ML20154K956
| ML20154K956 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 09/06/1988 |
| From: | Connelly S NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTOR & AUDITOR (OIA) |
| To: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20154K954 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8809260059 | |
| Download: ML20154K956 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c
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WASHINGTON,D C,20666 y*****/
t SEP 6 1988 MEtiORANDUM FOR: Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Sharon R. Connelly, Director Office of Inspector and Auditor
SUBJECT:
IDENTIFICATION OF A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE AT ARKANSAS 2 It has recently come to the attention of this office that there may be a previously unidentified safety issue at the Arkansas Unit 2 facility. This matter concerns the use of the ferritic stainless steel E-Brite in a heat exchange unit fabricated by Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation.
Concerns about the use of the E-Brite material were originally) brought to the attention of the NRC in 1986. A response letter (Attachment 1 was sent to the alleger from Eilis W. Herschoff, Chief, Reactive Inspection Section, Vendor Program Branch, Division of Quality Assurance, Vendor and Technical Training Center Programs, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, dated November 3, 1986 regarding the concerns (Allegation No. RIV-86-A-06).
It I
indicated that "an inspection of the BOC Group (fomerly Airco Vacuum Petal) l located in Murray Hill, New Providence, New Jersey, was perfortned in September 1985 by the Office of Inspection and Enforcement." Enclosed with the letter was a copy of the inspection report (No. 99901063/86-01) dated October 9, 1986.
"The purpose of this inspection was to review records l
pertaining to E-Brite 26-1 metal manufactured by Airco Vacuum Metals (currently the BOC Group) to determine if any of the material was shipped to nuclear power plants in the 1970s as was stated in an allegation."
The report indicated that the inspector (d. Conway) met with the alleger in l
August 1986 "to gather information pertaining to the allegation involving E-Brite 26-1 material produced by AVM at their Berkely, [ sic) California facility. The allegation is that E-Brite 26-1 is a defective material because it cannot be welded, and its ductile to brittle transition temperature cannot be controlled thus making its use in nuclear reactors extremely hazardous. The alleger believes that E-Brite 26-1 material is in a number of domestic nuclear power plants."
An extonsive number of customer names and shipping records (1970-1977) were noted as being reviewed.
"None of the orders referenced code case 1505 for ASME Secticn III ' Nuclear Power Plant Components' requirements. Based upon the review or records at the B0C Group's facilities in Murray Hill, New Providence New Jersey and discussions with Mr. Kies, it was determined that AVM did nut supply E-Brite 26-1 material to a nuclear tacility. Accordingly, I
the allegation pertaining to the use of E-Brite 26-1 items in a domestic r.uclear power plant cannot be substantiated."
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l However,E.O.Woolridge,MEB/DE/RESinamemorandum(Attachment 2)to C. Z. Serpan, Jr., Chief, MEB/DE/RES dated February 5,1988 stated that on February 4, 1988, he attended a presentation made by Allegheny Ludlum (AL) on the ferritic stainless steel E-Brite. AL has owned the patent rights on this alloy since 1978.
The only known nuclear opplication of this alloy is in tubing for a heat exchange in Arkansas Unit 2.
It does not appear that a determination was made in the original inspection report concerning the substance of the allegation, only its use in nuclear facilities as. a basis for proceeding further. Accordingly, this matter is being referred to you for any further action you may oeem appropriate, qC <<ch N l' G p Sharon R. Connelly, Director Office of Inspector and Auditor Attachments:
As stated i
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ATT A C H M E N T E E g ave
' NOLAN / LOG AN (NRC
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION wassisaron. o. c. nosss
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flovember 3, 1980 Docket No. 99901063/86-01 Hadco & Associates, Inc.
ATTH: Mr. tiarold L. Nolan President 1914 Elmhurst Drive Arlington, Texas 76012
SUBJECT:
ALLEGATION NO. RIV-06-A-06 Gentlemen:
i Based on your concerns dirc:ted to the Region IV office of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission in July 1986, an inspection of the BOC Group (forrerly Airco Vacuum Metals) located in Murray Hill, New Providence, New Jersey, was performed in September 1986 by the Office of Inspection and Enforcement.
A copy of the Vendor Program Branch inspection report (No. 99901053/86-01) is l
enclosed for your information.
Sincerely.
