Information Notice No. 79-31 - Use of Incorrect Amplified Response Spectra (ARS)

IN79031 

                              UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                         WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 
                                     
                            December 11, 1979 

MEMORANDUM FOR:     B. H. Grier, Director, Region I 
                    J. P. O'Reilly, Director, Region II 
                    J. G. Keppler, Director, Region III 
                    K. V. Seyfrit, Director, Region IV 
                    R. H. Engelken, Director, Region V 

FROM:               Norman C. Moseley, Director, ROI:IE 

SUBJECT:            Information Notice No. 79-31 - USE OF INCORRECT 
                    AMPLIFIED RESPONSE SPECTRA (ARS) 

The subject Information Notice is transmitted for issuance on December 13, 
1979. The Information Notice should be issued to all holders of power 
reactor Operating Licenses and Construction Permits. Also enclosed is a 
draft copy of the transmittal letter for this purpose. 


                                        Norman C. Moseley, Director 
                                        Division of Reactor Operations 
                                          Inspection 
                                        Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Enclosures: 
1.   Draft Transmittal Letter 
2.   Information Notice No. 
       No. 79-31 

CONTACT:  C. J. DeBevec, IE 
          49-28180 
.

(Draft letter to all holders of power reactor Operating Licenses and 
Construction Permits)  

                                             Information Notice No. 79-31

Addressee: 

This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possibly 
significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the 
information for possible applicability to their facilities. No specific 
action or response is requested at this time. If further NRC evaluations so 
indicate, an IE Circular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request 
specific licensee actions. If you have questions regarding this matter, 
please contact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office. 

                                        Sincerely, 


                                        Signature  
                                        (Regional Director) 

Enclosures: 
1.   Information Notice No. 
       No. 79-31 
2.   List of IE Information 
       Notices Recently Issued 
.

                                                            SSINS: 6870 
                                                            Accession No.: 
                                                            7910250507 

                               UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                   OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 
                          WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 
                                     
                             December 13, 1979 

                                           Information Notice No. 79-31 

USE OF INCORRECT AMPLIFIED RESPONSE SPECTRA (ARS) 

Description of Circumstances: 

Recently, the NRC was informed that, during a review of valve weights in 
conjunction with the as-built review for IE Bulletin 79-14 at North Anna 
Unit 1, it was discovered that incorrect amplified response spectra (ARS) 
had been used as input to the analyses of some piping on both units 1 and 2. 
The reanalyses are being performed by Stone & Webster (S&W), the Architect 
Engineer for the Virginia Electric & Power Company's facilities. Similarly, 
Public Service Company of New Hampshire informed the NRC that the wrong ARS 
were used for the design of some containment supports at their Seabrook 
units. The Architect Engineer for these plants is United Engineers & 
Constructors (UE&C). 

The NRC is currently pursuing this issue in detail with S&W and UE&C to 
determine the extent of the problem and the generic implications for other 
facilities. 

This Information Notice is provided as an early notification of a possible 
significant matter. It is expected that recipients will review the 
information for possible applicability to their facilities. Specific action 
has been requested by IE Bulletin 79-14. This bulletin requires that input 
to seismic analyses of piping, which includes the use of the correct ARS, be
verified against the as-built condition of the plant. No specific actions 
are requested in response to this Information Notice. If NRC evaluations so 
indicate, further licensee actions may be requested or required. If you have
any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the 
appropriate NRC Regional Office. 

No written response to this Information Notice No. is required. 

Enclosure: 
List of IE Information 
  Notices Recently Issued