'UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
June 22, 1998
NRC GENERIC LETTER 98-03: NMSS LICENSEES' AND CERTIFICATE HOLDERS' YEAR 2000 READINESS PROGRAMS
Addressees:
For Action: All licensees or certificate holders for uranium hexafluoride production plants, uranium enrichment plants, and uranium fuel fabrication plants, except those that have permanently ceased operations. . . .
Purpose:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this generic letter to: (1) notify all addressees of the need for Year 2000 (Y2K) Readiness Programs to address the Y2K problem in computer systems at their facilities; (2) request all action addressees to implement the actions described herein; and (3) require all action addressees to provide NRC with a written response to this letter. . . .
The Y2K problem is urgent because it has a fixed, non-negotiable deadline that is quickly approaching. This matter requires priority attention because of the limited time remaining to assess the magnitude of the problem, assess its associated risks, and implement programs that will achieve a satisfactory resolution of the Y2K problem.
Existing reporting requirements under 10 CFR Part 21 provide for notification to NRC of deficiencies, non-conformances, and failures, such as the Y2K problem in safety-related systems. Examples of systems that may be affected include:
Safeguards (Material Control and Accounting, and Physical Protection) systems
Computer security systems
Plant process (data scan, log, and alarm) display system computers
Safety parameter display system computers
Emergency response systems
Radiation monitoring systems
Dosimeters and readers
Engineering programs and systems
Communication systems
Inventory control systems
Surveillance and maintenance tracking systems
Plant process control systems
Document control systems. . . .
As part of NRC's response to the Y2K problem, NRC assembled a Y2K team to gather more information on the Y2K Readiness Programs of materials and fuel cycle licensees and certificate holders. . . .
Discussion:
There are several concerns associated with the potential impact of the Y2K problem because of the variety and types of computer systems and software in use. For example, the role and use of computers and embedded systems in: (1) scheduling of maintenance and surveillance requirements; (2) programmable logic controllers and other commercial off-the-shelf software and hardware; (3) document control systems; (4) process control systems; (5) engineering calculations; and (6) systems for the collection of operating and post-accident site parameter data.
Applications that have no apparent date manipulation algorithms may still be affected by a Y2K problem. For example, a subroutine that date-stamps the header information in archival tapes, regardless of the rest of the content of the tape, may be affected. In addition, individual systems may be "date safe," but the integrated operations that the systems support may be vulnerable to the Y2K problem. Therefore, after testing a subsystem for Y2K Readiness, a functional test of the entire system should be performed. . . .
Requested Action:
Action addressees are requested to complete their Y2K Readiness Program by December 31, 1998. Action addressees' facilities are requested to be Y2K Compliant by December 31, 1999.
Required Response:
To gain the necessary assurance that action addressees are effectively resolving the Y2K problem and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of their licenses or certificates, and NRC regulations, NRC requires that all action 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 you have pursued and are continuing to pursue a Y2K Readiness Program. Present a brief description of the program that has already been completed, is being conducted, or is planned, to ensure Y2K Readiness of the computer systems at your facility. This response should address the program's scope, assessment process, and plans for corrective actions, including schedules for testing and validation. If an addressee chooses not to take the requested action(s), provide a description of any proposed alternative course of action, the schedule for completing the alternative course of action (if applicable), and the safety basis for determining the acceptability of the planned alternative course of action.
(2) Upon completing your Y2K Readiness Program, or, in any event, no later than December 31, 1998, submit a written response confirming that your facility is Y2K Ready and in compliance with the terms and conditions of your license or certificate, and NRC regulations; or, if your facility is not Y2K Ready by December 31, 1998, then submit a written response that contains a status report of work remaining to be done to become Y2K Ready, including completion schedules. For systems that may affect safety and safeguards, contingency plans to become Y2K Ready and Y2K Compliant should be included in your response.
(3) For facilities that are not Y2K Ready on or before December 31, 1998, submit a written response, by July 1, 1999, updating the status and schedule of your Y2K Readiness Program submitted in (2), above. The response should contain a status report of work remaining to be done to become Y2K Ready, including completion schedules. For systems that may affect safety and safeguards, contingency plans to become Y2K Ready and Y2K Compliant should be included in your response.
If you determine, as your review evolves, that your facility is not Y2K Ready after submitting information in response to this Generic Letter that states that your facility is Y2K Ready, submit a written response containing the information as requested in (3) above. The written responses should include sufficient detail to assess the licensee's or certificate holder's Y2K Readiness Program.
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