ML20126J362
Text
u UNITED STATES
[Mac q'o, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
REGloN IV o
811 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE,SulTE 1000 e
j j ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76012 7.
CNA $
- o May 1, 1980 Docket No. 50-498; 50-499/80-13 MEMORANDUM FOR: File THRU:
W. C. Seidle, Chief, BrMM Branch, RIV FROM:
W. A. Crossman,. Chief, Projects Section
SUBJECT:
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH FORMER HOUSTON.LIGHIING AND POWER CCEPANT (HIAP) WELDING SUPERVISOR CONCERNING ALLEGED WELDING PROBLEMS AT THE SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, DN 50-498; 50-499 A former HIAP welding supervisor (Individual I) contacted Region IV on May 1, 1980, and disclosed concerns related to welding activities at the South Texas Project (STP).
Individual I stated'that he had been at the STP site for approximately four or five months prior to his " firing" in January 1980. He had previously worked for Ebasco on the Allens Creek Project and was brought to STP by Individual A when A was hired by HL&P as a manager for STP. Individual I said that he began to develop problems in his relations with A because of Brown & Root (B&R), welding activities. He stated that Individual A had no welding technical expertise and tended to coopers.ca with Individual B, a B&R manager. Individual I expressed the fallowing concerns:
/ 1.
When Individual D transferred to STP from Comanche Peak (CPSES) D attempted to get I to accept Mures rod for use at STP. D also attempted to transfer weld rod from CPSES to STP.
Individual I opposed the acceptance of Murex weld wire until HL&P QA had accepted the Murex QA program. Individual I voiced his objections to the use of the Murex wire to individuals A, B (B&R Manager), C (B&R Manager), F (HL&P QA),
G (HL&P QA), and H (HL&P QA). Individs.als A and B attempted to circumvent Individual I on this issue. Individuals B and C put pressure on I to accept Nurez rod and tried to change the suppliers' from Sandvik, Chemeron, and others to Murex and Airco which were apparently preferred by B&R management at STP. At the time of I's departure from STP in January 1980, no Murex rod (wire) had been transferred from CPSES to STP.
'2 The containers for several hundred pounds (approximately 16,000) of h
7018 airco weld rod were broken during handling and shipping.
Approxi-T mately 2,000 pounds were dispersed to the site welding program.
B&R g
was to attempt to track where the 2,000 pounds had gone. Individual I 4
does not know what happened to the 2,000 pounds of weld rod. (Note:
j g{
This matter was addressed in Report 50-498/80-02; 50-499/80-42.
No further action i
p All of the weld rod material was accounted for.
appears necessary on this item.)
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MEMORANDUM FOR: File 2
May 1, 1980 a.
l V.
Some 200 non-safety welds in MEAB-1 failed ANSI B31.1 visual acceptance 3
criteria.
Individual I discussed poor weld quality with Individual G.
Five information shots.(radiographs) were taken, all failed due i
to slag, porosity, etc. At the time Individual I left the site, the situation remained uncorrected.
F.
There was a high rejection rate for aluminum-bronze Essential Coold.ng 4
Water system piping welding. Individual I recommended helium purge 4
but does not know if th's recon =andation was followed. B&R. requested that X-Ray requirements be removed from aluminum-bronze, Individual l
I refused.
Some 150 to 200 safety-related welds in the Reactor Containment Di41 dine were made "out.-of-position." A B&R welding engineer (Individual E) allowed the welder qualification training school to rotate test weld specimens during qualification of welders, contrary to requirements that the test specimens be stationary. Individual F was aware of this condi-ion.
Individual I does not know if the welders regnalified with stationary spec 4==ns.
6.
Individual I's major concern is that H&LP management does not have a " positive attitude about construction." Discussions with Individual i
A were to no avail, problems that Individual I identified to A "went i
down the tube."
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On closing Individual I stated that he was replaced by Individual F.
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He also stated that he would be available at the given telephone number until late May 1980, when he would depart the United States.
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W. A. Crossman, Chief, Projects Section W. G. Hubacek, Reactor Inspector, i
i Projects Section cc:
H. S. Phillips l
C. E. Wisner R. K. Herr j
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