ML20138E271
| ML20138E271 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/10/1999 |
| From: | Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Kingston J HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20138E278 | List: |
| References | |
| GL-98-01, IEIN-96-070, NUDOCS 9909270048 | |
| Download: ML20138E271 (16) | |
Text
. - - - - - - -
UNITED STATES
)
(,]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
j' WASHINGTON, D.C. 306n4001
/
September 10, 1999 The Honorable Jeok 60ngston Member, Unlied States House of Representathus 6005 Abercom St., Suite 102 Savannah, GA 31405
Dear Congressman Kingston:
I am responding to the letter you sent to Dennis K. Rathbun of the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on July 27,1999, in which you requested information on concerns raised by one of your constituents, Ms. Debble Bodie, regarding the year 2000 (Y2K) readiness of the State of Georgla's nuclearpower plants.
By way of background information, I am pleased to tell you that over the past several years, the NRC staff has been working with its licensees to ensuro that potential Y2K issues have been identified and corrected in order for plants to function properly during the Y2K transition. The NRC has issued information Notice (IN) 96 70," Year 2000 Effect on Computer System Software," December 24,1996; Generic Letter (GL) 98 01," Year 2000 Readiness of Computer Systems at Nuclear Power Plants," May 11,1998; and GL 98 01, Supplement 1, " Year 2000 Readiness of Computer Systems at Nuclear Power Plants," January 14,1999. IN 96 70 informed alllicensees of the potential problems that nuclear facility computer systems and software might encounter during the transition to the new century. In GL 98-01, reference it.
made to Nuclear Energy Institute / Nuclear Utilities Sof tware Management Group (NEl/NUSMG) 97 07,
- Nuclear Utility Year 2000 Readiness," which describes an approach that all licensees have agreed to utilize in addressing the Y2K lssues at their f acilities. This guidance document (NEl/NUSMG 97-07) came out of a joint etfort between NEl and NUSMG. In GL 98 01, the NRC accepted the NEl/NUSMG 97 07 guidance as an appropriate program for nuclear power plant readiness and required that all operating U.S. nuclear power plant licensees submit written responses regarding their facility specific Y2K readiness programs. Licensees were required to report their Y2K readiness status by July 1,1999. Licensees that were not ready were requested to provide their schedule for completing their Y2K activities. Supplement 1 to GL 98-01 expanded the scope of the reporting requirements to include the systems that are
. necessary for continued p', ant operation and that are not covered by the terms and conditions of the plant's license and NRC regulations, aqg th P h h h k i
The NRC has received reports that all 103 operatinh 4ar power plants (units) have no Y2K related problems that directly affect the performance of safety systems. As of September 1,19S9, licensees for 75 of these plants, including Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in the State of Georgia, indicated that all of their computer systems that support plant operation are Y2K ready. Licensees for the remaining 28 plants reported that they have additional work to complete on a few non safety computer systems or devices to be fully Y2K ready and provided their schedules for completing the work. Of the 28 plants, about 15 need work on operational support systems, or systems needed to support I
(p f r f b l
9909270048 990910 I
CF SUBJ i
C&R-25Y2K CF 1
,g ] 3
'~ '
- u lJLQ a
4 Honorable J. Kingston 2-power generation. Other plants need work on plant monitoring and administrativo systems or systems needed to supportadministrativo functions, such as a data t,aso for spare parts inventories. Typleally, the temaining Y2K work that is to be completed is due to the nood to wait for a plant outage scheduled In the fall in order to perform the work or the necessity of waiting for delivery of atuplacement component. None of the remaining work affects the ability of a plant to shut down sulely, if necessary.
One of a number of initiathes undertaken by the NRC staff to address the Y2K lssue was the conduct of 12 sample audits of licensee Y2K readiness programs. The NRC staff dolormined that this approach was an appropriate means of oversight of licensee Y2K readiness efforts because alllicensees had committed to the nuclear power Industry Y2K roadinoss guidanco (NEl/NUSMG 97-07)in their first response to NRC GL 98-01 and because the NRC staff had not identified any Y2K problems in safety.rolated actuation systems. The sample of 12 licensees included large utilities such as Commonwealth Edison and Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as small single-unit licensees such as North Atlantic Energy (Seabrook) and Wolf Creek Nuclear Opourting Corporation. Because licensoo Y2K programs are corporate-wide, many of the NRC staff audits encompassed more than a single nuclear power plant site because many utilities own more than one nuclear power plant. In all,42 of 103 operating nuclear power plant units were associated with the Y2K readinoss program audits of 12 utilitlos.
