Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
December 16, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-97: POTENTIALLY SUBSTANDARD VALVE
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees about reports
concerning the manufacture and distribution of valve replacement parts for
Masoneilan-Dresser Industries (M-D) valves that were determined not to be
genuine M-D parts and possibly are substandard. It is expected that recipi-
ents will review the information for applicability to their facilities and
consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, sug-
gestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC require-
ments; 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 M-D valves that were found not
to be manufactured by an authorized M-D manufacturer. CPCo reported that it
had identified approximately 65 questionable valve internals (e.g., valve
stems, plugs/discs, cages, seat rings, and retainer pins) after an M-D field
service representative pointed out that several valve internal parts for an
M-D turbine bypass valve at CPCo's Palisades Nuclear Plant were not genuine
M-D parts.
Discussion:
During the 1986 Palisades refueling outage, CPCo sent the subject turbine by-
pass valve to an M-D authorized facility for refurbishment after experiencing
leakage problems with the valve. CPCo also sent to the M-D authorized
facility the valve replacement parts since the parts were in-stock items at
the Palisades warehouse. After the valve was refurbished and reinstalled,
CPCo continued to experience leakage problems with the valve. However, CPCo
decided to continue operating with the leakage and to wait until the 1988
refueling outage to re-solve the problem.
8812120047
. IN 88-97
December 16, 1988
Page 2 of 2
During the 1988 refueling outage, CPCo decided to perform the valve refurbish-
ment at the Palisades plant and requested onsite technical support from M-D.
During the valve disassembly process, the M-D field service representative
pointed out that some of the valve internals had different dimensional and
metallurgical characteristics from typical M-D parts. The installed parts had
been provided by CPCo and installed in the bypass valve at the authorized M-D
facility during the 1986 outage. The M-D representative also identified ad-
ditional valve internal parts in the Palisades warehouse that he stated were
different from typical M-D parts. CPCo believes that all the parts came from
the same purchase order. Subsequent CPCo investigations determined that the
authorized M-D distributor procured some of the valve parts from manufacturers
that are not authorized to make M-D parts.
On November 18, 1988, M-D transmitted a letter to the NRC regarding this issue
(Attachment 1) indicating that a potential for malfunction of M-D valves
exists if parts manufactured by unauthorized companies are installed.
The 10 CFR Part 21 notification submitted by CPCo, the attached M-D letter,
and the NRC staff reviews have brought into question the ability of a valve to
perform its safety-related function when internal parts are substandard to the
valve manufacturer's authorized replacement parts. Accordingly, addressees
may wish to review whether they have an adequate basis for accepting valve
replacement parts, especially those purchased for safety-related applications,
and to contact the appropriate manufacturers or distributors to confirm the
authenticity of any questionable parts.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropri-
ate regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: Joe Petrosino, NRR
(301) 492-0979
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1170
Attachments:
1. Letter to NRC from M-D
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment 2
IN 88-97
December 16, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
88-96 Electrical Shock Fatalities 12/14/88 All holders of OLs
at Nuclear Power Plants or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-95 Inadequate Procurement 12/8/88 All holders of OLs
Requirements Imposed by or CPs for nuclear
Licensees on Vendors power reactors.
88-94 Potentially Undersized 12/2/88 All holders of OLs
Valve Actuators or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-93 Teletherapy Events 12/2/88 All NRC medical
licensees.
88-92 Potential for Spent Fuel 11/22/88 All holders of OLs
Pool Draindown or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-91 Improper Administration 11/22/88 All holders of OLs
and Control of or CPs for nuclear
Psychological Tests power reactors and
all fuel cycle
facility licensees
who possess, use,
import, export, or
transport formula
quantities of
strategic special
nuclear material.
88-90 Unauthorized Removal of 11/22/88 All NRC licensees
Industrial Nuclear Gauges authorized to
possess, use,
manufacture, or
distribute
industrial nuclear
gauges.
88-89 Degradation of Kapton 11/21/88 All holders of OLs
Electrical Insulation or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
