Information Notice No. 88-48, Supplement 2 - Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished Valves
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 22, 1989
Information Notice No. 88-48, SUPPLEMENT 2: LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE
REFURBISHED VALVES
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to present additional information
regarding valves supplied by CMA International Incorporated (CMA), which was
initially discussed in Information Notice 88-48 and Supplement 1. It is
expected that recipients will review this information for applicability to
their facilities and consider action, 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.
Background:
As discussed in IN 88-48 in April 1988, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) informed
the NRC about a problem concerning Vogt 2-inch valves (Model No. 13111), which
exhibited excessive steam leaking around the bonnet and the stem. The valves
were supplied to PG&E by Western Valve Company as new valves. PG&E reported
that the valves were shipped to PG&E by CMA, of Vancouver, Washington. Subse-
quently Henry Vogt Company representatives examined the Vogt valves at PG&E
and determined that they were not manufactured by Vogt.
Description of Circumstances:
NRC has recently conducted two inspections of CMA to review their facilities,
procurement, and sales records. CMA provides new, new surplus, refurbished,
and modified valves to valve distribution companies who in turn sell directly
to nuclear power plants and other industries. IMA Valve Refurbisher, a
Division of CMA, operates from the same address as CMA and provides valve
repairing and refurbishing services. Both companies use the same shop and
shop personnel.
The NRC inspection team reviewed a large sample of CMA records, including
valve order packages and bills of lading from various shipping companies that
are used by CMA. The CMA valve order packages were found to contain documents
8908160129
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IN 88-48, Supplement 2
August 22, 1989
Page 2 of 4
and information such as; (1) IMA and CMA invoices, (2) IMA and CMA shop
orders, (3) IMA and CMA internal notes and directions to shop craftsmen, (4)
IMA Valve Refurbisher records, (5) bills of lading, (6) distributor purchase
orders/fascimiles, (7) CMA telephone notes regarding sources for valves
procured, (8) packing lists, and (9) other associated documents.
During the record review at CMA, numerous inconsistencies were observed
regarding the validity of the valves that were shipped on the CMA invoices to
customers purchasing commercial grade valves. Examples are as follows:
(1) On CMA Invoice 9127, dated July 23, 1986, six "Pacific" globe valves
(five 8" and one 3" valve) were sold to Zenith Supply Company in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and shipped by CMA to Arkansas Nuclear One
(ANO) in Russellville, Arkansas. However, a review of documents at CMA
reveals that at least one of the CMA supplied valves was a surplus
refurbished valve instead of a new valve as ordered by ANO.
(2) Zenith Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ordered at least one 24"
Crane-Chapman check valve from IMA Valve Refurbisher, under Zenith PO No.
84D8219 for Florida Power Corporation (FPC), PO No. F9022330X, during May
1984. A review of FPC records performed subsequent to the CMA inspection
indicates that the licensee procured the valves commercial grade and
upgraded them for a safety-related application based, in part, on a Crane
Service Center certificate that accompanied the valve order. However,
discussions between Crane representatives and NRC staff indicate that the
Crane certificate was not issued by Crane.
(3) In September 1986 CMA supplied two "Pacific" check valves, to Midwest
Valve and Supply, Detroit, Michigan, under Midwest Purchase Order (PO)
5798 (CMA Invoice 9152). Midwest supplied the two "Pacific" valves to
Jay Instrument and Specialty Company, Norcross, Georgia (Jay Reference
No. 08-6-2480). Apparently, Jay Instrument supplied the valves to the
Vogtle nuclear plant facility, and the licensee installed them in the
reactor condensate and feedwater system. Subsequent licensee/Pacific
Valve Company discussions indicated that the valves were not manufactured
by Pacific.
(4) A CMA valve order package indicated that CMA bought two 8" used Kerotest
valves from CANA-WEST, British Columbia, in December 1986, performed re-
conditioning and machining, and drop-shipped the valves to Southern
California Edison Company as the supplier for Midwest Valve and Fitting
Company (Midwest PO, dated December 31, 1986). Neither the CMA invoice
nor the Midwest invoice indicated that the valves were used or
reconditioned. The CANA-WEST invoice found in the CMA package
specifically stated that used Kerotest valves were supplied to CMA.