The NRC staff selected a varloty of typos of plants of different ages and locations in this samplo in order to obtain the necessary assurance that nuclear power Industry Y2K readiness programs are being offectively implemented and that licensoos would be on schedule to moet the readiness target date of July 1,1999, established in GL 98-01. In late January 1999, the NRC staff completed the 12 audits. On the basis of the audit findings, tho staff concluded that the audited licensees were in the process of offectively addressing Y2K issues and woro undertaking the actions necessary to achieve Y2K readiness in accordance with the GL 98 01 target date.
In an effort to verify and assess the offectiveness of licensee contingency planning, in May and June 1999, NRC audit teams conducted additional comprehensivo audits focused on the area of Y2K contingency planning at six unaudited plants. The audits reviewod internal facility risks, external risks, ladividual component / system contingency planning and integrated contingency planning. The results of these audits, as well as the results of the 12 samplo audits, are available at NRC public document rooms and at NRC's Y2K Web sito htto://wwv,.nrc cov/NRChiWS/vear2000.html.
In adalon to the NRC staff activities previously mentioned, regional NRC inspectors reviewed plant-specific Y2K program implementatloa and contingency activities at all nuclear power plant facilities, including plants in the State of Georgia. The inspectors used guidance prepared by the NRC Headquartors staff who conducted the 12 sample audits and the 6 contingency planning audits. On the basis of the inspector reviews, the staff found that the Edwin 1. Hatch Nuclear Plant and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant licensees were implementing Y2K programs in accordance with staff approved industry guidelinos.
Ms. Bodio expressed concern that it would require several months before January 1,2000, to safely cool down a reactor. Under normal conditions, it takes several hours to safely shutdown a raclear power p'2nt by gradually reducing reactor power. However, in an emergency, the
Honorable J. Kingston 3-reactor can be shut down safely within seconds, either automatically or manually. Nuclear power plants employ cooling systems to safely remove heat from the reactor core. Typleally, i
the reactor core can be safely cooled down in about a day. Following a reactor shutdown, l
decaying fisdon byproducts continue to produce heat in the co,0. This ileat generation process subsides as time paseos and eventually reachos a point at which cooling water is not necessary. At that point, the core will remain cool by simply transforring to the surroundings the small amount of decay heat mat remains. The perception that it takes months to cool the core has merit if the reference point is the time when it is no longer necessary to provide cooling water. However, the cooling systems in place are required to be available and are designed to cool the reactor core in a safe, timely, and controlled manner.
Additionally, every nuclear power plant has redundant backup power sources on sito to safely shut down the reactor and koop it in a safe cendition in the unlikely event that all external power is lost as a result of the Y2K transition or any other reason. Generally, each plant has at least two diesel generators to provide this backup power to the plant safety systems.
With regard to your constituont's question concerning the electric grid as a wholo, nuclear power plant licensees are Interacting with the North American Electric Rollability Council (NERC) to develop electrical grid stability plans for generation and transmission. The plants have identiflod grid instability as a factor to bo included under external risk as part of the Y2K contingency planning effort. The industry and the NRC recognize the nationalimportance oi having available the broadest range of electrical get erating capability in order to cope with any unforseen Y2K Impacts should they occur. However, NERC in their report to the Department of Energh
- Preparing the Electric Power Systems of North America For Transition to the Year 2000," dated August 3,1999, states: "The curront industry status leads to high confidence that nuclear generation plants will contir, le to reliably deliver their share of the nation's electricity needs wellinto the next century?
