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

To: Jeff Mizer who wrote (4725)	3/17/1999 7:54:00 AM
From: flatsville	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Read and see additional link following end of article. -------------------------------------------- cnn.com _______________________________ Chemicals + computers could = Y2K disaster March 15, 1999 Web posted at: 9:42 p.m. EST (0242 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Large chemical companies are well prepared for the Year 2000 computer problem, but smaller companies, many located near residential areas, may be less able to cope with potentially dangerous shutdowns, says a report presented to Congress on Monday. Almost 85 million Americans live, work and play within a five-mile radius of facilities handling hazardous chemicals. "Yet even this estimate may underestimate the full risk to the U.S. population," said Dr. Gerald Poje of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, also known as the CSB. The independent federal agency said that while large plants are unlikely to experience major failures -- unless there are serious utility breakdowns -- there is little information about how smaller companies are preparing for computer problems, and readiness efforts appear to be "less than appropriate." 'Risks are too great' "If you happen to be living next door to one of these small entities, it's small comfort to you" that 90 percent of chemical plants have fixed their computers, said Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, who heads a special Senate panel on the so-called "Y2K" problem. Some 278,000 facilities in the country generate, transport or store hazardous materials, Bennett said, adding that "the risks are too great to chance the possibility of failures that threaten human lives." The risks come from computers that play a role in everything from gauges to temperature controls. Older computers read only the last two digits in dates and could mistake the year 2000 for 1900. That raises the possibility of computer errors and shutdowns. Technical know-how An industry group representing small firms said its members are well aware of the risks. "Our members are going to be prepared by the middle of this year," Edmund Fording of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Association said. "Part of that preparation is not only what they are looking at for their own company, but they reach out to their suppliers, they request letters from their suppliers to make sure their suppliers are compliant." But the CSB report said smaller chemical companies lack awareness regarding the Y2K impact and the technical know-how to fix the problem. "Given the time constraints, there is very little chance of changing that reality," the report said, urging the federal government to be more aggressive in setting safety standards. Y2K not like hurricane The threat to large chemical companies comes from power outages and even a big utility like Detroit Edison cannot guarantee the year 2000 will not leave some customers in the dark. "When a hurricane is coming, we know what a hurricane does," said Jim Roosen of Detroit Edison. "If somebody says the Y2K bug is coming, you don't know what the impact will be." Detroit Edison said 98 percent of its critical equipment is ready for the new millennium. But utilities nationwide will get an opportunity to check their "readiness" during a drill later this year. Meanwhile, the CSB is urging local governments to develop their own emergency response plans to a chemical disaster. And Congress will hold hearings to decide if further action is necessary. Correspondent Kelli Arena, reporter Joan MacFarlane and The Associated Press contributed to this report. -------------------------------------- For those of you who are concerned and may not be aware of the various industries in your locale visit the following website: scorecard.org