.
IN 88-48, Supplement 2
August 22, 1989
Page 3 of 4
(5) CMA Invoice 9263, dated February 28, 1986, documented the sale of one 4"
"Pacific" gate valve to Zenith Supply, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which
was drop-shipped to Wayne Pipe and Supply in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Several CMA notes that are part of the CMA valve order package indicated
that the CMA shop personnel were instructed to "grind off CHA MAN [leave
the "P" on the valve body] and...find Pacific hardware and modify
[it]...." The CMA written shop instructions indicated that CMA took a
Chapman valve and modified the Chapman trademark to resemble a Pacific
valve trademark (i.e., P represents Pacific).
(6) CMA Invoice 8327, dated October 11, 1983, sold one 6" "Lunkenheimer"
Model 1542 to ITT Grinnell, Portland, Oregon. IMA notes that were found
with the CMA valve order package instructed CMA shop personnel to "make
[a Lunkenheimer valve] from [a] Kerotest [valve]...may have to weld-up to
make 16 inch 'face-to-face'." The IMA notes also indicated the following
underlined items to be stamped on a CMA installed name plate: Size - 6",
Figure - 1542, S - 150, F - 500, WOG - 275, Stem - CR13, Disc - CR13,
Seat - NICU, Body - WCB and Serial - 36100.
(7) CMA Invoice 9415, dated March 5, 1987, sold one 20" "Lunkenheimer gate"
valve, Model 3013, to Grinnell, Portland, Oregon (Grinnell PO No.
73829AT). CMA notes in the valve order package appeared to indicate that
CMA bought a surplus 24" Secca gate valve, and then CMA sandblasted,
reseated, repacked, painted, installed a gear operator, and die-stamped
the valve with Lunkenheimer's trademark and model number (i.e., "L"
3013).
(8) CMA Invoice 9156, dated September 17, 1986, sold one 2" "Henry Vogt"
globe valve, Model SW-1023, to Lowe-Parker Corporation in Seattle,
Washington. CMA notes in the valve order package indicated that CMA used
a new "no-name" CMA stock valve, die-stamped it with "Vogt SW-1023," and
added 600-psi-rated flanges in order to obtain the required 11 1/2"
face-to-face dimension.
(9) CMA Invoice 9623, dated April 5, 1988, stated that it sold five Crane
valves to Grinnell, Portland, Oregon (PO 2171-LT). The CMA shop notes
stated "refurbish-like new." A CMA certificate of conformance, signed by
the CMA President, stated to Grinnell, Longview, Washington, that the
subject valves "were purchased . . . as new and unused from surplus lots
. . . [CMA] furnished [subject] valves as new surplus in good faith.
Valves were inspected and tested by IMA Valve Refurbishing to ensure
certification of compliance." A Crane Company letter, dated May 25,
1988, addressed to the Boise Cascade Paper Group (the end user), St.
Helens, Oregon, stated in part that inspection by Crane indicated that
the subject valves were not new Crane valves, but reconditioned or
surplus vintage. Further, Crane was not able to confirm any of the
serial numbers as being genuine Crane valve numbers.
.
IN 88-48, Supplement 2
August 22, 1989
Page 4 of 4
Discussion:
The above examples are representative of the CMA valve order packages that
were identified and reviewed by the inspectors. The attachment lists the
customers of CMA who were identified by NRC during the inspection. Licensees
may wish to review the attached list to determine whether any follow-up action
is required to confirm the acceptability of procured equipment.
It appears from the inspection findings summarized above that a CMA-supplied
valve could go through two or more distributors before reaching the end user
facility. A nuclear power plant could buy a commercial grade valve from a
valve distributor (e.g., Zenith, Midwest, Grinnell) and dedicate the valve for
safety-related use on the basis of incomplete or questionable documentation
provided with the procurement certifying the conformance of the valve with
specifications.
Establishment and verification of traceability of procured equipment and
material to the original equipment manufacturer is often an important
prerequisite to effective receipt and dedication testing programs. Inadequate
licensee verification of traceability of procured equipment may result in
refurbished equipment such as the previously discussed CMA "modified" valves
being installed rather than new equipment as anticipated by the licensee.
