So sorry - if these 2 questions are stupid, and I promise to be outta *here* soon... :) :[ But:

Q: WHY is the NRC auditing ONLY 12 power plants??? (Or is that information incorrect.)

I mean - Are the specific plants being audited considered 'Generically Representative' of all the other systems, in all the other plants... or are they the most vulnerable to difficulties...Or is it just a lack of manpower & time???

Q: Why are ONLY 70 plants (out of +/-104?) under the official authority of the NRC??? Is that a 'public' vs. 'private' kinda status-call-thing???

-- Anonymous, March 03, 1999

Answers

Diane,

In answer to question 1, you pretty much nailed all of the answers. Good job. Yes, it's a combination of all of the above, plus some "politics", although I don't think for a moment that anyone at NRC would ever admit this. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware has been a very vocal critic of NRC oversight of the Salem and Hope Creek facilities (right across the Delaware River from his home), so it did not surprise me when I saw that Hope Creek was on the initial audit list.

The NRC will also be auditing at least an additional 6 nuclear facilities for implementation of contingency plans (want to bet that Peach Bottom makes the short list?).

In answer to Q2, I don't know where you developed your numbers, but the NRC oversees operation of all commercial nuclear facilities (all 108, even those permanently shut down), test reactors (such as university experimental reactors), radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, hospitals (think X-ray machines), nuclear fuel manufacturers and uranium mining operations (I'm sure I left a few out) - basically, any type of commercial industry that uses radioactive source material.

The NRC does not have jurisdiction over military and government facilities dealing with nuclear energy or weapons production.

Hope this helps.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 1999

Yeh it helps, Rick. I mean - not REALLY, :( but... thanks.

Perhaps I was hoping to hear that *only* those 12 plants really NEEDED auditing. (duh...) So the bottomline is that they're going to audit half-a-dozen more, totaling 18 out of some 104+/-. And the ones that DON'T get audited - will used data obtained from the ones that are? /// The 70 number was drawn from the same (y2k-nuclear)report in THE NATION that you took issue with, for mis-quoting you.

/// Rick, (please) I must congratulate YOU for the role, work, the 'position' you have taken on. I can't IMAGINE how you must feel sometimes/. Seriously. I mean - becoming a global Y2K guru, in perhaps the most crucial area. And knowing how many people take your words to heart..it must be very difficult to shoulder, at times. (Not to mention *plausible* 'Sins of Omission'...to resolve?? Ouch!!) Saying 'thanks' for many..

-- Anonymous, March 04, 1999

"Even if for no other reason than to allay public concern, NRC needs to expand its detailed Y2K assessments to include all nuclear plants. In addition, not withstanding the NRC charter of addressing safety issues only, it needs to broaden the scope of its Y2K assessments to include operational issues as well." -- Report: Investigating The Impact of the Year 2000 Problem, Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem

-- Anonymous, March 04, 1999