The NRC will continue to monitor progross at those plants that havo romalning work to be performed and willindependently verify completion of these items, including Y2K contingency plans that specify procedures for dealing with unexpected events. The staff has developed guidance for appropriate regulatory actions to be taken for those facilities that were not Y2K ready by July 1,1999. As stated in the enclosed press releases, by September 30,1999, we will make a final determination whether additional regulatory action is warranted to address Y2K readiness issues. We believe that all licensees will be able to operato their plants safely during the transition from 1999 to 2000 and beyond and do not believe that significant plant specific action directed by the NRC to address possible Y2K problems is likely to be needed.
Additional Y2K Information on all operating nuclear power plants is available at NRC's Y2K Web site at httml/www.nre.oov/NRC/ NEWS /vear2000.html. This Web site also identifies Y2K retources, noticos, conferences, and other related Information.
Honorable J.Kingston 4
The NRC remaltw committed to its oversight of the nuclear power plant licensee Y2K readiness efforts in order to ensure safe opera 11on of these facilities throughout 1999,2000, and beyond.
Please contact me if you have any additional questions on this matter.
" Sincerely,
,paj..
lillam D.
vers J' forOperations ecutive Director 0
Enclosures:
1.
Press Release No. 99168, *NRC Establishes Policy for Regulatory Act!ons for Nuclear Power Plants That Are Not 'Y2K Ready" Press Release No. 99191, *NRC lasues Report Confirming No Y2K Problems Affecting 2.
Safety Systems of NuclearPower Plants Updates Y2K Readinest Status" 4
a 5
-4I
Honorable J. Kingston 4-
.?.s NRC remains committed to its oversight of the nuclear power plant licensee Y2K readiness effortn in order to ensure safe operation of these facilities throughout 1993,2000, and beyond.
Please contact me if you have any additional questions on this matter.
Sincerely, elped ty D. Travers William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1.
Press Release No. 99168,"NRC Establishes Policy for Regulatory Actions for Nuclear Power Plants That Are Not 'Y2K Ready'"
2.
_ Press Release No. 99191, "NRC lasues Report Confirming No Y2K Problems Affecting Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants Updates Y2K Readiness Status" DISTRIBUTION: See next page Disk / DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EE*.e\\BRYANTVKINGsTONGT.WPD OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
- 3. w.m e. cm a _ __-- _ _ _
- r. w. em.m.22 _. 2 _u v. u no max. wo ewm
- See previous concurrences CFC EE18 A
TechEd N
C:EElB D;DE ADPT:NRR D;NRR EDOJ J NAME ABryant BCalute JACalvo JRStrosnider BWSheron SJColhns s
DATE 8/11/99*
8/10/99*
8/13/99*
8/16/99*
8/16/99' 8/17/99*
f/ Q /99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
[
004of.
DRathbun 9/ /c/99
Honorable J, Kingston 4-The NRC remains committed to its oversight of the nuclear power plant licensee Y2K readiness efforts in order to ensure safe operation of these facilities throughout 1999,2000, and beyond, Please contact me if you have any additional questions on this matter.
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Directp for Operationg
/
Enclosure:
Press Release No. J9168, *NRC Establishes Policy for Regulatory Actions for Nuclear Power Plants That Are Not ',Y2K Ready"'
i, DISTRIBUTION: See next page
,/
DISK / DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EElB\\BRYANTTJKINGSTONGT.hPD OFFICIAL RECORD COPY v
. coc, inew. e. cm.m.m.,v
. w. ca
..e.
4o.,. *r. em wo won. wo corra
- See arevious concurrences OFC EElB A
TechEd N
C:EElB /
D.DL.
