Information Notice No. 88-62:Recent Findings Concerning Implementation of Quality Assurance Programs by Suppliers of Transport Packages

                                  UNITED STATES
                          NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                                 August 12, 1988


Information Notice No. 88-62:  RECENT FINDINGS CONCERNING IMPLEMENTATION 
                                   OF QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS BY SUPPLIERS 
                                   OF TRANSPORT PACKAGES


Addressees: 

All holders of NRC quality assurance program approval for radioactive material 
packages. 

Purpose: 

This notice is provided to inform addressees of the results of NRC inspections 
of the implementation of NRC-approved Quality Assurance (QA) programs by 
persons who fabricate and supply packages to users.  It is suggested that 
addressees review the information for applicability to their operations, and 
institute corrective action, as may be appropriate.  However, suggestions 
contained in this notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore no 
specific action or written response is required. 

Description of Circumstances: 

NRC inspections of suppliers of transport packages have found various degrees 
of failure to fulfill NRC-approved QA programs, including cases of complete 
failure to implement the programs.  The most severe cases resulted in NRC 
withdrawal of the QA program approvals.  This action can have serious effects 
on the package supplier's continued operations, as well as the operations of 
users of the package. 

Discussion: 

NRC regulations require holders of NRC-approved QA programs to document the 
implementation of their programs through written procedures and instructions. 
The inadequacies of these programs appear to be the result of lack of 
adherence to this requirement.  This has been confirmed by recent inspections 
which have identified instances of inadequate documentation in all areas of 
the QA program.  Examples of QA program requirements for which written 
procedures or activities were found deficient are set forth below: 

     a)   independence of personnel who verify that an activity is performed 
          correctly;





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     b)   qualification of personnel who perform special processes such as 
          welding;

     c)   assurance that procurement documents contain appropriate require-
          ments relating to the applicable requirements of Subpart H of 10 CFR 
          Part 71 and 10 CFR Part 21;

     e)   corrective action systems;

     f)   training and indoctrination of personnel performing activities 
          affecting quality;

     g)   control of documents, including review and approval of changes by 
          authorized personnel;

     h)   assurance that sufficient records are available to furnish objective
          evidence of activities affecting quality.  (As a minimum, records 
          should include operating logs; results of inspections, tests, and 
          audits; qualification of personnel procedures and equipment; and 
          design, procurement, and fabrication data.)

     i)   performance of audits and qualification of auditors.

NRC-approved QA programs applicable to user-licensees may only cover 
activities related to procurement, maintenance, repair and use.  NRC 
recognized that other QA activities are performed by suppliers of packages, 
including design, fabrication, assembly, test and modification that are 
required to be controlled under Subpart H of 10 CFR Part 71.  In such cases, 
user-licensees should assure themselves that those activities are conducted in 
accordance with the suppliers' NRC approved QA program by obtaining 
appropriate certification from the supplier. 

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the individual 
identified below. 




                         Robert F. Burnett, Director
                         Division of Safeguards and Transportation
                         Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

Technical Contact:  C.E. MacDonald, NMSS 
                    (301) 492-3384 

Attachment:  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices 
.                                                            Attachment 
                                                            IN 88-62 
                                                            August 12, 1988 
                                                            Page 1 of 1

                             LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
                            NRC INFORMATION NOTICES 
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information                                  Date of 
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________

88-61          Control Room Habitability -   8/11/88        All holders of OLs
               Recent Reviews of Operating                  or CPs for nuclear
               Experience                                   power reactors. 

88-60          Inadequate Design and         8/11/88        All holders of OLs
               Installation of Watertight                   or CPs for nuclear
               Penetration Seals                            power reactors. 

88-04,         Inadequate Qualification      8/9/88         All holders of OLs
Supplement 1   and Documentation of Fire                    or CPs for nuclear
               Barrier Penetration Seals                    power reactors. 

88-59          Main Steam Isolation Valve    8/9/88         All holders of OLs
               Guide Rail Failure at                        or CPs for nuclear
               Waterford Unit 3                             power reactors. 

88-58          Potential Problems with       8/8/88         All holders of OLs
               ASEA Brown Boveri ITE-51L                    or CPs for nuclear
               Time-Overcurrent Relays                      power reactors. 

88-57          Potential Loss of Safe        8/8/88         All holders of OLs
               Shutdown Equipment Due to                    or CPs for nuclear
               Premature Silicon Controlled                 power reactors. 
               Rectifier Failure 

88-56          Potential Problems with       8/4/88         All holders of OLs
               Silicone Foam Fire Barrier                   or CPs for nuclear
               Penetration Seals                            power reactors. 

88-55          Potential Problems Caused     8/3/88         All holders of OLs
               by Single Failure of an                      or CPs for nuclear
               Engineered Safety Feature                    power reactors. 
               Swing Bus 

88-54          Failure of Circuit Breaker    7/28/88        All holders of OLs
               Following Installation of                    or CPs for nuclear
               Amptector Direct Trip                        power reactors. 
               Attachment 
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit