View source for Information Notice 1986-45, Potential Falsification of Test Reports on Flanges Manufactured by Golden Gate Forge and Flange, Inc

{{Adams
| number = ML031220676
| issue date = 06/10/1986
| title = Potential Falsification of Test Reports on Flanges Manufactured by Golden Gate Forge and Flange, Inc
| author name = Jordan E
| author affiliation = NRC/IE
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = IN-86-045
| document type = NRC Information Notice
| page count = 3
}}
{{#Wiki_filter:118 ORIGINAL                              SSINS No.:     6835 UNITED STATES                      Eb D.Wither

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION            vce Prsdent. Nucer

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT          JUN 161986 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555             RouS TO

June 10, 1986                            -
IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-45:   POTENTIAL FALSIFICATION OF TEST REPORTS ON

FLANGES MANUFACTURED BY GOLDEN GATE FORGE

AND FLANGE, INC.

==Addressees==
:
All nuclear reactor facilities (including test and research facilities) holding

an operating license (OL) or a construction permit (CP).

==Purpose==
:
This notice is provided to alert recipients to potential falsification of

certifications for piping flanges. It is expected that recipients will review

*the information for applicability to their facilities. However, suggestions

contained in this notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no

specific action or written response is required. Further efforts are underway

and more definitive information and specific requirements for licensee action

may be issued in the future.

==Description of Circumstances==
:
On March 7, 1986 the NRC received notification from Consolidated Pipe and Valve

Supply Company (CP&VS) of a potentially reportable condition under 10 CFR Part 21 regarding forged flanges fabricated by Golden Gate Forge and Flange (GGF&F) Inc.

located at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California. Subsequently, some GGF&F

management personnel and the president of a testing laboratory (Westex) pleaded

guilty and were sentenced in Federal Court on criminal charges in connection

with falsification of test certifications for material supplied to the U.S.

Department of Defense (DOD).

The convictions were based on falsifications of records and fraud related to

copper nickel forged flanges for marine applications. These activities involved

(1)altering independent laboratory test reports to make unacceptable material

appear acceptable, (2)delivering and representing unacceptable or untested

material from several heats as originating from a single heat for which accept- able test results were available, and (3) altering original material manufacturer

mill test reports to make unacceptable material appear acceptable. The NRC

cannot conclude by the currently available information whether any defective

material has been supplied for use at nuclear power plants. However, GGF&F

certifications furnished by Consolidated Pipe and Valve Supply Company to NRC

for material supplied to D.C. Cook and Midland appear to indicate that GGF&F

Copies to:   Withers, Yundt, Lentsch, Orser, Steele, E. Burton, E. Jordan, A. Holm, LIS, C. A. Olmstead, S. Hoag, S. Sautter, TNP:GOV REL F:NRC CHRONO,
             TNP:GOV REL F:NRC IE Information Notice 86-45 PGE OAR Action - M.:E. Malmros (Due 8/22/86)
NSRD Action - M. H. Malmros

>t

*IN        86-45 June 10, 1986 failed to perform required heat treatment, testing of mechanical properties

after forging, and nondestructive examination (NDE). These licensees have been

separately informed.

Golden Gate Forge and Flange receives alloy materials in ingot or bar form to

forge and machine the flanges. The steel mills that produce the alloy materials

provide certificates of chemical and mechanical properties of those materials

before forging. In some cases, samples are required to be submitted to inde- pendent testing laboratories to allow certification of chemical and mechanical

properties after forging. In the case of material supplied to DOD, both of these

types of reports were altered to make unacceptable or unevaluated material appear

acceptable.

Golden Gate Forge and Flange is incorporated in the State of Nevada; its only

place of business is at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California. GGF&F produces

a full range of flange sizes from 1/2 inch to 24 inches with pressure ratings

from 125 to 2500 psi. Materials available include carbon steel, stainless steel, high nickle and copper alloys. The flanges are supplied to specifications

including ASTM, ASME Section III Class I, and DOD.

Current information indicates that the falsifications took place from or before

May 1983 and continued at least until June 1984.

No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have

any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator- of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

--Edwar4L. Jordan, Director

Division of Emergency Preparedness

and Engineering Response

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

===Technical Contact:===
0. P. Gormley, IE

301-492-9763 Attachment:

===List of Recently Issue IE Information Notices===

Attachment 1 IN 86-45 June 10, 1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information                                   Date of

Notice No.     Subject                        Issue    Issued to

86-44          Failure To Follow Procedures   6/10/86  All power reactor

When Working In High                    facilities holding

Radiation Areas                         an OL or CP and

research and test

reactors

86-43          Problems With Silver Zeolite   6/10/86  All power reactor

Sampling Of Airborne Radio-             facilities holding

iodine                                 an OL or CP

86-42           Improper Maintenance Of       6/9/86   All power rector

Radiation Monitoring Systems           facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-41           Evaluation Of Questionable    6/9/86   All byproduct

Exposure Readings Of Licensee          material licensees

Personnel Dosimeters

86-32           Request For Collection Of     6/6/86   All power reactor

Sup. 1          Licensee Radioactivity                 facilities holding

Measurements Attributed To             an OL or CP

The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

Accident

86-40           Degraded Ability To Isolate   6/5/86   All power reactor

The Reactor Coolant System             facilities holding

From Low-Pressure Coolant              an 0L or CP

Systems in BWRS

86-39          Failures Of RHR Pump Motors   5/20/86  All power reactor

And Pump Internals                      facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-38          Deficient Operator Actions    5/20/86  All power reactor

Following Dual Function Valve           facilities holding

Failures                               an OL or CP

86-37          Degradation Of Station         5/16/86 All power reactor

Batteries                               facilities holding

an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit}}

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