Information Notice 1999-25, Year 2000 Contingency Planning Activities
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UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
August 10, 1999
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 99-25: YEAR 2000 CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities.
Purpose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to inform
addressees about contingency planning activities being undertaken by the NRC in response to
potential disruptions of telecommunications and electrical distribution systems that could occur
during the Year 2000 (Y2K) transition period (December 31, 1999, through the first few days of
2000). It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities
and consider actions, as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this information
notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Background
The Y2K issue involves potential date-related errors with computer systems, embedded
software devices, and software applications. An example of a date-related problem is a
software application or digital device that interprets the digits "00" to represent the year 1900
rather than the year 2000. Date-related errors can result in malfunctions of computer systems
by producing erroneous data or failing to operate at all. These failures, if they were to occur, could potentially lead to the loss of electrical distribution or telecommunications systems.
The NRC has been working with licensees and numerous industry groups and government
agencies to determine the possible extent of telecommunications and electrical distribution
system disruptions that could occur during the Y2K transition, and their potential effects on
nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities. The North American Electric Reliability Council
(NERC), the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and the representatives of the
telecommunications industry have concluded, after extensive research, that no widespread
disruptions to the telecommunications or electrical distribution systems are expected. Although
we believe tnat any such disruptions would most likely not have a significant impact on any
nuclear power plant or fuel cycle facility, the NRC staff has developed a Y2K contingency plan
to (1) provid an alternate means of communication with NRC licensees and certificate holders
in the event of a telecommunications disruption and (2) provide for rapid NRC response to
unexpected events during the Y2K transition, including licensee requests for enforcement
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IN 99-25 August 10, 1999 discretion. The final version of the NRC Contingency Plan for the Year 2000 Issue in the
Nuclear Industry is publicly available, and can be accessed from the NRC web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/NRCNY2KIY2KCP.html.
Discussion
Telephone service to the NRC Headquarters Operations Center (HOC) is provided by several
diverse and redundant routes. A local telephone outage in the metropolitan Washington, DC
area could affect one of the routes, but would not be likely to cause a complete loss of
telephone service to the HOC. Licensees and certificate holders wishing to contact the HOC
should use the following numbers, in the priority listed:
301-816-5100
301-951-0550
301-415-0550
301-415-0553 The NRC Region IV Incident Response Center (IRC) in Arlington, Texas has been designated
as the backup center for the HOC during the Y2K transition period. Callers unable to contact
the HOC should contact the Region IV IRC at 817-860-8100.
The NRC is currently purchasing Iridium brand satellite telephones to be distributed to the
resident inspectors' offices of every operating nuclear power plant, and to the Portsmouth and
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants (GDPs). Additionally, the HOC and each regional IRC will
be equipped with similar satellite telephones. Nuclear power plant licensees and GDP
certificate holders will be permitted to use the NRC satellite telephone for emergency response
purposes. including immediate event notifications to the NRC. Satellite telephone numbers will
be provided to each resident inspector's office.
The Office of the Manager, National Communication System (OMNCS) is the White House
agency charged with coordinating and planning for communications to support national security
and emergency preparedness (NSIEP) requirements. The NRC is a member organization of
the National Communication System (NCS). Among the NSIEP programs sponsored by
OMNCS is the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS). The major
features of GETS are enhanced routing and priority treatment in the use of long-distance and
local telephone networks to ensure a high probability of completing a call even if the public
telephone network is highly congested. OMNCS makes GETS available to utility services that
are sponsored by NCS member organizations. The NRC will sponsor all nuclear power plants
and gaseous diffusion plants for participation in the GETS program. Information about the
GETS program and instructions on how to apply for GETS calling cards are presented in
Attachment 1. Licensees should follow the instructions on page 6 (State and local government
user application instructions).
The NRC has assisted the Nuclear Energy Agency in developing a prototype of a Y2K early
warning system (YEWS) that would be used by the NRC and other regulators to share
information concerning Y2K problems that affect plant operations, telecommunications, or grid
reliability. YEWS is an intemet-based system that will be placed on a secure server. A number
of countries have already agreed to use this system as their primary means of disseminating
IN 99-25 August 10, 1999 information during the Y2K transition period. Licensees interested in accessing international
Y2K event information from the YEWS should send the name of the single point of contact per
site with the authority to access the YEWS, in writing, to Mr. Clarence Breskovic, Office of
International Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Mail
Stop T 04E9. Mr. Breskovic may be contacted at 301-415-2364, or by e-mail at cDb(&fnrc.aov.
for further information concerning YEWS.
