Information Notice 1999-20, Contingency Planning for the Year 2000 Computer Problem

Contingency Planning for the Year 2000 Computer Problem

ML031040400
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	06/25/1999
From:	Cool D NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-99-020, NUDOCS 9906220076
Download: ML031040400 (8)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 June 25, 1999 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 99-20: CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR THE YEAR 2000

COMPUTER PROBLEM

Addressees

All material and fuel cycle licensees and certificate holders.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to

encourage addresses to develop Year 2000 (Y2K) contingency plans. It is expected that

recipients will review this information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as

appropriate, to avoid potential problems. However, suggestions contained in this IN are not

NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On June 14, 1999, NRC issued IN 99-18, "Update on NRC's Year 2000 Activities for Materials

Licensees and Fuel Cycle Licensees and Certificate Holders," to licensees and certificate

holders to update addressees regarding NRC's Y2K activities and provide sources of Y2K

information. IN 99-18 provided a detailed description of the Y2K problem and addressees

should refer to it for a listing of available information sources concerning Y2K issues.

The Y2K problem pertains to the potential inability of computers to correctly recognize dates

beyond December 31, 1999. This problem results from computer hardware and/or software that

uses two-digit fields to represent the year. These systems may misread the year 2000 and

cause the systems to fail, generate faulty data, or act in an incorrect manner. The Y2K problem

has the potential to interfere with the proper operation of any computer system, hardware that is

microprocessor-based (embedded software), software, or database.

The Y2K problem is urgent because it has a fixed, non-negotiable deadline that is quickly

approaching. This matter requires priority attention because of the limited time remaining to

assess the magnitude of the problem, assess its associated risks, and implement programs that

will achieve a satisfactory resolution of the Y2K problem.

Existing reporting requirements under 10 CFR Part 21 provide for notification to NRC of

deficiencies, non-conformances, and failures, such as the Y2K problem, in safety-related

systems.

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IN 99-20

June 25, 1999 NRC has placed a Y2K website on its homepage. The website can.,ts information on NRC

Y2K activities, Y2K information notices, and links to other webpages useful for helping licensees

implement their Y2K readiness program. The NRC Y2K website address is

<httD://www.nrc.gov/NRC/NEWS/vear2000.html>.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published IAEA-TECDOC-1087, "Potential

Vulnerabilities of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities to the Year 2000 Issue and Measures to Address

Them." This document provides helpful information for fuel cycle facilities and can be found at

the IAEA Y2K website at <http:/Aww.iaea.or.atlworidatom/orlocram/v2k>.

Discussion:

NRC staff has several concerns associated with the potential impact of the Y2K problem on

materials licensees, primarily because of the variety and types of computer systems and

software in use. Licensees need to be aware of Y2K effects on health and safety, as well as

regulatory requirements such as record-keeping. Although licensees are working to remediate

the Y2K problem, they should be developing Y2K contingency plans. In an effort to encourage

and help licensees develop Y2K contingency plans, we are providing answers to the following

frequently asked questions:

Q: What is a Y2K contingency plan?

A: Y2K contingency plan is a set of procedures to deal with difficulties that might be caused

directly or indirectly by a Y2K problem, or difficulties in which the severity of the problem is

exacerbated by a Y2K problem. Brand new contingency plans do not have to developed for

Y2K. Existing emergency procedures or disaster recovery plans can be adjusted for Y2K.

Q: Why should I worry about Y2K contingency planning?

A: Contingency planning is important for continued protection of workers, the public, and the

environment, as well as to maintain business continuity. Even licensees that have remediated

their systems for Y2K should consider developing Y2K contingency plans. The most extensive

Y2K remediation program may not have found all Y2K problems. Y2K contingency plans will

allow licensees to cope with internal Y2K problems as well as Y2K problems of business

partners and external influences such as electric power, telecommunications, or water.

Q: What do I need to consider?

A: Y2K could affect licensees' internal systems such as hardware, software, embedded

systems, and networks. Y2K could also affect external systems including electric power, telecommunications, and suppliers (national and international). Y2K contingency plans should

consider internal risks, external risks, and possible interaction between the two.

