ML19320D610

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Forwards IE Info Notice 80-26, Evaluation of Contractor QA Programs. No Written Response Required
ML19320D610
Person / Time
Site: Sterling
Issue date: 06/10/1980
From: Grier B
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To: Arthur J
ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
References
NUDOCS 8007210615
Download: ML19320D610 (1)


Text

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UNITED STATES Yfe mtou p

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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$31 PARK AVENUE KING OF PRUSSI A. PENNSYt.VANI A 19406

+4 +.. * * $g June 10, 1980 Docket No. 50-485 Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation ATTN:

Mr. J. E. Arthur Chief Engineer 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 Gentlemen:

The enclosed IE Infore tica Notice No. 80-26, " Evaluation of Contractor QA Programs", is forwarded to you for information.

No written response is required.

If you desire additional information regarding this matter, please contact this office.

Sincerely, Boyce H. Grier Director

Enclosures:

1.

IE Information Notice No. 80-26 2.

List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices CONTACT:

S. D. Ebneter (215-337-5283) cc w/encls:

C. R. Anderson, Manager, QA Lex K. Larson, Esquire N. A. Petrick, Executive Director, SNUPPS Gerald Charnoff, Esquire 8007220615

. ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES SSINS No.:

6835 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Accession No.:

0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORLEMENT 8005050064 WASHINGTON, D.C.

20555 IE Information Notice.No. 80-26 Date:

June 10, 1980 Page 1 of 1 EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR QA PROGRAMS Description of Circumstances:

I Appendix B to 10 CFR 50 requires that each applicant and licensee establish and execute a Quality Assurance Program, and that each licensee "shall require contractors or subcontractors to provide a quality assurance program".

Further Appendix B requires each applicant and licensee to regularly review the status and adequacy of subcontractor programs.

The NRC is becoming increasingly concerned by continuing evidence that many holders of construction permits and operating licenses are not properly implementing these facets of their quality assurance programs.

Examples of this lack of effectiveness of contractor QA program implementation, and inadequacy of licensee overview of contractor QA program implementation are aapearing in every facet of project activity.

Instances have been observed w1ere architect-engineers have released documents for procurement with inappropriate material specifications.

Nuclear steam system suppliers have overlooked erroneous assumptions in analysis of instrument system response to design basis transients.

Other cases have been observed where both AE's and NSSS have not followed through on commitments to review vendor detailed designs.

Vendors' quality assurance pro errors of both omission and commissiua. grams have been found to contain A containment tendon installation contract was awarded to a specialty contractor.

During a licensee audit s.ome three months after work started it appeared that a contractor inspector was falsifying records by initialing inspection points not actually observed.

A subsequent investigation by the licensee revealed that the contractor had required that QC inspections be pr formed only on a random basis en n though all records had QC signatures.

The signatures could mean that the activity was inspected or that record signoffs tv others were reviewed; or that the data were recorded by the QC inspector.

It.s apparent that the licensee haa not appropriately reviewed the contractor's iaspection program prior to the start of, work.

Inanotherinstance,aftercompletionandacceptanceofamajorstructural steel installation, the licensee found that significant rework would be 71guired.to correct construction quality problems.

NRC inspection at the

. contractors fabrication facility disclosed that in addition to work for that licensee, the contractor had contracts for "high density" fuel storage racks from several operating licensees.

None of the NRC licensees had inspected the contractor's shop or examined his quality assurance programs.

Response to'Information Notice No. 80-26 is not required.

The NRC expects appropriate action from all licensees and organizations engaged in nuclear activities and actions will be examined in_the ongoing NRC inspection program.

n IE Information Notice No. 80-26 June 10, 1980 RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Subject Date Issued To Notice No.

Issued 80-25 Transportation of 5/30/80

~ Material Licensee Pyrophoric Uranium in Priority / Categories II-A, II-0, III-I and IV-DI; Agreement State Licensees in equivalent categories 80-24 Low Level Radioactive 5/30/80 All NRC and Agreement Waste Burial Criteria State Licensees 80-23 Loss of Suction to 5/29/80 All power reactor to Emergency Feedwater facilities with an Pumps OL or CP 80-22 Breakdown In Contamination 5/28/80 All power reactor Con ol Programs OLs and near term cps 80-21 Anchorage and Support of 5/16/80 All power reactor Safety-Related Electrical facilities with an Equipment OL or CP 80-20 Loss of Decay Heat Removal 5/8/80 All light water reactor

' Capability at. Davis-Besse facilities holding Unit 1 While in a Refueling power reactor OLs or cps Mode 80-19 NIOSH Recall of Recircu-5/6/80 All holders of a power lating-Mode (Closed-Circuit) reactor OL, Research Self-Contained Breathin Reactor License, Fuel Apparatus (Rebreathers)g Cycle Facility License and P iority I Material Lice.ie 80-18 Possible Weapons Smuggling 5/5/80 All power reactor Pouch facilities with an OL, fuel fabrication and processing facilities and Materials Priority I licensees (processors and distributors) 80-17 Potential Hazards Associated 5/5/80 All radiography With Interchangable Parts Licenses On Radiographic Equipment w