'A ADPT:rg pegg EDO NAME ABryant BCalure JACalvo' MMdei Bdhn ShMkk WDTravers DATE 8/11/99*
8/10/99*
8/1359' 7[l6 /99
[//[/99 fl/7/W
/
/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
d'i Lo
,,--e-,--r v-n a
w
---,r
,.w---ee e
, Honorable J. Kingston
- Additionally, every nuclear power plant has redundant backup power sources on
- e to safely shut down the reactor and keep it in a safe condition in the unlikely event that all xternal power is lost as a result of the Y2K transition or any other reason Generally, each pl has at least two diesel enerators to provide this backup power to the plant safety systems D
With regard to your constituent's question concerning the electric grid as ayv ole, nuclear power plants are interacting with the North American Electric Reliability CounciljNERC) to develop electrical grid stability plans for generation and transmission. The plant have identified grid instability as a factor to be included under extemal risk as part of the K contingency planning effort. Nuclear plants and the NRC recognize the nationalimporta e of having available the broadest range of electrical generating capability in order to cope ith any unforseen Y2K Impacts should they occur. However, NERC in their report to t Department of Energy,
' Preparing the Electric Power Systems of North America For ransition to the Year 2000," dated August 3,1999, states as follows: *The current industry stat s leads to high confidence that nuclear generation plants will continue to reliably deliver)delr share of the nation's electricity needs wellinto the next century." Tne NRC regulatory focus on electrical grid reliability is still related primarily to the challenges on plant safety sy ems.
The NRC will continue to monitor progress at th e plants that have remaining work to be performed and willindependently verify compj lon of these items, including Y2K contingency plans that specify procedures for dealing wji n unexpected events. The staff is developing guidance for appropriate regulatory actio (to be taken for those facilities that were not Y2K ready by July 1,1999. As stated in th closed press release, by September 30,1999, we will make a final determination whether af itional regulatory action is warranted to address Y2K readiness issues. At this time, we tydlieve that alllicensees will be able to operate their plants safely during the transition from 1999 to 2000 and beyond and ou not believe that significant plant specific action directed by he NRC to address possible Y2K problems is likely to be needed.
Additional Y2K informatiory on all opeuting nuclear power plants is available at NRC's Y2K Web site at httn*//www nre aov/NRC/ NEWS /vear2000 html This Web site also identifies Y2K resources, notices, conferences,/and other related info mation.
The NRC remains [mmitted to its oversight of the nuclear power plant licensee Y2K readiness efforts in order to nsure safe operation of thece facilities throughout 1999,2000, and beyond.
Please contact me if you have any additional questions on this matter.
/
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations En' closure:
Press Release No. 99168, *NRC Establishes Policy for Regulatory Actions for Nuclear Power Plants That Are Not 'Y2K Ready"'
DISTRIBUTION: See next page DISK / DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EElB\\BRYANTUKINGSTONGT.WPD OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
- t..w om em.= c. em.=.mem.waw. c. cm.m..w eu. v. Non. wo m. No ccm
- See previous concurrences OFC EElB A
TechEd N
C:EElB d
D.DE ADPT:NRR D.NRR EDO NAME ABryant BCalure JACalvo df(.
JRStrosnider BWSheron SJCollins WDTravers DATE 8/11/99*
8 /10/99*
8 //J /99 8/
/99 8/
/99 8/
/99 8/
/99 6S*i
HonorCble J. Kingston -
Additionally, every nuclear power plant has redundant backup power sourcesp site to safely shut down the reactor and keep it in a safe coNition in the unlikely event th t'all external power f
la lost as a result of the Y2K transition or any other reason. Generally, egch plant has at least two dieselgenerators to provide this backup power to the plant safetypfstems. Nuc! ear power plants are interacting wth the North America Electric Reliability Cou dil(NERC) to develop electrical grid stability plans for generation and transmission, The ants have identified grid instab!!!!y as a factor to be included under external risk as partp the Y2K contingency planning effort. Nuckar plants and the NRC recognize the nationalin)p'ortance of having available the broadest range of electrical generating capability in order to' cope with any unforseen Y2K Impacts should they occur. However, NERC in their repoIt to DOE, ' Preparing the Electric Power Systems of North America For Transition to theiear 2000," dated September 17,1998, f
states as follows:
- Nuclear generating facilities aref pected to be available to supply their share of energy needs and all nuclear safety systems arb expected to be fully ready for Y2K." The NRC regulatory focus on electrical grid reliabil't[is still related primarily to the chailenges on plant safety systems.