Q: What is involved in Y2K contingency planning?

A: There are four basic phases in contingency planning: initiation, impact analysis, contingency

planning, and testing.

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IN 99-20

June 25, 1999 In the initiation phase, licensees should develop a master schedule, for development of the plan, and include milestones to keep contingency planning on track. Existig disaster recovery plans

or emergency procedures should be reviewed for applicability to inMtenal and external Y2K risks.

In the impact analysis phase, the Y2K internal and external risks and the effect of these risks on

mission-critical and safety systems should be identified. Also, licensees should assess the

potential impact of mission-critical and safety system failures on workers, the public, the

environment, and business continuity.

In the contingency planning phase, the contingency plan is developed and documented. As part

of this phase, the licensee determines how and when the plan will be implemented. Finally, individuals who will implement the contingency plan and fix Y2K problems as they occur should

be identified.

In the testing phase, the team ensures that the contingency plan will provide adequate

protection to workers, the public, and the environment, as well as ensure business continuity.

Tests of the contingency plan are developed and conducted. Finally, disaster recovery plans

and procedures should be updated to include the Y2K contingency plan

Q. Where can I receive help?

A. The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has published a contingency planning guide,

"Year 2000 Computing Crisis: Business Continuity and Contingency Planning," dated

August 1998. The guide describes four phases of Y2K business contingency planning structure:

initiation, business impact analysis, contingency planning, and testing. The guide can be found

on the Internet at <http:/1www.aao.gov/v2kr.htm>.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, has developed a

contingency planning document, "Patient-Focused Y2K Contingency Planning Guidebook.' The

guidebook can be found on the Internet at<htto:/vwww.va.aov>.

In an effort to provide the public with Y2K information, the President's Council on Year 2000

Conversion website has information regarding Y2K and the Federal Government's efforts to

prepare its computer systems, links to information on Y2K compliance for critical sectors of the

economy, and other Y2K resources. In addition, the Council has established a Y2K consumer

information line at 1-888-USA-4-Y2K which provides free Y2K information. The information at

this website or through the information line may useful in determining external Y2K risks and

developing contingency plans.

IN 99-20

June 25, 1999 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

Contacts: Gary Purdy, NMSS

301-415-7897 E-mail: gwpl@nrc.gov

Harry Felsher, NMSS

301-415-5521 E-mail: hdf@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices x lt4- A

K-I

Attachment 1 IN 99-20

June 25, 1999 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

99-18 Update on NRC's Year 2000 6/14/99 All material and fuel cycle

Activities for Materials Licensees licensees and certificate

and Fuel Cycle Licensees and holders

Certificate Holders

99-16 Federal Bureau of Investigation's 5/28 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Nuclear Site Security Program Commission fuel cycle, power

reactor, and non-power reactor

licensees

99-11 Incident Involving the Use of 4/16/99 All medical use licensees

Radioactive Iodine-131

99-09 Problems Encountered When 3/24/99 All medical licensees authorized

Manually Editing treatment Data to conduct high-dose-rate (HDR)

on the Nucletron Microselectron- remote after loading

HDR (New) Model 105-999 brachytherapy treatments

99-06 1998 Enforcement Sanctions as 3/19/99 All U. S. Nuclear Regulatory

a Result of Deliberate Violations Commission licensees.

of NRC Employee Protection

Requirements

99-05 Inadvertent Discharge of Carbon 3/8/99 All holders of licenses for nuclear

Dioxide Fire Protection System power, research, and test reactor, and Gas Migration and fuel cycle facilities

99-04 Unplanned Radiation Exposures 3/8/99 All radiography licensees

to Radiographers, Resulting from

failures to follow Proper Radiation

Safety Procedures

99-03 Exothermic Reactions Involving 1/29/99 All operating uranium recovery

Dried Uranium Oxide Powder facilities that produce oxide

(Yellowcake) powder (U308 ) (yellowcake)

