ML18106A786

Provides 90-day Response to GL 98-01 Re Yr 2000 Readiness of Computer Systems.Scope of Licensee Project Plan Discussed

ML18106A786
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	07/23/1998
From:	Eric Simpson Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
GL-98-01, GL-98-1, LR-N980266, NUDOCS 9808040244
Download: ML18106A786 (6)

Text

Public Service Electric and Gas Company E. C. Simpson Public Service Electric and Gas Company Senior Vice President - Nuclear Engineering P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-1700 JUL 23 1998 LR-N980266 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

NRC GENERIC LETTER 98 90 DAY RESPONSE SALEM GENERATING STATION UNITS NOS. 1AND2 HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION FACILITY OPERATING LICENSES DPR-70, DPR-75 AND NPF-57 DOCKET NOS. 50-272, 50-311 AND 50- 354 Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group (Enterprise). An Enterprise Group effort (Year 2000 Project) is being implemented to address Year 2000 readiness of computer systems. A key portion of this major corporation-wide effort is the Nuclear Business Unit (NBU) Y2K program.

The Senior Vice President of Nuclear Engineering is the sponsor of the NBU Y2K Project. A dedicated NBU Project Team has been formed, funded and staffed and is implementing this program to assure that our organization can move into 2000 with "Y2K ready" computer systems and applications. A Project Plan has been prepared and approved by NBU senior management.

• The NBU ProjectPlan is similar to that outlined in NEl/NUSMG 97-07 (Nuclear Utility Year 2000 Readiness, Oct. 1997). PSE&G is cooperating and sharing Y2K experience information with other utilitie~ and is a member of the PWR and BWR Owners Groups.

We are also participating in EPRI and NEA (Northeast Energy Alliance) Y2K efforts.

Peers from NEA conducted an independent assessment of the NBU Y2K Project.

As is requested by item (1) under "Required Response" of Generic Letter 98-01 the program's scope, assessment process, plans for corrective actions (including testing and schedules), QA measures, contingency plans, and regulatory compliance are discussed below, a\ Printed on *

~ Recycled Paper

LR N980266 2 Document Distribution Desk OOL 23 1998 Sc~pe The scope of the project is comprehensive and includes digital hardware, software and firmware systems, and applications that the NBU uses. 1[1 addition to the nuclear power plant process computers and monitoring systems, the Y2K effort covers the business, technical and information systems that may have an effect on the operation of NBU organizational units. This includes corporate support, suppliers, vendors, service providers and digital systems from the mainframes and client server systems to the embedded systems.

The Enterprise Year 2000 Project carries certain responsibilities for mitigating Y2K impact to the NBU, e. g., energy management system, grid stability, transmission and distribution, telecommunications and *mainframe infrastructure. These efforts, though monitored for Y2K closure, are not within the scope of the NBU Y2K project.

Assessment Process An initial assessment is being performed as part of the identification and inventory of digital items (hardware, software and firmware). The project teani is screening NBU databases, reviewing configuration documents, interviewing cognizant individuals and conducting physical walkdowns. Suspect Y2K problem areas identified in the initial inventory are being organized in a database. Certain hardware, firmware or software may require testing for date sensitivity. Suppliers/vendors are being contacted to identify the date sensitive digital items as well as to determine vendor initiatives and schedules for making items Y2K compliant or ready.

The risk assessment considers the significance of digital items. Digital items are subjected to risk assessment based on risk criteria as defined in the NBU administrative procedure for integrated planning and prioritization. The criteria considered include regulatory commitment, nuclear safety, industrial safety, radiological safety, environment, reliability and financial impact. Digital items are also being categorized as mission critical or non-mission critical.

An item is considered mission critical if it impacts power production, current license basis or nuclear safety. Mission critical digital items will be tested for Y2K compliance, where appropriate. Digital items are being placed into one of the following categories:

A-High (a must do item); B-Medium (a should do item) or C-Low (a discretionary item).

Where appropriate, test procedures will be developed to perform the detailed assessment. Existing NBU procedures will be used to provide the necessary 10CFR50.59 safety evaluations and quality assurance of the work performed.

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LR N980266 Document Distribution Desk 3 9UL 2a 1998 Plans for Corrective Actions Several options are available to resolve the identified Y2K problems. The common Y2K problem resolution options are:

• Verify that the item is Y2K compliant or Y2K ready.

• Use-as is, make no change, take the risk of failure, create compensatory actions, as deemed necessary.

• Retire: abandon or terminate function (discard hardware, firmware or software).

• Repair: modify, reengineer in-house.

• Repair: modify or reengineer externally through vendor. or consultants.

• Replace: upgrade to a standard Y2K compliant version or an up-to-date Y2K compliant item, merge with other applications, or perform the task or process in a different way by reengineering.

• Corrective actions will be developed and managed in accordance with present NBU

. procedures.

Testing will be performed to validate corrective actions as appropriate, to ensure the efforts have eliminated the Y2K problems and no unintended functions have been introduced.

QA Measures Quality assessment and oversight of the Y2K project will consist of planned periodic assessments. These assessments will provide project oversight and review selected approved documents.

Project oversight will ensure those potentially affected systems and components are reviewed for vulnerability, and classified appropriately according to nuclear safety, and that changes (device changes, software changes, etc.) which address Y2K issues are properly implemented in accordance with approved NBU procedures.

Contingency Plans Contingency plans for selected critical applications, components and programs, will be prepared and available for use.

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• Document Distribution Desk OUL 23 1998 Regulatory Compliance Implementing our project plan will allow the Nuclear Business Unit to be Y2K ready by the year 2000 and compliant with the terms and conditions of our operating licenses and NRC regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding this request, please contact us.

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LR N980266 9_.*.' 5 ~UL 23 1998 Document Distribution Desk C* Mr. H. J. Miller, Administrator - Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Mr. P Milano, Licensing Project Manager - Salem U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 14E21 Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. R. Ennis, Licensing Project Manager - Hope Creek U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 14E21 Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. Scott Morris (X24)

USNRC Senior Resident Inspector - Salem Mr. Steve Pindale (X24)

USN RC Senior Resident Inspector - Hope Creek Mr. K. Tosch, Manager IV Bureau of Nuclear Engineering 33 Arctic Parkway CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 95-4933 I

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STATE OF NEW JERSEY)

) SS.

COUNTY OF SALEM )

E. C. Simpson, being duly sworn according to law deposes and says:

I am Senior Vice President - Nuclear Engineering of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, and as such, I find the matters set forth in the above referenced letter, concerning Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, and Hope Creek Generating Station, are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

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