ML19261D399

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Forwards IE Info Notice 79-12, Attempted Damage to New Fuel Assemblies
ML19261D399
Person / Time
Site: University of Iowa
Issue date: 05/11/1979
From: James Keppler
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To: Burnet G
IOWA STATE UNIV., AMES, IA
References
NUDOCS 7906190064
Download: ML19261D399 (1)


Text

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MAY 111979 Docket No. 50-116 Iowa State University ATTN:

Dr. George Burnet, Head Department of Nuclear Engineering Ames, IA 50010 Gentlemen:

This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter.

It is expected that recipients will review the infor-mation for possible applicability to their facilities.

No specific action or response is requested at this time.

If further NRC evaluations so indi-cate, 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 this office.

Sincerely, Qws > /T1 9-9

,/ James G. Keppler Director

Enclosure:

IE Information Notice No. 79-12 cc w/ encl:

2308 228 Central Files Director, NRR/DPM Director, NRR/ DOR PDR NSIC TIC 790619gD64 Q

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT REGION III May 11, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-12 ATTEMPTED DAMAGE TO NEW FUEL ASSEMBLIES This Notice provides information concerning the surreptitous introduction of a possibly damaging liquid into the new fuel storage pool at the Virginia Electric and Power Company, Surry Power Station in Surry County, Virginia.

On Monday, May 7, 1979, while conducting inspections of new fuel for Unit 2, the licensee found that plastic protective liners on 62 of 64 assemblies had been tampered with. Further inspection revealed that a white crystalline substance had been poured onto the assemblies.

Preliminary analysis by VEPCO indicates that the substance is sodium hydroxide. The new fuel is stored in the Fuel Building, an area which is locked and alarmed, and to which access is controlled by the issuance of specially coded access cards. These cards are issued after the successful completion of a background screening program for both Virginia Electric and Power Co=pany and contractor personnel.

The FBI is presently on-site conducting an extensive investigation.

Westinghouse, the fuel vendor, is assisting in the evaluation of possible fuel damage.

This event could possibly provoke similar behavior on the part of other persons. Consequently, you should be aware of such an eventuality. At this time the NRC is not placing additional requirements on you, but is advising that extra cautien be exercised in your existing security program.

This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the information for possible applicability of their f acilities. 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 recommend or request specific licensee actions. If you have questions regarding the matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

No written response to this Information Notice is required.

Enclosure:

Listing of IE Information Notices 2308 229 Issued in 1979 q906060161

IE Information Notice No. 79-12 May 11, 1979 LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICES ISSUED IN 1979 Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.

Issued 79-01 Bergen-Paterson Hydraulic 2/2/79 All power reactor Shock and Sway Arrestor facilities with an OL or a CP 79-02 Attempted Extortion -

2/2/79 All Fuel Facilities Low Enriched Uranium 79-03 Limitorque Valve Geared 2/9/79 All power reactor Limit Switch Lubricant facilities with an OL or a CP 79-04 Degradation of 2/16/79 All power reactor Engineered facilities with an Safety Features OL or a CP 79-05 Use of Improper Materials 3/21/79 All power reactor in Safety-Related Components facilities with an OL or CP 79-06 Stress Analysis of 3/23/79 All Holders of Safety-Related Piping Reactor OL or CP 79-07 Rupture of Ra waste Tanke 3/26/79 All power reactor facilities with an OL or CP 79-08 Interconnection of 3/28/79 All power reactor Contaminated Systems with facilities with an Service Air Systems Used OL and Pu Processing As the Source of Breathing fuel facilities Air 79-09 Spill of Radioactively 3/30/79 All power reactor Contaminated Resin facilities with an OL 79-10 Nonconforming Pipe 4/16/79 All power reactor Support Struts facilities with CP 2308 230 Enclosure Page 1 of 2

IE Information Notice No. 79-12 May 11, 1979 LISTING OF IE IhTORMATION NOIICES ISSUED IN 1979 Date Issued To Information Subject Issued Notice No.

79-11 Lower Reactor Vessel Head 5/7/79 All Holders of Insulation Support Proble=

Reactor OLs and cps 2308 231 Enclosure Page 2 of 2