Information Notice 1996-70, Year 2000 Effect on Computer System Software
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
December 24, 1996
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 96-70: YEAR 2000 EFFECT ON COMPUTER SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
Addressees
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensees, certificate holders, and registrants
(hereafter referred to as licensees).
Purpose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice to alert
addressees to the potential problems their computer systems and software may encounter as
a result of the change to the new century. It is expected that recipients will review the
information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid
potential problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC
requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.
Description of Circumstances
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives held hearings on an issue known as the
"Year 2000" software problem. These hearings identified that some of the most important
computer software used by the Federal government may not work correctly starting in the
year 2000, because the software can only use single years or decades in performing
calculations; it will not oe able to recognize a change to the new century. Many computer
systems will potentially fail to recognize this change to a new century and will misread "00" or
the year 2000, as 1900, and thus may cause the system to fail or generate faulty data. The
NRC, along with several other Federal agencies, is currently examining computer software
used to support Agency functions that may be affected. Specific problems have already been
identified and will be corrected. In some instances where future dates are used to schedule
actions, problems have already occurred - well before the end of the century.
Discussion
The Year 2000 issue affects everyone. It will have an impact on State and local
govemments, NRC licensees, and businesses. The magnitude of the Year 2000 issue poses
a challenge to all those potentially affected. Dates are involved in many facets of computer
systems and software. Neither industry nor the Federal government has yet identified the
scope of the situation.
pot2X :E
Bos
CPC 47O
w
9612220319
<
\\\\\\0
December 24, 1996 This issue may affect NRC licensees in many different ways. For example, computer
software used to calculate dose or to account for radioactive decay may not recognize the
turn of the century, which could lead to incorrectly calculated doses or exposure times for
treatment planning. Other examples of software that may be affected include security
control, radiation monitoring, technical specification surveillance testing, and accumulated
bum-up programs. Also, equipment that licersees have purchased may contain computer
software susceptible to the Year 2000 problem. The problem could occur not only in
computer software or data that have been acquired from external sources, but also in
programs developed by licensees or consultants. For many licensees, this issue may not
prove to be a significant health and safety concern. However, to prevent any other potential
problems this issue may precipitate, licensees are encouraged to examine their uses of
computer systems and software well before the turn of the century. In assessing computer
software, licensees may want to consider reviewing those programs that are used to meet
licensing requirements or those that have safety significance.
To facilitate the exchange of information among licensees, NRC, and the public, information
related to the Year 2000 problem is posted on NRC's World Wide Web server (www.nrc.gov.)
under the "News and Information" option. An example of information that has already been
posted is contract language developed by the Federal government for acquisition of new
information technology to avoid the Year 2000 problem. In addition to the information
presented on NRC's homepage, an Internet list server has been established to encourage
discussion of Year 2000 issues. To subscribe to this list, Internet e-mail may be sent to
listproc@nrc.gov with the message: subscribe year-2000 usemame, where the username is
the first and last name of the individual making the request (e.g., John Doe).
Licensees may wish to consider what actions may be appropriate to examine and evaluate
their software systems, and whether to designate an individual to monitor the continuing
activities in government and industry to determine the extent of potential problems and
proposed solutions. Any additional contact regarding the Year 2000 problem between NRC
and licensees will be made through the addressee of this information notice, unless a
separate point of contact is designated by the licensee. Licensees who wish to designate a
separate point of contact should provide the contact name and address, including telephone
and fax number and email address if available, to the appropriate technical contact of this
information notice. Holders of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50
licenses are requested to provide this information to the appropriate Office of quclear
Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager (courtesy copy to the NRR technical contact
listed below).
KY"
-II/
December 24, 1996 This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any
questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed
below or the appropriate regional office.
Donald A. Cool, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Thomas T. Martin, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts: Mark A. Sitek, NMSS
(301) 415-6155 E-mail: mas6@nrc.gov
Michael Kaltman, NRR
(301) 415-2905 E-mail: mxk2@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
0f 9-'
d
Attachment 1
December 24, 1996
Page 1 of I
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
issuance
Issued to
96-66
96-63
96-57
96-54
96-53
Recent Misadministrations
Caused by Incorrect Cali- brations of Strontium-90
Eye Applicators
Potential Safety Issue
Regarding the Shipment
of Fissile Material
Incident-Reporting Require- ments Involving Intakes, During a 24-Hour Period
that May Cause a Total
Effective Dose Equivalent
in Excess of 0.05 Sv (5 rem)
Vulnerability of Stainless
Steel to Corrosion When
Sensitized
Retrofit to Amersham 660
Posilock Radiography
Camera to Correct Incon- sistency in 10 CFR Part 34
Compatibility
Cracked Insertion Rods
on Troxler Model 3400
Series Portable Moisture
Density Gauges
Residual Contamination
Remaining in Krypton-85
Handling System After
Venting
12/13/96
12/05/96
10/30/96
10/17/96
10/15/96
09/26/96
09/11/96
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Medical Use
Licensees authorized to use
strontium-90 eye applicators
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission licensees
authorized to possess special
nuclear material in unsealed
quantities greater than a
critical mass
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission licensees
All material licensees
All industrial radiography
licensees
All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission portable gauge
licensees and vendors
All material licensees
96-52
96-51
I
1
Attachment 2
December 24, 1996 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
96-69
96-68
96-67
96-66
Operator Actions Affecting
Reactivity
Incorrect Effective Diaphragm
Area Values in Vendor Manual
Result in Potential Failure
of Pneumatic Diaphragm
Actuators
Vulnerability of Emergency
Diesel Generators to Fuel
Oil/Lubricating Oil Incom- patibility
Recent Misadministrations
Caused by Incorrect Cali- brations of Strontium-90
Eye Applicators
Undetected Accumulation
of Gas in Reactor Coolant
System and Inaccurate
Reactor Water Level
Indication During Shutdown
Modifications to Con- tainment Blowout Panels
Without Appropriate
Design Controls
12/20/96
12/19/96
12/19/96
12/13/96
12/11/96
12/10/96
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors
All U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission
Medical Use Licensees
authorized to use
eye applicators
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
power reactors
All holders of OLs
or CPs for nuclear
reactors
96-65
96-64 OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
I
RIN
96-70
December 24, 1996 This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any
questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed
below or the appropriate regional office.
