10/27/2009
NEWS BRIEFS
Fastener Certs Questioned at Nuclear Power Plants

Fasteners made for spent fuel storage devices at several nuclear power plants don’t meet standards, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Transnuclear Inc. reported it “has reason to believe that Hwa Shin Bolt Ind. Co. provided unsubstantiated certified material” at Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, NJ, the Asbury Park Press reports.

Affected plants include Millstone Power Station in Connecticut, Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, Ginna in New York, Brunswick in North Carolina and Cooper Nuclear Station in Nebraska, as well as Oyster Creek in New Jersey.

“None (of the bolts) are in casks currently in use, that is, in casks loaded with spent fuel,” according to NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan.

The fasteners are in several casks that are planned for use next year.

“We are concerned any time a vendor or subcontractor reports falsified or unsubstantiated material test reports,” Sheehan said.

Transnuclear is slated to release a full report on the matter in the coming weeks. However, Sheehan said there is no indication of any safety concern at this time.

“It is not clear if they are actually inferior or merely untested,” said Richard Webster, legal director for the Eastern Environmental Law Center. “This just shows how hard it is for quality to be maintained when parts are being sourced all around the world.” ©2009 GlobalFastenerNews.com