ML20039B267

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IE Insp Repts 50-460/81-09 & 50-513/81-09 on 811001,09 & 19-23.Noncompliance Noted:Lack of Appropriate Acceptance Criteria for Skewed Fillet Welds
ML20039B267
Person / Time
Site: Washington Public Power Supply System
Issue date: 11/30/1981
From: Dodds R, Narbut P, Toth A
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
Shared Package
ML20039B260 List:
References
50-460-81-09, 50-460-81-9, 50-513-81-09, 50-513-81-9, NUDOCS 8112220473
Download: ML20039B267 (15)


See also: IR 05000460/1981009

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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COPMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND Ehf0RCEMENT

50-460/81-09

Report No.

50-513/81-09

Docket No. 50-460, 50-513

License No.

CPPR-134, -174

Sa,feguards Group

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Licensee:

Washington Public Power Supply System

P. O. Box 968

Richland, Washington 99352

Facility Name:

Washington 1;uclear Projects Nos.1 & 4 (WNP-1/4)

Inspection at:

WNP-1/4 Site Benton County, Washington

. Inspection conducted:

October 1, 9 & 19-23, 1981

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Inspectors:

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P. P. Narbut, Reactor Inspector

Date Signed

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A. D. Toth, Resident ' Inspector

Date Signed

Approved by:

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R. T. Dddds, Chief, Reactor Project Section 2,

Date Srig~ned

Reactor Construction Projects Branch

A.

Inspection during the period of October 19-23, 1981

Areas Inspected:

Routine, unannounced inspection by regional-based

inspector of construction activities including licensee action on

previous inspection findings, and examination of allegations against

the heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor

(UNSI). The inspection involved 40 inspector hours onsite by one

NRC inspector.

Results:

No items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.

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B.

Inspections during the period of October I and 9,1981

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Area Inspected:

Routine, unannounced inspection by the WNP-2

resident inspector of backshift construction activities in the

piping area at WNP-1/4. The inspection involved nine inspector

hours onsite by one NRC inspector.

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Resul ts: One item of noncompliance was identifihd concerning lack

of appropriate acceptance criteria for-skewed fillet welds.

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DETAILS

1.

Individuals Contacted

a.

Washington Public Power Supply System

+C. R. Edwards, Project QA Manager

+T. C. Hood, Manager, Construction

  • +M. E. Rodin, Senior QA Engineer

b.

Bechtel Power Corporation (Bechtel)

+E. W. Edwards, Project Manager

+J. B. Gatewood, Project QA Engineer

+J. Ruud, QA Engineer

+C.

K. Kasch, APC QCE

+G. A. Hierzer, Field Construction Manager

+T. Fallon, PC QCE

c.

United Engineers and Constructors (UE&C)

E. C. Haren, Project QA Manager

G. L. Faust, FSQA

d.

University Nuclear Systems Inc. (UNSI)

+S. Cohen, Project Manager

+B. Sachs, Project QA/QC Manager

+R. Canipe, Corporate QA Manager

+L. Graydon, Construction Manager

+ Attended exit interview 10/23/81.

The exit interview was also

attended by G. Hansen, State of Washington, EFSEC.

  • Attended exit interview of 11/2/81.

2.

Licensee Action on Previously Identified Items

a.

(Closed)(460/80-16-02) Enforcement Level IV Item:

Failure to

post supplier drawings with WPPSS quality class

The inspector examined the actions descri;ed in the licensee

letter G01-81-031 of February 3, 1981. T he licensee's action

was to delete the contract specification requirements for

posting WPPSS quality class on vendor staplied item drawings.

It is not typical for vendor prepared product drawings to

include unique purchaser information and the licensee identifies

quality class requirements by means other than posting on

vendor drawings.

This item is considered closed based on the

licensee's actions.

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b.

(Closed) (460/80-16-04) Enforcement Item. Level IV: Pipe-

support configuration does not conform to drawing

The inspector examined the licensee's' actions described in

letters G01-81-031 of February 3,1981-end G01-81-58 of March 5,1981.

