Brand New Chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Glows With Optimismgreenspun.com : LUSENET : Electric Utilities and Y2K : One Thread |
Found this on GN's site. I don't see it previously posted (sorry if I missed it):http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/5675
Brand New Chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Glows With Optimism
or direct link:
oopsie!Brand New Chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Glows With Optimism
or direct link:
[copied from GN's site... not the complete report]
STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION TO THE SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE YEAR 2000 TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM CONCERNING STATUS OF ACTIONS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM, SUBMITTED BY GRETA JOY DICUS, CHAIRMAN, U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, TESTIMONY ON YEAR 2000 READINESS
Introduction
Mr. Chairman, members of the Special Committee, I am pleased to submit this testimony on behalf of the Commission regarding the Year 2000 readiness of the U.S. nuclear industry and the NRCs internal Year 2000 readiness preparations. Based on our review of responses from the nuclear power industry concerning Year 2000 readiness, our independent inspection efforts at all 103 units, and our ongoing regulatory oversight activities, we conclude that the Year 2000 problem will not adversely affect the continued safe operation of U.S. nuclear power plants. At this time, with less than 5 months remaining, we do not recommend or see the need for additional Congressional action to help us fulfill our public health and safety mission. . . .
NRC Actions With Reactor Licensees
In 1996, the NRC began to evaluate the impact of the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem on U.S. nuclear power plants. . . .
Since then (as depicted in the attached time line), the NRC has been working with nuclear industry organizations and licensees to address the Y2K problem. . . .
At this time, we are not aware of any Y2K problems in nuclear power plant systems that directly impact actuation of safety functions. The majority of commercial nuclear power plants have protection systems that are analog rather than digital or software-based, and thus are not impacted by the Y2K problem. Errors such as incorrect dates in print-outs, logs or displays have been identified by licensees in some safety-related devices, but the errors do not affect the functions performed by the devices or systems. Most Y2K problems are in non-safety systems such as security systems and plant monitoring systems which support day-to-day plant operation but have no functions necessary for reactor safety. These systems are being addressed in the licensee Y2K readiness programs, in a manner consistent with the industry guidance and GL 98-01 schedule. . . .
The audit results indicated that, in general, licensees began to develop contingency plans late in the Y2K preparation process. Consequently, we concluded that six additional reviews were needed, focused differently and involving licensees other than the previous 12, to determine the effectiveness of licensee contingency planning. These reviews, which were completed in June 1999, focused on the licensees approach to addressing both internal and external Y2K risks to safe plant operations based on the guidance in NEI/NUSMG 98-07. The results of these additional audits were placed on the NRCs Y2K web site. . . .
Current Status of Nuclear Power Industry Year 2000 Readiness
The NRC has received reports from all 103 operating nuclear power plants. Regarding our highest priority-the uninterrupted performance of plant safety systems-all nuclear power plants report that their efforts are complete, and that no remaining Y2K-related problems exist that could directly affect the performance of safety systems or the capability for safe shutdown. Sixty-eight of these plants had also completed the next order of priority as of July 1, stating that all of their computer systems that support plant operation are "Y2K ready." The remaining 35 plants reported that, to be fully Y2K ready, they still have additional work to complete on a few non-safety computer systems or devices. For about one half of those 35 plants, some work remains on systems needed for power generation. . . .
"Y2K Ready" Status & Schedual for the 103 Operating Power Reactors
The plants that have Y2K work remaining are continuing to progress toward Y2K readiness. As of August 1, 1999, 5 more plants have reported that they are Y2K ready. As a result, only 30 plants still have Y2K work remaining and 73 plants are reporting Y2K readiness. . . .
The NRC will continue to monitor progress at those plants that have remaining work to be performed and will independently verify completion of these items, including Y2K contingency plans. By September 30, 1999, we will make a final determination whether additional regulatory action is warranted to address Y2K readiness issues. At this time, we believe that all licensees will be able to operate their plants safely during the transition from 1999 to 2000, and we do not anticipate the need for the NRC to direct any plant-specific action. . . .
The NRC has coordinated and communicated our Y2K Contingency Plan with our Federal partners, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Communication System, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Presidents Council on the Year 2000 Conversion. We have supported FEMA regional workshops on Y2K, and we have participated in the FEMA Catastrophic Disaster Response Group and Emergency Services Sector meetings on Y2K. In May we participated in the Federal Response Plan Tabletop on Y2K.
We also recently conducted our own Y2K Tabletop exercise involving NRC, Baltimore Gas and Electric, the State of Maryland and the counties surrounding the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant. The exercise tested the NRC Y2K contingency plan procedures against a number of scenarios, including loss of power and loss of telecommunications. The exercise confirmed that each participant had put a considerable amount of thought into preparing for potential problems during the Y2K transition. Although no major Y2K contingency plan inconsistencies were identified, there were a number of valuable observations and lessons from this tabletop. We plan to put a synopsis of this exercise on our Y2K web site, so that the information can be shared with other stakeholders. . . .
Our regulatory thinking has also been broaden by the uniqueness of the Y2K problem. The Y2K problem has presented the NRC with a unique challenge, because NRC regulatory oversight and authority does not extend to the U.S. offsite electrical grid system. . . .
Our Executive Director for Operations has instructed the staff to consider the impacts of imposing requirements that may affect licensee resources working on the Year 2000. If a proposed new requirement may affect licensee Y2K resources, then the staff has been directed to consider alternative approaches or delay implementation of the requirement until after the Year 2000 transition. We believe that this policy has been effective and, since mid-1998, proposed new regulatory actions have not adversely impacted our licensees ability to address the Year 2000 problem.
We consider public awareness a vital aspect of our Y2K program and have kept the public informed about our Y2K activities through numerous media releases, responses to questions by telephone, electronic mail, and letters, interviews with reporters, participation at workshops, public meetings, and maintenance of current Y2K information on our web site. . . .
-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999
Linda, the one thing that stands out for me, after having read North's site as well, is that the former chairwoman *resigned* on the day, the very day, that the compliancy reports were to be issued. Coincidence? who knows, but it seems very suspicious to me. I wonder if we'll ever learn the truth?
-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999
linda, if you think she glows now... wait until after the rollover.
dina, what is wrong with you? don't you know that it is not politically correct to 'think' in that fashion? why wouldn't the newly appointed lady from our president's home state have our best interests at heart?
dr. shirley jackson left precipitously in order to pursue 'other interests'... and the cow jumped over the moon.
-- Anonymous, August 06, 1999