Voluntary Measures?

BENNETT, DODD ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY Y2K SAFETY MEASURES AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Nuclear Regulatory Commission responds to committee inquiries regarding Y2K safety (HTML)

WASHINGTON, DC B In response to requests by U.S. Senators Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today provided detailed information regarding the Y2K readiness of the nation=s 103 nuclear power plants, including voluntary measures taken by many plants to ensure a smooth and safe millennium transition.

AOur goal is to ensure that every step possible has been taken toward the safe operation of nuclear power plants during the millennium date change,@said Bennett. AThe NRC has responded to our concerns in a detailed and candid fashion, and I am increasingly confident that plants will be safe. Voluntary measures by the industry, such as increased emergency fuel supply and additional staffing, will provide an additional level of assurance.@

"Ensuring the health and safety of our citizens must be our number one Y2K priority," Dodd said. "The element of uncertainty that surrounds the Y2K issue means nuclear power plants must go the extra mile to inform and reassure the public."

The Senators, in a November 1 letter to the NRC, requested specific information regarding independent validation of plant Y2K readiness, the availability of emergency fuel supplies, plant shut-down criteria, and minimum safety standards.

In response, NRC Chairman Richard Meserve said there is no list showing how each nuclear power plant validated the Y2K readiness of mission-critical systems, but that each plant was subject to rigorous internal and peer review for Y2K readiness that is Aan outgrowth of nuclear quality assurance programs and processes that are in place at all nuclear reactors and that provide independent assurance in the quality of [plant operator] activities.@

Meserve also said there are no NRC requirements that plants have a 30-45 day supply of emergency diesel generator fuel, nor does the NRC believe additional supplies are necessary, based on the reliability of the power grid and past successes at sustaining safety systems during events such as hurricanes, that typically demanded a six to seven day supply of diesel fuel. However, some plants are undertaking voluntary efforts to Atop off@ supplies, increase staffing and conduct additional monitoring and inspection.

Under existing regulatory framework, the NRC will not shut down any plants unless specific criteria are met, which may include situations in which Asystems or components are inoperable due to a Y2K deficiency@ B an event the NRC currently considers Aunlikely.@ Finally, the NRC reported that it plans no suspension of technical regulations during the millennium changeover.

AThe nuclear power industry, like many others well-prepared for Y2K, is a closely regulated and highly monitored industry that is intimately familiar with the danger of failure and the safety risks involved,@ said Bennett. AI have increasing confidence in the system of internal and regulatory checks that exist for the safe and effective operation of nuclear power plants during Y2K, but I would continue to encourage additional measures within the industry to guard against Y2K-related interruptions.@

"Vigilance is a year round job when it comes to nuclear power," Dodd said. "While existing safeguards may be sufficient, the Y2K rollover is a special circumstance and must be afforded an extra level of scrutiny."

-- Anonymous, November 18, 1999

Answers

>>"Ensuring the health and safety of our citizens must be our number one >>Y2K priority," Dodd said.

That is not their responsibility. It is not NRC's either, otherwise those measure would be mandatory, not voluntary. Their Responsibilty is CYA, and Dudd is asking the devil to be nice for one danged day. >>there is no list showing how each nuclear power plant validated the Y2K >>readiness of mission-critical systems compiling such a list was not mission critical?

-- Anonymous, November 19, 1999

They're missing the biggest point of all: Y2K is, by definition, a problem which will largely surface on January 1, 2000. All the "confidence" which they so "confidently" espouse hasn't fixed a single computer, and the lack of integrated testing doesn't give anyone looking on any confidence at all. It's amazing how free they are with the lives of Americans when politics or whatever else is on the line. Advice from the common-sense lady: Shut them down. Then, after it's been demonstrated that the rest of the grid is alive and well, turn them back on one at a time, one process at a time. I feel like Alice here, and reality is stretching and shrinking. How in the world can anyone NOT be making this decision?! (Rant off.)

-- Anonymous, November 19, 1999