NEI Reported November 1 that all 103 commercial nuclear power plants were Y2K ready. The NRC provided the following confirmation Nov. 8:

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Public Affairs Washington, DC 20555 Phone 301-415-8200 Fax 301-415-2234

Internet: opa@nrc.gov

No. 99-240

November 8, 1999

NRC Confirms That All Nuclear Power Plants Are Fully Y2K-ready

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received notification by all 103 operating nuclear power plants that they have completed remediation efforts to be fully "Y2K-ready"-that is, all plant systems involved with safety, power generation, and plant support are now prepared to roll over into the Year 2000 without computer problems.

Safety-related systems at all 103 plants have been Y2K-ready since July 1. At that time, sixty-eight of the plants were declared fully Y2K-ready while 35 had remaining work on non-safety systems (those systems involved with power generation and plant support). During the past four months, NRC has confirmed satisfactory completion of the remaining work that has resulted in all plants now being fully Y2K- ready.

Based on our review of responses from the nuclear power industry concerning Y2K readiness, our independent inspection efforts at all 103 plants, and our ongoing regulatory oversight activities, we conclude that the Y2K problem will not adversely affect the continued safe operation of U.S. nuclear power plants, and should contribute to grid stability during the transition period.

Detailed information on NRC's Y2K activities are available on the web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/NEWS/year2000.html .

The "Year 2000" or "Y2K" problem refers to a computer's potential inability to recognize dates beginning with January 1, 2000, and beyond. It arises from computer programs that use two-digit numbers to represent a calendar year (such as "98" for 1998). For example, a computer system could read "00" as 1900, rather than 2000, potentially causing a computer system to malfunction. "Y2K-ready" means that the function provided by a computer will be carried out successfully with the coming of the Year 2000.

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-- Anonymous, November 11, 1999

Answers

Interesting question:

What are the protocols that the NRC will expect nuclear power plants to follow during the CDC? For example, if 911 services are not available, the NRC has previously required plants to shut down. With today's news that > 50% of national 911 systems are at risk, what will the NRC do? The Senate apparently wants to know specifics from the NRC as well.

Note #4 below: what "minimal safety standards....will be acceptable under the proposed suspension of technical regulations."

Below is a copy of a letter sent to the NRC from Senators Dodd and Bennet.

***********************November 1, 1999

Chairman Greta Joy Dicus US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

Honorable Greta Joy Dicus:

We are encouraged by the numerous statements from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that all safety systems at Nuclear Power Plants are Y2K ready. The Committee continues to believe that the electrical grid will be stable and that disruptions from Y2K will be minimal. We are concerned, however, about the lack of public confidence in the nuclear industry's efforts and specific post December 31, 1999 operating regimes.

Recent testimony by GAO indicates that they share our concerns regarding the use of existing contingency plans in the Y2K risk environment. Moreover, although we believe that the on-site inspections by NRC confirmed that NPPs are complying with "acceptable industry Y2K- readiness standards", there are some lingering questions about whether sufficient independent validation has occurred.

Please provide the following information by November 15, 1999:

1. A list of nuclear power plants and how their mission-critical systems were validated as Y2K-ready, categorized according to the following: internal quality assurance, external review, and independent validation and verification. As possible, describe the equivalence and differences in such approaches;

2. Detailed information about voluntary pledges by industry representatives to maintain a 30-45 day supply of emergency diesel generator fuel, and other voluntary measures to reduce the risk of plant failure;

3. A description of the process by which NRC will make a final determination as to which NPP, if any, will be shut-down for safety concerns during the rollover period; and,

4. The minimal safety standards that will be acceptable under the proposed suspension of technical regulations.

Please contact John Stephenson or James Dailey at (202) 224-5224 if you have questions about the above requests. I look forward to your response and thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Senator Robert Bennett, Chairman Senator Christopher Dodd, Vice Chairman

November 10, 1999

-- Anonymous, November 12, 1999

FactFinder,

Geeez, these nuke people are good! Started real late (my own only started a little over 18 months ago) and they are ALL DONE. Errr, well, with the mission critical stuff, anyway, whatever that is. Heck they should get over there and help the SSA who are still struggling. Although the SSA said they were done a year ago, and so did the FAA, and, and, and. But who has done any integrated testing or had IV & V? Maybe the NRC isn't paying any attention to the CEO story that GN posted a few days ago. They ought to check that one out, because you know, something isn't quite right here. Parts still on order, work still waiting to be done. Oh, I guess those "with exceptions" don't count.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 1999