The NRC will continue to monitor progjr s at those plants that have remaining work to be performed and willindependently vje ify completion of these items, including Y2K contingency plans that specify procedures for ealing with unexpected events. The staff is developing guidance for appropriate regulato actions to be taken for those facilities that were not Y2K ready by July 1,1999. As sta,teld in the enclosed press release, by September 1999, we will determine the need for issu) rig orders to address Y2K readiness issues, including, if warranted, shutdown of a plant. At this time, we believe that alllicensees will be able to operate their plants safely during the transijidn from 1999 to 2000 and beyond and do not believe that significant plant specific action directed by the NRC to address possible Y2K problems is likely to be needed.
Additional Y2K Information on all operating nuclear power plants is available at NRC's Y2K Web site at httv//v/ww nre cov/NRC/ NEWS /vear2A00 html This Web site also identifies Y2K resources, notices, conferences, and other related information.
l The NRC remains committed to its oversight of the nuclear power plant licensee Y2K readiness efforts in order to ensure safe operation of these facilities throughout 1999,2000, and beyond.
Ple'ase contact me if you have any additional questions on this matter,
,I Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Press Release No. 99168, *NRC Establishes Policy for Regulatory Actions for Nuclear Power Plants That Are Not 'Y2K Ready'*
DISTRIBUTION: See next page DISK / DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\EElBtBRYANNKINGSTONGT.WPD
- See previous concurrences
- v. - em now. v.ce a c a u as,w.em
.,na w
OFC EElB h
TechEd N
C:EElB D.DE ADPT:NRR D.NRR EDO ABryant h NAME BCalure JACalvo JRStrosnider BWSheron SJCollins WDTravers 8 / h /99 8 /10/99*
8/
/99 8/
/99 8/
/99 8/
199 8/
/99 DATE OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
-. ~.. - -. - _ -
Mtp//waw. tut sovCPNsmokersv%I61.htm Nuclear Regulatory Commission Omce of Public Affairs Washington DC 20555 Telephone: 301/415-8200 - E-mallt opa@nre. gov No.99-168 August 6,1999 NRC ESTABLISHES POLICY FOR REGULATORY ACTIONS FOR NUCLEAR POWERPLANTS THAT ARE NOT "Y2K READY"
. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a policy to guide regulatory actions for nuclear power plant licensees that did not report that their facilities were "Y2K ready" by July 1.
- Ihe new policy, which applies to those 35 plants that were not Y2K ready as of July 1, provides for regulatory actions to be taken sufficiently in advance of the December 31 to January 1 transition to assure that nuclear power plants will be in a stable, safe condition during the Y2K rollover date.
Under the new policy, for those plants with a projected Y2K item completion date between July I and September 30, (about 13 plants) the NRC will continue to monitor licensecs' progress, verify completion
- of remaining Y2K-related activities, and document results in NRC inspection reports.
The degree of additional NRC scrutiny for the remaining plants (about 22) will depend on the nature of the work that needs to be completed to be Y2K ready.
Plants with non safety, support systems and components that are not Y2K ready or plants that have incomplete contingency plans for these systems could require additional meetings, audits, or requests for additional information. There are about 10 plants in this category.
- Plants with non-safety systems that affect power operation that are Y2K ready or those plants that
- have incomplete contingency plans for these systems will be subject to additional regulatory actions which may include issuance of an order requiring specific actions by the licensee. There are about 12 plantsin this category.
l E
By September 30, NRC will make a final determination whether additional regulatory action is warranted to address Y2K readiness issues. At this time, NRC believes that all licensees will be able to operate their plants safely during the transition from 1999 to 2000, and that NRC-directed plant specific action will not be needed.
All 103 operating nuclear power plants reported July 1 that their plant safety systems were Y2K ready and that there were no remaining Y2K-related problems that could directly affect the performance of safety systems or the capability for safe shutdown of the reactor. In addition,68 of these plants reported Iof2 8/lW1999 ll A8 AM
,_-_.a--
- a.,..
haPh= sacPNsaa'=m*1684h* '
1
^
l they had completed, as the next order of priority, Y2K readiness work for all of their computer systems that support plant operation. The remaining 35 plants reported that, to be fully Y2K ready, they still had 3
]-
additional work to complete on a few non-nafety computer systems or devices.