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Ellis W. Perschoff, Chief Reactive Inspection Section Vendor Program Branch Division of Quality Assurance, Vendor, and Technical Training Center Programs j
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 99901063/86-01 1
i t
fh ATTACHMENT 1
7, _ _ _-_ _ ___ _ __ ___ _ __ _ ___________ _____ _______________
ATTA C H M E N T N'6!
l NOLAN / LOG AN (NRCI SHEET 2
O F _ S~
ORGAN!ZATION:
THE BOC GROUP, INCORPORATED MURRAY HILT., NEW PROVIDENCE, NEW JERSEY.
REPORT INSPECTION INSPECTION NO.: 99901063/86-01 OATES:
09/08-09/06 ON-SITE HOURS:
13 CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: The BOC Group, Incorporated ATTN: Mr. Frederick K. Kies Director Technical Resources 100 Mountain Avenue Murray Hill, New Providence, New Jersey 07974 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTACT: Mr. Frederick K. Kies TELEPHONE NUMBER:
(201)46a-8100 NUCLEAR INDUSTRY ACTIVITY:
None.
ASSIGNED INSPECTOR:
0%Ac64L
/d-T.,W.
J.
way, Reactive In ection Section (RIS)
Date (h.
/8 t'- 8/,
APPROVED BY:
~ Merschof f, Chi f, RIS, Vendor Program Branch Date g
INSPECTION BASES AND SCOPE:
A.
BASES:
B.
SCOPE: The purpose of this inspection was to review records pertaining to E-Brite 26-1 metal manufactured by Airco Vacuum Metals (currently The 80C Group) to determine if any of the material was shipped to nuclear power plants in the 1970s as was stated in an allegation.
PLANT SITE APPLICABILITY:
Not identified.
I h
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, ATTA CHM ENT N O l NOLAN / LOG AN (NRC),
ORGAN!ZATION: THE BOC GROUP, INCORPORATED SHEET _ 3 OF f
MURRAY H!i.L. NEW PROV10ENCE. NEW JERSEY INSPECTION REPORT NO.: 99901063/86-01 RESUt.TS:
PAGE 2 of a A.
VIOLATIONS:
None.
8.
NONCONFORMANCES:
None.
C.
UNRESOLVED ITEMS:
None.
D.
OTHER FINDINGS AND COPFENTS:
1.
Allegation In June 1986, the NRC RIV office was notified of an allegation contained in a June 11, 1986 letter to President Reagan in which the alleger expressed knowledge that defective material was used in nuclear power plants in the United States.
In July iKS, the alleger delivered to the NRC RIV office a "Partial Data File Regarding Defective E-Brite 26-1 Materials." The file which consisted of copies of test reports generated by or for Air Reduction Company (A!RCO) was reviewed by the NRC inspector from the Vendor Program Branch (VDB). The reports covered a time period from 1970 through 1976 when AIRCO Vacuum Metals (AVM), a division of AIRCO, was deve1 0 ng the i
alloy designated "E-Brite 26-1."
In August 1986, the NRC inspector met with the alleger to gather i
)
information pertaining to the allegation involving E-Brite 26-1 The rnaterial produced by AYM at their Berkely, California facility.
allegation is that E-Brite 26-1 is a defective material because it cannot be welded, and its ductile to brittle transition temperature cannot be controlled thus making its use in nuclear reactors extremely :
hazardous. The alleger believes' that C-Brite 26-1 material is in a number of domestic nuclear power plants.
i 26, 1986, the NRC inspector contacted Mr. Frederick Kies, On August the Director of Technical Resources for The ROC Group located in Mr Kies, who was involved Murray Hill, New Providence, New Jersey, with the development of E Brite 26-1 at AYM stated that The BOC Group.
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In the 1970s, AVM developed a high purity purchased AIRCO in 1978.
i ferritic stainless steel produced by the electron beam refining process and received a patent on the alloy which was called E-Brite l
26-1. At their Berkley, California facility, AYM melted and cast
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AT T A C H M E N T N' 6
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! NOLAN / LOG AN (HRC) s ORGAN!ZATION: THE BOC GROUP, INCORPORATED SHEET 4 OF S~
MURRAY Hit.L. P:EW PROV!0ENCE NEW JERSEY REPORT INSPECTION NO.: 99901063/86-01 RESULTS:
PAGE 3 of 4 ingots, and the finished products (e.g., strip, tubing, forgings, etc.) were fabricated by vendors.
In 1978, AVM went out of business and sold the patent rights for E-Brite 26 1 to Allegheny Ludlem.
The records pertaining to the production of E-Brite 26-1 by AVM have been retained at The BOC Group's facility in Murray Hill, New Providence, New Jersey.
