View source for PNO-III-78-193, on 781109,received Allegation Re Qualification of Welders Performing Safe End Repair Work at Plant.State of IA Informed

{{Adams
| number = ML20216J736
| issue date = 11/15/1978
| title = PNO-III-78-193:on 781109,received Allegation Re Qualification of Welders Performing Safe End Repair Work at Plant.State of IA Informed
| author name = Klingler G, Nolan F
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION &amp; ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 05000331
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = PNO-78-193, NUDOCS 9804210474
| document type = PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR OCCURRENCE (PNO,, TEXT-INSPECTION &amp; AUDIT &amp; I&amp;E CIRCULARS
| page count = 2
}}
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t fD(a Cr E l % G Cff PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION                        N            '
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November 15, 1978                               !
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-193 This preliminary riotification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation
_and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
_ Facility:  Iowa Electric Light and Power Company Duane Arnold, (DN 50-331), Palo IA

==Subject:==
ALLEGED WELDING DEFICIENCIES Region III (Chicago) received an allegation by telephone on November 9, 1978, concerning the qualification of welders performing the safe end                                I
;                       repair work at Duane Arnold. Region III initiated an investigation on November 12, 1978.                                                                                    {
1 i   i While the investigation is still in progress, a number of substantive                             '   '
concerns have been identified with respect to welder qualifications and the licensee's quality assurance system. Furthermore, NRC learned during                              l
                                                                                                                         %   l the investigation that a recent QA audit by Iowa Electric had disclosed                           -
1
                  .'   similar concerns with respect to welder qualification.
                )      As a result of these preliminary findings senior NRC representatives met i
with licensee corporate management on November 14, 1978, to discuss the                           :
apparent lack of management control associated with the repair activities.                        !
During the meeting Iowa Electric management committed to defer further welding operations until a review of the concerns had been completed, identified problems had been resolved, and existing management and pro-cedural controls reevaluated to assure quality welding operations. An Immediate Action Letter will be issued confirming the commitments made by the licensee.                                                                                      '
Region III is continuing the investigation and will take whatever addi-tional steps are necessary to assure.that the repairs are ade,quate.
Members of the public and the news media were informed of the allegations by the NRC during a meeting held by NRC with Iowa Electric in Cedar Rapids,
!                      Iowa, on November 14, 1978. The allegations and the investigation are receiving media interest. Continued media interest is anticipated due to the public interest in the piping problems at Duane Arnold.             The~ State               -
of Iowa h,as been informed.
Region III received notification of the allegation by telephone on November 9,1978. This information is current as of 9:00 a.m. on November 15, 1978.
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                                                                                                          ]) ;. 0L CONTINUED 9804210474 781115 PDR      I&E PNO 78-193            P DR,. .        _ _ _ _ _ . . _ . _       __. _ . . . _ -                  - - -

1 Page 2                                                          November 15, 1978.
O' '       Continued                                                       PNO-78-193
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==Contact:==
GRKlingler. IE x28019;    F. Nolan, IE, x28019 Distribution:     TransmittedHStJ/Of.,,
Chairman Hendrie                Commissioner Bradford     S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy            Commissioner Ahearne      C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky (ForDistribution)              {
8/Ad.                                                                j Transmitted: MNBB.4 25-         P B1dg # !2 5'            J. G. Davis, IE                 J L. V. Gossick, ED0              H. R. Denton, NRR S. H. Hanauer, EDO              R. C. DeYoung, NRR Regiong/ .2df  -
(
J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR N. M. Haller, MPA               V. Stello, NRR R. G. Ryan, OSP                 R. S. Boyd, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg p.'3 0            (MAIL)                   j C. V. Smith, HMSS         J. J. Cummings, DIA      ;
R. Minogue, SD             ,
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