Licensees may want to consider this above information and review their current
receipt inspection and dedication programs to assure that valves and other
replacement equipment or material are adequately examined, tested, and audited
to assure the requisite quality and traceability of the procurement.
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 Contacts: Edward T. Baker, NRR
(301) 492-0959
Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 493-0979
Attachments:
1. List of CMA Customers
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
.
Attachment 1
IN 88-48, Supplement 2
August 22, 1989
LIST OF POSSIBLE CUSTOMERS OF CMA THROUGH WHOM LICENSEES MAY
HAVE PURCHASED VALVES SUPPLIED BY CMA INTERNATIONAL. THE
INCLUSION OF A COMPANY ON THE LIST DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
COMPANY KNOWINGLY SUPPLIED COUNTERFEIT OR FRAUDULENT PRODUCTS.
Purchaser/Supplier Address
------------------ -------
A J Zinda Portland, Oregon
A I C I Tualatin, Oregon
Action Group Alburg, Vermont
W F Amane Cerritos, California
American Forest Products Martell, California
Ameron Pipe Products Portland, Oregon
Am Fac Supply Co. Pascagoula, Mississippi
ARA Explorations, Inc. San Francisco, California
Advanced Fluid Controls Dickinson, Maryland
Arby Jay Valve Co. St. Louis, Missouri
A & B Stainless Califon, New Jersey
Barbee Valve Inc. San Diego, California
Burgsoe Metal Corp. St. Helens, Oregon
Basic Controls & Valves Portland, Oregon
Crown Industrial Supply Vancouver, Washington
C & A Supply Houston, Texas
C G M Valve Co. Houston, Texas
Cana West Valve Limited Misku, Alberta, Canada
City of Portland Portland, Oregon
Clover Supply, Inc. Houston, Texas
U.S. Coast Guard ISF Seattle, Washington
Columbia Marine Constr. Vancouver, Washington
Confederated Tribes Warm Springs, Oregon
Consolidated Supply Portland, Oregon
Consolidated Pipe/Supply Decatur, Alabama
Crowley Maritime Corp. Seattle, Washington
Crown Zellerbach Camas, Washington
Coffeyville Valve Co. Coffeyville, Kansas
Combined Energy Equip., Inc. Martinsville, New Jersey
D & B Valve & Fitting Co. Provo, Utah
Dante Valve Co. Bellflower, California
J A Davies Co. Houston, Texas
Department of the Army Portland, Oregon
Donaldson, Pyrch & Hume Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Downey Valve Co. Long Beach, California
Dummco Corp. Paramount, California
Eder Farms
Empire Machinery & Supply Norfolk, Virginia
Energy Valve Houston, Texas
Familian Northwest Portland, Oregon
Force & Motion Industries Portland, Oregon
Fred McCoy & Company Billings, Montana
G & S Valve Inc. Shreveport, Louisiana
Gat X Terminals Corp. Vancouver, Washington
General Construction Co. Seattle, Washington
Global Supply Co. Hallandale, Florida
Great Western Malting Co. Vancouver, Washington
Grinnel Corp. Portland, Oregon
.
LIST OF POSSIBLE CUSTOMERS OF CMA THROUGH WHOM LICENSEES MAY
HAVE PURCHASED VALVES SUPPLIED BY CMA INTERNATIONAL. THE
INCLUSION OF A COMPANY ON THE LIST DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
COMPANY KNOWINGLY SUPPLIED COUNTERFEIT OR FRAUDULENT PRODUCTS.
