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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bearcub who wrote (7748)	8/4/1999 11:51:00 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

frankly, we both are disappointed that ron, as the threads dc mouthpiece hasn't dug deep enough to expose OR SHARE those GAO recommendations with this or any other thread to the best of our knowledge since he issued the invitation. Bearcub, I'm disappointed that you haven't taken the time to come to DC and actually listen to GAO's, Joel Williamsen, discuss Y2K. I have. And I will listen to him and John Koskinen debate the topic in September. While I don't personally know Williamsen, I was not overly impressed with his personal presence a 1 1/2 years ago. I like to think I can read people pretty well, and in my opinion he had "politician in training" written all over his face. I'm curious to see if he displays a bit less hubris and has shed his air of self-importance that was DISTINCTLY lacking in John Koskinen's character. What people don't try to understand is that Y2K was and will be again, a hot political issue on Capitol Hill. People's careers will be made or destroyed base upon their "performance" with regard to dealing with the issue. So many folks can gain political capital, (and GAO is a political entity in its role as congresses investigative) or exert leverage based upon their criticisms of the White House. So while I'm not deriding GAO so much as an entity, I have qualms about the motives of those who are representing GAO's efforts with regard to Y2K. Hopefully, I'll be able to change my mind in Sept and rid myself of this bias. Personally, I have more confidence in Koskinen, a man who did not seek his position, nor has any political ambitions that he overtly displays in his character. Regards, Ron

To: bearcub who wrote (7748)	8/5/1999 8:29:00 AM
From: Jim	Respond to of 9818

Many people believe that nuclear power stations are unsafe and should be shut down. I do not happen to agree with them, but that discussion is on-going, and I do not plan to go there. I read your post, and feel that this is not a Y2K problem (failures in emergency diesel generators) unless Y2K causes a prolonged power outage. Power outages occur all the time and have not yet caused any problems. There have not been any meltdowns of reactors in the west or from reactors exported from the west. The most serious accident was Chernobyl, which was a RBMK reactor using a water-cooled, graphite moderated reactor, unlike the LWR reactors used in the west. The RBMK reactor is not licensable in Western nations. I think there is more risk to reactors from earthquakes then from a loss of power, and that if people want 100% safety in their lives, they shouldn't fly or even drive cars. As you know, I am a self proclaimed polly Message 10749483 So.. here is a chance to perhaps convert a "polly" by showing me where I am wrong about the above four points. I documented my reasons in post #7456, and was very disappointed to only get one response, and excellent reply from B.K. Myers who basically agreed with me, with the exception of the GPS date change on August 20-21. I really was interested to see if others had computers that would not start during a roll-over test, or believed embedded chips without a date / year input function might fail. Most of the problems you foresee are based on a prolonged power outage. I truly believe that this not occur, because of the four points I make in my post, and the fact that Ontario Hydro, and many other power companies have simulated the changeover, and no problems occurred. The only problem with the utilities may be we receive a late or incorrect bill. For those of us who believe there will be no serious problems, you can see why we appear complacent regarding this issue. I understand that many (most) on this thread are not as confident as I am, so I do not ridicule or criticize their efforts to prepare for next January. But please try to understand that there are those of us who have carefully considered the facts and have reached a different conclusion. As with many good arguments, a successful conclusion is to state our positions, and then agree to disagree. Jim P.S. Why did you think I would change my profile?