99-02 Guidance to Users on the 1/21/99 All medical licensees authorized to

Implementation of a New conduct brachytherapy

Single-Source Dose- treatments

Calculation Formalism and Revised

Air-Kerma Strength Standard

for lodine-1 25 Sealed Sources

- /

Attachment 2 IN 99-20

June 25, 1999 Page 1 of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

99-19 Rupture of the Shell Side of a 6/23/99 All holders of operating licenses

Feedwater Heater at the Point or construction permits for nuclear

Beach Nuclear Plant power reactors

99-18 Update on NRC's Year 2000 6/14/99 All material and fuel cycle

Activities for Materials Licensees licensees and certificate holders

and Fuel Cycle Licensees and

Certificate Holders

99-17 Problems Associated with Post-Fire 6/3/99 All holders of OL for nuclear

Safe-Shutdown Circuit Analyses power reactors, except those who

have permanently ceased

operations and have certified that

the fuel has been permanently

removed from the reactor

99-16 Federal Bureau of Investigation's 5/28 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Nuclear Site Security Program Commission fuel cycle, power

reactor, and non-power reactor

licensees

99-15 Misapplication of 10 CFR Part 71 5/27/99 All holders of operating licenses or

Transportation Shipping Cask construction permits for nuclear

Licensing Basis to 10 CFR Part 50 power reactors

Design Basis

99-14 Unanticipated Reactor Water 5/5/99 All holders of licenses for nuclear

Draindown at Quad Cities Unit 2, power, test, and research reactors

Arkansas Nuclear One Unit 2 and Fitzpatrick

99-13 Insights from NRR Inspections 4/29/99 All holders of operating licenses

of Low-and Medium-Voltage for nuclear power reactors

Circuit Breaker Maintenance

Programs

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

' 99-20

June 25, 1999 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.

/5/

Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and Medical

Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contacts: Gary Purdy, NMSS

301-415-7897 E-mail: gwpl@nrc.gov

Harry Felsher, NMSS

301-415-5521 E-mail: hdf~nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• See previous concurrence

Document: G:\Purdy\y2kcinin.wpd

OFFICE MSIB*IC NMSS* I MSlB* I N MSIB* I N FCSS* I N IMNS* I

NAME GPurdy/iucy EKraus SMoore LCamper ETenEyck DCool

DATE 5/4/99 4/26/99 514/99 5/7/99 6/17/99 6/21/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Q. Where can I receive help?

A. The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has published a contingency planning guide, uYear 2000 Computing Crisis: Business Continuity and Contingen cy Planning,' dated August

1998. The guide describes four phases of Y2K business contingency planning structure:

initiation, business impact analysis, contingency planning, and testing. The guide can be found

on the Internet at <http:/h/ww.gao.gov/y2kr.htm>.

/

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, has developed a

contingency planning document, "Patient-Focused Y2K Contingency Planning Guidebook? The

guidebook can be found on the Internet at <http:/hwww.va.gov>. /

In an effort to provide the public with Y2K information, the President's Council onzy/ar 2000

Conversion website has information regarding Y2K and the Federal Governmeprit's efforts to

prepare its computer systems, links to information on Y2K compliance for critical sectors of the

economy, and other Y2K resources. In addition, the Council has establish<d a Y2K consumer

information line at 1-888-USA-4-Y2K which provides free Y2K informatip*. The information at

this website or through the information line may useful in determinin .xtemal Y2K risks and

developing contingency plans.

This information notice requires no specific action nor w en response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please ontact the technical contacts listed below, or the appropriate regional office.

nald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and Medical

Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Contacts: Gary Purd yNMSS

(301) 415-7897 E-maWu/gwpl @nrc.gov

JMIarry Felsher, NMSS

"(301) 415-5521 E-mail: hdf@nrc.gov

Attach nts:

1. L' of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2 ist of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

I s

OFFICE MSBI SB -MI C .q y IN

NAME GPurdy/iLu l EKraus - SMoore ILCamper fent y

DATE l 5/4/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

T 4/26/99 5/4/99 5/7/99 6/1/199

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j 6/14 /99