H. Engelken Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Information flotice fio.79-12A 2.

Recently Issued Information flotices rj _

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SSINS f!o.:

6300 United States Accession Po.:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7910250490 Office of Insoection and Enforcenent Washington, D.C.

20555 November 9, 1979 IE Infomation Notice flo.79-12A ATTEMPTED DAt' AGE TO NEW FUEL ASSEMBLIES This notice orovides suoplemental information concerning the identification and conviction of the persons responsible for the introduction of a oossibly damaging substance to the new fuel stored at the Virginia Electric and Power Comoany's Surry Power Station in Surry County, Virginia.

Investigation of this incident by the FRI culminated in the surrender of William E. Kuykendall and James A. Merrill, Jr., both VEPC0 employees at that time, to Surry County authorities on June 19, 1979.

A Grand jury hearing was held in Surry, Virginia on July 24, 1979. The certified charges of breaking and entering with intent to damage electrical facilities (felony), and willful destruction of utility company equipment (felony) were returned on a true bill for trial. An earlier charge for willful damage (mis-demeanor) which had not been certified to the grand jury was reapplied, certified and returned on a true bill for trial. Two additional charges against both men were introduced for conspiracy regarding the two felonies and returned on a true bill for a total of four felonies and one misdemeanor against each man.

Trial comenced on October 10, 1979 in the Circuit Court, Surry County, Virginia.

The presiding judge ruled that the prosecution failed to suoply sufficient evidence to suoport the charges of conspiracy, breakina and entering, and damage to pro-perty as a misdemeanor. The primary reason for dropping the charges was that the subjects had been authorized unescorted access to Vital Areas by VEPC0. On October 17, 1979, the jury returned a verdict of auilty (both Kuykendall and Merrill) for violation of Virginia Code 18.2-162 (Intentional damaae to a facility which furnishes electric service to the public) and set puriishment as two (2) years in the State Penitentiary for both subjects, the mininum sentence provided by law.

This Infomation Notice is provided to inform licensees of a possibly significant matter.

It is expected that recioients will consider dissemination of the information to all persons working at their licensed facilities.

If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

No written response to this Infomation Notice is required.

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IE Information Notice No.79-12A Enclosure Novembey-9, 1979 RECENTLY ISSUED IE IrlFOR?iATION NOTILES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.

Issued 79-26 Breach of Containment 11/5/79 All oower reactor facilities Intecrity holdin9 OLs and cps 79-25 Reactor Trips At Turkey 10/1/79 All nower facilities with Point l' nit 3 And 4 an OL or a CP 79-24 Overpressurization Of 9/28/79 All power reactor facilities Containment Of A PWR Plant with a CP After A Main Stream Line Break 79-23 Emergency Diesel Generator 9/25/79 All oower reactor Lube Oil Coolers facilities holding OLs and cps 79-22 Qualification of Control 9/14/79 All power reactor Systems facilities with operating licenses and construction perm 4',s.

79-21 Transportation and Cornercial 9/7/79 All power and research Burial of Radioactive Material reactors with OL's 79-20 NRC Enforcement Policy 8/10/79 All Holders of Reactor flRC Licensed Individuals OLs and cps and Production Licensees with Licensed Operators 79-19 Pipe Cracks In Stagnant 7/17/79 All Holders of Reactor Boruted Water Systems At OLs and cps PWR Plants 79-18 Skylab Reentry 7/5/79 All Holders of Reactor OLs 79-17 Source Holder Assembly Damace 6.20/79 All Holders of Reactor From Misfit Between Assembly Ols and cps and Reactor Upper Grid Plate 79-16 Nuclear Incidnet at Three 6/22/79 All Research Reactors Mile Island and Test Reactors with Ols 1398 104