ML20056C446
| ML20056C446 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/16/1993 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Hensley J TREASURY, DEPT. OF, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE |
| References | |
| IEIN-92-068, IEIN-92-68, NUDOCS 9306240115 | |
| Download: ML20056C446 (2) | |
Text
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o UNITED STATES g
8 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
-l WASHINGTON, D. C. 205$5 f
/
l April 16, 1993 Mr. John Hensley 1
Assistant Commissioner Office of Enforcement U.S. Ct.stoms Service 1301 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229 I
Dear Mr. Hensley:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently reviewing information about substandard slip-on, welding neck, and blind flanges imported from the People's Republic of China (China) and requests the assistance of the U.S. Customs Service.
On September 10, 1992, the NRC issued Information Notice (IN) 92-68, "Potentially Substandard Slip-On, Welding Neck, and Blind Flanges" enclosed), to certain NRC licensees, agreement states, and major ven(copy dors supplying the nuclear industry. The IN alerted recipients to problems that could result from substandard flanges manufactured in China, and enclosed an analysis of this issue.
In this IN, the NRC stated that the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel. Inspectors (Board) of Columbus, Ohio, received numerous reports of flanges marked " China" that contained cracks, inclusions, and slugged weld repairs, and that were constructed from two pieces lof material. The suspect flanges were marked as steel forgings-that comply with the American Society for Testing and Naterials Standard A-105, " Specifications for Forgings, Carbon Steel, for Piping Components," and the American National
~ Standards Institute Standard B16.5, " Dimensional Standards for Steel Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings."
During a meeting on August 19, 1992, of the Interagency Working Group for-Problem Parts and Suppliers, the NRC resresentative discussed the' issue of.
flanges marked " China" that could be su) standard.
IN 92-68 was subsequently issued through the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program to its members in Agency Action Notice AAN-U-92-115, on September 24, 1992. The Board, through its 1992 Special Edition of the Bulletin, Volume 48, Number 2, alerted its membership (state jurisdictional officials)'and Bulletin subscribers to the findings of its investigation of flanges marked " China." Several licensees have advised the NRC of finding such suspect flanges at their plants.
We understand that the U.S. Customs Service is investigating the flange problem through its Case No. CLOBJR3CL002. The NRC staff would like to exchange infomation about substandard flanges and cooperate, to the fullest-extent possible, with your agency in an effort to stop the import of such substandard products as those described above.
q 9306240115 930416 PDR ORC NE ED 1
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i Mr. John Hensley The NRC staff contact for this issue is Steven M. Matthews, and he can be reached at (301) 504-3191.
Your cooperation in this matter will help the NRC minimize the possibility that its licensees have installed substandard products in safety systems, odjMfE'rTeu by Jarnes M. Taylor James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations e
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Enclosure:
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