ML20083Q231

News Article from Wall Street Journal Re Falsified Welding Insp Repts.Related Info Encl

ML20083Q231
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	05/06/1983
From:	WALL STREET JOURNAL
To:
Shared Package
ML20083Q230	List: ML20083Q231
References
FOIA-84-10 PR-830506, NUDOCS 8404200403
Download: ML20083Q231 (4)

Text

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Wall Street Journal NEW YORK,N.Y.

MAY 61993 SeabrookInspector Fakes Data, Says PS Of New Hampshire By a w Au staEFT JOUn's AL Staff RfPO'It' SEABROOK. N.H.-Public Sen1ce Co. of jNew Hampshire said a weld inspector checking construction of the Seabrook nu-clear power plant had falsified inspection re-

' cords.

Public Semce said the inspector, whc worked for the weldmg subcontractor on the project, had been responsible for inspectmg 2.400 welds over two years. Public Service said the inspector had been fired, following investigations of suspicians that he hadn't examined some piping and structural steel welds required.

PS of New Hampshire said the welds will be checked over the next few weeks. It said 11 doesn't expect the inspections, or repairs if necessary, to affect the safety, cost or timing of completmg the Seabrook nuclear plants. It said it reported the problem to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Pubhe Service estimates the two unit Seabrook plant 3111 cost $5.2 billion, widt the first unit comple*ed in 1964 and the second in 1987. Outside estir:lates are higher, and last week the state Publi Utihties Commis-sion said the plant coulo J $9 billion, with the units completed in 1966 and 1990.

Public Semce said the weldmg tropector worked for Pullman Higgins, a joint venture between J.C. Higgms Co., a closely held company based in 3toughton, Mass., and Pullman Power Products Co., a Williams-port. Pa., unit of Wheelabrator-Frye Inc.,

which is in turn owned by Signal Cos. An of-ficial of Pullman-Higgtra couldn't be reached for comment. Pubhc Service de-clmed to name the weld inspector.

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OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS SlM MRY -

MAY 6.1983 WASHINGTON--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in a 5-0 vote, said it will issue an order by June 9 suspending operation of the Indian Point nuclear power reactors unless significant deficiencies cited by the Federal Energency Management Agency in emergency plans are eliminated. The Comission taid it will changa its mind if deficiencies in energency planning no longer exist by that time; or adequate interim actions have been or will be taken; that the deficiencies are shown to be not significant; or that "other compelling reasons exist to pemit operation of the facility, or there are other factors justifying continued operation." The Comission set oral presentations by the plant operators and other interested governmental agencies for fiay 26. New York Times, Washington Post Wall Street Journal, 5/6.

The New York Times carried a number of articles related to the NRC ruling on Indian Point. They iniTudc excerpts from statements on the NRC decision--NRC Chair' nan Nunzio J. Palladino: "I believe a workable solution is possible to tne emergency planning deficiencies. . .I would urge that all interested groups. . . work together to reach a solution." Commissioner John Ahearne: "If emergency planning is to have any meaning, we must be prepared to do what we said we would." In addition to the excerpts, the Times carried biographical sketches of the five NRC Comissioners; a 30-year history of thi problems at Indian Point; an analysis of what lead to the ruling on Indian Point; and a series of questions and answers on the cost of shutting down Indian point. 5/6. -

SEABROOK, NH--Public Service Co. of New Hampshire said it has reported to the NRC that a subcontractor weld inspector checking construction of the Seabrook nuclear

. power plant had falsified inspection records. The utility said piping and structural steel welds will be checked over the next few weeks. Wa_ll Street Journal, 5/6. ,.-

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TOLEDO, OH--Toledo Edison said it, expect to reduce electricity rates by as much a5 14*. because of efficiencies generated by the Davis-Besse nuclear station.. Wall Street Journal, 5/6. O ,

The Baltimore Evening Sun carried a short article on General Public Utilities ChaimanMiam Kuhns telling shareholders that the company is looking at a, restart of Three Mile Island 1 in July. 5/5. -

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Rep _ ore $alsified Sehbroolf

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records limited Efone worker:

' By PEYTON FI.EMING D Obe Nuclear Regulatory, Commission, and welding contractor that had Democrat $taff Writer P" 33 pere'ent of the welds in question hired theinspector.

are safety-related. "The contractor has' completed SEABROOK - Some 1,996 welds statistical sampling of inspections are being re-evaluated at the The report also stated that the fal- performed by other inspectors and .

Seabrook nuclear plant, because a sification of records was limited to has determined the situation was re '

quality-control inspector fired last just the one employee fired four stricted to one individual," said Pub .

raonth had reported completing the weeks ago for that offense. Officials lic Service Co. of New Hampshire inspections without appanntly doing refuse to identify the employee. spokesman John .Cavanaugh, read- e the work. . .s

• ing a press release Tuesday. .