8 l
For about one half of the 35 plants, some work remains on systems needed for power generation. Other plants must perform remediation on plant monitoring and administrative systems. Typically, the remaining Y2K work will be completed during a scheduled plant outage in the fall or delayed while awaiting the delivery of a replacement component. In each case, the licensees with work remaining have provided satisikotory schedules for completing the work.
l Current Status of Naal-ar Power Plant Y2K Ra=Anaae
'the plants that have Y2K work remaining are continuing to progress toward Y2K readiness. As of August 1, five more plants have reported that they are Y2K ready bringing the total to 73 operating 5
nuclear power plants that are fully Y2K ready. This reduces to 30 the number of plants that have j'
ra'a=Was work on non safety systems and components to be fully Y2K ready.
1 L
'Ihe ' Year 2000" or Y2K problem refers to computers' potential inability to recognize dates beginning -
i with January 1,2000, and beyond, it arises from computer programs that use two-digit numbers to represent a calendar year (such as "98" for 1998). For example, computer systems could read "00" as i
1900, rather than 2000, potentially causing computer systems to malfunction. "Y2K ready" means that l
functions provided by computer systems will be carried out successfully with the coming of the Year 2000.
1 Additional information on the policy can be found in a staff paper, SECY-99 162, on NRC's Y2K web site at: www.nrc. gov /NRC/ NEWS / year 2000.html.
?
i NRC Home Page l News and Information l E mail t
i i
a j
e e
2or2 s'10/1999 lI:4s AM s=us-p g-ya-bMi-r-sur PT*1w-se--
tsev' ve T v-g19q-=-vme yr-'rWJu mztwg'w*'s T-W-p
-v ve i gw 4esev--T"+w'--
v Mw' - g-ar N 'mme rYWWDe7M' ' '
T'wv'-e T1,ryv.yyw-,.re.iv,ww, w-y e-
Nuclear R,egulatory Commissio http//www.nre gov /oPAlgmo/nrarev/99191.ht Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Public Affairs Washingtc,n DC 20555 Telephone: 301/415 8200 E-Mail: opa@nre. gov News Release Index l News and Information i NRC Ho_m.n i E-mail No. 99191 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Tuesday, September 7,1999)
NRC ISSUES REPORT CONFIRMING NO Y2K PROBLEMS AFFECTING SAFETY SYSTEMS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS UPDATES Y2K READINESS STATUS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a report confirming by onsite reviews that at all 103 U.S.
nuclear power plants there are no Y2K related problems which affect the performance of safety systems needed to safely shut down the plants.
The report, NUREG-1706, " Year 2000 Readiness in U.S. Nuclear Power Plants," integrates the results of NRC's onsite reviews of all nuclear power plants and utilities' July 1 response on Y2K readiness. While al plants report Y2K readiness for safety systems used for shutdown, some plants are completing Y2K readiness activities for systems not required to safely shut down the plants.
The chart that follows depicts the path to timely Y2K readiness based on current information.
Nuclear Power Plant Y2K Readiness O AdranistrasveSystems 160 -
@ Opeationat Surport Syrtems
'I 140 -
Allsafev related system Y2Kready
,1lllllll 7/1/99 8/1/99 9/1/99 10/1/99 11/1/99 12/1/99 12/16/99 A s depicted by tisis chart, allplants are expected to befidly Y2K ready prior to the transition period.
Typically, for those plants not fully Y2K ready, work will be co'mpleted in conjunction with a scheduled Iof4 9/8/1999 6:42 AM
_ - - - - - - ~ -
puclear % Commisalo httpl/ cow.nre gov /oPA/gmo/ntarev/99191.htr plant outage in the fall or when a replacement component is delivered. The NRC will continue to monitor and verify completion of all Y2K activities.
Most of the earlier NRC onsite reviews oflicensee Y2K programs at the 103 plants provided sufficient Information for the staff to conclude that licensee Y2K readiness programs were consistent with acceptable industry guidance.jiowever, the NRC could not complete reviews oflicensee programs for 14 plants beca ise reviews were conducted early in April or May and these plants had not completed some of their Y2K preparations when NRC was on site.