Nuclear power plant licensees will be contacted by the HOC for plant status.beginning at
approximately 15 minutes past midnight in the particular facility's time zone. The information
that will be collected at that time will be similar to that gathered during the daily plant status call, except that the NRC will also be collecting data regarding any major Y2K transition anomalies
noted by the facility, such as grid stability problems. This information will immediately be
entered into the YEWS and will be shared will all users.
The NRC staff is proposing interim staff guidance on the process for the NRC to exercise
enforcement discretion in certain situations in which power reactor licensees encounter Y2K-
associated compliance problems in the Y2K transition period or in other key rollover periods.
The exercise of enforcement discretion may support a licensee's decision to keep the plant in
operation, if the licensee has determined that safety will not be unacceptably affected, in order
to help maintain electrical grid stability and reliability. This proposed interim enforcement policy
would provide for the exercise of enforcement discretion to address noncompliance with license
conditions, including technical specifications (TSs), because of Y2K transition or rollover
issues. The interim enforcement policy would apply to situations in which plant operation is
needed to help maintain the stability and reliability of the electrical power supply system, even
when license conditions, including TSs, would require a plant shutdown. If such situations
occur, licensees would be expected to follow the existing guidance in NRC Inspection Manual
Part 9900 for Notices of Enforcement Discretion, which is available at
http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/IM/noed.html, to the maximum extent practicable, particularly regarding
a safety determination and notification of NRC. The staffs interim enforcement discretion
policy is available at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/COMMISSION/SECYS/1999-135scy.html.
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IN 99-25 August 10, 1999 If you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below.
Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief
Events Assessment, Generic Communications
and Non-Power Reactors Branch
Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
Joseph Giitter, IRO
301-415-7485 E-mail: jgg@nrc.gov
John Jolicoeur, IRO
301-415-6383 E-mail: jrjl@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. GETS Information Package
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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Mark if INTERNATIONAL CALLING privilege is required or not.
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Attachment 2
August 10, 1999 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
YY-Z4 Broad-Scope Licensees'
8/10/99
Responsibilities for Reviewing
and Approving Unregistered
Sealed Sources and Devices
99-23
99-22
99-21 Safety Concerns Related To
7/6/99
Repeated Control Unit Failures
of the Nucletron Classic Model
High-Dose-Rate Remote
Aferloading Brachytherapy
Devices
10 CFR 34.43(a)(1); Effective
7/6/99
Date for Radiographer Certification
and Plans for Enforcement Discretion
Recent Plant Events Caused
6/25/99
By Human Performance Errors
Contingency Planning for the
6/25/99
Year 200 Computer Problem
Rupture of the Shell Side of a
6/23/99
Feedwater Heater at the Point
Beach Nuclear Plant
Update on NRC's Year 2000
6/14/99
Activities for Materials Licensees
and Fuel Cycle Licensees and
Certificate Holders
All medical licensees of broad- scope and master materials
licensees
All U.S. NRC medical licensees
authorized to use brachytherapy
sources in Nucletron Classic
Model high-dose-rate (HDR)
remote afterloaders
Industrial Radiography Licensees
All holders of licenses for nuclear
power, test, and research reactors
All material and fuel cycle
licensees and certificate holders
All holders of operating licenses
or construction permits for nuclear
power reactors
All material and fuel cycle
licensees and certificate holders
All holders of OL for nuclear
power reactors, except those who
have permanently ceased
operations and have certified that
the fuel has been permanently
removed from the reactor
99-20
99-19
99-18
99-17 Problems Associated with Post-Fire 6/3/99 Safe-Shutdown Circuit Analyses
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
IN 99-25 August 10, 1999 If you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below.
Original signed by
Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief
Events Assessment, Generic Communications
and Non-Power Reactors Branch
Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts:
Joseph Giitter, IRO
John Jolicoeur, IRO
301-415-7485
301-415-6383 E-mail: jgg@nrc.gov
E-mail: jrjl@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. GETS Information Package
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
DOCUMENT NAME: S:\\DRPMSEC\\ln99025.wpd
- See previous concurrence
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box C=Copy wlo attachment/endosure E=Copy with attachmentendosure N = No copy
OFFICE
REXB*
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7/26/99
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IN99-xx
August xx, 1999 If you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below.
Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief
Events Assessment, Gener'Communications
and Non-Power React s Branch
Division of Regulatory
provement Programs
Office of Nuclear Re tor Regulation
Technical Contacts: Joseph Giutter, IRO
J n Jolicoeur, IRO
301-415-7485
01-415-6383 E-mail: jgg@nrc.gov
E-mail: jrjl @nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. GETS Information Package
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Not'es
DOCUMENT NAME: C:\\wp\\wpdocs\\tacs\\
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To receive a copy of this docuojent, indicate In the box C=
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OFFICE
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NAME
JShapake
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1/9/99 I /99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY