ML20195E497

Responds to Re Use of Carbon Steel Piping at Plant.Nrc Examining Addl Documentation at Suppliers & Issued NRC Bulletin 88-005 Alerting of Problems W/Matls. Investigation of Falsified Test Reports Being Conducted

ML20195E497
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	06/14/1988
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Humphrey G SENATE
Shared Package
ML20195E503	List: ML20195E497
References
IEB-88-005, IEB-88-5, NUDOCS 8806240065
Download: ML20195E497 (4)

Text

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June 14, 1988 The Honorable Gordon J. Humphrey United-States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Humphrey; Your letter of May 18, 1988 expressing concern over the use of carbon steel piping at the Seabrook nuclear power plant, has been referred to me for response because of the formal licensing proceeding now pending before the Commission.

I share your concern regarding the potential safety problems posed by the use of questionable quality piping and the Nuclear Regulatory Connission (NRC) staff is taking appropriate action to determine the extent to which any of the questionable materials may have been installed not only at Seabrook, bt.t at any nuclear power plant either licensed or unde- construction.

The NRC staff review of this matter is proceeding on three levels. First, the staff is continuing to examine additional documentation at Piping Supplies, Incorporated (PSI), and West Jersey Manufacturing Company (WJM), the two materials suppliers whose certified material test reports (CMTRs) obtained by NRC contain false infonnation. Second, based on the results of do:umentation reviews already conducted, the st&ff on May 6, 1988, issued NRC Bulletin No. 88-05 (copy enclosed) to alert all holders of operating licenses or construction permits regarding the potential problems with materials supplied by PSI and WJM. The bulletin requests each recipient to identify any PSI or WJM materials at their site and to ensure that any such material used in their facilities complies with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and design specifica?. ion requirements or is suitable for the material's intended use. The Bulletin requires that a written report of each licensee's findings be submiti.ed to the NRC within 120 days of receipt. Finally, the NRC Office of Investigations is conducting a formal investigation of the falsified test reports.

Until the information requested in Bulletin No. 88-05 has been su%itted by our licensees and reviewed by our technical staff, the Commission is not in a position to determine what impact this matter may have on the Seabrook licensing proceeding or on the operating status af licensed facilities. We will advise you, however, of the results of the NRC staff's evaluation when it is completed.

Sincere;v g iginal dc,ue? 4 NictoI stella ,s Victor Stello, Jr. ,"

Executive Director 'o for Operations

Enclosure:

HRC Bulletin No. 88-05 i

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• DISTRIBUTION: -

Docket File NRC & Local PDRs EDO #0003708 ED0 r/f T. Murley /J.Sniezek  ;

F. Miraglic PDI.3 r/f (v/cy of incoming)

S. Varga B. Boger OGC V. Stello D, Mossburg PMAS(ED0f0003708)

B. Clayton D. Brinkman V. Nerses J. Murray/0GC PDI-3 Green ticket T. Martin F. Gillespie SECTY (88-333) .

W. Rus; ell /RI B. Grimes 6ft t

• See previous concurrence

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DATE :05/25/88 :05/25/88 .05/26/88 :05/25/88 :6/ /88 W :6/E*/88 l  :

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FROM: DUE '06/02/88 EDO CONTROL: 0003708 DOC DT 05/18/88 FINAL REPLY '  !

Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey

-TO:-

CHAIRMAN 2ECH k

FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** PRI ** CRC NO: 88-0457 Chairman DESC: ROUTING:

t QUESTIONS RE QUALITY OF CARBON STEEL PIPING Stello AT THE SEABROOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Taylor Rehm DATE: 05/20/88 Russell, RI Murray, OGC ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Murley SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

NRR RECEIVED: MAY 20, 1988

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NRR ROLTfING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA MARTIN f [f . . I i

GILLESPIE dC MOSSBURG

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ACTION Dbt.TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFI BY N'fd -

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.t OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-88-0457 LOGGING DATE: May 20 89 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: G.J. Humphrey AFFILIATION: U.S. SENATE LETTER DATE: May 18 88 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Seabrook

SUBJECT:

Questions regarding quality of carbon steel piping at the Seabrook nuclear power plant ACTION: Signature of Chairman DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack, RF SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:

DATE DUE: Jun 6 88 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

Rec'd Off. EDO Datesf- 26 ?V Time _ ll. '(/d

$4RD Vtp. HUMPHREY cowwmas M* NSW ARMED SERVICES 4

M4Y[sM LABOR AND htAN RESOURCES

~~~ = l,; = - Bilittd $tattfi $010tt WASHINGTON, DC 20510 May 18, 1988 Mr. Lando U. Zech, Jr.

Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852

Dear Mr. Zech:

I am disturbed by reports that the Seabr)ok nuclear power plant contains carbon steel piping of questionable quality. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (HRC) staff, Seabrook is one of several nuclear plants which used piping supplied by Piping Supplies, Inc. or West Jersey Manufacturing Company, two firms which falsified documentation claiming that c>mmercial-grade, foreign steel meets the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) l Code and the HRC design specification criteria.

How does the fact that the NRC cannot determine the quality of these pipe fittings and flanges affect the licensing proceedings in regard to low power licensing for Seabrook?

What is the status of the HRC's investigation as to why the records for this piping, some of which is used in important safety-related systems, were forged and why this discrepancy did not come to light sooner?

l What actions have been required by the HRC in order to l ensure that the piping used in construction of the Seabrook '

plant meets the ASME Code and HRC standards?

Please provide answers to these questions and keep me fully apprised of any additiona] information on the suspect fittings and flanges. I am conces.:ed with potential safety problems posed by use of faulty or low-grade materials in the construction of Seabrook.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

With warmest regards, I am Sincerely yours, l /

Gordon v. Humphrty, US' fso v 0An"o vv V -U>7 'y u cmnwu O'Mi E,"fCE

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