The licensee had sampled 66 supports, found three problems and

subsequently analyzed those problems to be acceptable as-is.

Other actions were to increase inspection by the vendor (Huico)

and by vendor surveillance personnel (UE&C).

Huico personnel

received additional training. Additionally, an NRC inspector

had followed up on this item in report'460/81-04 and examined

the UE&C engineering rationale for the acceptance of the not-

per-drawing configuration.

Based on the licensee's response and the inspector's review of

the documentation of the actions taken, this item is considered

closed.

c.

(Closed)(460/80-11-02) Enforcement item; infraction:

Unauthorized removal of arc strikes

The inspector examined the corrective action described in the

licensee responses G01-80-347 of 11/6/80 and G01-81-20 of

1/27/81. The documentation of the repair and corrective craft

training were reviewed. This item is considered closed.

d.

(0 pen)(460/80-01-01) Enforcement Item; infraction

Temporary welds to structural steel are not controlled

The initial problem identified dealt with the welding of

tempa 'ary supports to structural steel without a procedure or

inspection requirements. The licensee response (G01-80-140 of

5/7/80) identified actions that would be taken. Those actions

were examined and discussed in Inspection Report 460/81-01.

In that report, an additional problem was identified - that

one disposition was evaluated as acceptable as-is but identified

welding to thicker than 1 " structural steel.

The licensee

stated an evaluation of those CNCR's, dealing with welding

without. preheat on thick columns, would be perfomed.

Since that previous inspection, the licensee reviewed CNCR's

which dealt with welding without preheat on thick columns.

The licensee limited his review to a sampling of JA Jor.ns

contract 257 CNCR's (did not include JA Jones Contract 211),

and stated they had identified numerous CNCR's with lack of

preheat on thick column welding.

The inspector examined the CNCR log for the period 7/24/81 to

10/21/81 and 9/12/80 to 3/12/81 and determined that welding

without preheat was not an ongoing problem.

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The inspector examined a sampling of the numerous CNCR's

identified by the licensee and noted that they dealt with

permanent welds, not temporary welds, and that they were

dispositioned acceptable as-is without explanation.

The licensee did not have an evaluation of these welds as

committed in report 460/81-01.

Additionally, it appears the initial actions on this item were

not of sufficiently broad scope since'the problem of welding

without preheat or inspection was identified in another contractor's

area (see caragraph 3.J.(5) of this report). The pursuit of

this problem in other contractor areas apparently needs to be

addressed but will be tracked as part of the item in paragraph

3.J.(5).

This item remains open pending review of a licensee evaluation

of JA Jones CNCR's as previously committed.

3.

Allegations against University Nuclear Systems Inc. (UN51)

The inspector examined additional allegations made against UNSI,

the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor.

The allegations, suggestions of other problems gathered in the

course of the investigation, and followup of previous allegations

(see report 50-460/81-07) are detailed below:

a.

Allegation: Some UNSI QC inspectors were not conscientious.

No specifics were provided.

Finding:

The allegation was not pursued by the inspector

based on the previous inspections interviews with inspection

personnel.

The issues uncovered there dealt with weak UNSI

quality control practices; not personal characteristics.

b.

Allegation:

General QC/QA attitudes were poor.

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Finding:

Not pursued for the reasons given in 3.a. above.

c.

Allegation:

Improper instructions given to staff for dealing

with NRC.

Finding:

Not substantiated.

Discussion:

Interviews with the specific individual identified

did not identify any improper instructions given to him.

d.

Allegation:

The Inspection Status Log (ISL) and the Awaiting

Inspection Log may be inaccurate due to failure of inspectors

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to enter data on discrepant conditions.

Also, previous to the

current systems, an Erection Traveler system was used which

allowed completion credit for hangers fabricated but not

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installed.

