'NRC GENERIC LETTER NO. 98-XX:
YEAR 2000 READINESS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS'
------
News on the NRC - Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
nrc.gov
------
Y2K at the NRC:
nrc.gov
------
nrc.gov
'NRC GENERIC LETTER NO. 98-XX:
YEAR 2000 READINESS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power plants, except those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel.
Purpose:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this generic letter to require that all addressees provide the following information regarding their programs, planned or implemented, to address the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem in computer systems at their facilities: (1)written confirmation of implementation of the programs, and (2) written certification that the facilities are Y2K ready and in compliance with the terms and conditions of their licenses and NRC regulations.
<snip>
Existing reporting requirements under 10 CFR Part 21, 10 CFR 50.72, and 10 CFR 50.73 provide for notification to the NRC staff of deficiencies, non-conformance and failures, such as the Y2K problem in safety-related systems. To date, the NRC staff has not identified nor received notification from licensees or vendors of digital protection systems (e.g., Westinghouse, General Electric, Combustion Engineering, Foxboro, Allen Bradley, or Framatome/Babcock & Wilcox) that a Y2K problem exists with safety-related initiation and actuation systems. However, problems have been identified in non-safety, but important, computer-based systems. Such systems, primarily databases and data collection processes necessary for plant operation that are date driven, may need to be modified for Y2K compliance. Some examples of systems and computer equipment that may be affected by Y2K problems follow:
Security computers
Plant process (data scan, log, and alarm and safety parameter display system computers
Emergency response systems
Radiation monitoring systems
Dosimeters and readers
Plant simulators
Engineering programs
Communication systems
Inventory control systems
Surveillance and maintenance tracking systems
Control systems
<snip>
Required Response
In order to gain the necessary assurance that addressees are effectively addressing the Y2K problem and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of their licenses and NRC regulations, the NRC staff requires that all addressees submit a written response to this generic letter as follows:
1.Within 90 days of the date of this generic letter, submit a written response indicating whether or not you have pursued and are continuing to pursue a Y2K readiness program as outlined in NEI/NUSMG 97-07. If you are not conforming to the NEI/NUSMG guidance, present a brief description of the program(s) that have already been completed, are being conducted, or are planned to ensure Y2K readiness of the computer systems at your facility(ies). This response should address the program's scope, assessment process, and plans for corrective actions (including testing, and schedules).
2.Upon completing your Y2K readiness program, or, in any event, no later than July 1, 1999, submit a written response confirming that your facility is Y2K ready and in compliance with the terms and conditions of your license(s) and NRC regulations. In addition, the response should contain a status report of work remaining to be done to complete your Y2K program, including completion schedules. {"Y2K Ready" is defined as a computer system or application that has been determined to be suitable for continued use into the year 2000 even though the computer system or application is not fully Y2K Compliant. "Y2K Compliant" is defined as computer systems or applications that accurately process date/time data (including but not limited to, calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the years 1999 and 2000, and leap-year calculations.} ' |
