ML20217B901

Responds to Which Addressed Concerns Re Y2K Issue & Stockpiling of Potassium Iodide (Ki) Tablets by Informing That San Onofre Nuclear Station Already Completed All Work Required to Be Ready for Y2K Transition

ML20217B901
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	09/10/1999
From:	Congel F NRC
To:	Geismar B AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9910130109
Download: ML20217B901 (2)

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"***** Septemb,e 10 1 9 Mrs. Betty Geismar PMB #302 P.O. Box 2000 Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Dear Mrs. Geismar:

This is in response to your August 17,1999, letter to former Chairman Jackson of the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in which you addressed concems regarding the Year 2000 (Y2K) issue and the stockpiling of potassium iodide (Kl) tablets.

In response to your question regarding the Y2K issue, the NRC has been working with nuclear industry organizations since 1996 to address Y2K. On the basis of licensee reports, audits, and inspections at all nuclear power plant facilities, we are confident that our licensees will be Y2K-ready before December 31,1999. Nuclear power plant designs do not use digital circuitry in the systems that ensure they can be safely shut down; therefore, reactor protection and safety are not directly affected by the Y2K issue. The San Onofre Nuclear Station has already completed all work required to be ready for the Y2K transition.

In addition to reviewing the Y2K status of alllicensees, the NRC has developed a Y2K contingency plan to address any Y2K problems which may arise during the transition. This plan addresses all aspects of possible Y2K issues including regulatory response, information sharing, and emergency response. Based on our interactions with the Department of Energy, the Nortin American Electric Reliability Council, and the National Communications System, we do not expect that there will be any wide-spread electrical transmission or telecommunication outages within the United States or Canada. However, the NRC will staff its headquarters Operations Center and the regional incident Response Centers and will have intpectors stationed at all nuclear power plant sites to monitor industry performance over the Y2K transition. Although we do not anticipate any major Y2K-related problems based on our audits and inspections, the nature of the Y2K issue demands that we exercise an increased level of readiness.

In response to your question regarding potassium lodide (KI) stockpiling, the current Federal policy leaves the decision to use or not to use Kl to the state or local emergency response organizations. The primary focus of emergency response is to evacuate the close-in public (within about 10 miles from the facility) prior to any significant release of radioactive material. It is the responsibility of the State or local governments to determine if K1 should be integrated into 'g their emergency plan.

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U .The NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working together to determine if the current Federal KI policy needs revision. The agencies are also exploring issues associated with establishing Federally funded Kl stockpiles. A decision regarding Kl stockpiles should be reached by November 1999.

If you wish to have a personal supply of KI, it is recommended that you first consult with a physician. He/she would be able to provide you with important information regarding its use.

I trust that this information addresses your concerns. '

Sincerely, Frank J. Concer Frank J. Congel, Director incident Response Operations Distribution:

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