Finding:

Substantiated, but the problem appears to have been

identified by contractor management. ~

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Discussion:

The inspector examined an example of the entry

errors noted in the Inspection Status Log (ISL) (the awaiting

inspection log is:part .of the ISL). The~ items identified

showed some erroneous entries that are of the type usually

caught by the final documentation review. The errors were, in

fact, caught by persons performing that type of review.

However, as identified in QCFRI 295'ef 7/14/81, corrections to

the ISL were not being made. The' contractor management had

not effectively resolvcd the problem at the time of inspection

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but stated they considered the problem an open one.

They had

not yet issued a procedure for final document review and

turnover but did not consider the ISL as the vehicle to achieve

that end. Based on the items reviewed, the inspector did not

have a safety concern but noted to licensee management at the

exit interview that the final review of documentation problem

had not yet been resolved, and that this problem would not be

specifically follo,ted up by NRC because of the relatively low

safety significance.

The inspector also pointed out that the UNSI QA response to

QCRFI 295 was inaccurate in that it stated difserent personnel

would be assigned the review responsibility but that action

has not yet been taken.

The inspector determined that the aspect of fabriccted, but

not installed, items being given completion credit was true

but had been documented on a Quality Finding Report (QFR-81-1&4-22).

The item dealt with foremen signing off items as complete.

QC

personnel had not signed off the item however.

It appears,

therefore, that the contractors quality system was functioning

properly,

e.

Allegation: The as-built drawing verification may be proceeding

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on the basis of partial or sampling checks.

Finding:

Not substantiated.

Discussion: The conduct of the contractors as-built drawing

program was investigated during the previous inspection. An

UNSI stop work order had been issued on the as-built drawing

program on 9/18/81.

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Allegation: A Quality control inspector made a late entry on

a weld rod oven temperature check and post dated his signature.

Finding:

Substantiated,^but'not of safety significance.

Discussion: 'he inspector interviewed the. inspector who'made

the late entry and his supervisor. The rod. oven temperature

was satisfactory. The, inspector had neglected to sign the

checklist. The QC inspectors supervisor had subsequently

instructed him in the proper,way to make a -late entry.

The

NRC inspector did not perceive any intent to deceive on the

part of the QC inspector involved.,

g.

Allegation:

Changes to duct stendards are distributed to the

crafts prior to quality control.

Finding: Suus:. ,tiated, but not a quality concern.

Discussion: By. interview, the inspector established that

there had not been any known instances where improper inspectioris

had been performed.

It appeared, simply, that the crafts had

established a quicker distribution of changes than QA had.

h.

Allegation: There is no program of training for procedural

changes.

Finding:

Substantiated, but not a direct safety concern.

Discussion: There were no examples given where quality had

been affected.

The contractor had recently assigned a training

coordinator to improve the training.

The insper. tor did not

pursue this allegation due to the lack of safety significance.

i.

Allegation:

Personnel were instructed to work on unapproved

procedures.

Finding:

Substantiated, but this subject had been previously

identiff ed and addressed in IE Inspection Report 50-460/81-07.

j.

Other allegations / concerns were voiced by various personnel

during the course of the investigation of allegations.

These

other items are discussed below:

(1) Item:

Fillet welds have undersize throats.

Finding:

Substantiated that instructions had been issued

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which would produce undersize fillets but no such fillets

had been welded at the tine of. inspection.

Discussion:

The crafts were installing 4 by 5 inch angle

iron to HVAC duct. Due to welder access problems, the

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foreman authorized grinding an angle on the piece, thereby

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changing the intendcd fillet weld from a 90 to greater

than 90 weld. . At this point, a CNCR should have been

written since this was work outside of the procedure

(drawing DH-4563-5 and EAF 1138).

Discussions between

craft, QC, and engineering ensued and EAF 13g5 was issued

to authorize grinding the angle iron to a 60 preparation

angle (120 included angle). The EAF 1355 was issued by

UNSI engineering.

UNSI engineering is authorized by

specification 9779-216 to specify weld end preparations,

provided they are in accordance with code.

