ML20195J661

Responds to Concerns Raised in Re Stainless Steel Matl Designated as E-Brite 26-1.Actions Taken to Address Allegation That E-Brite 26-1 Unsuitable for Use in Nuclear Power Plants Listed

ML20195J661
Person / Time
Site:	Perry, Arkansas Nuclear, 05000000
Issue date:	01/20/1988
From:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Glenn J SENATE, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Shared Package
ML20195J664	List: ML20195J661
References
NUDOCS 8801280638
Download: ML20195J661 (5)

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, NRC PDR

[puog% UNITED STATES TRehm Regions n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION JMurray FMiraglia

! i WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 SECY ADi i  ! VStello FGillespie JTaylor CThomas

%,*****,o# TMurley JBlaha CHAIRMAN January 20, 1988 JSniezek DMossburg JPartlow ED0 3358 BGrimes JStone The Honorable John Glenn, Chairman EBaker Committee on Governmental Affairs JConway United States Senate WHazelton Washington, D.C. 20510 BHutchinson, MCallahan

Dear Mr. Chairman:

VIB R/f DRIS r I am responding to the concerns raised in your December /f2, 1987 letter regarding the stainless steel material designated as E-Brite 26-1. I want to assure you that the Commission takes this matter seriously and we are continuing our efforts to ensure that the public health and safety are protected.

In June 1986, the NRC received an' allegation that E-Brite ?6-1 was unsuitable for use in nuclear power plants. Since then, we have undertaken a number of actions to address the issue, as follows:

1. In August 1986, the NRC staff met with the alleger to discuss his concerns and review any other available, pertinent information.

2. In September 1986, the staff inspected the offices of The 800 l Group. The B0C Group is the current holder of records from Airco Vacuum Metals (AVM), the developer of E-Brite 26-1.

Because the concerns expressed principally involved AVM, the i staff inspected only ROC. The results of that inspection I are documented in NRC Report No. 99901063/86-01. l

3. In May 1987, after further correspondence with the alleger in I which he indicated that fraud might be involved with the test l data used to obtain code approval of E-Brite 26-1, the NRC staff notified the American Society of Mechanical Engineers .

( ASME) of the allegation. The staff also gave a copy of the  !

1 allegation to the current patent holder for E-Brite 26-1, Allegheny Ludlum Steel.

4 In June 1987, the NRC staff reviewed the court records in the case of PVI Industries vs. Mattie Wolfe~ Company and The B0C Group. The court case involved failure of E-Brite 26-1 at an Air Force base.

5. In July 1987, the issue of falsification of data to obtain ASME Code approval was referred to the NRC Office of Investigations. ,

Q/j Originated: NRR:Conway 8801280638 Og2O CE PDR hRES

i Recently, the NRC has received verbal information concerning use of E-Brite 26-1 in specific nuclear power plants,'as-follows:

1. The Perry Nuclear Power Plant was reported to have E-Brite 26-1 tubes in the main condenser. NRC followup determined that the tubes had been fabricated of 304 stainless steel, not E-Brite 26-1.

2. An NRC staff member thought that Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (ANO-2) might have E-Brite 26-1 in some heat exchangers. An inquiry determined that the two shutdown cooling heat exchangers had been retubed in 1981 with E-Brite 26-1, furnished by Allegheny Ludlum. The staff is currently reviewing this use of E-Brite 26-1 and has scheduled an inspection of the Allegheny Ludlum production facility. If other utilities are identified as a result of that inspection, followup action will be taken.

The NRC staff has not been able to substantiate any safety problem to date as a result of the possible use of E-Brite 26-1 in nuclear power plants. However, the staff has taken and will continue to take prudent actions to determine the validity of the fraud allegations and to follow leads on the use of E-Brite 26-1 at specific plants. In addition, the NRC staff is developing an Information Notice to alert the industry to the issues raised regarding E-Brite 26-1. Should the ASME review of the fraud allegations, which should be completed in two months, or our own investigation conclude that the advertised properties of E-Brite 26-1 are in question, further steps to query all licensees as to the use of E-Brite 26-1 would be taken.

In telephone conversations on December 18, 1987 and January 6, 1988, the NRC staff briefed Mr. Stephen Ryan of the staff of the Governmental Affairs Committee on the status of the NRC actions on this matter. We will continue to keep him informed of any significant new information.

Sincerely, (N . /--ok h ,

Lando W. Zech, r.

cc: Senator William V. Roth, Jr.

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v~ i FDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL ACTION's FROM: DilE : 12/21/87 EDO CONTROL: 003359 DOC DT: 12/02/87 SEN. JOHN GLFNN, CHAIRMAN , FINAt RFPLY:

COMMITTFF ON GOVERNMFNTAL AFFAIRS TO:

CHA7RMAN 7ECH FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** PRIORITY ** SECY NO: 1399 CHAIRMAN ZECH DESC: ROllTING:

EXPRESSES CONCERN RE USE OF STAINtESS STFEL. STFLLO PRODUCT IDENTIFIED AS E-BRITE 26-1 IN COMMERCIAL TAYLOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS REHM MURRAY DATE: 12/11/87 RFnIONS I - V ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MitRtEY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

8 NRR RECEIVED: DECEMBER 11, 1987 ACTION:

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NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK

!I MIRAGLIA ADT GILL?.SPIE ACTION TsOMAs t$$uaG DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BY .bw %, ng7

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE ; CONTROL T.ICKET '

PAPER NUMBER:- CRC-87-1399- -

LOGGING DATE: iDec 11'87 n

ACTION OFFICE: EDO : ,

AUTHOR: J. Glenni AFFILIATION: U.S,1SENATEi LETIER DATE: Dec <2 87 FILE' CODE: ,

1

SUBJECT:

• Express concern ro use of;stainlass steel product >

identified as :E-Brite 26-1 in nuc reactors in commercial nuc power 4 plants 1 ACTIOlis Bl.gnatura of Chrirman DISTRIBUTION: RF, OCA to Ack j SPECIAL HANDLING: ;Nonoi ,

NOTES:

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DATE dup: Doc K 87 SIGNATURE: . DATE '. SIGNE D':

AFFILIATION:

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