'..... Some food for thought and action by citizens and media.
>Lives are at risk -- Use your head!
>
>In commenting on the number of electric companies that did
>not participate in the August 3 report to the DOE (e.g.,
>13.4% of 2012 government-owned electric utilities surveyed
>did not respond, Appendix D), John Koskinen said "With the
>Y2K problem, you fear the worst in those areas where there
>is no information" (August 3 "Statement of John Koskinen"
>at www.y2k.gov/new/080399PRLS.htm).
>
>In looking at the August 5th report of the President's
>Council (at www.y2k.gov/new.3rdquarterly.html), I'm struck
>by how little data we actually have on airports, chemical
>processing, and water. The facts are that there is much we
>don't know about these sectors AND that there is much that
>local and state government can do to deal with these risks
>in their communities if only they were more aware that we
>know so little. A few facts (and comments) from the August
>5th report:
>
>Airports: As of June 30, 10 of our top 20 airports are
>"compliant" with 18 expecting to be done by Sept. 30.
>These 20 account for 90% of US passenger traffic. The FAA
>is gathering data on the other 546 US airports (pages 50-
>51). Do you know the y2k status of the airport your
>community depends upon? Chances are the FAA doesn't
>either. Don't you think you should do something about
>that? Rail transportation: no data (page 52). Ports: all
>48 of the 145 ports reporting expect to be "compliant" by
>Dec 31 (page 51).
>
>Chemicals: The largest producers through the Chemical
>Manufacturers Association only had 100 respondents to their
>June survey from their 190 members. The remaining 30,000
>to 65,000 (or more depending on whose list you use) toxic
>chemical producers in the USA are represented by a survey
>of 300 (pages 24-25). We are largely clueless about what
>is arguably the greatest (short-term anyway) y2k risk to
>human lives and the environment AND only California has a
>program in place to deal with this (see US Chemical Safety
>Board's July letter to US governors at www.chemsafety.org).
>Do you know the y2k status of the chemical processors in
>your community? Does "Bhopal" mean anything to you? No
>federal regulator is one is on duty folks and no
>environmental group has awakened to the reality of these
>risks. Have you?
>
>Water: data reported on 600 of the 190,000 water facilities
>in the USA (pages 53-54). Will your community have safe
>water and functional sewage treatment on January 1st? What
>makes you so sure?
>
>There are about 12.7 million seconds remaining until the
>new year, or 148 days. We are still in the early stages on
>much of this. Get busy. Get smart. Get focused. It's
>all about risk. Federally insured banks are not
>particularly at risk. Air and water are at risk. Which
>can you live without longer?
>
>Best wishes,
>Leon
>
> Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor, Business Computer Information Systems
> Associate Director, Center for Quality & Productivity
> College of Business Administration, Univ. of North Texas
> Co-chair, Society for Info. Management Y2K Working Group
> Steering Committee, YES Volunteer Corps (www.iy2kcc.org)
> Voice: 940-565-4698 Fax: 940-369-7623 Email: kap-@unt.edu
> Website: unt.edu
207.82.250.251 |
