PNO-IV-87-013, discovered Evidence That UF6 Shipping Cylinders Have Stiffening Rings Fabricated from Matl Not Meeting Requirements of ANSI N 14.1-1971.Licensee Visual Insp of Cylinders Revealed No Defects

PNO-IV-87-013:discovered Evidence That UF6 Shipping Cylinders Have Stiffening Rings Fabricated from Matl Not Meeting Requirements of ANSI N 14.1-1971.Licensee Visual Insp of Cylinders Revealed No Defects

ML20205G194
Person / Time
Site:	04008027
Issue date:	03/26/1987
From:	Holley W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-87-013, PNO-IV-87-13, NUDOCS 8703310397
Download: ML20205G194 (2)

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Nf-Ml'7 p, March 26, 1987 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE " PN0-IV-87-13  !

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE j safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received

. without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the l Region IV staff on this date.

FACILITY: Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Licensee Emergency Classification:

Gore, Oklahoma Notification of Unusual Event License: 508-1010 Alert Site Area Emergency

! General Emergency X Not Applicable

SUBJECT:

STIFFENING RING MATERIAL OF CERTAIN UF6 SHIPPING CYLINDERS Region IV has evidence that certain UF g shipping cylinders have stiffening rings fabticated from material that may not meet the specifications required by ANSI N 14.1 - 1971. During the 1970's, W. H. Stewart Company of Oklahoma City,

{ Oklahoma, fabricated a number of these cylinders with suspect stiffening ring

! material. Sequoyah Fuels has received information that Eldorado Resources,

Ontario, Canada, has discovered cylinders with stiffening ring anomalies which were manufactured by W. H. Stewart.

Region IV is advised, by DOE and NMSS personnel with expert knowledge of these cylinders, that stiffening rings are fabricated on the UFg shipping cylinders i

primarily for handling purposes. At Sequoyah, cylinders are quality assurance inspected before shipment ensuring their condition, therefore, the hazard appears to be restricted to onsite handling. Sequoyah does not use handling holes on the rings for handling purposes, but other facilities may. Sequoyah Fuels has performed a thorough visual inspection on 24 suspect cylinders which revealed no defects. The licensee has agreed not to ship these cylinders from the plant until this issue has been resolved.

This problem is being pursued by the licensee, DOE, and NRC.

2 This information is current as of 8:30 a.m., March 26, 1987.

J Neither the licensee nor NRC has issued a press release / informed the news media.

Neither the licensee nor the NRC plans to issue a press release.

The state of Oklahoma will be informed.

This information has been confirmed with a licensee representative.

CONTACT: W. L. Holley, FTS 728-8198.

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k.QISTRIBUTION:

MAIL:

H. St. MNBB E/W Willste ADM:DMB (Original)

Chairman Zech EDO IE NMSS DOT:(Trans only)

Comm. Bernthal PA OIA RES Comm. Roberts ELD AE0D FAX:

Comm. Asselstine MPA VIB INP0 Comm. Carr NSAC ACRS SP (Air SECY Phillips Rights)

CA NRR RRI PDR DCS NRC OC LICENSE F Regional Offices (Reactor Licensee)

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