ML19250C506

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

ML19250C506
Person / Time
Site:	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Issue date:	11/09/1979
From:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Lahey R RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, TROY, NY
References
NUDOCS 7911270115
Download: ML19250C506 (1)

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IiDtUv;313 Docket No. 50-225 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ATTN:

Dr. R. T. Lahey, Chairman Department of Nuclear Engineering and Science Department of Nuclear Engineering and Science Troy, New York 12181 Gentlemen:

This Information Notice is provided to inform licensees of a possible significant matter, It is expected that recipients will consider dissemination of the information to all persons working at their licensed facilities.

No specific action or response is requested at this time.

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

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact this office.

Sincerely,

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Boyce H. Grier

" Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Information Notice No.79-12A 2.

List of IE Information Notices Issued in the Last Six Months cc w/encls:

Dr. D. R. Harris, Facility Director Mr. P. Nelson, Reactor Supervisor Dr. G. Judd, Vice Provost for Plans and Resources 1395 116 CONTACT:

J. W. Devlin (215-337-5225)

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ENCLOSURE 1 SSINS No.:

6300 United States Accession No.:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7910250490 Office of Inspection and Enforcement D

'S Washington, D.C.

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ad IE Information Notice No.79-12A Date:

November 9, 1979 Page 1 of 1 ATTEMPTED DAMAGE TO NEW FUEL ASSEMBLIES This notice provides supplemental information concerning the identification and conviction of the persons responsible for the introduction of a possibly damaging substance to the new fuel stored at the Virginia Electric and Power Company's Surry Power Station in Surry County, Virginia.

Investigation of this incident by the FBI 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 commenced on October 10, 1979 in the Circuit Court, Surry County, Virginia.

The presiding judge ruled that the prosecution failed to supply sufficient evidence to support the charges of conspiracy, breaking and entering, and damage to property as a misdemeanor.

The primary reason for dropping the charges was that the subjects had been authorized unescorted access to Vital Areas by VEPCO.

On October 17, 1979, the jury returned a verdict of guilty (both Kuykendall and Merrill; for violation of Virginia Code 18.2-162 (intentional damage to a facility which furoishes electric service to the public) and set punishment as two (2) years in the State Penitentiary for both subjects, the minimum sentence provided by lav.

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

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

If you have questions recarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional

'fice.

No written response to this Information Notice is required.

1 Mb 111

ENCLOSURE 2 IE Information Notice No.79-12A Date:

November 9, 1979 Page 1 of 2 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS Information Subject Date Issued to Notice No.

Issued 79-12 Attempted Damage to New 5/11/79 All Fuel Facilities, Fuel Assemblies Research Reactors, and Power Reactors with an OL or CP 79-13 Indication of Low Water 5/29/79 All. power reactor Level in the Oyster facilities with an Creek Reactor OL or CP 79-14 Safety Classification of 6/11/79 All applicants for, Electrical Cable Support and holders of a Systems power reactor CP 79-15 Deficient Procedures 6/7/79 All power reactor facilities with an OL or CP 79-16 Nuclear Incident at 6/22/79 All research and Three Mile Island test reactors with an OL 79-17 Source Holder Assembly 6/20/79 All holders of reactor Damage from Misfit Between O'_s and CDs Assembly and Reactor Upper Grid Plate 79-18 Skylab Reentry 7/5/79 All holders o reactor OLs

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IE Information Notice No.79-12A Date:

November 9, 1979 Page 2 of 2 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.

Issued 79-19 Pipe Cracks in Stagnant 7/17/79 All power reactor Borated Water Systems at facilities with an PWR Plants OL or CP 79-20 NRC Enforcement Policy -

8/14/79 All Holders of Reactor NRC Licensed Individuals OLs and cps and Production Licensees with Licensed Operators 79-20 Same Title as 79-20 9/7/79 Same as 79-20 (Revision No. 1) 79-21 Transportation and Com-9/7/79 All power and research mercial Burial of Radio-reactors with OLs active Material 79-22 Qualification of Control 9/14/79 All power reactor faci-Systems lities with an OL or CP 79-23 Emergency Diesel Generator 9/26/79 All power reactor faci-Lube Oil Coolers lities with an OL or CP 79-24 Overpressurization of Con-10/1/79 All power reactor faci-tainment of a PWR Plant lities with an OL or CP After a Main Steam Line Break 79-25 Reactor Trips at Turkey 10/1/79 All Power Reactor Faci-Point Unit 3 and 4 lities with an OL or CP 79-26 Breach of Containment 11/5/79 All Power Reactor Facilities Integrity with an OL or CP 1395 119