UNSI engineering

stated they had been in contact with UE&C engineering and

had discussed the problem. The EAF 1355 which approved

the increased (skewed) fillet angle was not accompanied

by a change-in the UE&C engineering document (PCP-4300A)

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which specified a fillet leg size.

Per the AWS code, the

fillet leg size should have been increased to compensate

for the reduced fillet weld throat size from a skewed

angle fillet weld.

The three observed weaknesses were discussed with the

licensee. The licensee issued a quality Finding Report

QFR 135 of Novecher 6,1981, which will ensure that

followup of the identified weaknesses is performed.

(2)

Item:

Nonconformance reports have answers by UE&C which

reference drawings not yet, issued.

Finding:

Not substantiated.

Discussion:

The inspector examined one identified nonconformance

report. The UEAC answer referenced a drawing revision

which was issued at UE&C but had not yet been issued to

the field. There is apparently a three week delay in

gettirg drawings issued to the field.

This item does not

appear to have quality significance.

(3)

Item:

procedures for concrete anchor bolt installation

disagree.

Finding:

Not substantiated from a safety standpoint.

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Discussion: .The procedure for installation of the concrete

anchor bolts requires a three turn minimum for tightening

the anchor bolts. Another procedure, the duct standard,

requires -loosening torqued anchor bolts prior to welding

on a support.

Per discussions with involved personnel on

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retightening those anchor bolts, three turns cannot be

achieved.

In.the one case this occurred, the inspector

wrote a nonconformance report.

Some QC inspectors stated

their craft people were not performing tcrque until after

welding.

The NRC inspector considered that this item did

not have safety significance.

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(4)

Item: There is no quantitative criteria for rebar damage

incurred during drilling holes for concrete anchor bolts.

Finding: Substantiated but not a safety concern as

practiced.

Discussion: Discussions with the involved perse:mel

indicated that any indication of rebar damage, that is,

any shiny metal observed, was being recorded by QC personnel

on a nonconformance report for engineering evaluation.

(5)

Item: Tack welds for fitup of permanent items are not

inspected.

Finding: Apparently substantiated, by discussion.

Discussion:

The inspector was informed by several QC

inspectors and by QA management that it was common knowledge

that none of the tack welds made for fitup of permanent

items in Unit 4 had been inspected.

It was also stated

the problem was ongoing in Unit 1.

Some of the tack

welds had been incorporated in the final weld. The

licensee was asked to investigate this item and write a

nonconformance report to document the problem for resolution.

Nonconformance report 4 CNCR-216-8 was written for Unit 4.

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The nonconformance report for Unit I had not been written

at the time of this report.

This item will be inspected further in a future inspection

and will-include the investigations of other contractors

discussed in paragraph 2.d.

Unresolved item: '(50-460/

513/81-09/01).

(6)

Item: An independent audit of the UNSI activities by an

outside audit group directed,by corporate QA disclosed

many quality findings.

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Finding:

Substantiated.

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Discussion: The~ inspector reqmted and obtained a copy

of the audit report of the National Inspection ~and Consultants

Inc. for their audit of UNSI conducted from 9/20/81 to

10/14/81.

The audit had 87 unsatisfactory findings in

278 items audited. The audit report was reviewed by the

inspector after the exit interview.

The report emphasized areas which had been the subject of

allegations; that is, numerous deficiencies in document

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control, receiving inspection, and procurement.

The

report also indicated weaknesses in control of measuring

and testing equipment and preventative maintenance.

The licensee actions taken to resolve the findings of

this audit will be the subject of a future inspection

(50-460/81-09/02).

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The general conclusion at the end of the investigation of

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allegations again;t UNSI was that although corrective actions

were underway, quality problems continued to be identified

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through allegations. The point made during the previous

inspection that the licensee's system for identifying and

correcting quality problems at the working level needed improvement

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was reemphasized.

These matters were discussed at the exit

interview and at a separate meeting with the project director

on October 22, 1981.

