ML20199G852
| ML20199G852 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/04/1999 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Colvin J NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (FORMERLY NUCLEAR MGMT & |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199G856 | List: |
| References | |
| GL-98-01, GL-98-1, NUDOCS 9901250041 | |
| Download: ML20199G852 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES y
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 e
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January 4, 1999 CHAIRMAN Mr. Joe F. Colvin President and Chief Executive Officer i
Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 i Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20006-3708
Dear Mr. Colvin:
i The following is in response to your letter dated November 9,1998, to me concerning nuclear power plant licensees confirmation of Year 2000 (Y2K) readiness of their facilities as currently 1
called for in NRC Generic Letter (GL) 98-01, dated May 11,1998. The NRC staff recognizes that item (2) of the GL 98-01 required response will not provide information on overall facility Y2K readiness because it relates only to Y2K readiness with respect to the terms and conditions of the facility license and NRC regulations. Such a response will address the safety of the nuclear power plant, but not its ability to continue to operate on January 1,2000.
The NRC staff agrees that the environment and public concern related to the Y2K problem have changed since the issuance of GL 98-01. Concern for the availability of the nation's infrastructure including electric power in view of the Y2K problem has heightened. Efforts to address this concern, such as enactment of the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act (Public Law 105-271) in October 1998, which provides for greater sharing of information on the Y2K problem, demonstrate this change.
In keeping with the heightened Y2K concern, the NRC staff has considered your recommendation of accepting overall assessments of Y2K readiness under Public Law 105-271, in place of the currently required response to GL-98-01. The staff notes, however, that the Public Law primarily addresses protection and antitrust aspects related to voluntary statements of Y2K readiness disclosures, and does not mandate a response by any entity or individual. Therefore, in response to your request, the NRC staff has concluded that it is appropriate to modify GL 98-01 in order to provide for a broader licensee response on facility Y2K readiness. The NRC staff's current plan is to issue a supplement to GL 98-01 by early 1999, offering licensees an alternative to the current GL 98-01, item (2) required response.
This alternative will allow licensces to provide a Y2K readiness status and schedule for remaining Y2K readiness activities, prepared pursuant to the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act, for the entire nuclear power plant including both systems important to safety and those necessary for continued safe operation on January 1,2000. The alternative response will be due no later than July 1,1999, and need not be provided under oath or affirmation per the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(f) consistent with the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act.
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l If you have any questions on the above, please contact Jared Wermiel at (301) 415-2821.
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Sincerely, b
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