In follow-up reviews of these 14 plants, the NRC determined that, in only one case, Cooper Nuclear Station, an integrated contingency plan (consistent with industry guid:mee) had not been completed even though this plant reported July 1 it was Y2K ready. As a result of this determination, the Cooper Station was categorized as "not Y2K ready" as of September 1 as reaccted in the attached table on nuclear power plant Y2K readiness and NUREG 1706. Subsequently, on September 2, the licensee notified NRC that it had completed its integrated contingency plan, which the NRC will verify.
In addition, Cooper informed NRC it had discovered during an audit that three pieces of equipment were evaluated improperly by its contractor. (Typical Y2K programs involve the evaluation of over 2000 iterns).
One piece of equipment was from an operational support system and the other two were from administrative systems. None of this equipment involved systems needed to safely shut down the plant.
Cooper has notified NRC that it has corrected these deficiencies, reviewed the contractor's work, and determined there are no other deficiencies. The NRC has conducted inquiries to assure that this problem is unique to Cooper and does not affect any other plants. The NRC has no indication that this problem extends to other plants.
In summary, the NRC concludes: (1) that at all 103 plants there are no Y2K concerns that could affect the performance of safety systems,(2) alllicensees are following staff approved industry guidance for achieving Y2K readiness, and (3) the completion schedules for the remaining few non safety-related Y2K items will be completed before the transition from 1999 to 2000. At this time, the NRC believes that all licensees will be able to operate their plants safely during the Y2K transition and does not anticipate the need for the NRC to direct any significant plant specific actions.
The full NUREG report is available on NRC's Y2K website at:
www.n re.cov/N R C/N EWS/ve ar2000.ht ml.
Thefollowing table provides the Y2K readiness status of U.S. operating nuclearpowerplants. As stated above, these are no Y2K concerns that could afect the perfonnance ofsafety systems. For those plants not alreadyfully Y2K ready, the projected completion date is indicated in the right column.
Table: Nuclear Power Plant Y2K Readineas Status as of September 1,1999 Completion Status /Date Plant Name Arkansas 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready i
Beaver Valley I and 2 l
9/30/99 Braidwood I and 2 i
Y2K Ready Browns Ferry 2 and 3
_l 10/31/99 Brunswick 1 Y2K Ready 2 of 4 9/8/19996:42 Ah
tincisarapsmismy comediano http /www.nre. gov /oPA/gmo/ararev/99191. hts g
Drunswick 2 l
Y2K Ready Byron 1 and 2 -
l Y2K Ready Callaway; l
Y2K Ready __
l Calvert Cliffs 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready l
~
Catawba 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready Clinton l
9/2269 j
Comanche Peak 1 l
11/30 S 9 l
Comanche Peak 2 l
10/ " 69 Cooper l
9/20/99
~
Crystal River 3 Y2K Ready l
Davis-Besse l
2K Ready I
Diablo Canyon 1 and 2 l_
10/3199 D.C. Cook 1 and 2 i
10/30/99 Dresden 2 and 3 l
Y2K ateady 1
Duane Arnold I
Y2K Ready Farley 1 Y2K Ready Farley 2 l
12/16/99 Fermi 2 l
Y2K Ready Fitzpatrick Y2K Ready Fort Calhoun i
Y2K Ready Ginna Y2K Ready Grand Gulf Y2K Ready Harris i
Y2K Ready' ~
Hatch I and 2 i
Y2K Ready Hope Creek l
10/29/99 Indian P3 int 2
(_
Y2K Ready _ _ _ _
Indian Point 3 Y2K Ready Kewaunce Y2K Ready LaSalle 1 and 2 I
Y2K Ready Limerick 1 Y2K Ready Limerick 2 i
9/30/99 iMcGuire 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready
' Millstone 2 and 3 l
Y2K Ready Monticello
~ I_.