4.

Reactor Coolant Loop Piping Special Welding Applications

The inspector observed activities for the placement of stainless

steel cladding over two completed welds on the main coolant loop

piping. The inspector observed work, interviewed personnel, and

examined in-process recards.

During the evening shift of October 1,

the inspector examined cctivities at weld FW-08 (drawing PCS-RCS-211-1).

This was inside a 28-inch diameter reactor vessel nozzle.

Inspection

interviews including the welding operator, QC inspector, QC Supervisor,

foreman, general foreman, and the superintendent.

The welding operator, a QC inspector, and a welding engineer were

all present in the reactor vessel work location. A Diametrics

welding procedure technique sheet was available at the equipment,

as prescribed by procedure. The preheat and weld wire were as

specified by procedure.

The welder (stamp number AG) appeared on

the wold material attendant's logs as qualified for the process.

Interview of the welding operator demonstrated his familiarity with

the process and equipment, the limits of. technique sheet, and the

attention to welding heat track-alignment and rigidity.

The cladding welding had actually commenced on the evening shift of

the previous day, at which time two weld passes were accomplished.

On the following day-shift, three additional passe were placed.

Project surveillance activities apparently found that the passes

had been placed contrary to the procedure specific requirement that

the cladding passes be started against the existing pipe cladding.

This was apoarently con.sidered to be an in-process rework, and

verbal directions had been given to grind out the five passes; this

work was acccmplished. The QC inspector subsequently prepared an

inspection report documenting this action; its disposition prescribed

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a liquid penetrant examination of the ground area prior to resumption

of welding. The inspection report showed QC signature that the PT

examination had been performed.

As part of the corrective action relating to the original procedure

deviation, the welding operator, foreman, and general foreman had

attended a training session conducted by a welding engineer.

A

training handout sheet included a summary of " Major Concerns", and

described a concern for encroachment on minimum pipe wall thickness,

where grinding is performed.

It described that such excessive

grinding would need be built up with an E7018 or-70S material prior

to addition of stainless steel cladding. The welders and the

foreman appeared knowledgeable in this infomation.

(The evening

shift QC inspectors had not been invited to, nor had they attended

this training session.)

Welding had not yet started when the NRC inspector arrived. At

this time, the welding foreman raised questions with his supervision

and the QC inspector relative to an ultrasonic examination which

was verbally requested by the day-shift personnel at shift-change

time. This was categorized as an information only' test, and was

not prescribed in writing.

In the absence.of written instruction,

the QC inspector, general formean, and the Superintendent were

prepared to prcceed without the UT test.

Eventually, after referral

to the evening shift QC Supervisor, a UT test was arranged, to

check the piping minimum wall tY kness in the area where five

passes of cladding had been remc.

by grinding.

It appeared that

the work group nearly omitted the liquid penetrant test and the

ultrasonic test, due to the practice of conveying decisions and

instructions verbally.

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It appeared personnel were reluctant to document in-process typt

work errors and corrective measures, such as the above.

There was

an obvious sensitivity to management pressures regarding reprimands

and adverse personnel actions for work errors.

(Craft and supervision

demonstrated high sensitivity to management policy that two nonconformance

reports could result in employment termination.) However, various

personnel also revealed great frustration in the use of verbal

directions to accomplish work or clarify written work instructions.

At a November 2,1Q81 exit briefing, the JA Jones QA Manager stated

that increased usa of verbal instructions is planned as normal

management of i.'-pocess work. The inspector advised that the

combination of obse ved circumstances (personnel training omissions,

verbal directiots, and employee concern over documentation of

discrepancies) appears to be a weakness in the quality assurance

program. These matters will be the subject of future routine NRC

inspection activities (460/81-09/03).

During the evening shift of October 9, the inspector observed work,

interviewed personnel, and examined records for the stainless steel

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cladding work at weld FW-15 (drawing PCS-RCS-211-1). .This was

inside a 32-inch diameter steam-generator nozzle. The. inspection

included interview of the welding operator, QC inspector,.QC Supervisor,

foreman, and superintendent on the evening work shift.

It included

inspection of the equipment, review of the records where the work

was in progress.

The welding operator, a QC inspector, and a welding engineer were

all present at the work location. A Diametrics welding procedure

technique sheet was available at the equipment, as prescribed by

procedureJAJ-WPS-P1/P3-(clad)-A8-2A.

(Five lines of standard

instructions were not legible in the lower right corner of the

sheet. When the inspector brought this to the attention of the

foreman, the foreman took immediate steps to obtain a legible

copy.) The inspector verified that preheat and weld wire were as

specified by procedure. The welder (stamp number AT) appeared on

the weld material attendant's logs as qualified for the process. A

work control sheet was available and was used by the responsible

personnel; a supplement preheat log was also used by the QC inspector.

The working conditions for the welding averator we.e cramped but

accessible; they appeared adequate for J.hieving the required weld.

An air supply was provided for the welder in the confined quarters,

from a local compressor.

The inspector identified no items of noncompliance.

5.

Reactor Coolant Loop Piping Welding Material Control

During the evening work shift on October 1, the inspector examined

the bare-wire weld filler spool in the Diametrics automatic welding

machine, at the inside of field weld FW-#8, at the reactor vessel

nozzle, (isometric drawing PCS-RCS-211-1). He examined the weld

filler material forms at the work station within the reactor vessel,

and inspected the related similar material at the weld material

control and issue station.

The material was .045-inch diameter, ER-309L, as specified for the

first pass cladding welding, by procedure JAJ-WP-P1/P8 (clad) A8-2A

Revision 0.

The material was clean and clearly marked on the

spool. The material control station attendant produced the required

quality control release tag, attesting to the material -having been

found acceptable by receiving inspection, which includes a review

of material certifications. The material attendant's and welder's

records traced the material by heat number.

In addition to the specific material considered above, the inspector

also noted general use of portable weld rod ovens for E7018 type

materials, and active storage ovens at the weld material issuance

station within the reactor containment building.

Each oven was

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equipped with a thermometer, and the storage area was well kept and

clean.

Interview of the attendant demonstrated his attention to

detail and familiarity with quality control requirements.

He had a

controlled copy of the various welding procedures; the welders

interviewed and the piping general foreman all testified that these

procedures were available to them at any time at this location.

During the evening work shift on October 9, the inspector further

examined the materials and facilities and interviewed the attendant

of the welding material issue station within the containment building.

He examined the weld filler material for tags at each end, rod-oven

material separation by heat and lot number, rod oven temperature,

material general storage, and discarded material storage.

The

examination also included typical records of returned (but unused)

material, posted lists of approved procedures and dates, posted

lists of accepted material heat numbers, and the log of welder

qualifications.

No items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.

6.

Reactor Coolant Piping Weld Heat Treatment

During the evening work shift on October 1, the inspector ascertained

that the weld joint preheating was in accordance with the specification

of weld procedure JAJ-WP-P1/P8 (clad) A8-2A, for welds FW-08 and

FW-09 of drawing PCS-RCS-211-1.

The preheating was maintained by

resistance heaters, with automatic controllers and strip chart

recorder for thermocouples. The preheating controller station was

manned by a technician.

There was ongoing walnut-shell and water

blasting in the pool area above the reactor vessel, but the nozzles

were protected fron water cooling effects, on the exterior, by the

presence of plywood scaffolding and covers above the reactor vessel.

There was radio communication between the weld crews, and QC inspectors

in the reactor vesssl and the monitoring station outside.

Inside

the vessel, the welders and QC irspectors had calibrated temperature

measuring devices to determine the weld interpass temoerature.

One

welding operator appropriately stated that he made his measurements

on the last deposited weld metal, and controlled it to the 350-degrees

specified in the weld procedure.

The inspector identified no items of noncompliance, nor questionable

practices relative to preheat and interpass temperature control.

