Information Notice No. 88-97, Supplement 1: Potentially Substandard Valve Replacement Parts
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
April 28, 1989
Information Notice No. 88-97, SUPPLEMENT 1: POTENTIALLY SUBSTANDARD VALVE
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This supplement is being provided to update information concerning potential
problems resulting from the manufacture and distribution of valve replacement
parts that may be substandard. It is expected that re-cipients will review the
information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as
appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in
this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no
specific action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
On October 21, 1988, Consumers Power Company (CPCo) submitted a 10 CFR Part 21
report to the NRC regarding valve internals for Masoneilan-Dresser Industries
(M-D) valves that were found to be manufactured by companies not authorized to
manufacture M-D valve parts. The M-D valve internal replacement parts were
procured as non-safety-related from Sample-Webtrol Controls Incorporated
(S-W), Livonia, Michigan, an authorized M-D sales representative. S-W records
indi-cate that all of the parts were manufactured by and procured from either
Cor-Val or Control Valve Specialists, Incorporated (CVS), both of whom are
located in Houma, Louisiana. Some of the parts were found to be dimensionally
and, in some cases, metallurgically incorrect.
On December 22, 1988, CPCo updated its October 21, 1988, 10 CFR Part 21
report. CPCo identified an additional 13 parts that were not genuine M-D
parts. These parts were procured by CPCo from H. H. Barnum, the M-D
authorized sales repre-sentative that preceded S-W. Six valve plug retaining
pins were found to have undersized expanded diameters. Five of the six pins
were supplied to H. H. Barnum by the M-D Houston facility, although M-D could
not determine the manu-facturer. Seven valve seat rings were found to be
dimensionally incorrect. Two of the seven seat rings were manufactured by
CVS; however, the manufacturer of the remaining five has not been determined.
8904240246
. IN 88-97, Supplement 1
April 28, 1989
Page 2 of 2
On March 8, 1989, discussions with M-D and CPCo personnel revealed that 15
additional M-D valve internal replacement parts (out of 239 parts inspected)
recently were found to be nonconforming. CPCo procured the parts from either
S-W Controls or H. H. Barnum. Twelve of the fifteen nonconforming parts were
identified by either tags or packaging that indicated the parts originated
from the M-D Norwood, Massachusetts, facility. The origin of the remaining
three nonconforming parts has not been determined. At this time, the
manufacturer of the 15 nonconforming parts has also not been determined.
Discussion:
From a review of the circumstances, it appears that potentially substandard
valve internal replacement parts may possibly enter the nuclear parts supply
system either directly from secondary source manufacturers (e.g., CVS and
Cor-Val) or from the distribution centers of original equipment manufacturers.
In the examples discussed, a licensee ordered parts for safety-related
applications as commercial grade and failed to adequately verify that the
parts would perform their function. The authorized distributor procured the
parts from both the original equipment manufacturer and secondary sources
without ensuring, in all cases, that the parts were equivalent. In addition,
the original equipment manufacturer purchased parts from subcontractors and
did not adequately verify that the parts would fulfill their function.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional
office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 492-0979
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 88-97, Supplement 1
April 28, 1989
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
89-42 Failure of Rosemount 4/21/89 All holders of OLs
Models 1153 and 1154 or CPs for nuclear
Transmitters power reactors.
89-41 Operator Response to 4/20/89 All holders of OLs
Pressurization of Low- or CPs for nuclear
Pressure Interfacing power reactors.
Systems
88-75, Disabling of Diesel 4/17/89 All holders of OLs
Supplement 1 Generator Output Circuit or CPs for nuclear
Breakers by Anti-Pump power reactors.
Circuitry
89-40 Unsatisfactory Operator Test 4/14/89 All holders of OLs
Results and Their Effect on or CPs for nuclear
the Requalification Program power reactors.
89-39 List of Parties Excluded 4/5/89 All holders of OLs
from Federal Procurement or CPs for nuclear
or Non-Procurement Programs power reactors.
89-38 Atmospheric Dump Valve 4/5/89 All holders of OLs
Failures at Palo Verde or CPs for nuclear
Units 1, 2, and 3 power reactors.
89-37 Proposed Amendments to 4/4/89 All U.S. NRC
40 CFR Part 61, Air licensees.
Emission Standards
for Radionuclides
89-36 Excessive Temperatures 4/4/89 All holders of OLs
in Emergency Core Cooling or CPs for nuclear
System Piping Located power reactors.
Outside Containment
88-86, Operating with Multiple 3/31/89 All holders of OLs
Supp. 1 Grounds in Direct Current or CPs for nuclear
Distribution Systems power reactors.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021