ML20213A120
| ML20213A120 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/17/1987 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Mollohan A HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20213A122 | List: |
| References | |
| IEIN-86-025, IEIN-86-25, NUDOCS 8704270399 | |
| Download: ML20213A120 (4) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES S
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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,i WASHINGTON, D. C. 20066 APR 17 E The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan United States Hot se of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Mollohan:
This responds to your letter dated March 30, 1987 to James Taylor, Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, pertaining to your constituent's concerns regarding " bolts from foreign countries that are not safe for use."
The Jack Anderson articles referenced in your constituent's letter indicate that counterfeit, inferior grade fasteners manufactured in Asia have been used in the nuclear industry.
One of Mr. Anderson's articles also states that quality control problems with bolts have been identified by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspectors at 11 plant sites and summarizes 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 Information 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 enbarked 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 evalvete the potential presence of counterfeit fasteners within the nuclear industry. Results indicated that of 21 bolts marked as 3AE grade 8. five were actually SAE grade 8.2.
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i The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan '
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-i tions and will selectively obtain additional bolts from various nuclear power plants and bolt suppliers and manufacturers and the Vendor Program Branch is continuing to inspect bolt suppliers and manufacturers.
I am enclosing copies of Information Notices issued to the industry on this subject. Please feel free to contact my office if additional information is required.
Sincerely, Original Signed BA James M. Taylor I
Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1.
Information Notice 86-25, Supplement 1 4
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DISTRIBUTION:
DCS NRC PDR VPB. Reading (87-129)
DOAVT Reading VStello, ED0 TRehm, ED0 I
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DUE: 04/17/87 EDO CONTROL: 002702 DOC DT: 03/30/87 REP. ALAN B.
MOLLOHAN FINAL REPLY:
i TO:
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JAMES TAYLOR FOR SIGNATURE OF GREEN SECY NO:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:
ROUTING:
i ENCLOSES LETTER FROM HENRY F. LAWRENCE CONCERNING DENTON BOLTS WE BUY FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES & USE IN OCA NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ARE NOT SAFE SECY DATE: 04/03/87 ASSIGNED TO: IE CONTACT: TAYLOR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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