.The report was based on idforma' PSNH is 35 percent owner of the .

According to, a report filed Monday tion from Pullman-Higgins Co. of Seabrook project.

by Pub 11c4ervlee- Co. of N.H. with Williamsport, Pa., the pipe-fitting Cavanaugh said the employee, who a _ _

_. __ had_wdd Mac Higgins for p : : c_s i . y c i t a t i i v i s i i r m i n i s i s s i s i n i i n i s s i i n_i n t i s i_i s i s i s A ,

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15 months, was iny'olved in 2,408 ex- 'Pihlman-Hiigins $ low complet.' Ho' wever $ he wouIdo't go so fa'r as' a=inations on'1.966 welded joints in . ing a reexamination' program of all to say all the safety-related welds at.

piping, pipe braces and structural the readily accessible welds checked inaccessible locations will be inspect-4teet Sixty five percent of the welds by the inspector, regardless of their- ed. "At this point,I can't (be sure)."

were noo-safety-related. 33 percent classification, according to Ca. Cavanaugh said'he re-evaluation - .'

is' were safety-related and 2 percent vanaugh. The cost of t were "other" types. . Those welds which are not readily being covend by Pullman Higgins The. employee allegedly filed.re- accessible will be evaluated as to and the price tag will not be added ta pcrts on weld inspectmas when the their "potentialimpact on safety," the total Sea 6 rook project, now esti-l work LIdn't been done?de became be said. . ,

mated at more than $5 billion: .

suspect when he performed inspec- Cavanaugh said "anything that'is- The re examinations will not affect tiens alone that rcq*ed attention of safety-related will receive a thor. the scheduled completion dates of more than one individual, according ough evaluation regardless of wher, Units 1 and 2, according to Ca-to previous reports. s , it in M'u " vanaugh.- ,

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,#. .' : \ Seacoast Anti-Pollution I.eague i

5 Market St . Portsmouth. N.H. 03801 (603) 43i-soe9 1

January 3, 1984 1

J. M. Felton, Director FREEDOV OF INFORMATION ACI REOUEST Division of Rules and Records Office of Administration fC p g $ /D U.S. , Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wa Er.ingto n , D.C. 20555 k /g j.g g y

Dear M . Felton:

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re s n: serv;te t cf -te CC' iirecver.tar'. Cf c f fai rifi ed hs. . a .; s r.i re p-;.; .y an.cunce: t h :..- ) 2: :ne seat roc k !ael ea r F: wer aan: . PSNH KE) 5.19E3 as a ecnsequence of this disecvery.the firing of a quality contr Ocnpany's ar.neunestent, 24 Z pi According to the safe;y-related, needed to be repine and structural steel welds, inspected in Seabrook Unit sote 1.

Spe ci fi cally .

all internal NRC memoranda, SAPL would like to be provided with the followinr:

particularly

_and Er.fo rc em ent , pertainine to this incident:from the Office of Inspectior ac en t:. filer by An one Cerne, the N..: senior resicent the notification inspectortoatthe tne

s ea t ro c k site: tne notificaticn ic ins arenev filed 'ov PSN?: a r. .-

rer:.r:s t r.a t nave Deer issued ~

any re:ctmendations of acticns yetccverine retecial a0 ions taken; te be taken: the natetne andspecific address

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0: t r. e entievee cr.arre: witr tne reeer:

area reinc inspecte a falsification:

if.1s lapse in quali:) ne ti".e Cf ".iwas s diOis s onarre  : tr.e te nod tv wT.1 : T Essurance CVered.

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I the rensinder Eust De release .

that seg.egatie. i; be provided wi;r all ncn-exer;; pcr:d.ionsSA?l which therefCre requests are reasonably SAPI reserves its righ; 10 appeal the withhc1 ding or dele:icn of any of the material.

SA?l.

and reprc ducticn of the requested material, believes this thatthough p re ves; it be eligibleis primarily for a fee cf benefit waiverto orthe putlic and therefers ought reduction.

relevant This information is inv:1ves an issue that could have safety implicatiens publi: as tne as farIc the l

inferta:icn be released.is concerned. Hence, it is in the publictha interes the Should there be a ruling agains; a fee waiver er reduction, please infort te if the fees will exceed $~ 5 Founde: '969 dhh

• SP before proceedinc i;. fill thir requert.

If you have any quertions, please do not heH ~ taic -

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a.e the number on the letterhead. As the FOI A prcvide~N I shall

- ' en r nE ays. Triard. you in $dvar.ce for

, yo ac i [ ,c e Sincerely,

?>veD <

Jane Dougt.ty Field Director cc: Ttobert A. Backus, Esq.

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