At The BOC Group's facility in New Jersey, the NRC inspector reviewed 6 Monthly Sales Reports (MSR) and customer lists relating to E-Brite 26-1 for 1976.
The MSR identified invoice no., customer, product, quantity, and price. A product sunnary on each MSR indicated that the prcducts sold included strip, tube, bar, plate, pipe, fittings, fasteners, and forgings. The customer lists showed that approximately 400 companies had purchased E Brite 26-1 material from AYM in 1976.
The names of the companies and their locations could not be identified as nuclear customers.
Approximately 2900 shipping records (1970-50,1971-50,1972-205, 1973-300, 1974-340, 1975-530, 1976-830, and 1977-600) for E-Brite 26-1 were reviewed. The Notice of Shipment (NS) document contained information similar to that in a Certificate of Conformance.
The NS described the product including referenced standards and heat numbers; and identified the quantity, customer, invoice number, shipper, and the shipment source, date, and destination.
In 1970, all the orders reviewed were for slabs, ingots or pieces of strip which were shipped to steel companies, research companies, or engineering departments of other companies for development purposes.
The ma.iority of the orders in 1971 reflected this same product pattern, but the product line began to expand in 1972. None of the orders in 1970, 1971, and 1972 referenced a standard or specification (i.e., only "E-Brite 26-1" was identified).
In 1973, orders began to reference "grade XM-27" under ASTM specifications (e.g., A268 for tubing and A240 for plate, sheet, and strip).
I It was noted that finished items were shipped to customers from either AVM warehouses in Leetsdale or Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, consignee's j
(e.g., R. J. Gallagher, P. A. Frasse) facilities, or directly from a fabricator's facility.
The following are typical items shipped from a fabricator's or consignee's facility en an AVM purchase order:
tubing (Damascus Tube and Teledyne), strip (Universal Cyclops and Superior Steel), plate (G.O. Carlson), fittings'(Raymond Brass and SunWeldFitting), fasteners (RaymondBrass), forgings (Western Forge & Flange), pipe (C. A. Roberts, R. J. Gallagher and P. A.
Frasse and bar/ red (Blairsville and 1.atrobe Steel).
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AT T A C H M E N T N'O'
,' '.i
! NOLAN / LOG AN (NRC)l I
THE 80C GROUP, INCORPORATED SHEET 8 OF 6~
s ORGANIZATION:
MURRAY HILL, NEW PROV10ENCE NEW JERSEY INSPECTION PAGE 4 of 4 REPORT RESULTS:
NO.: 99901063/86-01 ASME Code Cases 1496 and 1505 permitted the use of E-Brite 26-1 products sheet, strip, and plate (SA-290), bar (SA-479), and seamless and welded tube (SA-268) - in the construction of Se Both these code cases and Section !!! components, respectively.
Of the approximate 2800 shipping records i
were approved in 1971.
rsviewed from 1972 through 1977, only 9 orders referenced code case 1496 for ASME Section VI!! "Pressure Vessels" requirements.
In October 1974, The Section Vll! orders included the following:
plate (A-240) was sold to P. A. Frasse and shipped to SybronTubing wa Corporation in Elyria, Ohio on invoice no. 4396.
to P. A. Frasse and shipped to Union Carbide in Institute, West In April 1975, tubing was sent to Camden Virginia in February 1975.
Alloy Fabricators in Camden New Jersey, and'a flanged / dished hecd was sent to Dupont in Deepwater, New Jersey on invoice nos. 4898 and Invoice nos. 5286 and 5295 covered bar-shipped 4870, respectively.
to Lenape Forge in West Chester, Pennsylvania and forgings shipped to Allied Chemical' in Geismar, Louisana, respectively, in September 1975.
Welded tubing (A 268) was shipped on invoice no. 5680 to Union Carbide In March 1976, a in Institute, West Virginia in December 1975.
(SA182 and SA240)g was delivered to Allied Chemical and forgin forgin The in Nashua, New Hampshire on invoice no. 7049 in November 1976.
9 customers noted above cannot be identified as nuclear custom None of the orders referenced code case 1505 for ASME Based upon the "Nuclear Power Plant Components" requirements.
review of records at The 80C Group's facility in Murray Hill, New Providence New Jersey and discussions with Mr. Kies, it was deter-mined that AYM did not supply E-Brite 26-1 k.aterial to a nuclear Accordingly, the allegation pertaining to the use of facility.
E Brite 26-1 items in a domestic nuclear power plant cannot be substantiated.
2.
Persons Contacted Frederick Kies
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