Y2K Ready Nine Mile Point I and 2 l
,__ Y2K Ready North Anna 1 l
Y2K Ready _
North Anna 2 l
10/29/95 Oconee 1,2 and 3 1
Y2K Ready Oyster Creek l
9/30/99 Palisades i
Y2K Ready Palo Verde 1," 2 and 3
)
Y2K Ready j
3 ord 9/8/1999 6.42 AN
ggrm http://www.nrc. gov /OPA/gmo/ntarev/99 191.ht:
1 l
9/30/99 i
Peach Bottom 2 Peach Bottom 3 l
10/31/99 Perry l
Y2K Ready I
~
Pilgrim l
Y2K Ready l-Point Beach I and 2 l
Y2K Ready 1
Prairie Island 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready 1
2 Quad Cities 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready River Bend l
Y2K Ready i
~
Robinson 2 l
Y2K Ready Salem 1 l
11/6/99 I
Salem 2 l
10/29/99 San Onofre 2 and 3 l
_Y2K Ready _
l Seabrook l
Y2K Ready Sequoyah I and 2 l
10/31/99 South Texas 1 and 2 j
10/31/99 St. Lucie 1 and 2 i
Y2K Ready i
Summer Y2K Ready Surry 1 and 2 l
Y2K Ready Susquehanna 1 and 2 Y2K Ready i
Three Mile Island 1 10/21/99 Turkey _ Point 3 and 4
__ __Y2K Ready __
Vermont Yankee 1
9/30/99 Vogtle 1 and 2 j
Y2K Ready Washington Nuclear 2 Y2K Ready Waterford 3 Y2K Ready Watts Bar 10/31/99 i
WolfCreek i
Y2K Ready i
4 4
T l
4 of 4 9/8/1999 6:42 Ah 1
h[
bbNf k
as%,,j@'2Wah6(NhdMMp;.y; app &
d!k hM 3
&ea ww sua mum % w n^fh hsmym
~M@y 49 l;LNjMir h.c-I" '6 $d pg;;'wy 'Y
.gm av Sw WMw eW
- lW 4
.m s;unnn:Z.,MPk+'?.--.
.dWC. c..
~
ym A h:G mm w
c ' 73 4
' %. l.;.
p;e;
,e
'N vg x., $3
-iful1;WG x <a.-
' *M i " '
' 9 ' N
,. d&$ ~.? -
$.h: :+ y L MG w * l ' - -
e.d.V EDO Principal Correspondence Control:
,s.1 3
u.
Y
?
N" 1
- k '* *
$37
" LJ ~,'k A
.s,
,mgt-
., g g 5; "Ti FROM:.
DUE:.Q8/11/9J EDO' CONTROL: G19990382 m
DOC DT: 07/27/99-Jr.
FINAL REPLY:
Rcpresentative Jack Kingston TOs Rathbun, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF :
Y2K COMPLIANCE / CONTINGENCY PLANS WITH THE STATE Travers OF GEORGIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS (Debbie Bodie)
Knapp Miraglia Norry Blaba Burns DATE: 07/30/99 Congel, IRO Lohaus, SP ASS 7"EED TO:
CONTACT:
Hiltz, OEDO
.NRR Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
h[ '
xb/ 8(A f k b b'itistd: 7 lm /n & M
- n. nk dt (d h$ V Wp (2. T,Oo.O D cf D p;m.)
Ce'>++c-7W/Nf r
g(
- l. / tar 7Wi.s 7 7)
L :-
a ;-ve r.' '-
Ereter>t 00a
- beere, y~ ~
-cn conusem c,wu r n s
- n h v/s/ hWW Nur vr r DD ym rwtuA:: e f
y~ ~ e r i
l _ n u e a r t r w o u ~' _ _.- -
r?
- --, g.
.. ~ -..
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET
}
PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-99-0678 LOGGING DATE: Jul 29 99 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
JACK KINGSTON, REP AFFILIATION:
.U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESSEE:
RATHBUN LETTER DATE:
Jul 27 99 FILE CODE:
- MiBJECT:
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS COMPLIANCE WITH Y2K ISSUE ACTION:
Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION:
SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA TO ACK CONSTITUENT:
DEBBIE BODIE-NOTES:
DATE DUE:
Aug 11 99 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
1 EDO --G19990382
.