| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nuclear plants strive for Y2K compliance
April 1, 1999 THREE MILE ISLAND, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- In the big unknown of the Y2K computer crisis, many fear meltdowns at every kind. Inevitably, the question arises: Will nuclear power plants be safe? Memories of what happened 20 years ago at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island only heighten concerns about nuclear power plants and their preparedness for the year 2000 bug. The 1979 accident was the worst in U.S. nuclear power plant history. "We have a very strong plan," says Mark Whelan of PECO Energy. "We have been working it for two years. We are sort of getting into the eighth inning now." Because most emergency systems were designed and built before computers were prevalent, nuclear power plants may actually face fewer problems than other industries, plant officials say. But watchdog groups have warned Congress that there are no guarantees for compliance when the clocks roll over to the year 2000. David Lochbaum, a representative of the Union of Concerned Scientists, questions whether all scenarios have been considered. "Nuclear power plants have support systems that may be affected by the millennium bug," Lochbaum says. "The failure of these support systems can prevent emergency systems from performing their necessary functions." The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has set a July 1 deadline for every nuclear power plant in the United States to find and fix all Y2K glitches. Jerry Wermiel of the NRC said that if the problems are not fixed, the commission may take over operations or even shut down facilities on January 1. ( 196 K/ 9 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Even when a plant is not in operation, the facility is vulnerable to possible meltdowns. To prevent an accident, fuel rods must be kept cool, which requires at least some electricity. Don Croneberger, Y2K manager at Three Mile Island, says the plant has backup systems in place. "This plant is designed so that if it were shut down, it has its own dedicated power supply in the form of diesel generators which can operate even if there's a disconnection with the electrical grid outside," Croneberger says. While both regulators and power providers say they will be ready for Y2K, the Three Mile Island incident reminds everyone that problems at nuclear power plants can be unforgiving. Since the 1979 accident, not a single new nuclear power plant has been ordered in the United States. SPECIAL SECTION: Looking at the Y2K Bug RELATED STORIES: Protesters mark Three Mile Island 20th anniversary RELATED SITES: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
| |
Back to the top |
© 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. |