Purchaser/Supplier Address
------------------ -------
Hahn Supply Lewiston, Idaho
Hammond Valve Corp. Vancouver, Washington
Harbor Oil Portland, Oregon
J M Harder Mechanical Portland, Oregon
Hawaii Pipe & Supply Honolulu, Hawaii
Houston Valve (J J Valve) Lynwood, California
Industrial Valve of Oregon Portland, Oregon
Imperial Valve Port Moody, British Columbia,Canada
Industrial Commodities Tulsa, Oklahoma
Industrial Essentials, Inc. Birmingham, Michigan
Industrial Valve Service Mobile, Alabama
Industrial Valve/Fitting Tacoma, Washington
J & L Petroleum Portland, Oregon
Jackson-Markus Supply Co. Los Angeles, California
J & J Valve Nowata, Oklahoma
Keenan Pipe & Supply Eugene, Oregon
Kiewit Portland, Oregon
Liberty Equipment & Supply Co. Vancouver, Washington
Lowe Parker Corp. Seattle, Washington
M & N Pipe & Supply Co. Los Angeles, California
Mar Industrial Sales, Inc. Portland, Oregon
Marine Piping & Supply Commerce, California
Marine & Valve Supply Sante Fe Spring, California
Material Distributors Lewiston, Idaho
Material Sales & Distribution Lake Oswego, Oregon
Meier & Frank Portland, Oregon
McCullough Steel Inc. Tupelo, Mississippi
Metro East Industrial Supply Granite City, Illinois
M-CO Northwest Vancouver, Washington
Morton Suuply Inc. Yakima, Washington
Mid-West Valve & Fitting Detroit, Michigan
Madison Supply Co., Inc. Los Angeles, California
M & S Valve & Fitting Co. Chicago, Illinois
North American Valve Co. Vancouver, Washington
N W Pipeline Battleground, Washington
Nielson Valve & Supply Murray, Utah
Northwest Controls Seattle, Washington
NW Marine Iron Works Portland, Oregon
Northwest Pipe Billings, Montana
Newmans Milwaukee, Oregon
Naval Air Station/Adak Ala Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Oregon Steel Portland, Oregon
Parks Industrial Valve, Inc. Alpine, Alabama
Pacific Pipeline Products San Rafael, California
Paramount Supply Portland, Oregon
Park Rose Water District Portland, Oregon
Penwalt Corp. Portland, Oregon
Precision Cast Parts
.
LIST OF POSSIBLE CUSTOMERS OF CMA THROUGH WHOM LICENSEES MAY
HAVE PURCHASED VALVES SUPPLIED BY CMA INTERNATIONAL. THE
INCLUSION OF A COMPANY ON THE LIST DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
COMPANY KNOWINGLY SUPPLIED COUNTERFEIT OR FRAUDULENT PRODUCTS.
Purchaser/Supplier Address
------------------ -------
Preston Wine Cellars Pasco, Washington
Port of Portland Portland, Oregon
Production Control Signal Hill, California
Puget Sound Pipe & Supply Oakland, California
Renew Valve & Fitting Detroit, Michigan
Reed College Portland, Oregon
S & D Suuply Taft, California
Schimberg Co. Cedar Rapids, Idaho
Skamania Pud Carson, Washington
Shop Services Aloha, Oregon
Southern California Valve Paramount, California
Spence Mining & Supply Co. Baker, Oregon
Standard Pipe & Supply Atlantic Beach, Florida
Star Systems, Inc. Amelia, Ohio
Sun Dial Marine Troutdale, Oregon
Swift Adhesives Portland, Oregon
Seh America Ind. Vancouver, Washington
Tidewater Barge Lines Vancouver, Washington
Tork Sales & Systems San Francisco, California
Turko Engineering Lake Oswego, Oregon
Triangle Machine Maxwell, California
Underground Express Richmond, California
USOGC Glacier Portland, Oregon
Unified Sewage Co. Hillsboro, Oregon
United Steel Vancouver, Washington
Universal Valve & Fitting Trot, Michigan
Valco Sales Denver, Colorado
Valve Automation Long Beach, California
Valve Industries Houston, Texas
Valve Reconditioning Melvindale, Michigan
Valve & Steel Supply Sante Fe Spring, California
Valley Industrial Salt Lake City, Utah
Western Valve Carson, California
W & O Supply Jacksonville, Florida
Wallace Co. Phoenix, Arizona
Ward-Schmidt Boiler Ceres, California
WA St. School for Deaf & Blind Vancouver, Washington
Wellons, Inc. Sherwood, Oregon
West Coast Shipping Los Angeles, California
Willamina Lumber Co. Willamina, Oregon
White Swan Lumber Mill White Swan, Washington
Willamette Industries Albany, Oregon
Zenith Supply Co. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Zidell Explorations Portland, Oregon
.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021