Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
November 20, 1989
Information Notice No. 89-75: FALSIFICATION OF WELDER QUALIFICATIONS
FOR CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is intended to alert addressees to potential
problems related to the need to assure that welding personnel hired to
perform activities affecting safety are properly qualified in accordance
with ASME Code requirements. It is expected that recipients will review the
information for applicability to their facilities and activities, 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:
In 1984, Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) hired Southwestern
Engineering Company (SECO) to modify and install moisture separator reheater
(MSR) internals at the licensee's North Anna and Surry Nuclear Power
Stations in late 1984 and early 1985. SECO, in turn, formed a joint venture
with Powerplant Specialists, Inc. (PSI) for craft labor (boilermakers,
welders, etc.) to perform the work. Welder qualification for the MSR
projects was to be completed in accordance with the specifications set forth
in Section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Investigation
activities by NRC, prompted by an allegation, revealed that 16 of the 45
boilermaker/welder personnel utilized for the VEPCO projects were properly
tested and certified by an authorized, independent testing facility.
Although Welder Qualification Test (WQT) records were completed by PSI for
the remaining 29 welder personnel, indicating that the test welds were
prepared, welded, and tested in accordance with the requirements of Section
IX of the ASME Code, the investigation revealed that company officials
intentionally falsified the welders' records by certifying them without
requiring the proficiency tests.
Discussion:
It is important to note that it is the responsibility of each licensee to
assure that welders assigned to nuclear power plant tasks, whether or not
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IN 89-75
November 20, 1989
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the tasks are categorized as safety-related, are qualified to the
appropriate standard. In the specific circumstances cited above, the welder
qualification records were falsified by PSI to the licensee through SECO,
and recipients of this notice should be aware of the potential for this
situation at their facilities.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
one of the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate NRR project
manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: Gregory C. Cwalina, NRR
(301) 492-3221
Walter P. Haass, NRR
(301) 492-3219
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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