Two reports released by the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory CommissionInspector General's office contend that most, if not all, U.S. nuclear power plants contain counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect components. The agency's watchdog arm proposes changes to add oversight to existing plants and future facility projects.

The IG reports state that the fraudulent parts can be more prone to failure, resulting in potential safety issues.

The probes point to unauthorized copies of actual components, potentially made with an intent to deceive, although one analysis recommends that NRC more clearly define the term. The fraudulent components have been found in hard-to-spot plant areas such in valves and bearings and structural steel and others, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. Even electronic parts such as circuit breakers are increasingly being counterfeited.

There are few documented fraudulent component cases, with nuclear sector groups identifying about 10 potential ones since 2016.

But according to the IG analysis, the actual number could be greater than what has been known because plants are generally only required to report them to NRC in significant situations such as the failure of important safety equipment. Still, the IG investigators were not able to give a specific number of instances of fraudulent components, blaming lax reporting standards for nuclear plant licensees.

In one case highlighted in the report, a counterfeit pump shaft was discovered when it snapped after only a short time in service at an unspecified power plant. But that plant’s compliance manager did not report it to NRC because reporting regulations only apply for parts that are in service.

在另一种情况下，用于识别蒸汽线路断裂的仪器“以显着提高的速率失败”，可能是由于维修中使用的有缺陷的部分。怀疑使用欺诈性组件，但由于对几年来进行维修的信息很少，因此没有必要进行报告，因此调查人员无法确认。

The secondIG报告offers proposed NRC actions to assure that nuclear power plants can mitigate risks of fraudulent components in operating reactors and plants still under construction. It recommends that agency Executive Director for Operations Daniel Dorman, who was appointed to the role last October, overhaul the system and develop processes for the commission to collect and share fraudulent part information.

IG问多尔曼在30天分享信息s about any planned action related to the recommendations.

In a statement, NRC Inspector General Robert Feitel said this is the first time its audits and inspections units have collaborated on this level, and a sign of change in the commission.

“这些全面的报告只是IG的新时代的一个例子，我们的出色审计师和调查员团队将继续以综合的方式共同努力，以实现我们的使命，以确保确保的完整性，效率和有效性NRC，”他说。

In a statement, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the sector's trade group, said it is "still reviewing the findings," but said "the industry has a robust and extensive set of practices to ensure the safe operation of plant components, including using effective qualification processes for supplies, supplier quality assurance requirements, reliance on original equipment manufacturers and strong procurement and maintenance controls." The group said it is "committed to working with the NRC as they review these findings."