To: bearcub who wrote (7748)	8/5/1999 10:11:00 AM
From: bearcub	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Emergency Diesel Generator Defects at US Nuclear Plants as reported by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission This database includes incidents and reports from January 1, 1999 to the present. It shows that defects and problems occur on a weekly basis. There are 28 reports affecting 40% of all US commercial nuclear plants so far this year. There is currently a petition for rulemaking before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding backup power supplies. The NRC is now three months late on making its decision. Cook, Michigan: July 27, 1999 All four diesel generators are declared inoperable but still functional. Discovery of condition which could leave EGDs inoperable following a tornado. Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania: July 16 - 17, 1999 Diesel Generator fails during test due to voltage and current problems. Battery chargers become inoperable. Generator restart faulty. Batteries are inoperable. Plant shutting down. Pumps inoperable briefly. Pilgrim, Massachusetts: July 16, 1999 An existing modification of the circuit logic would prevent bus from energizing properly from diesel generators. Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho: July 12, 1999 (not a commercial power reactor) Two diesel generators fails following a fire at substation. No fuel from Three Mile Island remains onsite. Pilgrim, Massachusetts: July 5, 1999 Both diesel generators for Unit 1 outside design basis due to high room temperature.. Cook, Michigan: June 25, 1999 Diesel generator oil lubrication valve installed backwards. Uncertainty about the ability to operate for 7 days has caused the EDG to be declared inoperable Kewaunee Wisconsin: June 14, 1999 Diesel generator declared inoperable due to misadjusted speed sensor. Ginna, New York: June 10, 1999 Both diesel generators inoperable. There would have been an inability to automatically respond to an event coincident with a loss of offsite power. Summer, South Carolina: May 5, 1999 Faulty circuit breaker identified as substantial safety hazard used with diesel generators. Six Nuclear Plants: April 28, 1999 Manufacturer reports a potential defect in connecting rod assemblies, which are components of diesel generator systems. Nine Mile Point, New York: April 24, 1999 Reactor scram. Diesel Generator starts but fails to load. Partial loss of lighting in the control room. Loss of lighting in turbine building. Loss of site perimeter lighting. Natural circulation of coolant. Arkansas Nuclear, Arkansas: April 23, 1999 During Y2K testing, would not properly load. Only 500 Kw, instead of its expected load of 4400 Kw. Point Beach, Michigan: April 20, 1999 Design defect could have disabled diesel generators. Susquehanna, Pennsylvania: April 17, 1999 Operator switching error causes diesel generator to be inoperable. Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania: April 9, 1999 Following instructions in operator's manual could have caused diesel generators to fail. Ginna, New York: April 9, 1999 Missing oil drain port could have caused serious diesel generator damage. Cook, Michigan: April 7, 1999 Design defect could cause long-term operational failure of diesel generator following a seismic event. Seabrook, New Hampshire: March 31, 1999 Defective relay might not have allowed bus to load to diesel generator. Grand Gulf, Mississippi: March 25, 1999 Diesel Generator declared inoperable due to leaking oil. South Texas, Texas: March 12, 1999 Diesel Generator output circuit breaker failed to close. Pilgrim, Massachusetts: February 25, 1999 Temperature of diesel generator building fell below design due to winter storm. Wolf Creek, Kansas: February 18,1999 Improper switching could have caused fire and loss of diesel generators altogether. River Bend, Louisiana: February 2, 1999 The NRC proposes a $55,000 fine for the company's failure to correct deficiencies in the compressed air system that controls the emergency diesel generators. San Onofre, California: February 1, 1999 Diesel generator started but did not complete circuit due to relay lockout Fitzpatrick, New York: January 21,1999 Emergency diesel generators may have failed to energize emergency busses. Hope Creek, New Jersey: January 20, 1999 Incorrect resistor could effect speed switch on diesel generators. This manufacturer defects also could effect 8 other US nuclear plants at Hatch, Fermi, Millstone, Beaver Valley, Limerick, Callaway and Wolf Creek which might have the same defect because of same manufacturer. Duane Arnold, Iowa: January, 20 1999 Forced reactor shutdown after both standby diesel generators failed test to reach required voltage and frequency within the required time. Grand Gulf, Mississippi: January 13, 1999 Diesel generator degraded due to output transformer leaking. North Anna, Virginia: January 5,1999 Spillway emergency diesel generator declared inoperable during test. ******* Jim may not want to 'go there' regarding nuclear safety issues. i just did with the above report copied from NRC records. These Generators mentioned above deal with the backup system for raising and lowering the rods as Jim's textbook pointed out. Remember, there is not a SINGLE EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR attached to or assigned to the cooling pool to prevent meltdown in the event offsite power requires EDGs assigned to above lifting and lowering rods functions fail to either engage, engage but don't come to required power output in Kw's or refuse to stay on line and operable due to operator error, design defect, or longterm load stress on EDGs designed to only work for short durations, approximately 8 hours so i have read.