Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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