Looks like the NRC is speaking out of both sides of its mouth simultaneously.
A stop and check valve IS a safety related device. It prevents reverse flow of the liquid it is controlling even when the pump it is attached to is not operating, and completely seals the downstream side of the piping when used as a stop valve.
For the regulators to say this is not safety related is misleading and disengenuous at the very least.
I reviewed the information notice.
The valve in question was part of the system that cools the stator (the stationary part) of the generator. If this cooling system failed, in the worst case scenario, the generator would overheat and the plant would not generate electricity.
A possible commercial issue, but not a safety issue.
Furthermore, the NRC did NOT mention that this was a safety issue; the referenced article made that leap. The NRC DID make the following statement:
“In recent years many vendors, including foreign companies, with little to no experience in the nuclear industry have entered the market to supply parts and components for both safety and non-safety applications to nuclear power plants. It remains the licensees’ responsibility to ensure that all suppliers use standards and processes that conform to US standards. Effective oversight of suppliers becomes increasingly more important as the nuclear industry begins construction of new nuclear power plants in the US.”
This is just a gentle reminder to plants to use quality parts, as was contained in a March 1989 notice to plant operators.
IOW - this article reports an event that was rather unremarkable.