original signed by
Donald A. Cool, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
original signed by
Thomas T. Martin, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts:
Mark A. Sitek, NMSS
(301) 415-6155 E-mail: mas6@nrc.gov
Michael Kaltman, NRR
(301) 415-2905 E-mail: mxk2@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Tech Editor has reviewed and concurred on 10/21/96 DOCUMENT NAME: 96-70.IN
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
To receive a copy of this document. Wdicate hI
the box: *C' -
Copy w/o
C.
-
'El .M
Nn
'
ooV
uuuwimui ueuuenou,. c
-
Wear
-*---*laBw"
-
.
-
OFFICE ITECH CONTS
I
C/PECB/DRPM
D/DRl
D/IMl
NAME
MSitek*
AChaffee*
TMart n
_
MKaltman*
_
/
I
DATE
10/30/96
12/12/96
12/ir796
12/Tif96 IZ
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
IN 96- December , 1996 This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any
questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed below
or the appropriate regional office.
Donald A. Cool, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Thomas T. Martin, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
Mark A. Sitek, NMSS
(301) 415-6155 E-mail:mas6@nrc.gov
Michael Kaltman, NRR
(301) 415-2905 E-mail:mxk2@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
G:UlMNS5550.MAS
TechEd: E. Kraus 10/21/96
0.1%r-r
PRne
IC% 0%rorfe lnocrar%
-0== rrvl%.UQWlwucw
OFC
IMOB I E *IMOB I
- IMAB
l-
- FCSS I
- DWM. I
- SFPO I
- IRM
lj
NAME l
} JMPiccone
LWCamper
EQTen Eyck
JGreeves
WTravers
JVoglewede
DATE
12P1J96
10/22/96
10/25196
11/21/96
11/5/96
11/1/96
11/6/96
-__
_
_ _
_
_
_
I
A
I
aF-
T
I
=
- MPR
I
l IMNs
I$
I
I
I -
notf
%.WI
I
m..
I
"h
...
.
-~
1 NAME
TTMartin
DATE
12/13/96 iUI-96
_
--
_
Kiev
CCOPY E=COVER/ENCLOSURE
N=NO COPY OFFICIAL KLUUKLU %OurT
IN 96- December,
1996 This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any
Questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed
below or the appropriate regional office.
Donald A. Cool, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Thomas T. Martin, Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
Mark A. Sitek, NMSS
(301) 415-6155 E-mail: mas6@nrc.gov
Michael Kaltman, NRR
(301) 415-2905 E-mail: mxk2@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
s :1drpm._secImns5550.cmb
TechEd: E. Kraus 10/21/96
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
OFC
IM
- MO
- MA
- FCwSSDWFPI
NAME
MASitek
JMPiccone
LWCamper
EQTen
JGreeves
Wrravers
JVoglewede
____
_____
_ _ _
_ _ _ _
E yck
DATE
I/96
10/22/96
10/25/96
11/21/96
11/5/96
11/1/96
11/6/96
.,___
_.
_
r
_
OFC
NRR /
I
IMNS
I
I
I
I
--
---
/
II
__
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
__
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
MLartin
DACool
E
DAT
2-1196
1
/96 E
.-
Ai
m
_
.
_
t.
-.
-
.-
f
f-Lb
A~e
n
Ictopilt2 DPsa.
e^
n v
- =COPY
E =OVKENCLLuzUKt
N=NU L#VF
urrrFICIAL K
'ORUCV I
44L4)
/ .1
IN 96- December
, 1996 of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50 licenses are requested to provide this
information to the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)
project manager (courtesy copy to the NRR technical contact listed below).
This information notice requires no sp-cific action nor written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice. please contact
the technical contacts listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Donald A. Cool, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Thomas T. Martin. Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
Mark A. Sitek. NMSS
Michael Kaltman. NRR
(301) 415-6155
(301) 415-2905 E-mail:mas6@nrc.gov
E-mail:mxk2@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
G:\\IMNS5550.MAS
TechEd: E. Kraus 10/21/96
a
.
I
'
IN 96- November
, 1996 This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice. please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
Donald A. Cool. Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Thomas T. Martin. Director
Division of Reactor Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Contact:
Mark A. Sitek. NMSS
(301) 415-6155 Internet:mas6@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently
2. List of Recently
G:\\IMNS5550.MAS
Issued NMSS Information Notices
Issued NRC Information Notices
TechEd: E. Kraus 10/21/96
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
OFC
IMOB Il ,*IMOB
I
- IMAB I. *FCS
l l *DWM I
ASFPO I
- IRM
I
NAME
MALWt
JMPiccone
LWCamper
EQTen Eyck
JGreeves
WTravers
JVoglewede
DATE
IO /3a/96
10/22/96
10/25/96
11/21/96
11/5/96
11/1/96
11/6/96 lEl
I
I
I
I
I
.
.
.
.
OFC
I
IMNS
I
I
I
I
I
,..
.
.
NAME l TTMartin
DACool
I
DATE
/ /96
/ /96
-
r
p^ni/rr
trueenr
-_j11
.r
,
.rkr
- ^
W fous
fn
a
I
.mCursV
tLWUVtKI/NLUMUKL
N=NU LUrT UtIlUIAL KtLAUKD LWT