7.

Safety Related Pipe Hanger Installation Within Containment

During the evening shift of October 1, the inspector interviewed QC

inspection personnel, and examined the preparations to install pipe

hanger SGC-18-SV-1.

The inspector noted the approval status of the

installation drawing, the weld issue slip correlation to the weld

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procedure JAJ-WP-P1-13 revision 15, the material surface preparation,

and the QC inspection hold point establishment and notation.

The records showed.that the welder (WC) had been checked by the QC

inspector, as had the weld material issue slips for the 3/32-inch

type E7018 welding electrode (heat H22N5841). The electrode was

maintained in a portable rod oven, which was active and hot.

The

installation drawing was a controlled copy, and included designation

of the weld procedure, with QA review clearly marked.

The weld

record included a final visual inspection hold point. _ The control

sheet at the QC inspector dispatch station inside containment

provided for welders to mark the sheet to show that thMr weld hold

point was ready for inspection.

It appeared that the first available

inspector was dispatched, and there was not necessarily any continuity

of QC personnel assignment to any particular hanger installation.

The inspector's interview of QC personnel revealed their concern

over procedure inconsistencies and a practice of verbal instructions

being issued to clarify procedure conflicts or provide new direction.

The inspector observed that the QC personnel each carried pipe weld

fitup instruments (hi-lo gages). The inspector questioned one QC

individual relative to acceptance criteria for weld joints and

found him to be weak in this area.

The inspector observed a pipe-fitter request QC guidance relative

to pipe hanger location tolerances. _The fitter asked how for,

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axially, he could install the hanger from its design location,

without need for new installation papenvork. The two QC personnel

at the dispatch station demonstrated unfamiliarity with the criteria.

Upon referral to the procedures, they-showed great difficulty in

arriving at the acceptance criteria.

The inspector noted that the table of tolerances in the installation

procedure (JAJ-WI-010.1) indicated that some large-bore hangers

were permitted to be installed up to 18-inches axially from their

design location, without approval of the engineer.

The QC personnel

noted that the procedure requires an as-built drawing when a hanger

is moved more than 1-inch from its design location.

However, they

could not identify who performed -the as-built, who was to call for

the effort and what their (QC) role was in this process.

The QC personnel indicated .that the JA Jones procedures were being

revised.

This was confirmed by the licensee QA Manager on the

morning of October 2.

He stated that a joint Bechtel ,and JA Jones

effort was underway in this regard.

The inspector advised that the

.

personnel using the procedures appeared to have a' number of comments

regarding the applicationtof the existing procedures.

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The licensee QA Manager advised that a quality awareness program,

similar to that recentl.v put into-effect at WNP-2,' was being formulated

for the WNp-1 project.

He expressed confidence that serious employee

concerns will be exposed, such as may relate to specific procedural

incompatibilities which were not being resolved.

He also stated

that Bechtel had been instructed to broaden the cognizance of its

surveillance personnel, to increase their sensitivity to overview

type concerns, such as the above.

These actions appeared timely

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and appropriate to the circumstances found by the inspector.

The inspector identified no specific items of noncompliance.

Hexever, the matter of procedure inconsistancies and personnel

training are being identified as deserving of further review during

future NRC inspection activities (460/81-09/04).

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On October 9, the inspector observed work in progress on the piping

bracing assemblies of the in-core monitoring system. The inspector

examined the weld record for package RCS-115-RG-112, especially for

weld N1 of Detail D-D of drawing 9779-LL-419500 Sheet 29A. This

weld was of approximately 150-degrees skewed with the wall, and was

shown on the design drawing as a 1/4-inch fillet weld (NF-5212).

(The AWS-D1.1 Code does not recognize such extreme skewed joints as

fillet welds, but rather requires partial or full penetration welds

for such configurations.) Neither the NRC inspector, nor the

JA Jones quality verification inspector present had appropriate

gages to measure the effective throat thickness.

