Information Notice No. 91-21, Supplement 1:Inadequate Quality Assurance Program of Vendor Supplying Safety-Related Equipment
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 December 7, 1993 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 91-21, SUPPLEMENT 1: INADEQUATE QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM OF VENDOR SUPPLYING SAFETY-RELATED EQUIPMENT Addressees All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power reactors and all recipients of NUREG-0040, "Licensee Contractor and Vendor Inspection Status Report" (White Book). Purpose The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this supplement to the original information notice to alert addressees of additional information related to the quality assurance program at Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated (MMI). It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. Description of Circumstances On March 19, 1991, the NRC issued Information Notice 91-21, "Inadequate Quality Assurance Program of Vendor Supplying Safety-Related Equipment" which provided the findings from a May 1990 NRC inspection of the quality assurance program at Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated (MMI). MMI manufactures and supplies replacement hardware for watertight doors that are used in nuclear safety-related applications and, therefore, is subject to the requirements of Appendix B to Part 50 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50). On March 30, 1993, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service executed a Federal search warrant at Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated, and its affiliate, Overbeke-Kaine Manufacturing Company, Incorporated (O-K). The NRC reviewed the seized documents which consisted of blank "cut and pasted" certificates of conformance, material certifications, and certifications bearing the seal of a registered professional engineer. Other documents seized disclosed that Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated, and Overbeke-Kaine Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, furnished closure doors and replacement parts to approximately 32 nuclear power plants. 9311190458. IN 91-21, Supplement 1 December 7, 1993 Page 2 of 2 Discussion After Information Notice 91-21 was issued, several licensees informed the NRC that they did not accept material supplied by Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated because of a lack of documentation and subsupplier control, including the lack of material traceability. These licensee actions were the result of deficiencies identified during licensee implementation audits of the quality assurance program at MMI. In some cases, licensees reclassified the nonconforming material as commercial grade and then dedicated it for safety- related service. One licensee received several documents from MMI that exhibited signs of alterations for safety-related material and replacement parts which were purchased to meet the requirements of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50. The extent of the alterations included date changes made to the "purchase order" and "date shipped" blocks of a shipping notice from United States Steel Corporation to Thypin Steel Company, Incorporated (a material supplier to MMI). No alterations were observed in the chemical analysis section of the form which identified the metallurgical composition of the material. The licensee also identified a certification from Crane Packing Company that exhibited alterations in the "date" and "date shipped" blocks. The document certified that the packing material conformed to MMI purchase order requirements. The licensee evaluated the effect of these alterations and concluded that no safety concern existed. The Mock Manufacturing, Incorporated, and Overbeke-Kaine Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, documents recently seized by the DCIS represent possible falsification of material and professional engineer certifications which may have been relied upon by licensees. The NRC has concerns that nuclear safety-related material may be affected. This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager. /s/'d by BKGrimes Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical contact: Robert L. Pettis, Jr., NRR (301) 504-3214 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021