ML20212R266
| ML20212R266 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/17/1987 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Petri T HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212R267 | List: |
| References | |
| IEIN-86-025, IEIN-86-25, NUDOCS 8704270033 | |
| Download: ML20212R266 (5) | |
Text
4
' [May 'o UNITED STATES 8
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20666 APR 17198F The Honorable Thomas E. Petri United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Petri:
This responds to your letter dated March 6,1987 to Carlton Kammerer Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, pertaining to your constituent's concerns regarding the use of " fake bolts" in U.S. nuclear plants.
The Jack Anderson article in the Herald-Times-Reporter issue dated January 22, 1987 and referenced in your constituent's letter indicates that counterfeit, inferior grade fasteners manufactured in Asia have been used in the nuclear industry.
Subsequent articles by Mr. Anderson also state that quality control problems with bolts have been identified by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspectors at 11 plant sites and summarize the difficulties of handling and using correct bolts and nuts in specific applications at four sites.
The bolting problems found by the NRC inspectors from 1982 to 1986 at 11 nuclear sites did not involve counterfeit or physically inferior fasteners, but related to loss of traceability back through the manufacturing process.
These problems were described in NRC Infonnation Notice No. 86-25 " Trace-ability and Material Control of Material and Equipment, Particularly Fasteners,"
which was issued on April 11, 1986 to inform the nuclear industry of these potential problems so that appropriate actions could be taken to prevent similar problems from occurring at their facilities.
A problem with incorrect markings of SAE bolts has been identified by the Industrial Fastener Institute (IFI). Their concern relates to the mismarking and substitution of SAE J429K grade 8.2 bolts for SAE J429K grade 8.
Grade 8 bolts are primarily used in automotive applications, but are occasionally used in safety-related applications at nuclear power plants.
For this reason, the NRC issued a supplement to Information Notice 86-25 describing the substitution problem and embarked on a testing program.
The NRC Vendor Program Branch of the Office of Inspection and Enforcement (OIE),
starting in the summer of 1986, tested and evaluated a random selection of bolts from various nuclear power plants and bolt suppliers and manufacturers.
The program was undertaken to verify fastener compliance with applicable material specifications and to evaluate the potential presence of counterfeit fasteners within the nuclear industry. Results indicated that of 21 bolts marked as SAE grade 8, five were actually SAE grade 8.2.
B7042 g 33 Q [ R j
The Honorable Thomas E. Petri i SAE grade 8.2 bolts have the same mechanical characteristics as SAE grade 8 at temperatures below approximately 620 F.
Using a grade 8.2 bolt in lieu of a grade 8 bolt above this temperature might result in stress relaxation (slight, elongation) of the grade 8.2 bolt. Stress relaxation would, for example, be expected to result in leakage from a flanged joint. As of this date, we are not aware of any safety-related grade 8 or 8.2 bolts being used in high temperature applications at nuclear power plants.
The NRC is continuing to test fasteners designated for safety-related applica-tions and will selectively obtain additional bolts from various nuclear power plants and bolt suppliers and manufacturers and the Vendor Program Branch is j
continuing to inspect bolt suppliers and manufacturers.
I am enclosing copies of the Information Notices issued to the industry on this subject. Please feel free to contact my office if additional information is required.
Sincerely, Original Signed By; James M. Taylor Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operatiens
Enclosures:
1.
Information Notice 86-25, Supplement 1
O The Honorable Thomas E. Petri DISTRIBUTION: w/o enclosures DCS NRC PDR VPB Reading (87-130) 00AVT Reading VStello, EDO TRehm, EDO JRoe, ED0 JSniezek, DEDR0GR HDenton, NRR JTaylor, IE TMurley, RI JNGrace, RII ABDavis, RIII RDMartin, RIV JBMartin, RV BGrimes, IE HMiller, IE RBosnak, NRR EMerschoff, IE ETBaker, IE JConway, IE JHarper, IE MBridgers (ED0 2704)
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,4 EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL
.I FROM:
DUE: 04/20/87 EDO CONTROL: 002704 DOC DT: 03/06/87 REP. THOMAS E. PETRI FINAL REPLY:
TO:
OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF:
GREEN SECY NO: 87-259 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:
ROUTING:
ENCLO3ES LETTER FROM WILLIAM KRACHT RE FAKE BOLTS DENTON AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS DATE: 04/06/87 ASSIGNED TO: IE CONTACT: TAYLOR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
O
~
I OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-87-0259 LOGGING DATE: Mar 13 87 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
T.E.
PETRI AFFILIATION:
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LETTER DATE:
Mar 6 87 FILE CODE:
SUBJECT:
Constituent's concerns re use of substandard bolts in nuclear power plants ACTION:
Direct Reply I
DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack.
SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:
William Kracht g /'I i[ L c/N DATE DUE:
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i SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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Rec'd 011. ECO Date 3- : i - ? J - l-d- V 7 tim.
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