However, by use

of a standard fillet gage, it appeared that the throat was not more

than 1/8-inch.

Neither the welder nor the JA Jones inspector

present demonstrated familiarity with the AWS criteria relating to

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skewed joints, nor could they demonstrate measurement and definitive

acceptance criteria for the weld. The weld record had already been

signed as acceptable by the day-shift quality control inspector

(symbol RW).

Subsequently, a JA Jones weld engineer showed the inspector on

August 14, 1981 UE&C document (9779-LL-419222 Revision 2), titled

" Pipe Support Details, Interpretation of Weld Symbols - All Systems".

This document showed skewed joint details commensurate with the AWS

Code. However, the weld engineer claimed to have received the

document just the previous day (October 8,1981), and he was unable

to assert that the document had any official status. A JA Jones

welding foreman later showed the inspector his copy of Revision 1

of this document, but did not know its official status.

Neither

the construction nor the quality verification personnel could show

the inspector any place where the information of this document had

been incorporated into the work or inspection procedures.

The JA Jones quality verification personnel stated that they had

been educated in AWS requirements, s'!c.h as shown in the above noted

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documents.

However, they stated that previous nonconformance

reports written against such criteria had routinely been voided by

their management.

At this time, the lead inspector prepared NCR #4883,

and stated that he planned to tag the support identified by the NRC

inspector.

He also stated that he expected the tag to be voided.

The NRC inspector also _ examined piece mark 1-RCS-(429-117/16)-6, which

is an additional member called for by design for installation in

the same support matrix mentioned above. The weld end preparation

for this member was similar to the installed member, again contrary

to the AWS and Interpretation-of-Weld-Symbol document.

On October 13, 1981 the inspector discussed these findings with the

WPPSS QA and the Bechtel QC management. He also met with them at a

followup meeting and exit summary which included the JA Jones QA

Manager on November 2, 1981. At this time, the JA Jones representative

displayed QC inspector training attendance sheets which included

the words " skew joints" as one of three topics (dated June 11, 1981

and July 9,198); however, he did not identify any inspection

technique / criteria infonnation associated with the sessions.

He

also showed the inspector an October 9, 1979 a letter to ASME which

asked if ASME had any " angularity tolerance" on fillet welds.

The

October 22, 1979 reply stated that ASME had no specific requirements

in this regard. He stated that this inquiry to ASME had been made

because JA Jones had earlier posed a similar question to UE&C, and

had received non-definitive guidance at that time. With the ASME

reply, JA Jones management had felt constrained to live with the

UE&C fillet weld symbols for extreme skewed joints, and did not

establish inspection / acceptance techniques particular to such

configurations.

At the above mentioned meetings, the attendees could not assure the

inspector that the designers had in all cases recognized that welds

would not necessarily be installed with weld throats at least equal

to those which would be achieved with standard fillet welds of the

sizes specified on the drawings.

The situation described above demonstrates the lack of appropriate

acceptance criteria for installation and inspection personnel.

For

at least two years there has been an apparent absence of clear

WPPSS/UE&C contractor guidance an quality assurance verification of

work / inspection procedures for this matter; this represents basis

for questioning the aderpacy of skewed weld joints, installed and

inspected to date by this contractor, and possibly other contractors.

This is an apparent item of noncompliance with NRC regulations.

(460/81-09/05).

8.

Unresolved Items

Unresolved items are matters about whit.h more information is required

in order to ascertain whether they are acceptable items, items of

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noncompliance, or deviations. i An unresolved item disclosed during

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this inspection is discussed in Paragraph '3.J.(5) of this report.

9.

Exit Interview

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The regional inspector met with the licensee representatives denoted

.in paragraph 1 on October 23, 1981.

The WNP-2 Resident Inspector

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who had perfonned backshift inspections at WNP-1/4 met with'the

licensee representative denoted in-paragraph 1 on November 2,1981.

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The scope of the inspections and the inspectors' findings as noted

in this report were discussed.

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